these sins, I could not be admitted to the Lord's
supper. From the commencement of his speaking he was very irritated,
but now continued in a passionate way: I am ruler in this church, and
you (addressing himself to me) are no longer permitted to speak at
our meetings. Moreover he said, "Whosoever takes the Lord's supper
with Mueller will no longer be considered as a member of the church;"
and then in anger he left the meeting. During all this time, the
Lord, in the riches of His grace, kept me in perfect peace and
calmness. I answered brother--not a single word. When he was gone I
fell upon my knees, asked the Lord's blessing upon the word which I
had spoken, asked the Lord to forgive brother--, and to teach me what
I should do now. After this I dismissed the meeting. When all was
over, one of the elders, brother R., one who seeks after truth, and
rejoices in the true liberty which the Lord enables me to preach, and
one who had been sighing under the iron hand of brother--for a long
time; this brother, I say, requested me before all, according to the
first arrangement, to continue the meetings and to tell them all that
might be profitable to them. He was, however, immediately interrupted
by another elder, who sees with brother--, and told that he had no
right to do so. I then stated again that I had only come from England
in love, and that I would not force myself upon them. I then left.--By
the time of the afternoon meeting I had received light from the Lord
that I should not go to the meeting. I saw that as I had been cast
out, together with all the other brethren who owned me as a brother,
and as all my tenderness in seeking to avoid a separation had been
useless, I had now on the other hand to go steadfastly forward,
leaving it with the Lord to decide on which side the truth was. I
therefore remained at home. The two elders who were won for the
truth, went to the meeting in the afternoon, at which brother--sought
to disprove what I had said, and after the meeting they stated
that they were purposed to own me and all who believe in the Lord
Jesus as brethren in the breaking of bread.--On the same evening
seventeen of us met in my room for the breaking of bread, as we were
in peace; of these seventeen twelve were belonging to this little
Baptist church, two Swiss brethren, one English sister, my wife and
I. We had a peaceful meeting. Thus the Lord so soon, so unexpectedly,
has brought the matter to a point, though in