p200 [To the same.] (E or G?) Cross, It is not only the presence of the Spirit in the house, but His acting in the service of the saints, which I look for. As to the other point,* though I believe that often there is no harm meant, and that by presidency is merely meant that His leading should be followed, where it is substituted - a rare case, but which I have known - for the presence of Christ, it is an evil. He is in the midst, spiritually no doubt, but still Himself. I cannot have the same affections towards the Holy Ghost as towards Christ. He was not humbled, did not die for me, and so on. The ministrations are under the Lord, too, as such, but the active power is the Spirit. I do not think, 'leads after Him' is right, because the Father and Christ are objects. In ministry the Spirit is active, but He brings the word from on high: "whatever he shall hear, that shall he speak."

{*'The presence of the Lord, as distinct from the presence of the Spirit … I understand Him to be leader of the assembly (president, it is sometimes said, though I think the word inapt), only that whatever truth the word conveys, it is the Lord that is in it, and not the Spirit. The Spirit as I understand it, leads after Him, but He is the leader.'}

The Spirit does act in us (Luke 12:12), and I do look to the Spirit acting in me - I do not say, pray that He may act; I pray to the Father, or to the Lord, but I wait for the Spirit to act. Christ is Head, but it is the Spirit acting in us which gives what He would have said.

1881.

[53162E]