And what is this spirit of God? We may know in this way. What says
our Lord in the Gospel? 'The tree is known by its fruits.' Then if
we know the fruits of the Spirit, we shall surely know something at
least of what the Spirit is like. What then says St. Paul, 'The
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.' Therefore the Spirit is a
loving spirit--a peaceable, a gentle, a good, a faithful, a sober
and temperate spirit. And if you follow it, you will live. If you
give yourselves up honestly, frankly, and fully, to be led by that
good spirit, and obey it when it prompts you with right feelings,
you, your very self, will live. You will be what God intended you
to be; you will grow as God intended you to grow; grow as Christ
did, in grace; in all which is graceful, amiable, worthy of respect
and love; and therefore in favour with God and man. Your character
will improve and strengthen day by day; and rise day by day to
fuller, stronger, healthier spiritual life. You will be able more
and more to keep down low passions, evil tempers, and all the works
of the flesh, when they tempt you; you will despise and hate them
more and more; for having seen the beauty of goodness, you will see
the ugliness of sin.
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