COB is not the same as PB

[Seriousseeker]

   Sometimes people are confused about the "Church Of The Brethren" and what is known as "Plymouth Brethren".  They are not the same.  Actually, the PB is an open (more loose) fellowship division from the so-called "Brethren Movement of 1827".  One can read some of the history around this movement on the site at www.biblecounsel.homestead.com which avoids taking any name not given for all saints.  It speaks of a revival of church truth out of the sectarian systems which were prevalent after the protestant reformation of circa 1500.  The COB is not part of this.

   In sequence, we can see true church history after the apostolic period, to have descended into a scattering of believers in Christ to homes, for secret readings and fellowship, to avoid the persecutions of the organized hierarchy of the RCC papacy.  The RCC predominated with religious leaders who mixed Judaism with the Christian testimony and their own ordinances, and controlled all religious thought by force throughout the Middle Ages --- from about 500 A.D. to the 1500's.  

   Most people were illiterate at this time, and  then a few educated priests from the RCC studied the holy Scriptures and began to teach that the RCC was in error ---and then had to run for their lives.  This resulted in religious police seeking them out and much persecution (see Foxe's Book Of Martyrs).  One of the principal voices among the disenchanted priests was Martin Luther, who was bold to post his 95 word thesis on the door of a prominent church building, essentially stating "justification by faith" and not by religious works.  This, as most Christians know brought on the Protestant reformation movement.  The believers who rallied to this opening of the Word of God became the various major denominations we know today.  Of course, numerous other denoms. rose up following this independent trend, and it was primarily the gospel message of salvation of the soul.

   In the early 1800's after the gospel message was thriving, God began to recover church truth as many saints were moved to leave the established and organized religious denominations seeking the meaning of the universal church.  That is when the brethren movement was formed with such believers as Darby, Bellett, Wigram, Kelly, Mackintosh, who held to the Scripture and the truth of "one body in Christ".

- Seriousseeker

  

[diocamtrinanotted]

SS,
I began my walk of faith over 60 years ago in a completely independent chapel.
I those days the Brethren in England were basically 'open' or 'exclusive'.
Neither form would contenance the thought of having a 'Pastor' nevertheless our Pastor led Chapel was otherwise so close to the open brethren that we intermingled with no problems and worked together in evangelical endeavours.
When I did my National Service 57 years ago I was billetted with several 'Exclusive' brethren and boy what an experince that was.
Allowed into their 'Gospel' Meetings but not into their Sunday morning Breaking of Bread.
They were every bit as strict as Jehovah's Witnesses in excommunicating members for as much as visiting parents, children or other relatives who were not 'exclusives'.
Their leader was J N Darby with emminent others such J B Stoney (If I remember the name aright)
Rather like H W Armstrong's WWCoG their strict dogma led to differences of opinion and widespread break-up.
I don't know what path the exclusives evenually went down but the open Brethren imploded until they are now both hard to find and hard to recognise.
They seemed good when I was young but then that would be when everything was very black or white and before I learned of the reality of the 'darkened glass.

How close were/are you to them?

Dio

[Seriousseeker]

Yes, the Exclusive sect has become like a cult, it seems, but the ministry of Darby is still sound.  You can find good ministry from the founding brethren at www.bibletruthublishers.com .  You can also read papers monthly at the Bible Counsel site mentioned above.  Look up always!

-Seriousseeker