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Bible, it is impossible that the teaching of the Spirit should ever be
contrary to that of the Word.
The Spirit was not given—nor can it ever be bestowed—to su-
persede the Bible; for the Scriptures explicitly state that the Word of
God is the standard by which all teaching and experience must be
tested. Says the apostle John, “Believe not every spirit, but try the
spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are
gone out into the world.”
1 John 4:1
. And Isaiah declares, “To the
law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it
is because there is no light in them.”
Isaiah 8:20
.
Great reproach has been cast upon the work of the Holy Spirit
by the errors of a class that, claiming its enlightenment, profess
to have no further need of guidance from the Word of God. They
are governed by impressions which they regard as the voice of God
in the soul. But the spirit that controls them is not the Spirit of
God. This following of impressions, to the neglect of the Scriptures,
can lead only to confusion, to deception and ruin. It serves only to
further the designs of the evil one. Since the ministry of the Holy
Spirit is of vital importance to the church of Christ, it is one of the
devices of Satan, through the errors of extremists and
[10]
fanatics, to cast contempt upon the work of the Spirit and cause the
people of God to neglect this source of strength which our Lord
Himself has provided.
In harmony with the Word of God, His Spirit was to continue its
work throughout the period of the gospel dispensation. During the
ages while the Scriptures of both the Old and the New Testament
were being given, the Holy Spirit did not cease to communicate light
to individual minds, apart from the revelations to be embodied in
the Sacred Canon. The Bible itself relates how, through the Holy
Spirit, men received warning, reproof, counsel, and instruction, in
matters in no way relating to the giving of the Scriptures. And
mention is made of prophets in different ages, of whose utterances
nothing is recorded. In like manner, after the close of the canon
of the Scripture, the Holy Spirit was still to continue its work, to
enlighten, warn, and comfort the children of God.
Jesus promised His disciples, “The Comforter, which is the Holy
Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all
things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have