, according to the example
of the first disciples (Acts xx. 7), it would become us to meet every
first day of the week for the breaking of bread. Thus far they had
light, and that light, I judged, ought to be carried out at once. We
therefore from the beginning met every Lord's day for the breaking of
bread, with the exception of two or three who had for a few weeks
some little doubt remaining on their mind, whether, on account of the
frequency of the observance, this ordinance might not lose its
beneficial effects; but as we left them free, to act according to the
light they had, they soon saw the greatness of the privilege of being
allowed so often to show forth the Lord's death, and they therefore
met regularly with us.--As, however, on my arrival at Stuttgart, the
dear brethren had been entirely uninstructed about the truths
relating to the power and presence of the Holy Ghost in the church of
Christ, and to our ministering one to another as fellow members in
the body of Christ; and as I had known enough of painful consequences
when brethren began to meet professedly in dependence upon the Holy
Spirit without knowing what was meant by it, and thus meetings had
become opportunities for unprofitable talking rather than for godly
edifying; and as I felt myself bound to communicate to these dear
brethren the experience I had gathered with reference to these very
truths since June 1830: for these reasons, I say, I thought it well
to spend evening after evening with them over the passages above
mentioned. Thus week after week passed away. We broke bread, but it
was understood, and I wished it to be understood, that I was the only
speaker. This I did that in every possible way I might have
opportunity of instructing the brethren, and because they knew not
yet what was meant by meeting in dependence upon the Holy Spirit.
But, at length, after we had for about eight weeks or more spent two
evenings a week together over those passages, and others setting
forth the same truths, and full opportunity had been given, carefully
to look at all the points connected with them, and when now there
seemed a measure of apprehension of the mind of God in those
passages, then we met for the purpose of carrying out what the
brethren had learned, and therefore, at the next time when we met for
the breaking of bread, I took my place among them simply as a
brother; yet as a brother who had received a measure of gift for the
benefit of his fell