CONCISE HISTORY OF HTE APOSTOLIC CHURCH.

PART 3:
He had in his parish only a few opponents, but the few who were there, had great power.

They were nearly all people of standing from the first period of the Scottish Church in London, representatives of the real Calvinistic natures who were afraid to compromise the entire Scottish Church when they would allow in their own church the gifts of the Spirit their free play.

It is true, they were unable to prove that this spiritual movement was in contradiction with the Bible, but they were of the opinion---(and rightly)---that in this way the entire structure of the Presbyterian Church would be changed.

Two elders and two deacons of the church council were convinced of the Divinity of the revelation of the Spirit, and the others did not want to act inimically against it. But the trustees who had to take care of the material matters, were pronounced enemies and those were the ones who did not want to allow any longer that the Spirit spoke in the Parish.

When the new Church was built on Regentsquare---(only on behalf of Irvings preaching which took many more listeners than the ancient church-building could give place for),---rules had been drafted in which at Irvings urgent request was taken up that this new church would always be a Scottish one, and that the divine services would always be held on the lines of the Scottish Church.

Apart from that Irving had reserved himself all possible freedom. In the case of difference of opinion the Presbytery of London would act as arbiter. We can say that the matters as the speaking by prophecy had never been foreseen.

Irving was therefore of the opinion to have the right to apply freely this change in the service. The trustees tried to convince Irving that in virtue of the rules the service might only be practised in the Scottish way. When he did not want to hear of that,they proposed to him, only to allow the speaking of the Spirit in the weekly morning services and not in the universal services on Sunday.

When Irving remained immovable, the trustees had recoursed to the extremity. We want to copy a few letters of the correspondence between them and Irving,To the trustees of the Scottish national Church in London.:

Beloved brethren,

There is nothing that I would not sacrifice to you, even if it was my own life, only not this what I acknowledge clearly as the work of the Holy Spirit,that we are obliged to promote with heart and hand as much as possible,thus truly if we do not want to forfeit the eternal welfare of our souls. Therefore I also warn you in the Name of the Almighty,not out of any earthly intention, to prevent or to prohibit the gifts of prophecy and of tongues. On my part I will do my utmost,to bring you,dear brethren, to admission of the truth in this matter. 0nly God,however,is able to grant you grace, to distinguish the matter. Because it is a work of the Spirit and can only be distinguished spiritually. When steps would be taken against it,it would be the disadvantage of the Church,about which we have to watch jointly and to offence of the Spirit of God. I therefore adjure you as men,over whose souls I also have to watch,not to dare such a thing. I do not feel myself free on whatever point to deviate from the rule which I have explained and elucidated to you in my previous letter,and can only refer to this, as to contain the bases of my way of acting. Live well,and that God watch over you in his mercy,and shelter you under His divine and all-wise guidance.Your heartily loving loyal friend and spiritual adviser, was signed E.Irving,

As the governors of the Scottish Church noticed that Irving did not obey to their desire and did not agree to their wishes,they consulted two famous lawyers and did send some of them to Irving in order to communicate to him the opinion of the jurists,and to request him at the same time,to inform as soon as possible whether he wanted to discharge the trustees from the painful necessity to have to handle according to the advice of the jurists.

Irving replied as follows:

London,13 Judd Place East 28,2/1832

Beloved Brethren

I have read attentively the opinion of Sir Ed.Sudgen---(this was one of the aforementioned lawyers)---which you kindly sent me and have spent a full week to consider it. The principle according to which I have acted up till now,only aimed at guarding the dignity of my office undamaged,and to accomplish my duty to the Word of God. If our agreement would hinder me in this. I did not know this when it was effected;I am confidently convinced that such a thing has not been the intention of anybody,because I would never have bound me for all the treasure of the earth,not to obey in only one iota the great Shepherd and Supervisor of the Church. If you, as governors, are, however, really obliged to prevent that I from this day forward assemble with my herd in the house which has been put under your care, than we wish to keep ourselves to God, and to expect from Him protection and security.Live well and God bear you in His mercy.Your loyal and loving friend E,Irving."

Only then,after this decisive answer it was then finally decided on March 2,1832 unanimously by the governors of the Scottish Church,that, because the Reverend Ed.Irving against their expectation,did not free them from the obligation to act according to the advice of Ed,Sudgen, an indictment against him would be lodged immediately and formally with the Presbytery of the Scottish Church in London. This decision was carried out directly,and thus the matter was handed over to the Presbytery so that this would judge according to the regulations of the Scottish Church discipline and sentence accordingly.

