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The Ministry of the Spirit, J. Gordon, D
Excerpt from The Ministry of the Spirit
It is not claimed that in this little volume all has been said that might be said upon the subject treated. On the contrary, the writer has proceeded upon the belief that the doctrine of the Holy Spirit can be better understood by limiting the sphere of discussion, rather than by extending it to the largest bounds. For finite beings, at least, presence is more intelligible than omnipresence. So, thought the subject of this book is in itself profoundly mysterious, we have sought to simplify it by dwelling upon the time-ministry of the Holy Ghost without entering upon the consideration of his eternal ministry. What the Spirit did before the incarnation of Christ, and what he may do hereafter beyond the second advent of Christ, is a question hardly touched upon in this volume. We have sought rather to emphasize and to magnify the great truth that the Paraclete is now present in the church: that we are living in the dispensation of the Spirit, with all the unspeakable blessing for the church and for the world which this economy provides.
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
It is not claimed that in this little volume all has been said that might be said upon the subject treated. On the contrary, the writer has proceeded upon the belief that the doctrine of the Holy Spirit can be better understood by limiting the sphere of discussion, rather than by extending it to the largest bounds. For finite beings, at least, presence is more intelligible than omnipresence. So, thought the subject of this book is in itself profoundly mysterious, we have sought to simplify it by dwelling upon the time-ministry of the Holy Ghost without entering upon the consideration of his eternal ministry. What the Spirit did before the incarnation of Christ, and what he may do hereafter beyond the second advent of Christ, is a question hardly touched upon in this volume. We have sought rather to emphasize and to magnify the great truth that the Paraclete is now present in the church: that we are living in the dispensation of the Spirit, with all the unspeakable blessing for the church and for the world which this economy provides.
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
235 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1986
11 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
A.J. Gordon
68 books2 followersAdoniram Judson Gordon was born in New Hampton, New Hampshire, on April 19, 1836. His father, Baptist deacon John Calvin Gordon, was a Calvinist named after John Calvin. His mother was Sally Robinson Gordon. A.J. was named after Adoniram Judson, a Baptist missionary to Burma who had recently completed a Burmese translation of the Bible.
Gordon experienced a Christian conversion at age 15 and thereafter sought to become a pastor. He graduated from Brown University (then a Baptist affiliated school) in 1860 and Newton Theological Institution in 1863. In 1863, he married Maria Hale and became pastor of Jamaica Plain Baptist Church in Roxbury, Massachusetts. In 1869, he became pastor of Clarendon Street Baptist Church in Boston, a fairly affluent church. Under Gordon's leadership, Clarendon Street Church was described as "one of the most spiritual and aggressive in America". The church is no longer in operation. Gordon became a favored speaker in evangelist Dwight L. Moody's Northfield conventions. Every summer Gordon returned to his hometown in New Hampshire and often preached at the Dana Meeting House.
Gordon became suddenly ill with influenza and bronchitis and died at age 59 on February 2, 1895. He is buried in Forest Hills Cemetery. A son, Ernest Barron Gordon, published a biography of his father in 1896, titled Adoniram Judson Gordon, a Biography with Letters and Illustrative Extracts Drawn from Unpublished or Uncollected Sermons and Addresses, which is still in print.
Gordon experienced a Christian conversion at age 15 and thereafter sought to become a pastor. He graduated from Brown University (then a Baptist affiliated school) in 1860 and Newton Theological Institution in 1863. In 1863, he married Maria Hale and became pastor of Jamaica Plain Baptist Church in Roxbury, Massachusetts. In 1869, he became pastor of Clarendon Street Baptist Church in Boston, a fairly affluent church. Under Gordon's leadership, Clarendon Street Church was described as "one of the most spiritual and aggressive in America". The church is no longer in operation. Gordon became a favored speaker in evangelist Dwight L. Moody's Northfield conventions. Every summer Gordon returned to his hometown in New Hampshire and often preached at the Dana Meeting House.
Gordon became suddenly ill with influenza and bronchitis and died at age 59 on February 2, 1895. He is buried in Forest Hills Cemetery. A son, Ernest Barron Gordon, published a biography of his father in 1896, titled Adoniram Judson Gordon, a Biography with Letters and Illustrative Extracts Drawn from Unpublished or Uncollected Sermons and Addresses, which is still in print.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 18, 2023
If you wanna learn about the role of the Holy Spirit and how much of a gift He is then read this!! It is challenging to understand so it took me awhile to get through. One of those books you could read over and over again yet learn something new every time.
February 15, 2024
Excellent on the topic
One of the outstanding and rare features is the large numbernof parallels pointed out between the Lord Jesus - the Paraclete in heaven - and the Holy Spirit - the Paraclete on earth.
One of the outstanding and rare features is the large numbernof parallels pointed out between the Lord Jesus - the Paraclete in heaven - and the Holy Spirit - the Paraclete on earth.
February 5, 2023
Very academic
This book is very academic. It has very long sentences and is a far cry from an easy read. In it’s favor, it is very thorough.
This book is very academic. It has very long sentences and is a far cry from an easy read. In it’s favor, it is very thorough.
September 25, 2017
This may have been the first book by A.J.Gordon that I read in the late 1900s. I really enjoyed and was helped by him quoting and explaining John Owen's thoughts on the subject of the Spirit's sealing. Here's the quote: "In a word the sealing is the Spirit himself, now received by faith and resting upon the believer, with all the results in assurance, in joy, and in empowering for service, which must follow his unhindered sway in the soul. Dr. John Owen, who has written more intelligently and more exhaustively on this subject than any with whom we are acquainted, thus sums up the subject: “If we can learn aright how Christ was sealed, we shall learn how we are sealed. The sealing of Christ by the Father is the communication of the Holy Spirit in fullness to him, authorizing him unto and acting his divine power in all the acts and duties of his office, so as to evidence the presence of God with him and approbation of him. God's sealing of believers then is his gracious communication of the Holy Spirit unto them so to act his divine power in them as to enable them unto all the duties of their holy calling, evidencing them to be accepted with him both for themselves and others, and asserting their preservation unto eternal life." (John Owen, D. D., Discourse Concerning the Spirit, pp. 406, 407.)
March 26, 2014
This was the first book I've read by A.J. Gordon. One of my seminary professors at Bob Jones University alway spoke highly of Gordon, his love for the Lord and the great theological literature he wrote during his life and ministry. This book was an excellent, biblical study on the ministry of the Holy Spirit from Pentecost until the return of Christ. He does not seek to go into the role of the Holy Spirit in the OT, nor does he delve into the Spirit's role after the return of Christ. This book is loaded with Scripture, deep theological truths, as well as provides ample opportunity for personal application as a believer. One of the best chapters was concerning the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and His role in guiding the apostles and their close associates in writing the New Testament. There was some very helpful stuff concerning what the Bible says about the role of the Holy Spirit in the church today as well. He very clearly, and biblically shows that the Holy Spirit moves and operates in the hearts of men in a different way from that of the apostolic era. I will definitely be recommending this book to like-minded believers as well as charismatics and evangelical continuationists.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews