DEAR BROTHER,... The Saturday meeting had for its object, that those interested in the various gatherings should have an opportunity of fellowship or consultation, so as to effect convenient action. That they bound anything is an utterly false accusation, and the way the enemy has sought to assail this meeting, through unprincipled attacks or personal feeling, is a proof to me that it is of God. The reading out the names, even in the gatherings, concludes nothing for the very object is, that if there be objection it may be mentioned.... But it was long ago felt that it was desirable that a name should not be publicly given out until all practical inquiry was made, as it was very disagreeable to have a name publicly mentioned, and demur made thereto on. moral grounds, when it could be avoided. Hence the previous inquiry and consultation. Till they are announced to be received nothing is officially done, but the previous inquiry is the-ground on which that takes place. Now in 99 cases out of 100, the testimony of the local gatherings must be relied on, and that is to be desired; but it would not be, if the others were precluded from saying anything where they may very possibly have something. And, surely, if I am to give out people's names, I must have liberty to make a difficulty if I have one; and the case has arisen, and the previous inquiry is just what gives efficiency to this process. If brethren who care for the saints were present from all the gatherings, mutual consultation. and godly care would take place, and, while they could not and are not meant to decide anything, they could bring the names, or anything else, before all the gatherings, with adequate previous, inquiry, so that things should not be done rashly. Confidence would be produced in common action.
The action of I totally repudiate. L is not as large as.
Galatia. It is utterly false, and there was no agglomerated population, where a person could walk on a Sunday morning to another pah-of the town, perhaps when under questions of discipline where
he resided.... But I go on the facts; the analogy is wholly and practically false. The difficulties are practically great in L, but with cordial co-operation they disappear, and I believe in the power of the Spirit of God, to overcome the difficulties which arise from the immense size of the town, and produce common action. If everyone will go his own way it cannot be: but you have independent churches and members of them. In Galatia, a man was of a local church, and if he went to another place took a letter of commendation. Could I take one, say from the P, every Sunday morning I went down to G or K, and we are necessarily one body in L, and with grace can so walk I mourn these efforts to dislocate the united action hitherto carried.out, but as yet will hope that we may not have the testimony that we have not enough of the power of God's Spirit to overcome the practical difficulties, but are obliged to confess that we give up the testimony to the unity of God's church in L —'s practical independency, or congregationalism., I repudiate with every energy I am capable of. What I earnestly desire is, the cordial co-operation of brethren to maintain common action in one body according to the scriptures, and the unity of the Spirit of God; and I earnestly pray that the beloved brethren in L ' may be kept in grace seeking it, in the faithful desire of union, and service in lowliness of heart; and I am sure of the faithfulness of God. to help them, and carry it out in grace for them. May the Lord bless and keep them. I have labored with them, and suffered with them, and trust the Lord that He will bless them in the unity of the Spirit of God. May they remember that " there is one Spirit and one body."
Your affectionate brother in Christ,
1863. a-. N. D.
DEAR —.— I have long had the conviction, and expressed it, that half the gatherings on the paper should be off. Some since then are. This has been the real evil; the thing was cumbersome, and, what was worse, factitious and fictitious. C... (now I believe off), for example is not L...; so M..., P... (also I believe off), D..., G...; also your own of P...; F... and B..., might very well go too. In a word, all that is not really L.... W... I think took itself off. I should not think of hindering any brother from these places coming on Saturday •evening if he wished. In many cases it might be desirable, as so near L... people move more about. At the beginning of these meetings, when they were young and weak desiring the help of older brethren in L..., and there were only one or two gatherings, it was all well; but they are grown up, and letters of commendation, as from any other gathering, should be given. W... and B... might be struck out too.
As to the printing I am indifferent. I should prefer writing, be-,cause more connected with personal intercourse in giving the in, and less routine; because, too, if sent to M... then they are without any consultation at all, and if the visitors do not come, which is then very likely, they must be given out without more, or struck out without, communication with those who send them. But all these are merely instrumental means of getting things done, and if it all works well I am content. Let F... and B..., if not struck out, as not L..., write them if they like, I do not see what rule has to do with it. The printing is to gain time; if all non-L... meetings were off half the time would be saved, and more real work done; and the casting of the responsibility on the different gatherings in each place I believe to be most important.
