has never got out of his head local constituted order; and the unity of the body I doubt he ever really got into it. The Lord will, I trust, direct the brethren, and still more, the matter itself in L.... It may be that common action, there may not be spirituality enough for.—acts on his own views sometimes when I should not; that is, presses them, as in his mind, without sufficiently weighing the state of places he does not know, or the feelings of those who are locally at work. It is the effect of strong personal views. Independent churches would drive many out of communion who are yet uneasy at L... B.... I am not prepared to say it would not exclude me entirely. At any rate, the whole question is one of great import, and any rash action in it, or pressure of principles, unadvised. But I only take action in it as an element in God's ways.
The communication of lists would be an outrage on common sense if the gatherings are independent; the non-communication a door to the relaxing of all discipline. The case at present is a practical difficulty; a rash solution of it might break up the brethren (if God. allowed it) everywhere. For myself I await the result, quietly trusting God, and, as far as I may be given to do it, laboring for real unity. There is a tendency from circumstances to independent action. If independent churches were formed, of course I should not belong to them, or I should never have met at all as I have. Some have driven at this, but it was from the enemy. But serious brethren should weigh the consequences of a given course. Suppose independent churches were formed in L..., and a considerable body of serious brethren declined_ forming part of them, as a long settled conviction, the question would arise before all the gatherings in England, Could they be received, or could. those churches be owned by them?... Affectionately yours,
Lausanne, 1860. J. N. D.
DEAREST —-, The L... B... meeting has been for some time on my mind, and I judge that something must be done. Several causes contribute to its want of influence, and even jealousy as to it, which exists in certain gatherings. Formerly there were many brethren, as -, -, and others who exercised a pastoral care which had a great in- fluence on individual blessing and calmness. Souls were thought of more, decisions of assemblies less, though arrived at when needed.
The number of brethren and meetings was less, and the great body of brethren more in one meeting-in R... Street, the rest being succursal, so to speak. Now, there are many almost equally important meetings. Hence the difficulty of maintaining the common action is a real one. But if there is a hearty loving desire to do it, it can be effected, surely, with God's gracious help.
These affairs of Mr.—have increased the prejudice against L... B.... I regret altogether still the course of—and your own. The more I reflect, the more I feel that it did not rise above the circumstances to act with God in them, but was under their influence. The last act of—finished the matter, and though the brethren at L... B... did not go with you two, the public effect was the same.
seeing this, did his best to destroy its influence and awaken jealousy. But I am satisfied that in those most uneasy as to the action of L... B... there is no desire for independent churches, but quite the contrary, nor do I see any great difficulty save in the case of discipline. I should take the ground, not of contesting the duty of the local gathering to investigate and form its judgment-it must be-practically so done, and you do so I am persuaded at K...,-but that if they hold there is one body in L..., they ought not to impose their judgment without giving an opportunity to others to know what decision they had come to, and make their representations if they bad any to make, which might often arise.
What seems to me ought to be done, would be to invite the chief men among the brethren from every gathering, writing to one only, to propose their coming together to confer upon the case; not forming a decision to be announced, but what could be proposed to all the gatherings when it had been laid before the assembled brothers. Thus, suppose I wrote to—or—at D..., to propose that the brethren there, who were interested in the general course of the gathering, should come, so to say, to -, at the P..., and the same to the rest, and then they consulted and arranged that the brethren really interested in the gatherings, should meet in any given place on Saturday evenings, the place being agreed on by all, and that the. responsibility of these brethren should be felt, it would then have to be considered, how in cases of discipline (in receptions it would go. on, I suppose, as usual) matters should be arranged.
My impression is that the local gatherings must come to a decision; nothing would hinder consultation on Saturday evening, but they owe it to the others to certify it before it is finally executed. They can come to the decision and then communicate it through the Saturday meeting to all the others, and like a person proposed, it would be final if nothing were said. If any who heard it had any difficulty, they would communicate with the brethren of the gathering who had come to the decision. But this would be considered when together. You must remember there is not a body formed and grown up in one gathering, nor any practical body of elders acting together among the saints as a whole. One must look therefore to
God, to draw out of what materials exist-what He can form to help the saints. And if they help one another, all will be well.
The brethren, on consultation, will see what is to be done in ordinary cases of discipline, but they should remember that in sending the names of others as put out, they impose on other brethren the task of registering their act without any power even of objecting, if there be no intercommunication, and then we have independent churches, or at least are on the way to them. You may regret the young men, but you must look at the main point, the union of brethren who care for the saints in common care. In our former Friday morning meetings they were not there, and if one may regret their absence, the union of service in the gatherings is first to be considered.
Do not feel uneasy at young brethren growing up into service. We were all young once. I am delighted when I see them getting into serious service, but I do look for pastoral care. The regular work of evangelization is more to me than excited meetings, but if the Lord converts He converts, and we must rejoice. The excitement of the moment will pass away; what is solid will remain. One has to go through it, like all else, with God. The power of God is shown in all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness...,
Affectionately yours, beloved brother,
St. Agrive, 1860. J. N. D.
[These two letters are now printed for the first time. The practical principle they contain, regarding the constitution of " an assembly in a city," are of suggestive value for to-day, though the local circumstances which called them forth are not now what they were at the time when these letters were written.]
