of their deep piety, I went among ‘the Brethren;’ and though I remained among them little more than six months, I saw quite enough. Among all the Christians I ever met, I never saw such intolerance and bigotry, such denial of the right of private judgment, and such miserable oppression as among this sect. From personal contact with many of them, I know that the Plymouths do hold the errors you have so well exposed.”[1]
That there are sincere and good men among the Brethren no one will attempt to deny. But when we see good and devout men―men whose practical walk reflects so much of the image of Christ―our sorrow is the deeper that they should be associated with errors in practice and doctrine which have tended so much to destroy the unity of the Church, and thereby to dishonour their Lord.
But our task is done. We have spoken to wise men, judge ye what we say; and judge it by that only true and infallible standard―the Word of God. If we have spoken in accordance with it, then you have the responsibility of accepting what we have said. If we have not, then it is your instant duty to reject it and to show, in order to destroy, our error. The times are dark and threatening, and the darker they become the more important it is to take heed to God’s Word. “To the law and the testimony.” Let this be the Ithuriel spear wherewith we detect the subtle presence of the Evil One―nay, rather let it be the sword of the Spirit, wherewith, trusting in Divine strength, we may overcome the tempter and win the battle for the Lord. The times are dark, but we look for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, before whose presence the darkness shall flee away, because, as “the morning without clouds,” He will usher in an everlasting day.
- ↑ Heresies of the Plymouth Brethren, by Dr. Carson , pp. 81, 82.
