The Wonderful Effect of Separation

It was no uncommon thing at this time to find valuable jewellery in the collection boxes, which was soon turned into money, and given to the deacons for the poor. But this quiet way of disposing of a little finery did not satisfy the devoted spirits at Plymouth.

They parted with all that was considered worldly in dress, books, and furniture.

These free-will offerings were collected, and when the stripping time seemed nearly at an end, the accumulation was so great that it was necessary to sell them by auction.

Many will now be disposed to inquire, What were the motives which led the young community — scarcely nine years old — to make such a surrender of their worldly goods? As the printer of the catalogue, Mr. Rowe, and others, then in communion, are still alive, we have made every possible inquiry as to the origin and object of this remarkable instance of devotedness. The following quotation is from the last letter we received, and given on the testimony of more than one witness:

"Respecting the quantity of goods, jewels, books, furniture, etc., given up and sold during early days at Plymouth, there was no call of any particular kind, no special need for which it was done. It was quite simply and freely, as desiring to express their then indifference to the world, their separatedness to the Lord, and their waiting for His coming from heaven."

It would be no lack of charity, notwithstanding this testimony, to believe that some who had thus stripped themselves, may have merely followed others, or acted under the general feeling, and afterwards regretted what they had done; but from all we can learn, the general movement seems to have been the holy action of the Spirit rather than the excitement or sympathies of nature. Although we have no wish to make more of this instance of indifference to the world than christian prudence would suggest, yet we would desire to speak of it as an illustration of the power of the Spirit when the heart is separated to Christ and waiting for His coming from heaven. There are no doubt numbers of individual cases of a similar character constantly occurring, only with less formality and publicity. It was the simultaneous movement of the whole meeting, and in the most open and positive way, that makes the Plymouth case so remarkable.

A.M.