“What is important is not ‘The Brethren’, but the truth they have...God could set them aside, and spread His truth by others—would, I believe, though full of gracious patience, if they be not faithful. Their place is to remain in obscurity and devotedness, not to think of Brethren (it is always wrong to think of ourselves,) but of souls, in Christ’s name and love, and of His glory and truth only—not to press Brethrenism, but to deal with each soul according to its need, for Christ’s sake.
“Unworldliness, non-conformity to the world, self-denial, abnegation in love to others, is what is called for... Let them walk in love, in the truth, humble, lowly, unworldly, and also for Christ, as little (and content to be little) as when they began, and God will bless them. If not, their candlestick may go (and O, what sorrow and confusion of face it would be after such grace!) as that of others... doing the work of evangelists, making full proof of their ministry, humble, lowly, devoted and simple; because devoted in heart, and separated to Christ.
“As regards also the activity outside them, it is one of the signs of the times, and they should rejoice in it... But it does not give their testimony at all... I do not believe attacks on anything to be our path, but to be superior, and for the truth in grace.
“Self-defense is every way to be avoided. The Lord will answer for us, if we do His will... God has no need of us, but He has need of a people who walk in the truth, in love, and holiness.
“The gospel we may, and must rejoice in, yet it only makes the testimony of Brethren outside the camp more necessary than ever; but it must be real... If Brethren fall in with the current Christianity inside the camp, they would be another sect with certain truths.”