prophetesses, who for the last two years, we are told, "had been as the mouth of the Lord to him."-and as the result of this consultation, Mr. B. was told,—that The Spirit came upon Miss E. C., and after speaking in a very grieved tone and spirit in a tongue, she was made to declarethat Mr. B. had been snared by departing from the word and the testimony—and that Mr. Irving had maintained the truth- Mrs. C. was also made to speak in a tongue, declaring that Mr. B. had stumbled greatly; and was snared in making a distinction between Christ's holiness, and that of his church. Then followed a third utterance through Miss E. C., declaring that Satan sought to overthrow Mr. Irving's confidence in the truth, but that I was called upon to maintain it now more firmly than ever. (n) 2. By these utterances, the word of God has been deceitfully misrepresented. Take the following instance: “The same gentleman (a “gifted brother") afterwards read the first chapter of the first Epistle of St. Peter, in a sort of unnatural recitative, which, as I was informed, was reading in the Spirit. That is, as they define it, it was not he who read, but the Holy-Ghost in him, merely using the voice and lips of the man, as an organ of utterance unto men. On this supposition, the reading might have been expected to be perfect indeed. My ear was struck by deviations from our authorized version. I had a Greek Testament in my hand, and perceived at a glance that the deviations were palpably incor rect. One of them was the omission of an important word, to the utter marring of the sentence. That Mr. Taplin should make a mistake in his reading, might be very natural; but that the Holy Spirit speaking by the physical organs of Mr. Taplin should misrepresent the Holy Scriptures, was more than I could receive. I can truly say, that my predominent feeling on the occasion alluded to, was astonishment at the possibility of men of mind and education, or even of common sense, being for a moment deluded by such paltry and profane absurdities. Before I left the house, I plainly declared my judgment in the matter to Mr. Irving. His reply was strange, and highly characteristic of the system." (o) (n) See Baxter's Narrative. friend, &c., by the Rev. HUGH Rcetor of Albury. page 112. (0) Letters to a M'NEILE, M.A., 3. By these utterances, false and calumnious statements have been put forth respecting individuals, and communities: "I have carefully observed, (says the Rev. Hugh M'Neile,) what has been going on. I have been thrown into close contact with some of the leaders in this affair. I have been sedulously pressed to join it, by both male and female intreaties, and by the awful intelligence, oracularly repeated, that God himself had declared I would do so. (o)-Mr. Drummond, who as you know, is one of the leading pastors of the new sect, in his kind anxiety to convince me of the truth of what he felt himself to be so valuable, wrote me word that one of the Lord's vessels, in Iris house, had plainly testified concerning me that I was resisting the convictions of my own conscience in opposing the work, as he expressed it, for that I knew in my heart the work was of God. Now it is impossible for the sincerity of conviction in any man, upon any point, to be stronger and more satisfactory than mine was, and is; that the Spirit, or the man, or the woman, who made this assertion concerning me, said what is not true. When I gave this reply, I was accused of falsehood, and the utterance of the voice respecting my dishonesty of mind, has been repeatedly and confidently referred to since." (p) The inspired parties themselves, have repeatedly spoken evil, and that by "inspiration," one of another: “Mr. T. -had in the midst of the congregation, with tongues and in English, spoken evil of Mr. Irving; and Miss E. C., bad since in utterance declared he spoke it of Satan." (q) "I understand the gifted persons at Glasgow spoke against me whilst I was speaking in power in London; and they are now speaking against Mr. Irving. At Cambridge too I understand is one who deems himself called to be an apostle, and to have arrived at perfection...... He also is denounced by Miss E. C., and himself holds Mr. Irving and the gifted in London to be deceived. (r) Communities as well as individuals have also been calumniated.-I do not now refer to the unmeasured vituperation with (0) Ibid, p. 109. (p) Ibid, p. 118. (q) Baxter, (r) Ibid. 137. This "only true church" is very far it appears from being "at unity with itself." prophetesses, who for the last two years, we are told, "had been as the mouth of the Lord to him."