I know why Christ is at God's right hand, and I know why the Holy Ghost is down here. The Holy Ghost here is the witness of the judgment of the world, and the power for me. What is He saying to the world? He says: Christ has come down here, and what have you done with Him? what account have you to give of that blessed One who went about here in thorough weakness, and walked as none else ever did? What have you done with Him?-And the world has to answer: we crowned Him with thorns; and we sent Him back up there, because we would not have Him.
And what is the Holy Ghost to me He is power for me to walk down here in the name of that blessed One who has gone up there. God has never told us that the world is changed with regard to Christ. It may now be religionised, but, as to the question of receiving Christ, it is unaltered in its spirit. But God is manifesting Christ by gathering out of it, by the power of the Holy Ghost, a people to His name, and leading them, in union with Him, through the midst of this unaltered world.
What a wondrous place I have then with reference to Christ and what a solemn place with reference to the world! The weakest thing here, but united to Christ! an earthen vessel, and yet down here in His name! The Holy Ghost dwelling in me uniting me to the One who has been cast out, and leading me through the very scene that the shadow of the cross still rests on.
(J. B.)