Page:Darby - A narratives of the facts.djvu/66

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enquiring now as if an impartial person. It was further most carefully repeated, and urged at these meetings, that we denied the Gospels were for the Church, and equally took away the Hebrews and Revelations. That we denied redemption through the blood as to some; and denied the heavenly glory to the Old Testament saints. These things drove many from them, who knew it was not so; but were believed of course by others. These meetings were continued for many weeks, after each of which some came amongst us. Meanwhile a system, such as I never saw, save in Popery, was carried on to influence the poor. Long utterly neglected, save as to the sister’s district rule, they were visited, caressed, and fed, threatened and literally worried, and what I must call open bribery employed, and the most positive and direct persecution. I declined visiting any who had not already come amongst us, unless a case of special invitation: and that there were not more than two or three of. They did not dare. A few complained to others of my not doing it, but I had decided on my path, and declined exercising any kind of influence over them. This system went to such a pitch, that in one case under the exciting influence of sisters, a poor man refused to dine with his wife if she did not come to Ebrington Street, and when she wished to go and hear in the evening at Raleigh Street, said he would be master, she is now in Ebrington Street. The custom of the rich was withdrawn from the tradesmen also in general who came, though any they hoped to win back were sent for, caressed, and invited, and persecuted with solicitations. Soon after this deacons were ballotted for in Ebrington Street, (though indeed the persons had been openly spoken of before), and there they are now. I will now turn to the paper circulated privately! to the number of 3000. Not to answer it. It is its own best answer to every true and upright mind. But merely to notice one or two things in it which connect themselves with the history. Nor shall I say a word of the meanness of courting the pity of strangers, by publishing every word they can scrape together, out of its context, when for years they have been calumniating their bre-