In the year 1828 Mr. Darby published his first pamphlet, entitled, " The Nature and Unity of the Church of Christ." We may consider this tract as a statement of what the young community believed and practiced, though not in the form of a creed or confession; and, further, as presenting the divine ground on which they acted. It may also be considered to contain nearly all the elements of those distinctive truths which have been held by Brethren from that day even until now. Not that the writer thought anything of this at the time; he was simply making known for the help of others what he had learned from the word of God for himself. But who could question the guidance of the Holy Spirit in such a production? Surely He was leading His chosen instruments by a way which they knew not, that the blessing which followed might be seen to be of His own rich grace and truth.
As this paper was the first public testimony of a movement which was so rapidly to produce such great and blessed results in liberating souls, we will here give for the convenience of the reader a few extracts, chiefly as to the unity of the church.
" We know that it was the purpose of God in Christ to gather in one all things in heaven and on earth; reconciled unto Himself in Him; and that the church should be, though necessarily imperfect in His absence, yet by the energy of the Spirit the witness of this on earth, by gathering the children of God which were scattered abroad. Believers know that all who are born of the Spirit have substantial unity of mind, so as to know each other, and love each other as brethren. But this is not all, even if it were fulfilled in practice, which it is not; for they were so to be all one, as that the world might know that Jesus was sent of God: in this we must all confess our sad failure. I shall attempt not so much to propose measures here for the children of God, as to establish healthful principles: for it is manifest to me that it must flow from the growing influence of the Spirit of God and His unseen teaching: but we may observe what are positive hindrances, and in what that union consists....
" In the first place it is not a formal union of the outward professing bodies that is desirable: indeed it is surprising that reflecting Protestants should desire it. Far from doing good, I conceive it would be impossible that such a body could be at all recognized as the church of God. It would be a counterpart to Romish unity; we should have the life of the church and the power of the word lost, and the unity of spiritual life utterly excluded. Whatever plans may be in the order of providence, we can only act upon the principles of grace; and true unity is the unity of the Spirit, and it must be wrought by the operation of the Spirit....
" If the view that we have taken of the state of the church be correct, we may adjudge that he is an enemy to the work of the Spirit of God who seeks the interests of any particular denomination; and that those who believe in the power and coming of the Lord Jesus Christ,' ought carefully to keep from such a spirit: for it is drawing back the church to a state occasioned by ignorance and non-subjection to the word, and making a duty of its worst and most anti-Christian results. This is a most subtle and prevailing mental disease, he followeth not us,' even when men are really Christians....
" Christians are little aware how this prevails in their minds; how they seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ; and how it dries up the springs of grace and spiritual communion; how it precludes that order to which blessing is attached, the gathering together in the Lord's name. No meeting, which is not framed to embrace all the children of God, on the full basis of the kingdom of the Son, can find the fullness of blessing, because it does not contemplate it because its faith does not embrace it.... Accordingly, the outward symbol and instrument of unity is the partaking of the Lord's supper; " for we being many are one body, for we are all partakers of that one bread." And what does St. Paul declare to be the true intent and testimony of that rite? That, whensoever we eat of that bread and drink of that cup, we do show the Lord's death till He come.' Here there are found the character and life of the church-that into which it is called-that in which the truth of its existence subsists, and in which alone is true unity.... Am I desiring believers to correct the churches? I am beseeching them to correct themselves, by living up, in some measure, to the hope of their calling. I beseech them to show their faith in the death of the Lord Jesus, and their boast in the glorious assurance which they have obtained by it, by conformity to it, to show their faith in His coming, and practically to look for it by a life suitable to desires fixed upon it.
"Let them testify against the secularity and blindness of the church; but let them be consistent in their own conduct. Let their moderation be known unto all men.' While the spirit of the world prevails, spiritual union cannot subsist. Few believers are at all aware how the spirit which gradually opened the door to the dominion of apostasy still sheds its wasting and baneful influence on the professing church.... I do believe that God is working by means and in ways little thought of, in preparing the way of the Lord, and making his paths straight'-doing by a mixture of providence and testimony the work of Elias. I am persuaded that He will put men to shame exactly in the things in which they have boasted. I am persuaded that He will stain the pride of human glory, "and the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of man shall be brought low, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day...."
" But there is a practical part for believers to act. They can lay their hand upon many things in themselves, practically inconsistent with the power of that day-things which show that their hope is not in it-conformity to the world which skews that the cross has not its proper glory in their eyes.... Further, unity is the glory of the church; but unity to secure and promote our own interests is not the unity of the church, but confederacy and denial of the nature and hope of the church. Unity, that is of the church, is the unity of the Spirit, and can only be in the things of the Spirit, and therefore can only be perfected in spiritual persons.... But what are the people of the Lord to do? Let them wait upon the Lord, and wait according to the teaching of His Spirit, and in conformity to the image, by the life of the Spirit of the Son....
" But if any will say, if you see these things, what are you doing yourself? I can only deeply acknowledge the strange and infinite shortcomings, and sorrow and mourn over them; I acknowledge the weakness of my faith, but I earnestly seek for direction. And let me add, when so many who ought to guide go their own way, those who would have gladly followed are made slow and feeble, lest they should in any wise err from the straight path and hinder their service though their souls may be safe. But I would earnestly repeat what I said before-the unity of the church cannot possibly be found till the common object of those who are members of it is the glory of the Lord, who is the Author and Finisher of its faith: a glory which is to be made known in its brightness at His appearing, when the fashion of this world shall pass away.... The Lord Himself says, That they all may be one: as thou Father, art in me, and I in thee; that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them, that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them as thou hast loved me.' John 17
" Oh! that the church would weigh this word, and see if their present state do not preclude necessarily their shining in the glory of the Lord, or of fulfilling that purpose for which they were called. And I ask them, Do they at all look for or desire this? or are they content to sit down and say, that His promise is come utterly to an end for evermore? Surely, if we cannot say, 'Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee,' we should say, 'Awake, awake, put on thy strength, arm of the Lord; awake, as in the ancient days, as in the generations of old'.... Will He give His glory to one division or another? or where will He find a place for it to rest upon amongst us?...
" I have gone beyond my original intention in this paper; if I have in anything gone beyond the measure of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, I shall thankfully, and pray God to make it forgotten."