From the Editor of the Southern Review:-
" If he had been an ambitious man, anxious to build up a great and prosperous society, with a view to illustrate his own name, rather than the glory of CHRIST, he might have compromised with Mr. Newton, and thereby saved the society from the schism which followed. But if he had done so, he would have been justly contemptible in the eyes of the true Christian. If, after withdrawing from other denominations because they were untrue to CHRIST'S Name and Word, he had sanctioned fellowship with him or his allies, in spite of the outrageous dishonor put upon the LORD CHRIST, he would have been among the most inconsistent of men, the most patent of hypocrites. But such was not the character of John N. Darby. On the contrary, finding it impossible to expel Mr. Newton, with his ` blasphemous heresy,' from the society at Ebrington Street, Plymouth, he withdrew himself there from, and went on with his missionary labors for the blessing and salvation of souls. Dr. Reid complains, Not content with this (his own withdrawal), he called upon Brethren everywhere to withdraw from all fellowship with Mr. Newton.' He did right. He was a hero and not a hypocrite; he was a champion of CHRIST, and not a coward. Many of those called ` Brethren,' of course, followed the example and call of Mr. Darby; for they were not all apostates. Hence, when the true CHRIST was cast out of the camp at Plymouth, the faithful remnant went forth to seek Him. They refused to worship with the assembly, or to hold communion with the unfaithful brethren, who had set up the false CHRIST of Mr. Newton. This was the head and front of Mr. Darby's offending. If his whole life has been of a piece with this (and we have no reason to doubt it has been), then may we safely pronounce him a saint of the highest and purest stamp. He faced heresy in the very society originally formed by himself, even when outwardly most prosperous and flourishing; and, in spite of the obloquy, scorn, and contempt of the brethren once most dear to him, he continued, even as he had begun, to esteem the reproach of CHRIST greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. The world may pour contempt on such a man; sectarians may dip their pens in wormwood and gall for his destruction; and the eulogists of hypocrites and liars may denounce him as a fiend incarnate; but, in our very heart of hearts, we honor and reverence him as a true soldier of the Cross."