"If he still brings a musical instrument into a meeting, I shall be ashamed of his obstinacy. It is opposed to the whole spirit of the New Testament, and an offence to every spiritual mind"
"J. N. D’s library fetched 900, I hear. I bought nothing, but I have enquired about an interleaved Greek Testament in fourteen volumes which was not sold."
"The new doctrine of Raven (Stoney, and Turpin, and Oliphant. abetting) disturbs our old friends. Some avoid certain meetings and go to others. Some (as Framlingham, Hounslow, &c.) have left and seek our fellowship. Let us pray that grace may use it widely for good."
"You need not doubt the seriousness of the Park Street shake. At Ealing L., and some 50 have left with the strongest rejection of the Raven doctrine. Others have, I hear, at Park Street itself. Mr. H. will act decidedly."
"Heyman Wreford is dropping “Message” at December, and meditates a new penny Magazine for young Christians and Gospel from January at C’s. I hope our best men may contribute and thus make a good journal."
"Things travel rapidly now. Heyman Wreford is urgent that I risk the B. T. at a penny!!! believing that it is deeply needed by Christians within and without, and that a large circulation will result."
"I do not wonder that you should have taken alarm at dear Heyman Wreford's efforts to gain a larger audience for the Bible Treasury But you knew me well enough to be nowise disposed to emasculate it. "
"I have no reason to believe that there is any wrong at Swindon. Mr. C. is an old gossip and could easily fill a bushel of such reports equally empty. You can judge by his account of Ramsgate. We were most severe on their failures, and did not recognise them as an assembly for about two years after the Division."
"But the Lord looks for more than this that out ways be with our convictions, and that we go forth to Him without the camp, bearing His reproach. Happy too if we abide thus waiting for Him."
"The hymn book goes forward satisfactorily, some that objected helping now. I hope to send you the first sheet as a sample, which you can show to others. There will be a fair proportion of fresh ones; and others not in our book but good; not a few to the Father, which is now a lack."
"Nobody that I know has an idea of the assailant of the Hymn Book. Nor does this matter. It is one apparently so ignorant as not to be aware of many hymns by sisters in all hymn books; so that the advocate of no change would here make a great change. It is otherwise beneath notice. Anybody can find fault. The last hymn book introduced great change and made large omissions."
The “All-day-ministry” as they call it, took place in defiance of protests. It is a struggle for retrogradism in the shape of loose ministerialism, and W. W. F. puts himself forward ...
"You need not scruple, if F. were to propose a visit now, to decline till he gives up his O. B. ministerialism. He persists, and thus corrupts brethren and makes division. Such we are to avoid though not outside; but the end will be their getting outside somehow."
"Outwardly the Concert Hall admits of a larger space than we are likely to need, and the joint meals of the day, under the same roof with other conveniences for both sexes we could never before command"
"D. confronted F. with going to W(alter). S(cott). (one of the worst of the Stuartites) along with K. and M. He boldly justified, though obliged to own that we regard him as heterodox. “He would look into it when he got home”!!!"
"It is my hope to cross the Channel on Friday at midnight from Southampton, due on Saturday morning in your Island", and other matters including a young man from West Green who is described as a "violent opposer of order"
"Last Monday morning W. W. F. came into my compartment of the train at Lewisham for London Bridge! He is staying with F. (at Charlton) who gave out six weeks ago that he had nothing to do with him!! He is going about preying on silly sheep."
Written from Manchester, " .. Hocking. drops Believer’s Monthly Magazine and begins on the 1st January, “Gospel Gleanings” as a penny monthly. We want a good and sound journal of this kind; "
"I have written lovingly but with decision to Whitstable for their evil effort by vague words to fuse together those “without” with those “within” in a hugger-mugger love in a tub. They are far gone. Four will not agree there, and refuse to break bread, as they have been receiving young C. more than once, and a sister from Clapham. How much corruption the young man has spread!"
Upcoming visit to North West, note of review of Raven's "Life Eternal", some poetry?, and note on Newport meeting that "has not yet cleared itself of sheer independency"
"You may look for a calm summary of the Scriptural teaching on “Life Eternal” in the November B. T. as I trust; then in December the Raven denial fully proved; and perhaps in January its entire contradiction by J. N. D. This by grace should awaken some consciences."
"I trust you find “Life Eternal” a satisfactory paper on an important theme where even J.N.D. left much to be desired. It is expressly uncontroversial as for general edification where most are vague, and to be a basis for the exposure of Raven on this subject in the B. T. for months, and a separate large pamphlet, beside this separate tract. Nobody will say that I spare the fatal error, though they may falsely impute acrimony. This I disclaim."
"This morning I had a letter from one of Mr. Raven's relatives, complaining of my bad spirit, but not a word as to the evil and dangerous heterodoxy, which I presume he does not hold. Well, if they are only saved from “Fatal error” as J. N. D. called it when only in the germ, or from making light of it, I do not mind what he said of me. But I have a good deal more to say before having done; and all will reappear in a pamphlet, I hope."
"I trust you may find “Life Eternal Denied” good in January B. T., and I continue. I have just heard of an excellent person among the Ravens decided by it already. Let us be zealous in using it to help souls."
Long card, many items touched .. Ends: "I am glad of the purchase of the J.N.D. volumes. May they be used to deliver from Sabellianism. “One Body and One Spirit” revised and re-issued. Is it not deeply needed? So is the final paper on Christ’s Person in next B. T. And F. E. R.’s apollinarianism. He is utterly heterodox."
"It is my hope, D. V., to see you on the morning of 28th June by the early packet from Southampton. This, I trust, may not clash with our brother R. K. who is said to be now in Guernsey after a visit to Jersey."
Written from Southsea while giving a course of lectures on Mat 24,25. .. "I gave F. E. Race your nice copy of the nasty book; as I already had one, which was enough. Was not this agreeable to you? I return on Tuesday for a discourse that evening, D. V. at Pembroke Hall. (A. M.’s old Chapel)." ..
"As you know, I have been baptised and baptise confessors now and then, never their children, though believing them special objects of the Lord’s care, because I have not seen real evidence for dipping them. But the Baptist theory and practice I reject as unintelligent;"
"Here I came yesterday (Bournemouth) from Plymouth, after a nice little while. You will be interested to hear that through Exchange and Mart, J. A. T. got a set of The Christian Witness moderately" !!
Interesting covering many things; an article for the Bible Treasury, a brother connected with the Stuart fellowship who 'mixes himself with a man so loose as W. S.' (Walter Scott), details of upcoming meetings n Kent, books to be published, and more
Personal matters, upcoming books, conferences and travelling. "And it is a pleasure to me that you found the paper none the worse for my editing; for many are ungrateful and prefer their own uncorrected work."
An article Mr Cox had written for Gospel Gleamings on 'Sin & Sins' and briefly mentioned the interest of the 'Jewish Chronicle' in some of Mr Kelly's writings
"They say that a great book is a great evil; and certainly a little one if good, well packed, and to the point, is not bad for most in this day of hurry, and neither time nor taste for study."
