cast out the name of brethren as evil, because they bow not to their discipline, either because their consciences are too tender, or their love to Christ too great, to follow them in a Jehu zeal against all but themselves, and against every idol but their own. Let them prove from the Word, the principle on which they act; let them show in unmistakeable language, the Lord’s command to reject those who love Him better than life, and His honor better than their own, even those whose names the Blessed Master bears ever on his heart; for thanks be to God and his love, mortal hands cannot touch Christ’s breastplate, nor erase from the Book of Life one name written therein.
In so solemn a matter as discipline,[1] God has not left us to vague generalities in his Word, but has revealed his will in plain preceptive statements, which, however, many setting aside have contented them selves by that misrepresentation of Scripture—that misapplication of types and figures—which has ever been the resort of those who are determined to find something to satisfy their consciences to carry out their own self-will. All discipline must be in the name of Jesus, and in the spirit of God; all discipline that violates that name, and is contrary to that Spirit, is opposed to the character of Him, who came not to judge but to save; not to be served, but to wash the feet of his disciples all that is antagonistic to the spirit of grace, of truth, and of love, that dwells in him who is born of God, is a discipline that God abhors, and for which he will exercise a judgment even here that the wise shall understand, though the fool may stumble at it. Volumes might be written of the disastrous effects of this discipline on those who enforce it, while to those on whom it has been exercised, it has proved a bitter sorrow that has broken many hearts, but still a wholesome lesson, and has proved a most needed warning. In regard to the designs of its originators, it has become before the whole Church of God, a signal failure in its effects on others, and a signal disgrace as it regards themselves. Monstrous, however, as this discipline must appear to any whose vision has not been blinded by complicity with the evil, in its reference to the thousands in England, who are affected by it; its monstrosity is increased ten-fold when we see it attempted to force the same discipline on saints abroad, in Europe, in Asia, or in America; saints, who but for the discipline itself, would ever have remained in happy ignorance of all connected with the evil it has been attempted to keep out.
- ↑ See Appendix B, for some extracts from a valuable tract on “Discipline,” by J.N.D.
