Collected Writings of J.N. Darby: Separation From Evil God's Principle of Unity

Collected Writings of J.N. Darby - Vol. 1 - Ecclesiastical No. 1 Footnotes: 07:59 See Ephesians 1. He heath made known to us the mystery of His will; that is, gathering together in one all things in Christ, in whom we have received an inheritance. 10:17 This is characteristic of the independent unity. I believe that it will be in an openly infidel state, and a manifestation of the power of Satan. But supposing it is not openly such, it is clear that subjection to God is shewn in subjection of His word. Now, the authority of the church is confessedly the antecedent to the authority of the word in Romanism, and the saints are not all of them allowed to be the immediate objects of God's own word, nor act upon it (that is, be subject to it). They are to be subject to the church: let there church allow it or not, that makes no difference. He who allows can hinder (that is, hinder God's addressing the saints). For this is the true question of Protestantism, not man's title to the Bible merely, but God's title to address man directly by His word; more particularly to address each of His own servants, or those professedly such.