already stated, private circumstances I have not mentioned. But it must not be supposed that they have not influenced those who dwell at Plymouth. If there had been remedy they would not have been a reason for leaving, but they called for a remedy which if refused made it impossible to stay. This direct working of Satan, few perhaps may distinctly estimate; but the Spirit of Christ will have no difficulty in judging the facts I have stated, and the course of things to which I have alluded. My word of unhesitating testimony is, come out from among them, and be ye separate. They have sought to perplex the poor, clear in their judgment of where evil was, and where Christ was; by asking now on what Scripture did you leave, they knew what they left, by experience, and judged rightly about it; though, as a priest might come and puzzle a soul that knew well on what ground it stood, they could ill answer perhaps a cross examination of what Scripture they were on. My answer to them is simple. My text is plain. Come out from among them, and be ye separate, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you. If they would have yet more, I cite what they have sufficiently pressed upon others, “Cease to do evil.” There is evil unconfessed and unjudged; evil, I judge of the very worst kind, speaking of evil in a Christian assembly, and I suppose there must be Scriptures for leaving it, or we should never have been gathered at all. I will only add, as much has been said in print of Mr. Soltau’s asking Mr. Harris to stay, that he asked Mr. Harris to stay, to help him to resist Mr. Newton, against whom he felt unable to make head alone, and he stated to Mr. Hill, that all the evil had come from letting him have his own way. Here you have the history of Plymouth. Whether Mr. Soltau is now able to do so and does so, others must judge. In its present form, Mr. Newton drew up the letter addressed to the brethren in London.[1]
- ↑ Mr. Clulow stated that he sat up all night, and drew it up that one night.