The already many times mentioned John Cardale was Irvings lawyer. His friends still tried to convince the Presbytery through a writing that accusation of the trustees had no legal force, as the mayority of the members and the church council were in favour of Irving. The Presbytery brushed aside this testimony due to a form error.

If Irving and his supporters had brought the case for the Royal Supreme court, they were put in the right. But Irving did not want this.
However, what was terrible for Irving and Cardale?. When the two had to make their appearance on the 26th of April 1832 before the Presbytery, and they would leave Irvings house, to proceed to there, they received a visit of one of the highly talented persons out of their group, Robert Baxter who said to them that he and all the gifted persons had been cheated by false spirits, and that he had never spoken through the Spirit of God.

This man Baxter about whose case I still hope to write later on, was very loved and highly appreciated by Irving. We can understand the emotion of Irving at that important moment, but neither he nor Cardale were shaken in their conviction. We can of course detect the power of the rules of darkness who thus succeeded in selecting the right moment to make the souls waver and if possible, to destroy the belief.

Let us consider very well this temptation of the faith: the case of the word of prophecy was exclusively concerned with!!. As Irving permitted this, he had to leave his beautiful church and there comes a friend, a highly reputed person and says: "My prophecies were all out of the devil".

But Irving and Cardale stuck to the word of the Lord that the Father does not give a stone when His children pray to Him for bread. Both heroes went to the Presbytery in this faith firm as a rock. The entire trial lasted three full days.

Irving defended himself in a speech which lasted more than four hours and testified all in a flame for the good case.

Part of his speech we will communicate here: "I am glad to the utmost, when you will probably pass judgement over me that I then have been found worthy to suffer; yes, while I regret this for your sake and for them who accuse me, I want to rejoice myself, yes rejoice to the utmost for my sake and for the sake of my herd, and I therefore want to summon also them to be rejoiced and cheerful that they have been considered worthy to suffer for the sake of Christ. Oh, it is a small case to be thrown out of this house. We have a house, not built by the hand of men, but which is eternally in heaven. We are only pilgrims and strangers on earth, like were all our fathers. It does not mean very much that we are excluded from this house, the Lord will certainly take care for another one. And if not, we are still not in a worse situation than He also taught His herd on the beach of the take of Galilee and on the field of Judea and on the Mount of Olives; we also can proceed to an open spot in the vicinity of the city, and also overthere I can tend my herd. O, it does not mean anything that we are expelled from our church, we cannot have it more difficult than He Who had nothing to lay his head on and Who made his way to the Mount of Olives to rest while others went home. It is nothing than this earthly house will be closed for us. Soon He will reward us with the Town which has a firm foundation of which the architect is God. The day is not far away anymore that heaven will be opened and that the Son of Man will descend with great power and glory and where all the saints will retort to Him in order to live with Him before His throne. Oh, this day is not far anymore. And we believe that this voice of the Holy Spirit has been sent into our midst, to give testimony of this nearby future in order that everybody may be prepared. Ultimately it is of little significance for us to be thrown out of this church, because we know that this throne of glory, this tabernacle in which God lives, will be prepared for us soon. But for you who have been fallen into the trap of Satan, it is highly questionable, to lodge a complaint against the Word of the Holy Spirit. Oh, a heavy responsibility will rest, not only on this your Presbytery, but on whole this city, when you close the only church in which the voice of the Holy Spirit is heard. Realise just for a moment, you men, that it might be the voice of the Holy Spirit and what are you then doing?. Just realise the possibility of this and be careful not to act precipitately, but carefully watch what you intend to do. Be on your guard, I adjure you, be on your, guard. Think once again and consider.

Be wise, Come and hear. Come and listen. The church is every morning open, and almost every morning the Lord is so merciful to speak through the voice of the Spirit. Do not be stubborn, do not be laughty, do not be precipitately! Consider that you are also only human beings, fallible people, and that this gift of prophecy and the speaking in tongues is in the first place to reinforcement and refreshment, but also to a stumbling block and to offence. If you have, however, the spirit of strong men and believe that what exists in the Church is sufficient, up to the actually existing traditions and ceremonies than the divine wrath will be your part later on. Do we not regret, everybody commonly and unanimously, that we are all deviated very far from the situation of the Church of the first period of time? In what way, however, is the Lord able to bring us again back to it, other than to grant us the gifts which had been practised originally in the Church. And what can reform again the Church than that what has made her originally to Church?

