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Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers
same work, only in greater degree, must be done now. Then the
human agent had only to ask for the blessing, and wait for the Lord
to perfect the work concerning him. It is God who began the work,
and He will finish His work, making man complete in Jesus Christ.
But there must be no neglect of the grace represented by the former
rain. Only those who are living up to the light they have will receive
greater light. Unless we are daily advancing in the exemplification of
the active Christian virtues, we shall not recognize the manifestations
of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. It may be falling on hearts all
around us, but we shall not discern or receive it.
At no point in our experience can we dispense with the assis-
tance of that which enables us to make the first start. The blessings
received under the former rain are needful to us to the end. Yet
these alone will not suffice. While we cherish the blessing of the
early rain, we must not, on the other hand, lose sight of the fact that
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without the latter rain, to fill out the ears and ripen the grain, the
harvest will not be ready for the sickle, and the labor of the sower
will have been in vain. Divine grace is needed at the beginning,
divine grace at every step of advance, and divine grace alone can
complete the work. There is no place for us to rest in a careless
attitude. We must never forget the warnings of Christ, “Watch unto
prayer,” “Watch, ... and pray always.” A connection with the divine
agency every moment is essential to our progress. We may have
had a measure of the Spirit of God, but by prayer and faith we are
continually to seek more of the Spirit. It will never do to cease our
efforts. If we do not progress, if we do not place ourselves in an
attitude to receive both the former and the latter rain, we shall lose
our souls, and the responsibility will lie at our own door.
“Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain.” Do not
rest satisfied that in the ordinary course of the season, rain will fall.
Ask for it. The growth and perfection of the seed rests not with
the husbandman. God alone can ripen the harvest. But man’s co-
operation is required. God’s work for us demands the action of our
mind, the exercise of our faith. We must seek His favors with the
whole heart if the showers of grace are to come to us. We should
improve every opportunity of placing ourselves in the channel of
blessing. Christ has said, “Where two or three are gathered together
in My name, there am I in the midst.” The convocations of the