established church. Their consciences were wounded by the prostitution
of the ordinance of the supper, in admitting all who chose to come;
since many of the openly vicious, and a multitude who had no apparent
interest in religion, belonged to the number. They urged the necessity
of discipline from Matt. xvi. and xviii., 1 Cor. v., etc., and
maintained that that could not be deemed a church of Christ, which
tolerated vice in its very bosom. They felt themselves bound by the
precept, 2 Thess. iii. 6, 14, 15, and 2 John 10, 11, to withdraw from a
church in which the gospel was not generally preached; and which
cherished in its bosom, so many who crucified Christ afresh, and whom
they considered themselves as recognizing as brethren, by partaking of
the same bread and the same cup. This measure was promoted by a person
who had been banished from the canton de Vaud; and who was received at
Berne, under a pledge to the police, that he would not speak of
separation. The violation of this pledge led to his expulsion, which was
the first act of the government on this subject. This excited no serious
opposition, since those who agreed with him in sentiment, did not
approve of his violation of truth. It did not however prevent the
continuance of the assemblies of separatists, and their distinct avowal
of their sentiments; and they obtained from a member of the government
belonging to the established church, the use of a room to his own house,
on condition that nothing should be said there in direct promotion of
separatism.

This decided course of conduct, notwithstanding many hints and threats,
placed the government in an embarrassing situation. Eight years before,
the canton of Vaud had treated a similar sect (of which indeed, some of
these very individuals had been members) with great severity; but with
so little effect, that their number had been constantly increasing, and
their spirit had been diffused through a large number of the established
churches; to the great annoyance of those who did not love the gospel.
Thus warned of the danger of violent measures, and yet anxious to find
reasons for expelling the leaders of the obnoxious party, they directed
the superintendent of the police to keep them and their assemblies under
constant and rigid inspection; and all who were concerned with them,
were watched with the same view. At the same time, one of the
evangelical clergymen was sent for, and warned to alter his mode of
preac