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Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre film6s d des taux de reduction diff6rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clichd, il est filmd d partir de Tangle sup6rieur gauche, de g&jche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n^cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 ( I 1 2 3 4 5 6 TTT 'E» ^D PLYMOrTH BRETHRElf (socalled): WHO THEY AEE— THEIE CREED- MO] )E OF WORSHIP, ETC., EXPLAINED IN tUn U h\& Mm&& m& %tMms, BY EDAVARD CROWLEY. COnSTTElsTTS = THEIR TITLE — WHAT THEY ARE — THEIR CREED (THE TESTIMONY OF A CLERGYMAN) — THEIR MODE OF WORSHIP — THE MINISTRY — THEIR PLACE IN THE WORLD — THEIR CONDUCT TOWARDS THE RELIGIOUS SYSTEMS. OTTAWA: PRINTED BY JOSEPH LOVEDAY. 1871. A *■ PREFACE. This tract having been written for a few, it was printed in the first instance for private circulation only ; so many, however, having desired copies, it is now published. It must be distinctly understood , that the writer is aZo/ie responsible for the sentiments expressed therein. -:-';.: ^ - E.G. ' , 1M^'^>-- ' ^S^dSi^^Mr ]PB- ^: THE (so called). ^nM'Wm ->^-'w->« My dp: \R FlUENDS AND EOLATIONS, Finding thiit some of you have been inquiring, " WJio are the Plymouth Brethren?" and that you have been seeking an answer from sources which can give you no correct information, I have felt led to write to you for the purpose of giving you the needed instruction, and that I hoi)o to do in as few words as possible. And, I suppose, in the first place, you will wish to know why I use tiie expression " so called " — *' Plymouth Brethren so called." The reason is simply because there is no such term in the word of God applied to Christians, and if we were to own that title we should at once become a sect — a thing the apostle condemns by the Holy Ghost in the Btrongest language (1 Cor, iii.). Most emphatically do I deny that I belong to a sect or denomination, but in distinct separation from all isims. The word of God calls us Brethren. Jesus is not ashamed to call us, and all Christians, Brethren (Heb. ii. 11). " Ye are all brethren." Often do we read of the Bretlireu in the Acts of the Apostles, but never of Plymouth Brethren, or any other Brethren with distinctive names, such as we now find amongst the many de- nominations in Christendom. Thus, then, as the Lord Jesus says we are Brethren, and He is not ashamed to own us as such, so the so-called Plymouth Brethren own themselves simply as Brethren. Not that they are more so t])an other believers in Jesus, for Ye are all children of God by faith in Christ Jesus (Gal. iii. 26). If, however. Christians ?^i7? call themselves by other names, for which they have no warrant from God, surely they who wish to keep to the terms of Scripture are not to be blamed for so doing. Well, then, who are these Brethren — Plymouth Brethren, so called ? In a word, they are sinners saved by grace — ^free, sovereign grace. They have been made conscious that tliey are sinners — that they have in themselves, that is, in their flesh, no good thing. Once they were without Christ, with- out God, having no hope in the world . Their hearts were deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, and their minds at enmitj^ against God. And, moreover, they have learnt that, inasmuch as it is impossible for a corrupt tree to bring forth good fruit, so it is impossible for them to do one good thing ; that all their apj^arently good works were only so many filthy rags in the sight of God, how- ever excellent they might seem to be in their own sight and that of others. Thus they learnt that they could in no way save or help to save themselves ; but, then, to their great joy, they found when they were without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly — that He came to seek and to save the lost — the sinner and not the righteous. They read that such was the love .. . of God for poor helpless sinners, tlmt He would not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up freely for them, that He mig'ht die in their stead, and bear all the wrath of God due on account of their sins. Jesus did this. He did dieYor our sins. He did bear the wrath of God due to the sinner. The Lord did lay on Jesus the iniquity of us all, Jesus having finished the work He came to do, God raised Him from the dead, and seated Him on His own (the Father's) throne (Rev. iii. 21), crown ins- Him with glory and honour (Heb. ii, 9), thus showing how well-pleased He was with that which Jesus had done ; and the claims of God's justice having been met, God declares Himself just and the justiJier of him that believeth in Jesus (Rom. iii. 25, 26), As Brethren in their unsaved state read this they ' . believed, and in believing obtained peace with God and life in Jesus. For, being justified by faith we Tuxve peace with God (Rom. v. 1) ; and, he that believeth on the Son of God hath everlasting life (John iii. 36; John v. 24), Having read and be- lieved all this that the Holy Ghost has recorded !