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A short method of prayer, and Spiritual torrents, tr. by A.W. Marston

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A SHORT METHOD OF PRAYER. 59

this spirit, which proceeded from God, returns to Him as its end.

It is, then, necessary that we should enter this way, which is the divine motion, and the Spirit of Jesus Christ. St Paul says, " If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His" (Rom. viii. 9). To be Christ's, then, we must suffer our-selves to be filled with His Spirit, and emptied of our own : our hearts must be evacuated. St Paul, in the same place, proves to us the necessity of this divine motion : he says, " As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God " (Rom. viii. 14).

The divinely -imparted Spirit is the Spirit of divine sonship; therefore, the same apostle con- tinues, ** Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear ; but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father" (Rom. viii. 15). This spirit is no other than the Spirit of Christ, by whom we participate in His Sonship; and this *' Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the sons of God."

As soon as the soul leaves itself to be moved by