eccentricity the test of spiritual life and depth; by preferring a dreamy and imaginative theology to the solid food of the word of God; by the adoption of a strange and repulsive phraseology; by the undervaluing of practical godliness; by submission of the understanding to leading teachers; by overstraining some truths and perverting others; by encouraging the forwardness of self-conceit; by the disparagement of useful learning; by grossly offensive familiarity of speaking of such sacred matters as the presence and teaching of the Holy Ghost; and by a sectarianism all the more inexcusable, that it was in the avoidance of sectarianism that brethrenism originated; by these and similar errors, the great scriptural principles of church communion have been marred and disfigured. May there be a return to sobriety of mind—may a lowlier place be taken—may the jealous God be no longer provoked by contemptuous expressions respecting other christians—may the forward vanity of ignorant talkers be no longer substituted for the quiet unobtrusive exercise of spiritual gifts, and those who are right in heart may yet glorify God by meeting together simply on the ground of common faith in Jesus, and common participation of His Spirit, seeking to put no human hindrance in the way of the exercise of any gift for service.”
CHAPTER IV.
“If ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another,” is a word of solemn warning, the truth of which is strikingly illustrated in this portion of the history before us. We turn now from transactions connected with Bethesda in 1848, to contemplate the working of the same principle of late years in the London meetings connected with Mr. Darby and his party, in which will be traced the further development of those ideas, which have already been under review. It would be pleasant to put into the shade those transactions which have been publicly brought before the Church of God, so much to the shame of those concerned; but if a confessed sin has to be covered, and the mantle of love cast over it, sin continued in and unconfessed has to be rebuked before all, that others also may fear. It will not be necessary to enter minutely here into the state of the London meetings alluded to, nor on the character of