In L... we are all in one place, however large. I never could have said, " If the papers are given up"... I might have said that if they were made independent churches I could not go with them. The papers were a real means of hindering this, and with all defects they had worked well.... The meeting had lost its true character, it had ceased to be real. If brethren who cared for the saints in each gathering in L... met to carry out that care in unity, as servants to the different gatherings, it would be a most useful meeting, while admission and exclusion I hold to be the act of the whole assembly and not rightly done otherwise. Practically, as I said in the letter you sent me, in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, it is the local gathering which has to come to the conclusion, but unity is maintained by intercommunion in it; and in such a place as L... it is a great safeguard, and in special cases all are actually concerned in it together-a person may have been teaching false doctrine in many gatherings or troubling them in other ways.... A little patience, and weighing the matter before God, and all would be straight.
Your proposal for Friday to get it ready would be excellent, only that people have not time: but if two or three would undertake it, and the names and notices could he sent in to them, and then brethren came from the different gatherings in L... to weigh things together that it might all come before the gatherings on Lord's Day, it would be excellent. Perhaps, two or three ready and willing to start it, it might be done. It is not by much discussion, but readiness to serve, and wisdom as to practical plans, that such things are carried out, for instance, those who labor much in evening meetings could hardly do it in the evening time; others not in the day. But if two or three met and prepared the papers of those really in L..., the Saturday meetings could confer and bring the cases mentioned before the gatherings. I would do all I could if in L..., which I had hoped to be before winter, but have been delayed. But it is not so much plans as work in love that is required. There might be the danger of those sending in the names and notices neglecting the Saturday meeting; but at least we should have in this case those only who really cared for the gatherings. My old letter (I do mot know who printed it) I still believe perfectly just.
Your affectEonate brother in Christ, J. N. D.
DEAR It is fair to tell you that reflection has made me much more averse to printed papers than I was. I have not heard anything new from others which acted on me; the grounds of my increased objection have arisen in my own mind. I do not enter into details, for my difficulty has arisen from details in the first instance, and then from the whole tone and bearing of the thing. The mere fact of printing or writing is still nothing in itself to me. I still insist on all being put off the list who are not within L itself-I have long done so.
Not doing so was all very well to help little assemblies, newly formed, where no principle was concerned in it in any one's mind; but it subverts, as it stands now, the whole principle of local unity; which is the scriptural one as to localities-holding the unity of all saints, as gathered into one, with that local unity. Helping, as a matter of grace, an assembly that was weak, was all.very well, and all that thoroughly maintains general unity. Now the question as to the principle has been raised, and it is quite clear that C... H..., and B..., and C..., and P..., and W..., and M..., are not in If counsel had been taken they might have dropped off, and the work might have gone on without any question being raised; but it has been and perhaps so best. Grace will settle it peacefully. But my objection to the printed papers is quite other than it was when I wrote the reply to your letter.
Your affectionate brother in Christ,
J. N. D.
He had been asked, "Is there such a thing in these days (of Christianity) as private, or individual, worship, or is everything, properly so-called, confined to the gathered assembly?" and as a collateral point, " Can a person, forming part of a meeting for worship retire from it mentally, if he feels it is below his own state, or the like, and go on alone with God, as it were, though in the meeting actually?"
MY DEAR BROTHER, I remember the same question arising in my mind at least thirty years ago, when writing in French the tract " On 'Worship." There is one thing which may facilitate your inquiry, John's writings always refer to the individual. Chapter 4 spews that individual worship is recognized. But if this was in intentional separation from all saints it would be another thing. Love to all the saints is a necessary ingredient in the heart's going up to God. But.worship together has a distinct and peculiar character, because there is Christ's promise to be there. " In the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee." But I do not doubt that if I am alone I can worship God alone. Still, scripture is full of joint worship, and so it will be in heaven.
But in an assembly I should think it an unhappy thing for one to' set himself apart as superior to others. Our part is to esteem others better than ourselves, and whereto we have already attained, to mind the same thing. If it is something that positively grieved the Spirit, it is another thing. I cannot in Spirit have communion with what is contrary to the Spirit, But while I admit a low estate of soul will be painful to a spiritually minded person, yet in the case you put, the persons have not learned to esteem others better than themselves. " Let each" it is said.
Your affectionate brother in Christ,
3.880. .1. N. D.