-and as the result of this consultation, Mr. B. was told,-that The Spirit came upon Miss E. C., and after speaking in a very grieved tone and spirit in a tongue, she was made to declare that Mr. B. had been snared by departing from the word and the testimony—and that Mr. Irving had maintained the truth.. Mrs. C. was also made to speak in a tongue, declaring that Mr. B. had stumbled greatly; and was snared in making a distinction between Christ's holiness, and that of his church. Then followed a third utterance through Miss E. C., declaring that Satan sought to overthrow Mr. Irving's confidence in the truth, but that I was called upon to maintain it now more firmly than ever. (n) 2. By these utterances, the word of God has been deceitfully misrepresented. Take the following instance: "The same gentleman (a "gifted brother") afterwards read the first chapter of the first Epistle of St. Peter, in a sort of unnatural recitative, which, as I was informed, was reading in the Spirit. That is, as they define it, it was not he who read, but the Holy-Ghost in him, merely using the voice and lips of the man, as an organ of utterance unto men. On this supposition, the reading might have been expected to be perfect indeed. My ear was struck by deviations from our authorized version. I had a Greek Testament in my hand, and perceived at a glance that the deviations were palpably incorrect. One of them was the omission of an important word, to the utter marring of the sentence. That Mr. Taplin should make a mistake in his reading, might be very natural; but that the Holy Spirit speaking by the physical organs of Mr. Taplin should misrepresent the Holy Scriptures, was more than I could receive. I can truly say, that my predominent feeling on the occasion alluded to, was astonishment at the possibility of men of mind and education, or even of common sense, being for a moment deluded by such paltry and profane absurdities. Before I left the house, I plainly declared my judgment in the matter to Mr. Irving. His reply was strange, and highly characteristic of the system." (o) (n) See Baxter's Narrative. friend, &c., by the Rev. HUGH Reetor of Albury. page 112. (0) Letters to a M'NEILE, M.A., 3. By these utterances, false and calumnious statements have been put forth respecting individuals, and communities: "I have carefully observed, (says the Rev. Hugh M'Neile,) what has been going on. I have been thrown into close contact with some of the leaders in this affair. I have been sedulously pressed to join it, by both male and female intreaties, and by the awful intelligence, oracularly repeated, that God himself had declared I would do so. (o)-Mr. Drummond, who as you know, is one of the leading pastors of the new sect, in his kind anxiety to convince me of the truth of what he felt himself to be so valuable, wrote me word that one of the Lord's vessels, in Iris house, had plainly testified concerning me that I was resisting the convictions of my own conscience in opposing the work, as he expressed it, for that I knew in my heart the work was of God. Now it is impossible for the sincerity of conviction in any man, upon any point, to be stronger and more satisfactory than mine was, and is; that the Spirit, or the man, or the woman, who made this assertion concerning me, said what is not true. When I gave this reply, I was accused of falsehood, and the utterance of the voice respecting my dishonesty of mind, has been repeatedly and confidently referred to since." (p) The inspired parties themselves, have repeatedly spoken evil, and that by "inspiration," one of another: “Mr. T.— -had in the midst of the congregation, with tongues and in English, spoken evil of Mr. Irving; and Miss E. C., had since in utterance declared he spoke it of Satan." (q) "I understand the gifted persons at Glasgow spoke against me whilst I was speaking in power in London; and they are now speaking against Mr. Irving. At Cambridge too I understand is one who deems himself called to be an apostle, and to have arrived at perfection......He also is denounced by Miss E. C., and himself holds Mr. Irving and the gifted in London to be deceived. (r) Communities as well as individuals have also been calumniated.-I do not now refer to the unmeasured vituperation with (0) Ibid, p. 109. (p) Ibid, p. 118. (q) Baxter, (r) Ibid. 137. This "only true church" is very far it appears from being "at unity with itself." which the worshippers of the "power" assail the character of other churches, or the various philantropic societies of our land, but to the bitter, and I may add, (in the literal import of the epithet,) the diabolical, i. e., false accusing, impeachments which "the power" itself has promulged concerning them. "Concerning the Bible Society, a distinct burden of prophecy was given ;-that it was a curse going through the land, quenching the Spirit of God by the letter of the word of God." (s) . Concerning the Trinitarian Bible Society, a similar prophecy was given, "that it compassed sea and land to make one proselyte, and made him two-fold more a child of hell than before." Page 34. .... 4. These utterances have announced predictions which time and events have thoroughly falsified. Among many it will be sufficient to specify the following:As, that forty days from the time of his being called to "the spiritual ministry," the Lord would give Mr. Baxter the full signs of an apostle, and that by the laying on of his hands and the hands of the other apostles, the baptism of fire should be bestowed. This prediction was accompanied by the same fearful oath as that given on the declaration of his call to the ministry "By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, by myself have I sworn-By myself have I sworn, that I will not fail you. I will never leave you nor forsake you.' (s) Baxter, p. 33. |