Still a single word and I will be ready. I testify hereby solemnly my faith that the Protestant Churches find themselves in Babylonian situation, the same as the Roman Catholic one; and I separate with my herd from this Babylonian alliance and place myself under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and from the Head of the Church, waiting for His return, not causing schism, but acting only as a servant who is convinced that his Lord will appear and who therefore wishes intensely that His Church may be prepared for His appearance through the baptism with the Holy Spirit. Next to all of this I certainly have a devout love towards all of you and only wish wholeheartedly that you also may tear yourselves away in time from this Babylonian confusion, and I at the same time ask you urgently, to accept the Holy Scriptures as the only foundation of the faith of all actions and only to look on that as preacher and as people. Do turn yourselves to God and call upon Him that He lead you to the true belief and baptize you with the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the Lord will immediately teach you. And what I say to the Presbytery. I say to all of you who are present here: All of you do the same and do not be afraid. The Lord will take you in His tent on the day of His appearance and grant you the grace to know him and to sec Him once from face to face in His holy tabernacle, Amen, amen.!!"

When Irvings verdict was pronounced by the Presbytery he was not present. He held his Wednesday evening service. All the members of the Presbytery expressed their opinion, were full of commendation about the false doctrine teacher as a human being and orator, etc, but everybody thought it necessary that he ought to leave the Church, because he, like one of them said, had introduced a new kind of teachers---(with this the prophesying people were meant)---who had neither been taken up in the Scottish Church, nor been acknowledged and more, because he abolished the similarity in the religion. And all the other spoke about the same.

Irving spoke for the last time in the church built for him on Thursday evening May 3rd, 1832. The text was 1 Peter 3-14-17: "But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed", etc.

For Irving it has to be hard wrench to leave this church where the Lord had worked so much blessing through his mouth, but also the decision of the Presbytery could not at the least shake him. With iron stead fastness he continued on the once taken road, Friends nor enemies could put him off this. And he addressed his parish that evening as follows: "Do not let you intimidate, dear brethren: The Lord will take care for another house. Do not be afraid for opposition; they do not dare to acknowledge that the Spirit of the Lord works among us. Do not be afraid for them; the sheep know the voice of the Shepherd. They think, by expelling us from here, that they will dissolve the parish, but they will not be able to this. There exists a tie which cannot be broken. They will not disperse us, but the ties of love cannot be broken. They will render us a service by this. The fire will wash the slag's and the gold will appear purified from the melting pot. The chaff is blown away by the Spirit of the Lord and the corn will be prepared, to let itself be collected. Not a single little grain of wheat will thereby fall to the earth. And it will have to be the case of each Christian and each true servant of the Lord not to stumble. It will be good for the weak people, because the strong ones will bear them on their chest in this oppression. It will really be good for the weak people and also good for the strong ones, but woe those who base themselves on flesh. Woe those who will put confidence on princes and on the children of men, with whom there is no salvation; they will be as the herb in the desert and will not notice,when the good thing is coming. People say that I cause schism. God gracious.!!

The schism occurs between carnal mind and the spiritual mind, between Christ and Belial, between God and the Mammon. Or do I give offence to somebody? Oh, rather a millstone ought to be placed on my neck, and I become submerged in the deepest of the sea than that I would offend the smallest among my brethren or cause annoyance. I only say the truth in love to the people of God. Thereforei do not be afraid for their opposition. Let not get yourselves into disorder by this and do not let it go too much to your heart. Be rejoiced far more and be very joyful. Because thus they persecuted the prophets who have been in former days. Do not let hang your head when you see this happening, but rather lift iti because your salvation is nearby. Hail to you, because the Spirit of the glory and of your God remains with you. On their part He is defamed, but on your part He is glorified and praised. Oh, have no fear for the dispersion.! Whether we are dispersed, the Lord will not separate us from our goods of salvation. He will not separate the Shepherd from the sheep nor the sheep from the Shepherd. He will leave us the goods of salvation. Sanctify the Lord your God in your hearts. He be your part instead of a house or instead of wealth; yes, he be yours instead of everything, yes, of all things from which you have been robbed. He be yours instead of the love of men and instead of the protection of a wife? instead of the aid of father and the friendly laugh of a mother. A friend, me beloved than a brother and more loving than a sister. He be to you. The Lord is all-sufficient. Only He should be your help and you ought not to look for another....But now we also not want to have communion anymore with the flesh and not look for honour with others, but with Christ alone; because that was a pitfall and a net for us in this house. Now, however, we may look for a house where we may come together at Church, as a parish of the Lord, not as a place where is preached, but where we only may come together as a Church in which the with open mouth staring, criticising and inquisitive people who had offended the Holy Spirit and nearly chasen away from our midst have no admittance anymore."

