Page:Neatby - A history of the Plymouth Brethren.djvu/287



It will be remembered, of course, that the great bulk of the ministry amongst the Brethren was discharged by men who had no need of any remuneration for their services. This is, indeed, in some points of view, the great outstanding feature of the movement, and must never for a moment be lost sight of when we are considering the institutions of Brethrenism.

Thus secluded from the world, it was of necessity that Darbyism should form a world of its own; and the movement being one of no common power and energy, it formed a remarkably complete one. Indeed, there is nothing more amazing among the phenomena of Brethrenism than its absolute self-sufficingness. It bounded the vision of all its genuine adherents ; it comprised within itself all their interests. In the doings of other Christians they seldom evinced more than a languid and transitory interest. Spurgeon and his triumphs were hardly ever alluded to, unless it were to relate how interested he had at one time been in Brethrenism. The great tide of the modern missionary movement rolled by, and left them almost untouched. If a youth amongst them were fired with a zeal to evangelise the heathen of China, his friends would lament that he could not rather occupy himself with the study of Darby’s Synopsis. As for the doings of the great world, it may suffice to say that it was considered more or less a mark of lack of spirituality to read the newspaper.

Socially, they were equally self-contained. They almost limited their friendships to members of their own communion, and to those whom they looked upon as possible recruits. Marriage outside their own ranks was rare, and was deemed blameworthy. Any one who withdrew from them after spending some years in their