We would here remind the people of God that there is no holier, or more priestly work in which any one can be employed, than that which concerns the maintenance of the holiness of the house of God; a work in which at every step the child of God has to go for his guidance to the Word and to the testimony; a work in which the hands and feet have to be washed in the laver of the sanctuary, and the priestly vestments kept white in the blood of the Lamb; and woe to him who with defiled hands, and unholy feet, or garments spotted with the flesh, or who with any self taught principles of his own, seeks to take upon himself a service, for which God’s revealed will is the only warrant, and the cleansing of the sanctuary the necessary pre-requisite; on all others, sooner or later, God will execute judgment, and cause them to see their folly and their sin. Discipline is solemn work, and when performed in accordance with the Word, and in the spirit inculcated, is very holy work; but when instead of the meekness and gentleness of Christ, the pride and high-handedness, and high-mindedness of the flesh comes in; where the love that covereth is set aside, and the hatred and animosity of the carnal heart, helped on and fanned into a flame by the accuser of the saints, takes its place, then God will arise himself and vindicate His truth and His people.
We cannot better conclude this portion of our history than by giving some extracts of a letter written about this time by Mr. Craik, in which he has left on record his thoughts on the ways and practices of Mr. Darby and his followers; and may we learn from the gracious humble spirit of the writer, lessons but too easily forgetton at any time, and particularly in the time of contest.
“According to the light I have, both parties are so far in the wrong that I have no wish to be identified with either. I wait for further light, and my prayer is “Hear the right, O Lord.” Should it turn out that Mr. Newton’s errors are only those of a rash speculative intellectualist, who is yet sound at heart and seeking to honour Christ, it will be no cause of regret that I have refused to have fellowship with those who have been seeking to crush rather than to recover him: if, on the other hand, it should appear that after all his long course of service, he is really an enemy to the cross of Christ, it will be no cause of regret that I have been rather too slow to believe so terrible à charge. Until George Wigram be subjected to discipline, I shall not feel it any cause of sorrow to be standing in separation from a body where such a course is tolerated.****O what a terrible thing is party spirit! Am I not justified in discarding and avoiding it. The truth is, Brethrenism as such, is broken to pieces. By pretending to be wiser, holier, more spiritual, more enlightened, than all other christians; by rash and unprofitable intrusions into things not revealed; by making mysticism and
