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South Molton Gospel Hall
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Dealing with Division Differences existed in the practices and views of various Brethren assemblies. Assemblies in Barnstaple & Bristol (where George Mueller ministered) had a recognized eldership Assemblies in which Darby was influential did not have a formally identified leadership. John N. Darby believed that God had rejected organized denominations and began asserting that Christians should separate themselves from such organizations. Chapman, Groves, Craik, Mueller and quite a few other leaders did not share Darby's separatist views. There were different views about relationships among assemblies. Many assemblies, including most of those from the original Dublin group believed that unity required a strong interdependence. Chapman, Mueller and others held that no assembly or group of assemblies should dictate the actions of any other. Each assembly was responsible to Christ alone and could interact freely with any believer or group that was sound on major doctrines. The origin of the split in the Plymouth assembly also lies in a clash of personalities and views (eg concerning prophetic matters) between Darby and Benjamin Newton (the leader in Plymouth).
Darby did not agree with the situation of the Plymouth assembly under Newton's leadership. In 1845 Darby announced his intention to start a second assembly in Plymouth. Chapman urged Darby not to proceed with his plan. Darby refused Chapman's advice saying: "I will go out and whoever will may follow me." Darby began a separate gathering late in 1845. Now there was division in Plymouth. In early 1846 Chapman sent a circular letter to the assemblies calling for a day of prayer, confession and repentance over the divisions occurring among the brethren. However, many of the assemblies rejected the call and criticized Chapman for his proposal. Later Darby became aware of 10-year old writings of Newton which could be interpreted as questioning the sinless humanity of Christ. When the offending statements and their logical implications were brought to Newton's attention, he recognized his errors and withdrew them publically and in writing. Darby and his colleagues however, believed that Newton's reversal was not genuine and influenced most of the assemblies in South Devon to exclude the Newton assembly from their fellowship. Darby had won. Newton left Plymouth at the end of 1847. By April 1848 this controversy had engulfed Bethesda Chapel in Bristol, where George Mueller served. A family from the Newton assembly in Plymouth moved to Bristol. When they asserted that they did not hold Newton's errors, they were accepted into fellowship in Bristol. George Mueller and the other elders at Bethesda wrote explaining their reasons for accepting those from Plymouth. However, Darby and his supporters rejected this explanation. At Darby's urging, many assemblies throughout Britain excluded Bethesda (and any assembly or individuals who supported their stand) from their fellowship. Thus began the "Exclusive brethren". The brethren assemblies were divided between the "Open" (including Mueller and Chapman's gatherings in N. Devon) and "Exclusive" (lead by Darby). A meeting of twelve influential leaders among the brethren was convened at Bath. During this meeting Chapman, challenging Darby, said "You should have waited longer before separating" (referring to Darby's formation of a separate assembly in Plymouth in 1845). "I waited six months" Darby replied. "But if it had been at Barnstaple, we should have waited six years" Chapman responded. Following the division, Darby's followers criticized Chapman for being deficient in some basic doctrines. Darby, however, defended Chapman: "You leave that man alone; he lives what I teach." On another occasion Darby testified concerning Robert Chapman: "We talk of the heavenlies, but Robert Chapman lives in them." The divisions among the brethren grieved Chapman. He referred to the "exclusive brethren" as "brethren dearly beloved and longed for (Phil. 4:1)". They were "brethren whose consciences lead them to refuse my fellowship and deprive me of theirs." Later a leader in Barnstaple was accused of teaching an unscriptural doctrine similar to that of Newton. Chapman's written reply emphasizes the believer's responsibility to judge himself rather than other brothers. Chapman wrote: "Oh, that we, yea all saints, might be moved each one to prove himself before God ... Our answer to your enquiry is, first, that if anyone seeks our fellowship here after having listened to such teaching, whether he come from one party or the other (we hold both parties alike dear to us as our fellow-members in Christ our Head), such an one must be judged according to the Word of God and the rule of Christ. Cases differing should not be confounded. If anyone brings an evil doctrine ... his welfare and his healing would be sought by brethren here ... but to fellowship he would not be received ... Then as to the particular case you mentioned, we have exercised godly jealousy and find that the evil doctrine is not held by the brother you name ... May we and all saints cease to grieve the Spirit of God ... Shall we not then have the joy of seeing the self-judged flowing together from all quarters."
"The servant of the Lord Jesus ... seeing that he is to be continually ministering to others, he must be receiving fresh supplies from the God of all grace through all channels. Meditation on the Word and prayer should occupy the chief part of his time. " (Peterson, p. 145)
"There are so many people who are satisfied with just knowing they are saved. Tell them not to be satisfied with this. I want them to study the word and grow in the knowledge of God. Tell them I want them to become intimate with the Lord Jesus Christ."
Robert Chapman's biographer writes: "Chapman, together with George Mueller and a small group of leaders among the Brethren, did not believe that the Scriptures told of a secret rapture of all believers before a period of great tribulation on earth. They believed that the church as a whole must go through the period of tribulation." (Peterson, p. 171) William Hake, Chapman's coworker, did not agree with Chapman's views. When Hake referred to the Lord's coming at any moment to rapture all the believers, Chapman replied "Well, brother Hake, I am ready, but it's not in the Bible." It is worth noting that different understandings of the Scriptures did not hinder Hake and Chapman from cooperating in the Lord's service. One writer says that "Mr Chapman firmly held there would be a selection and that he ... so sought to walk in obedience to the whole revealed will of God that he might not shut himself out of the honor of being one of these, and that he failed to see from other Scriptures any promise held out to the whole of the people of God being removed from the earth at the Lord's coming." (Peterson p. 171) Chapman believed in the partial rapture of the Lord's people. Other elders at Barnstaple held and taught other views concerning the rapture. Robert Chapman valued harmony among the believers in Barnstaple, above his own understanding of the Scriptures. This is seen in the following incident: "In 1896 93-year-old Chapman called a meeting of the elders. 'I have called you together,' he said, 'to explain that I shall not create dissension by teaching the opposite view [concerning the rapture] in the Assembly." (Peterson p. 172)
"On one occasion an excluded man became bitter and vowed never to speak a word to Chapman again. Later the two found themselves approaching one another on the street ... Chapman embraced him and said, 'Dear brother, God loves you, Christ loves you, and I love you.' This action broke the man's animosity; he repented and was soon breaking bread at Bear St. Chapel." (Peterson p. 174)
"My chief desire is to please Him. If I please my brethren, I am glad. If I fail, I am not disappointed." (Peterson, p. 189)
"No condemnation!" precious word! Consider it, my soul! Thy sins were all on Jesus laid, His stripes have made thee whole. In God's own presence now for us, The Savior doth appear; The saints, as jewels on His heart, Jesus doth ever bear "No condemnation!" O my soul, 'Tis God that speaks the word; Perfect in comeliness art thou In Christ, the risen Lord. Teach me, O God, to fix mine eyes On Christ, the spotless Lamb, So shall I love Thy precious will, And glorify His name. References: Chief Men Among the Brethren, by Pickering, Henry, Pub. Loizeaux Brothers Inc., Neptune, NJ 1986 (1st printing 1918) Robert Chapman, A Biography, Peterson, Robert L. Pub. Loizeaux Brothers Inc., Neptune, NJ 1995. The Origins of the Brethren,. By Rowden, Harold H., Pickering and Inglis, London, 1967. Anthony Norris Groves, by Lang G. H. (2nd edition; London, The Paternoster Press, 1949)
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