and lived, have been owned of God, in leading them to follow in the footsteps of those who have sought to be examples to the flock in daily life, not only “in word,” but also “in behaviour, in charity, in faith, in purity.” Such was the position occupied by Bethesda, and Mr. Wigram after the disruption, in writing in reference to this time says, “Time was once when Bethesda was Nazarite in character, and derided by the world and by dissenters, and I gloried in fellowship with her reproach.”[1] This testimony may have weight with those to whom the writer belongs.
When the troubles arose in Plymouth in 1845, the Bethesda brethren continued to act on their avowed principles of receiving all saints, and welcomed those who came from Mr. Newton’s meeting and those who came from Mr. Darby’s, without distinction. They sought to act in grace towards all, and in their determination to maintain independence of man, protested as much against subjection to one system as to another.
When, however, the second controversy arose in Plymouth in 1847, their position with respect to these parties was materially altered. The unsound views advocated by Mr. Newton rendered it necessary to exercise watchfulness and care in receiving those who came from under his teaching. On the other side, however, there could be no sympathy felt with Mr. Darby’s high-handed and unchristian course. If, however, it was felt needful to keep aloof from Mr. Newton’s teachings and Mr. Darby’s actings, it must not be supposed the brethren in Bristol had been idle spectators of the sad events that were then taking place in Plymouth. The disruption there had from the first been to the leading brethren in Bristol a matter of the most profound regret, and deep heart-felt sorrow. It was again and again brought before the Lord in prayer and confession, that if possible he would rise on behalf of his people and heal the breaches Satan had caused. The Brethren thus stirred up to pray sought to learn the lesson God would teach, but they earnestly desired, if possible, to preserve the saints with whom they worshipped, from having anything whatever to do with the unholy strife that was going on; and for this no one will blame them, who knows the withering effect such controversies have, on all spirituality and all godliness even ordinarily, and far more so when carried on in the spirit that had been manifested in Plymouth. While this was the desire of the brethren generally, there were a few who sympathized very strongly with Mr. Darby, and from the commencement were earnest in their endeavours to induce the Brethren in Bethesda
- ↑ See “Present Question, p. 35.”
