BROOKLYN, N.Y., SEPTEMBER 15TH, 1907

BROOKLYN, N.Y., SEPTEMBER 15TH, 1907

Beloved Brother, — I quite go with your remarks as to Luke’s gospel. Luke presents Christ as here on the part of God, and in all that He does and says, He makes it evident that God had intervened for man’s good. At the end of chapter 10 and in chapter 11 He is seen as Teacher — the disciples taking the place as learners. In His instruction as to prayer He shows that the greatest possible gift, the Holy Spirit, is obtained through it. But it is the Father who is of, or in, heaven, who gives this gift. The gospel brings the light of God to man’s soul, and the effect of this is that man has confidence in God which is expressed in prayer. It is the attitude the soul takes before God, and God’s answer is the gift of the Spirit. What I have observed is, that there is a tendency to restrict God — that He gives the Spirit only in a prescribed way. But there is no prescribed way. The scripture shows that He gives the Spirit in answer to prayer, and also that He gives Him sovereignly to believers to seal them as His property. I feel that it is of great advantage that saints should be exercised in regard to prayer. Divine things are too lightly valued and hence they are not possessed. When we value a divine gift we ask for it, and Luke 11 would encourage us to keep on asking till we get it. Jacob represents those who appreciate the divine blessing: “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me” (Genesis 32: 26). Christ recovered everything in principle through death and resurrection, but it is evident that there could be no subjective recovery unless the Lord can give the Spirit to man. God obtains the response which He seeks from man in virtue of man having received the Spirit from Christ. Our Head is a life-giving Spirit.

Affectionately yours in Christ,

James Taylor.