Character of the Conflict
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can be successful only by divine aid. Our finite will must be brought
into submission to the will of the Infinite; the human will must be
blended with the divine. This will bring the Holy Spirit to our aid; and
every conquest will tend to the recovery of God’s purchased possession,
to the restoration of His image in the soul.
Aid of the Holy Spirit
The Lord Jesus acts through the Holy Spirit; for it is His represen-
tative. Through it He infuses spiritual life into the soul, quickening
its energies for good, cleansing it from moral defilement, and giving
it a fitness for His kingdom. Jesus has large blessings to bestow, rich
gifts to distribute among men. He is the wonderful Counselor, infinite
in wisdom and strength; and if we will acknowledge the power of
His Spirit, and submit to be molded by it, we shall stand complete in
Him. What a thought is this! In Christ “dwelleth all the fullness of the
Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him.” Never will the human
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heart know happiness until it is submitted to be molded by the Spirit of
God. The Spirit conforms the renewed soul to the model, Jesus Christ.
Through the influence of the Spirit, enmity against God is changed
into faith and love, and pride into humility. The soul perceives the
beauty of truth, and Christ is honored in excellence and perfection of
character. As these changes are effected, angels break out in rapturous
song, and God and Christ rejoice over souls fashioned after the divine
similitude....
The Price of Victory
The warfare between good and evil has not grown less fierce than
it was in the days of the Saviour. The path to heaven is no smoother
now than it was then. All our sins must be put away. Every darling
indulgence that hinders our spiritual progress must be cut off. The right
eye or the right hand must be sacrificed, if it causes us to offend. Are
we willing to renounce our own wisdom, and to receive the kingdom
of heaven as a little child? Are we willing to part with our self-
righteousness? Are we willing to sacrifice the approbation of men?
The prize of eternal life is of infinite value. Are we willing to welcome
the Holy Spirit’s aid, and co-operate with it, putting forth efforts