^ about Jesus and His work, could they any longer have any doubts and fears as to their salvation? Their sins were put away — they had peace with God — they had life — they were new creatures in Christ, and they were justified from all things ' (Acts xiii. 38, 39). Well, I ask, is it possible to con- tinue wretched' and miserable, knowing all this ? Surely not, though strange to say, many condemn the Brethren on this account — they say they are presumptuous and wicked because they know their sins are washed away. It is the portion of ALL true believers in Jesus, if they would but enjoy it. But many are so fond of looking at self that they never know the blessedness of the man whose sins are / 7 7 W, ^'^'VT.f'W^'"V forgiven, and condemn all those who do. Kow, God has written certain things that the believer might know that he has (not shall have) eternal lite (1 John V. 13). Well, then, in answer to the ques- tion, *' Who are the Brethren ? " I reply, that they are sinners saved through faith in Christ Jesus the Lord at God's Eight Hand in Heaven, and by God's free, sove:*eign grace, to whom be all the praise and the glory for ever and ever. « And now, will you permit me, before passing on , to ask you, my dear friends and relations, whether you know your sins are washed away ? You will, I feel sure, readily own that it is a matter of the very last moment that you should get this question set- tled. I will only just observe, that there can be no remission of sins without the shedding of blood : (Heb. ix. 22), and that by the pouring out of the soul unto death of the Son of God, He has put away sin (Heb. ix. 26), and he that believeth (not doeth — not hopeth) on the Son of God hath everlasting life. You may be hojDing and doing, but if you are not truly believing in the Lord Jesus Christ your efforts and hoj)e8 are worthless. But again, Brethren read further in the w^ord of God that they have not only been delivered from ein and the wrath to come, but they have been re- -^ deemed and brought to God — Christ hath once suf- fered the just for the unjust that He might bring us to God (1 Pet. iii. 18). They who once w^ereafar off are now made nigh by the blood of Jesus. They read again that Christ who is "the life" is their life, and that Christ liveth in them (Gal. ii. 20). This Brethren believe, and seek grace to enjoy. B^ it, however, remembered that it is the portion of all believers in Jesus. Again, Brethren read that tho believer, saved by graco,being quickened together with Christjs raised up together with Him, and is made to sit together in Ilim in the heavenlies (Eph. ii. 5, 6). They fur- ther read that they are blessed with all (not a few only, but with all) spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ (Eph. i. 3). In Jesus all the fulness of theGrodhead bodily dwelleth,and believers in Jesus are complete (full) in HIM (Col. ii. 9, 10). Finding this is what God declares to be the present position and portion of those who believe in Jesus, the question is, Are we to use and enjoy these bless- ings? or, Does God give His children blessings which ^ they are to look at, but not to touch or enjoy ? Surely not. No, our God and Father would have His chil- dren enjoy fully all He has so freely given to them. k Well, then, Brethren, knowing what their portion is, are not ashamed to confess it, and do seek, how- ever feebly they succeed, to enjoy their portion. Who will say they are to blame ? They have a peace which passeth all understanding, and a joy unspeakable and full of glory. The Lord help us to value more and more all the good things with which our God has blessed us. The Brethren, then, are lost sinners saved by grace,through faith in Him who died for them (Eph. * ii. 8) ; 2nd, They know that they are saved, and that they have eternal life (1 John v. 13); 3rd, Their posi- tion is that of being seated in Christ in heavenly places (Eph. ii. 5, 6); 4th, They are blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ (Eph, i. 4) — complete in Him in whom all the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth bodily (Col. ii. 9, 10). But I again say, that this is the position of all who be- lieve in Jesus, only they do not know it, and what is worse, many do not wish to know it, at least they 8 turn aside when one seeks to put the truth before them. THEIR CREED. • The creed of the so-called Plymouth Brethren may be stated in a word or two. They believe all that is written in the word of God. The testimony of a clergyman on this point may however be of more weight than anything that I could say. A friend of mine, being a good deal exercised in soul about her position in the Church of England, went to her clergyman and showed him a book she had been reading, written by one of the so-called Ply- mouth Brethren. '' Oh," said he, " you had better have nothing to do with them, they do nothing hut quote chapter and verse, chapter and verse for every- thing. If you will take my advice you will have nothing to do with them." I need scarcely say that my friend was the more drawn to the