His presence is known by
visible evidence
The presence of the Holy
Spirit in a man's heart can only be known by the fruits and
effects He produces. Mysterious and invisible to mortal eye as
His operations are, they always lead to certain visible and
tangible results. Just as you know the compass-needle to be
magnetized by its turning to the north—just as you know there is
life in a tree by its sap, buds, leaves and fruits—just as you
know there is a steersman on board a ship by its keeping a
steady regular course—just so you may know the Spirit to be in a
man's heart by the influence He exercises over his thoughts,
affections, opinions, habits, and life. I lay this down broadly
and unhesitatingly. I find no safe ground to occupy excepting
this. I see no safeguard against the wildest enthusiasm,
excepting in this position. And I see it clearly marked out in
our Lord Jesus Christ's words, "Every tree is known by his own
fruit." (Luke 6:44.)
Where the Holy Spirit is, there will always be deep conviction
of sin, and true repentance for it. It is His special office to
convince of sin. (John 16:8.) He shows the exceeding holiness of
God. He teaches the exceeding corruption and infirmity of our
nature. He strips us of our blind self-righteousness. He opens
our eyes to our awful guilt, folly and danger. He fills the
heart with sorrow, contrition, and abhorrence for sin, as the
abominable thing which God hates. He who knows nothing of all
this, and saunters carelessly through life, thoughtless about
sin, and indifferent and unconcerned about his soul, is a dead
man before God! He has not the Spirit of Christ.
- J. C. Ryle
