43. “J. S.,” St. Affrique. We assuredly believe that the disciples had divine life before the Holy Ghost came clown. You must clearly distinguish between divine life and the Holy Ghost’s indwelling. All the Old Testament saints had divine life. The two things are quite distinct. The apostle prays for the Ephesians, “That God would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.” (Eph. 3:16.) Hero you have both the divine life — “the inner man” — and the Holy Ghost. You have also to distinguish between “life,” and “life more abundantly,” according to the words of our Lord in John 10 “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (v. 10.) And, in pursuance of this, we find the risen Lord — the Head of the new creation, in John 20, breathing upon His disciples, and saying, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” This was “life more abundantly,” even previous to the day of Pentecost. But when our Lord took His seat at the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens, the Holy Ghost came down, according to the promise of the Father.
44. “G. M. S.,” Bordeaux, (a) During the interval between the Lord’s ascension and the day of Pentecost, the disciples were commanded to tarry at Jerusalem until they should be endued with power from on high; and even after that, God’s testimony was specially to Israel until they fined up the measure of their iniquities, and were utterly rejected as a nation, (b) If you compare 2 Chron. 5:2, 10 with Heb. 9:4, you will find that when the ark was in the tabernacle in the wilderness, it contained the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant. But, when the ark was brought into the temple, there was nothing in it but the tables. The pot of manna and the rod, those memorials of wilderness scenes and circumstances were laid aside, and nothing remained save that which formed the foundation of Jehovah’s throne of government in Israel and over all the earth, (c) As to the difference between “ Cherubim” and “ Seraphim:” the former are the inseparable adjuncts of God’s throne of government; the latter would seem from Isa. 6 to be an order of angelic ministry. (d) John 8:34, 35 teaches that nothing suits the Father’s house but the spirit of liberty. There is no legal yoke, no spirit of bondage there. Sonship is the order, and “ Abba” the cry in the Father’s house. The law could never introduce the soul into the house, much less give it an abiding place there. Accept our very warmest thanks, beloved friend, for your truly kind and welcome letter. It would be a real pleasure to send you a direct reply, but we are much pressed for time. May God bless you!
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