despised Brethren by the fact that they do give for every- thing chapter and verse. A young person who is working in a shop with a number of Christians of different denominations has just told me that it is a common taunt when talking on divine subjects, ^'Oh, here comes with chapter and verse as usual." The Bible is their one standard, and to that they contin- ually appeal. They know nothing about acts of Parliament, articles of religion, catechisms, or rules drawn up. The Bible, and nothing but the Bible is their guide; and "Whatsaith the Lord?" is the ruling question with them, and hence the confidence, the authority, and the positive way in which they make statements as to the truth of God. They know they have God's word on their side, and therefore they can afford to be bold and decided. ■■„ l^»" 9 Tho Bible is the Word of God, and that is all Bufficiont. THEIR MODE OF WORSHIP. The mode of worship which Brethren follow is most simple ; nothing can be more so. In the first place, they read that it was the custom for the early Christians on the first day of the week to be gather- ed around the name and person of the Lord Jesus Christ, to break bread in remembrance of llim, and to show forth His death until He come (Acts xx. 7). Their simple object was to break bread and to worship, not to hear sermons ; and therefore Breth- ren follow the same course. But then, it will be said, that we cannot know and see Jesus in our own strength ; for Jesus saith that the Holy Ghost should take of His and show them unto us, that He should dwell in and with us for that purpose : and worship only in spirit and in truth is acceptable to the Father. Therefore it is most needful that saints should be gathered around the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that the Holy G-host should have full and unhind- ered authority and liberty to use His owm power in leading the souls of the gathered saints into the meaning and value of the death of Jesus, God's Lamb, so that praise and worship might flow forth freely to Him who is worthy of all praise and adoration. All this Brethren freely own, and that is just what they aim at, viz., to give full and unhindered liberty to the Holy Ghost in their gatherings for worship and breaking of bread. They do not, therefore, aHow one man, however good he may be, or however much he may have been owned of the Lord as a servant of His, to take a place of authority in the assembly for worship, because by so doing they would hinder ^.^^..njMjMitidtitiiSiiM the free operations of the Spirit of God. Jesus is the Lord of the table. It is not man's table, but the Lord's, and therefore Brethren seek by the Holy Ghost (for by Him alone can they say that Jesus is Lord (1 Cor. xii. 3), to own in a practical way the Lordship of Christ. J^nd thus by waiting upon Him by the power of the Holy Ghost, who dwells in the true believer, the saints are led to see the finished work of Jesus — the beauties — the perfections and glories of His person, and thus seeing the Lord J esus Christ and His wondrous love and grace,praise and worship /a?^ freely, without let or hindrance, by the Spirit of God. And this leam aware of) at which Jesus is allowed to exercise His Lordship, and where the Holy Ghost is permitted to use whom He will, in prayer, or in speaking to exhortation, comfort, or edification. Hence it is emphatically the Lord's table. You see how decided I can afrord to be when the word of God is on my side. Thus, then, dear friends and relations, I have, as brietiy as I could, set before you a few of the lead- ing points which are characteristic of the so-called Plymouth Brethren. Should you tind that I am hold- ing anything more or anything less then the word of God teaches, please let me know what it is ; for I seek truth and desire to know and to enjoy all I can, I do not wish to miss one bit of God's truth, all of which is so wonderful and so precious. Can you say this ? And with best wishes. Believe me, , ., .' My dear Friends and Eel at Ions, Yours sincerely, EDWAED CEOTTLET. KiNDRicK Place South, Keadiiyo, England. ^-■-v./^^' V. 1 IB®(E)E^ AMID flA(Bf§ PRINTED & FOR .'ALE BY JOSEPH LOVEDAY, OTTAWA CITY. Do the Old Testament Saints belong to the Church of God? E.C 6 cts. The Plymouth Brethren (so called) : Who they Are — Their Creed — Mode ctf' Worship, &c. E.C 3 cts. Notes of an Address to Converts. J.N.D 2 cts. Notes on the Offerings. J.N.D 5 cts. Hymns for The Gospel and for Young Believers. (176 pages) paper cover 5 cts., cloth 10 cts. A Short Summary of the Epistle to the Romans .... 6 cts. Temple Worship, or Worship in Spirit and in Truth j Which? 2 cts. Yeddie's First and Last Communion 2 cts. Ye Must be Born Again. (Tabular Tract) 1 ct. Plain Talk on Vital Subjects 10 cts. The Great Supper, or a Promise of One. C.S 2 cts. The Lost Crown 2 cts. Tracts for Believers (Nos. 1 to 6) each 1 ct. Leaflets, Assorted Packages (33 kinds) 142 pages... 12 cts. ^S©* 3y Pamphlet Post, 1 cent per ounce beyond above prices. 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