1884.
DEAREST BROTHER,I should have been very glad indeed to have been with the saints around you in July. My spirit looks to some human rest in Europe a little, though I trust to serve on to the end; but it will be hardly possible for me to be there at that epoch. We have our meeting at Guelph Jnne 27th, which will itself run on into July, and then I have some unfinished work at present and the voyage to boot. May the gracious Lord be with you.
I am glad you have found edification in studying the sufferings of the blessed Lord. I have found the very greatest. And for me it is wholly a matter of edification. I am not aware of any particular doctrine at all in what I have said, nor have I any intention of making it a matter of controversy, but feed on the truth as I hope brethren may-not contending about words to no profit. Give my kindest love to the brethren. I shall be glad to see them when the Lord brings me to Europe again.
It is a great thing to have thorough separation of walk in the Marrow path, and a large heart for Christ's saints and poor sinners too. I do look for devotedness and seeking the souls of the poor. The poor have the Gospel preached unto them, they should be sought out and cared for too. There is largeness, not of heart but of way, which is disliking the narrow way for one's conscience-for one's feet. Christ does not suffice us, and we want something to fill up a void. I admit the danger in defending one's walking in. the narrow way, to be occupied with the evil we cannot walk in, and so judge, and get shut up. But a deep sense of the evil is very important, but then that is always felt with Christ, which makes the heart tender and large for those dear to Him, even if going wrong. The eager condemnation of others in what is wrong may be connected with -vexation at their not going with us. So perhaps they ought-surely if they have light; but the heart will grieve over the persons as dear to Christ if walking with Him, and not merely judge the path as unfaithfulness, or their unfaithfulness in walking in it.
Peace be with you, dear brother. At T... they seem diligent in service and helped.
Affectionately yours in the Lord,
Boston, 1867. J. N. D.
MY DEAR BROTHER, As regards truth of position I have never hesitated a moment. I or others may have been unwise or misled in particular acts. Had I thought of people alleging it to be a kind of threat, I might never have put in, in my original letter of warnine. (long since withdrawn -the only thing I ever wrote on B...) the declaration that I could not go where they were knowingly received. I might have acted on it and not said so. But the foundation and principle of action, I have never doubted in it. I had expressed my conviction years before in the case of N-. America has largely confirmed me in the principle. Here the N-s, and those connected with B..., prop up and are in connection with the worst form of heretical infidelity-the denial of the immortality of the soul; some, with an open denial that truth can be known so as to be acted. on as such, and it withers everywhere uprightness and Christian integrity. We have had to fight the battle of it at N... B..., N..., and the Lord has blessed and sustained us and wrought clear blessing by it. In B..., and N... Y..., it was directly connected with what are called N-s. In M... simply the evil in itself. Here we have it merely casually through emigrants, which occasionally brings it up as to individuals. Even so they have never heartily broken with the world.
But in these days the unity of the body and separation from evil.are vital points of testimony for Christians. One is the original and. abiding principle of the church's existence; the other, faithfulness to its nature, and characterizing that faithfulness in a special manner in the last days. To me it is that-both or nothing. One is the special purpose of God as to us connected with Christ, the other His nature. The notion that one can be wittingly associated with evil, and be undefiled, is an unholy notion-a denial of the nature of holiness. And in the world the church is the pillar and ground of the truth.
The character of Christ with Philadelphia is -" He that is holy, he that is true;'' the keeping His word and the word of His patience, what is commended in the saints; an open door and only a little strength, but special association with Christ-the Holy One and the True, in the midst of a degenerate people. And things are going on so rapidly in these last days that Christians will be east on their own ground, and we shall need the word to be our authority, and it is a divine one.
I have been struck in the Acts lately with the evidence of antagonistic powers. We know it, but it came out distinctly. Apostolic power of the Spirit might overcome and be greater than what was in the world-so it was, and it delivered; but the power was there, and even when seemingly masses seemed anxious for the word of grace, rose up and drove the truth away, and remained in possession of the world-of all that did not overcome by personal faith. When this ceased to be the case, the church itself became corrupt. Satan would cast some into prison; Antipas, a faithful witness, be slain where Satan dwelt, and there the witness was. Soon it became Thyatira, and Jezebel the mother of children, and then had to abide the Lord's coming and being replaced. by the kingdom, and the Morning Star ours.
Here we have blessing, gathering in souls, getting peace, and the truth spreading, so that I have stayed longer than I thought. Nothing externally striking, but still, weekly, souls brought on in different states. But it is always exercise and conflict, a service where the flesh, Satan, and the world are ready to mar, if we are not vigilant. Still we have to thank God at present here. Our Guelph meeting was more than usually blessed, and has borne its fruits.
I have been let into increased apprehension of the perfectness of Christ and His true humanity, by seeing in Luke more distress in Gethsemane, and in the same Gospel no suffering on the cross. It is precious to have Him daily more unfolded before our eyes.
Give my affectionate love to all the brethren; the older ones in L... I have seen, but they are all His. Peace, grace be with you, dear brother.
Very affectionately sours in the Lord, Toronto, 1867, s. N. D.