Dearly Beloved, Through the sparing goodness and infinite mercy of our God, we have been preserved another year, amidst innumerable dangers, both temporal and spiritual, and have been favoured with an agreeable meeting*, wherein we have received good tidings from many parts of our country; that most of our churches enjoy peace among themselves; that sundry of them have had a large increase; and that a blessed work of divine grace has prevailed, in sundry places, so as to cause the gathering of a number of new chruches. Great
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and marvellous are the works of the Lord, which loudly call for our grateful acknowledgements, and thankful behaviour. While we see, at the same time, the importance of regarding the voice of our Saviour, who says, Take heed that no man deceive you; for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many, &c. Mat xxiv. 4-13. Such power, signs, lying wonders, and deceivableness of unrighteousness, now appear in different quarters of this country, as many would scarcely have believed could have been possible in this land of gospel light. Neither was it imagined, a few years ago, that the conceit of the final restoration of all bad men and angels to endless hapiness, could have been openly preached with approbation. Yet Mr. Winchester has fallen into this latter error and delusion since our last meeting, to the grief of multitudes, and the causing of an open separation in our sister church, in the city of Philadelphia. But the word of truth informs us, that there must needs also be heresies among us, that they who are approved may be made manifest; and that nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure; havng this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his. And let every one who nameth the name of Christ, depart from iniquity. And for your assistance herein, permit us to lay before you the following things:
1. That the best remedy against such evils, is a close attention to God's revealed will, by faith and love in Christ Jesus. 2 Tim. iii. 14-17.
2. Beware of all persons, of every name, that would try to draw you off from the plain language and analogy of scripture, under pretense of deep and hidden mysteries therein, for our Saviour repeatedly vanquished the adversary with what was expressly written; and the Apostle says, we use great plainess of speech; and warns us
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against such as would intrude into things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind. 2 Cor. iii. 12, and iv. 2. Col. ii. 18.
3. Let the following capital points of truth be particularly attended to, viz. That all nations are as nothing before God, whose declarative glory is the ultimate end of all his works. Isai. ii. 17, 18, and xl. 6-17. Whereas many of late would make love to creatures his ultimate end; which is a changing the truth of God into a lie, and worshipping and serving the creature more than the Creator. Rom. i. 25. Also that our obligation to love God supremely, and to love our neighbour as ourselves, is as immutable as his perfections are; and that there is an infinite evil in every breach of this law, which no doings or sufferings of any creature, either in this or a future world, can ever remove; and that the infinite merits of Christ, applied to the soul by the Holy Spirit, is the only way whereby any can have their consciences purged from dead works, to serve the living God. Heb. ix. 14, and x. 1-10. And finally, may it be deeply fixed in all our minds, that, as Jehovah is the absolute Sovereign of the universe, it is impossible that any one can obtain the least degree of real hapiness, by disobedience to him; and that those who truly seek him, shall not want any good thing. Therefore may the language of all our souls be -- what I know not, teach thou me; wherein I have done iniquity, I will do no more. By Order of the Association, JAMES MANNING, Moderator,
THOMAS USTICK, Scribe.
Note
* Such unanimity prevailed through all our public actings, that there was scarce a differing vote.=========== [From Warren Baptist Association Minutes, 1782, pp. 6-8. The grammar and spelling are unchanged; "f"s are changed to "s"s for easier reading. Taken from a microfilm copy at The SBTS Library, Louisville, KY. - Transcribed and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
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