In such a way he continued his sermon which he concluded follows: "and may the Lord teach and guide us so that we not run ahead of Him, nor refuse to follow Him, but that let us willingly guide by Him, and that we may glorify Him all matters. Amen".

The next morning, when Irving with his followers came at church for the usual divine service, he found what he al in some degree had suspected, the doors really closed, which he came to it to perform the prayer and the reading from the Bible connected with that for the door in the open air.

At the same time, however, after the divine service, Irving some elders set off to find a place where they could held service at the with them usual way free and undisturbed, and could celebrate the Holy Supper the next Sunday, the first the month of May. They, however, knocked in vain on many places; no church or chapel opened the doors for them. Initially they had to meet in a hall where the socialist Robert Owen with his comrades were assembled. Such a thing was at that time something dreadful, in particular for the conservative English people.

Already in August they found, however, Newmansstreet a suitable building that could be arranged with a few alterations entirely for their needs. Also an official residence for Irving and his family could be connected with that. The already often mentioned Drummond proved himself herewith very diligent and generous.

In the meantime, before could be moved into the new hall, Irving did not remain inactive. Because the doors of his church had been closed, he preached now so much the more in the open air, especially on the large square of Islington. Many scoffered him, but many came also to hear him once, and often exclamations were heard such as: "Oh, what a pity for such a preacher", "God bless him! . Who can say how many good fruits these sermons in the open air have been produced?

On the first Sunday, May 6,1832, when Irving united himself with his parish in the afore-mentioned hall, the Holy Supper was celebrated. Seven hundred members with which three elders and two deacons were present. The service was held, as had been customary up to that day, on the Presbyterian way; for although the parish had lost her church building, she had still not taken another doctrine. She remained essentially the National Scottish Church.

It was still felt that the expulsion from the beautiful church of Regentsquare would bring other consequences with it, because the conflict was risen by the testimony of Christ, that is: the Spirit of the prophecy. The Synod in Scotland would therefore soon take its measures.

The large church where Irving in the past had refreshed so many souls by his sermons, was that Sunday as good as empty. The trustees who could experience what kind of victory they had obtained, some elders and a few members were present. It would still last a long time before that parish was numerous again.

An important detail is still this one: Irving had been expelled because he did not want to extinguish the Holy Spirit, but after him came a preacher, Dr. J. Cumming, who had a great reputation with his sermons about the decay of the world, with accurate determination of day and hour and with accurate description of the events which would take place then.

The real prophecy was chased away in order to listen now to the most foolish human one, with all such matters, this fanatic whose writings have been translated in many languages, held a great part of the Christianity in suspense until the time, he died disappointed and ashamed because none of his biblical explanations came true. In this way God judges the wisdom of mankind which is foolishness for Him.

Not Irving alone had been expelled. Other preachers of different beliefs, experienced what Irving had experienced. Those who lived in London, came all in his church in Newmansstreet. All were expelled for the sake of prophecy and it is still peculiar that the church councils who expelled these loyal preachers, never have had the courage to deny that it was possible that the Holy Spirit could speak again by prophecy to the people of God. They did not appeal consequently to the Bible, but to their ecclesiastical rules. In such a way the Lord wanted to found His new tabernacle out of all kind of building stones.

In this period some trials against various clergymen were conducted in Scotland who did not preach according to the Calvinistic teaching and who were all accused to preach an heretical doctrine.

The first teacher who had to justify himself before the General Assembly---(the General Synod of Scotland)---had taught that God loved all people and had given His Son for the whole world in order that all people could do penance, and be converted to God. This clergyman was fired.

A second one was expelled because he had said that the Bible should be obeyed more than human decrees.

The third one was Irving. The General Assembly had never protested against Irvings preaching, although he had already preached his doctrine during various years. Now that it was not possible to attack him on the basis of spiritual gifts---(because no weapons against it can be found in the Bible)---, it was tried to hit him because as they claimed, he preached "a false christ".

Although Irving did not preach anymore in the Scottish church in Regentsquare, he still was always a member of the Scottish clergy and therefore wore the vestment belonging to it. The General Assembly wanted to take it from him and this could only be done by the Presbytery of Annan which had admitted him to the service. The Presbytery of Annan however, found it necessary to hear him verbally first, and summoned him to appear before their session on March 13, 1833.