BROOKLYN, N.Y., DECEMBER 6TH, 1909
BROOKLYN, N.Y., DECEMBER 6TH, 1909
Mr. J. Henderson.
My Dear Mr. Henderson, — Copies of J.S.A.’s letters have just come and, as you requested, I send a line as to them. F.L. wishes them back, so no doubt he will return them to you.
I like the tone of the letters, and I am thankful to see a desire to keep the things of God in their scriptural setting. In saying, ‘I do not agree with the old thought ... that at a given moment on the Lord’s day morning, the hour varying immensely at different places, the Lord comes in a spiritual way into the different companies and remains there’, etc. I wish Mr. A. had made it clear that he believes the Lord does come to His people as gathered. From the tenor of his letter, I believe he holds this. If he does not he must think with P.R.M. that the Lord is in the midst continuously. If the Lord is in the midst whether the saints are convened or not, of course there can be no coming in and leaving. My attention has been called to an alleged remark of J.N.D. that we ought to know when the Lord comes into our midst and when He goes out — Readings in Crieff, 1889. This was reassuring to my own soul as confirming my understanding of John 14 and 20.
It cannot be denied that He promised to come to the disciples (John 14: 18); and there is nothing in the passage that indicates that He meant to come once for all. The Spirit should abide with them for ever. Then we have His manifestation to one who kept His commandments, and finally, the Father and He coming, and abiding with one who kept His word. It is all one instruction, and by comparing it with other scriptures, we may trace the history of the church in it. That is, His coming (verse 18) to the disciples was normal — things were in every way according to His mind, as we see in the Acts; subsequently the manifesting and coming are made conditional — [p. 77] there would be defection and unfaithfulness, but to the faithful ones would be vouchsafed the privileges enjoyed when things were in order at the beginning.
John 20 cannot be the fulfilment of all this. It is clear to me that in John 14 the Lord is setting forth the resources which the saints should have during His absence, and not simply the inauguration of the assembly on earth as in chapter 20. In the former the Lord is thinking of His people as left here in His absence: He prays the Father for another Comforter (this loses its force if He contemplated being in the midst permanently Himself); then He would come Himself to them, etc.
In the latter (chapter 20) the dignity of His Person is in view; also the dignity of the assembly as formed of His brethren. His coming into the midst here is not after the coming of the Spirit as in chapter 14. And He does not ask the Father for the Spirit — He gives it.
Here a question arises as to where the Lord comes from when He comes to us (John 14). It is clear that He comes from the Father, or heaven. The situation is, that He should be away from the saints; but He would not leave them orphans, He would be coming to them. It is characteristic rather than specific. I believe it is of great importance to see that John 14: 15 is subsequent to Pentecost. Verse 18 I would connect with chapter 20 to show what His coming involves; but then the latter chapter is entirely unique as setting forth the inauguration of the assembly.
As to Colossians, I do not apprehend that “Christ in you” is the same as Christ being in the midst of the assembly. Mr. A. evidently does not either. I think it is that He is in our affections, as we are in His (see John 14: 20). In this sense the Ark has a place here. In the types the Ark is distinct from the Shekinah. In both the Tabernacle and the Temple the Ark is seen in its place before the glory enters.
As to Hebrews 2, I am unable to see that there is any ground for saying that the Lord’s position in the midst of the assembly is continuous; indeed I am confident that it is not. We must leave room for the divine side. As singing He is on our side; but He is known also in the assembly as on God’s side. “I will declare thy name unto my brethren”. One would like to get nearer to Him in the assembly so as to know these things practically. The assembly is composed of persons (it is [p. 78] not abstract), and the Lord is known in it as a living Person. I do not see that we are warranted to speak of things in an abstract way which in Scripture are presented concretely.
Affectionately yours in Christ,
James Taylor.