Chapter XIII.—That the Renewal of
Man is Not Completed in This World.
14. But as yet “by faith, not by sight,” for “we
are saved by hope; but hope that is seen is not hope.” As yet
deep calleth unto deep but in “the noise of Thy
waterspouts.” And as yet
doth he that saith, I “could not speak unto you as unto
spiritual, but as unto carnal,” even he, as yet, doth not count
himself to have apprehended, and forgetteth those things which are
behind, and reacheth forth to those things which are before, and
groaneth being burdened; and his soul thirsteth after the
living God, as the hart after the water-brooks, and saith, “When
shall I come?” “desiring to be clothed upon
with his house which is from heaven;” and calleth upon this lower deep, saying, “Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” And, “Be not children in understanding, howbeit in malice be ye children,” that in “understanding ye may be perfect;” and “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you?” But now not in his own voice, but in Thine who sentest Thy Spirit from above; through Him who “ascended up on high,” and set open the flood-gates of His gifts, that the force of His streams might make glad the city of God. For, for Him doth “the friend of the bridegroom” sigh, having now the first-fruits of the Spirit laid up with Him, yet still groaning within himself, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of his body; to Him he sighs, for he is a member of the Bride; for Him is he jealous, for he is the friend of the Bridegroom; for Him is he jealous, not for himself; because in the voice of Thy “waterspouts,” not in his own voice, doth he call on that other deep, for whom being jealous he feareth, lest that, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so their minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in our Bridegroom, Thine only Son. What a light of beauty will that be when “we shall see Him as He is,” and those tears be passed away which “have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?”
Footnotes
