Testimonials of a similar import might be multiplied indefinitely, if necessary, and none stronger than from Mr. Darby’s Narrative of Facts. But there are few who will not accept the evidence already adduced as sufficient to show that the idea of a Divine presidency in the Assembly is, as we have said, unwarranted both by facts and Scripture.
But we have other questions. The next I have to ask is this—Exalting Christ, as they profess, beyond other Christians, and receiving their gifts of ministry through the direct agency of the Holy Spirit, the teaching in the Assembly—notwithstanding the failures they lament—must bear some marks of its Divine character? In other words, since, meeting as they do, the Holy Spirit ministers by whom He will, they must have some very remarkable ministries.
No doubt the answer will be in the affirmative. Still, I cannot help quoting the testimony of one who was long honoured among “the Brethren” as one of their teachers. He says:—
“That there are Divinely-gifted men amongst them I do not doubt, as there are also elsewhere; but then they were Divinely-gifted as clergymen and ministers of other denominations, before they were connected with this exclusive Church; and almost all besides are persons who have had at least the advantage of a collegiate training, apart from the body in which they have subsequently ministered. Of those that have been formed by the system, I would rather not say anything, although godliness and earnestness will always be in their measure owned by the Lord.
“As to anything like Divinely-authenticated ministry, with all their boastful claims, the Brethren have no superiority over other Christians; and in regard to rule and order, it will appear to every one competent to form a judgment that they are inferior to most, because they have rejected human order, and have not substituted in its place that which is Divine. That which obtains amongst them in this character is at best the expressed judgment of one
