Page:The Life and Works of Christopher Dock.djvu/154

142 A. — The Spirit helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Romans viii, 26 and 27.

Q. 33. — Does God's power still reign in such feeble ones when they reveal before God their weakness with humble and contrite heart?

A. — For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. For I will not contend forever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit shall fail before me, and the souls which I have made. Isaiah lvii, 15, 16.

Q. 34. — All witnesses cited from Holy Script clearly show that God's help is not lacking, however weak faith may be, if it be only of the right appearance before God, God will come to the aid of our weakness. For faith is an action of the Holy Ghost in us, if we will only allow it to act. So long, however, as unbelief has the upper hand within us, the evil spirit will through unbelief work acts of unbelief, namely, all uncleanness, dissension, untruth, injustice and all ungodly things in the children of unbelief, whereby God's wrath and punishment will come upon all ungodly conduct. Now the question is: If God's judgment is threatened over a city or country, and there is still enough faith left to admit that our punishment was caused by unbelief and sin, and we repent of wrong, and try to do right and justice, and raise once more in the heart by faith what unbelief has destroyed, will God be merciful still? A. — Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it. Jerem. v, i; Ezek. xviii, 22, 23.

Q. 35. — But if no conversion follow?