This is a scholarly study in the series entitled Studies in Evangelical History and Thought. It takes an in depth look at the controversial relationship between B.W. Newton and J.N. Darby. To those who have a Brethren background these two names will be familiar but to others this book will only have instructive value as it deals with issues relating to personality differences in strong men that can result in the fragmenting of churches and indeed, a whole church movement that was vibrant with spiritual life and possibility. This book also sheds light on the effects of political, social and religious progress can have on the development of doctrinal emphases promulgated and adopted firmly into a movement. In fact, the ideas of J.N. Darby relating to the second coming of the Lord Jesus and the millennium in particular lie at the back of books popular in our day such as the “Left Behind” series. We can safely say that the influence of these two men and their ideas are felt in today’s churches, especially in the USA although their names might not even be known. Although doctrinal differences between these two were ostensibly the area of controversy, in fact this book reveals that the intractable nature of their personalities and the desire for dominant leadership were as much, if not more so, the real cause of the strife. This book has value in being a historical study, bringing warning to existing and fledgling church movements in our day. Romantic notions of church life, idealistic endeavors to establish the ideal church and doctrinal exactitude are with us today and to lesser or greater degrees are affecting us, and there are salutary warnings in this study. It is grievous to contemplate how readily human preference and personal dominance can defile a work of God; how easily perfectionism can creep in and doctrinal heresy hunting intrudes into a place where the Spirit of God has been at work. I do think that it is vital that those in leadership in churches should read books like this. The outcome could be a humble self-examination and adjustment of our own conduct leading to renewed blessing in the churches.
