People have forgotten that the Holy Ghost is come. All recognition of Him is so utterly gone. To my mind, the very principle of " the clergy " involves that; and if you look at 2 Cor. 11:13-1513For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (2 Corinthians 11:13‑15), you will find you have now to watch that you do not mistake a demon for the Holy Ghost. " False apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ; and no marvel, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light; therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness."
In Gal. 3:55He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? (Galatians 3:5), Paul speaks of him " that ministereth to you the Spirit." Ask any ordinary person what ministering the Spirit is, and he does not know what you mean by it. But to the Galatians who in their minds were falling from grace, he could say, " How did you get the Holy Ghost? "
Ques. Was not the receiving of the Holy Ghost in the Galatians deeper than an outward thing?
I have no doubt it was really, for he says, " I have confidence in you through the Lord "; but they were going on so badly, that he did not know what to make of them.
Ques. You would make the gift of the Holy Ghost distinct from the gifts given by Him?
Of course.
Ques. What is the difference between 1 Cor. 12 and Eph. 4?
In 1 Cor. 12 you have gifts in power, and the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets, so that in the case of the gift of a tongue, one may have to hold his tongue. That is power.
In Ephesians I get Christ going on high, and carrying the church on to the end; it is no question of the Spirit and power, but of Christ caring for His own body. A person having a gift is a very different thing from its exercise. People were not used as mere machines.
There is a difference, too, between a revelation and my spiritual apprehension of the mind of Christ in what is already revealed.
The doctrine of Irvingism was that the Holy Ghost had come back again. But the Lord said, ".that he may abide with you forever." None of their apostles ever got the gifts. Gifts of healing I think nothing of, because if we had the faith, they would be seen now. I have seen them at Plymouth.