Modern mysticism; or, The covenants of the spirit, their scope and limitations - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1905 edition. Excerpt: ...Pentecost the baptism and power came from on high with outward manifestations that powerfully affected the senses. The words of Christ found in Mark ix. I were then fulfilled, "There be some of them that stand here that shall not taste death till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power"; or as Matthew puts it, till they have seen the Son of Man coming in his kingdom." This cannot mean his "second coming," but his coming to establish the kingdom with power through the Holy Spirit, and through his disciples, as promised in Acts i. 1-4, the fulfilment of all which began with Pentecost. It may not be out of place here to note in passing that the adherents of the school of thought under investigation place their doctrine of the second coming--the parousia--at the centre of their system, and the same principles of interpretation are necessary to all their conclusions; and their whole system falls to the ground if we can find one single instance of his promised coming which has had its fulfilment already, as in the case just quoted. We do greatly need some one to discuss the parousia as set forth in the Scriptures, with all the various meanings and limitations thereof. To return to the trend of our discussion: These char-isms, or the Holy Ghost, descended suddenly and unexpectedly, as at Pentecost, on Cornelius and his Gentile associates while Peter was preaching to them. Other such cases, if there were any, are not recorded. But in the ordinary administration, these gifts were conferred by the laying on of the hands of the apostles, and were not sought and obtained by faith and prayer. The apostles not only enjoyed the charisms themselves, but it was an apostolic function to confer these gifts on others. Philip preached at Samaria, himself...