The Messengers of the several Baptist churches belonging to the United Baptist Association, formerly called the Kehukeee Association, met at the Flat Swamp meeting-house, in Pitt county, North Carolina, October, 1791: To the several churches in union with this Association, send greeting:

DEARLY BELOVED BRETHREN:

OUR Divine Lord and Master, in the course of an indulgent providence, hath favored us with another anniversary interview, by which we obtain knowledge of the circumstances of the churches that compose this convention; and we also received agreeable information concerning the interest and growth of our adorable Redeemer's kingdom in many other places. And it must give peculiar pleasure to every gracious soul to hear, "that he who sitteth between the cherubims has stretched forth his mighty arm, and is making a willing people in the day of his power."

And since Almighty God, in carrying on this glorious work, is pleased by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe, it therefore becomes necessary that there should be a number of preachers or ministers of the Gospel. And according to the direction of our last Association, we proceed, in our circular letter, at this time, to make a few observations on the necessary support or maintenance of Gospel ministers; although we are very sorry that there should be the least occasion to write or speak upon that subject.

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[p. 83]

We apprehend that one principal reason why the churches have been so remiss in this duty is because the people have been for a number of years grievously oppressed by an ecclesiastical establishment,¹ in raising money by taxation for the support of ministers of a contrary sentiment, many of whom, they had reason to fear, God never sent to preach, but only preached for hire, and divined for money, and regarded the fleece more than the flock. To shun this extreme, many zealous preachers:, who abhorred their works of darkness and deceit, being sensible that such men crept into the ministry for the sake of filthy lucre, have thought it their duty to bear public testimony against them. But not being careful to distinguish between living of the Gospel of Christ, and being supported by the laws of men, those zealots have injudiciously condemned the practice of receiving anything at all as a reward for ministerial labors, and so have fallen into an error on the other hand. It is therefore necessary that a just mediocrity be observed between the two extremes.

To guard against the error on both hands, it is necessary, dear brethren, we should make the Holy Scriptures the rule of our faith and practice. That ministers have a divine right to maintenance front the people is evident:

1. From the express declaration of Jesus Christ. Matthew 10:9, 10. "Provide neither gold nor silver; nor brass in your purses, nor scrip for your journey; neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves; for the workman is worthy of his meat -- and the laborer of his hire." Luke 10:9.

2. This right the apostles published throughout the world. 1 Corinthians 9:14. "Even so hath the Lord ordained, that they which preach the Gospel, should live of the Gospel." Galatians 6:6. "Let him that is taught in the word communicate to him that teacheth in all good things."

3. This divine right of the minister's maintenance is manifested by the law of nature: Deuteronomy 25:4. 1 Timothy 5:18. "Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn -- and the laborer is worthy of ins reward."

4. By the law of nations. "Who goeth a warfare at any time at his own charges?" 1 Corinthians 9:7.

5. By the laws of farmers, graziers, vine-planters, reapers, threshers, &c. 1 Corinthians 9:7. "Who planteth a vine-yard and eateth not of the fruit thereof? Or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?" 1 Corinthians 9:10, 11. For our sakes no doubt this is written: "That he that plougheth should plough in hope; and he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?"

6. By the Levitical law. 1 Corinthians 9:13. "Do you not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple; and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?"

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[p. 84]

Thus have we; dear brethren, clearly proven from express Scripture, that the ministers of the Gospel are justly entitled to a comfortable maintenance from the people. The ministers' support should be sufficient and plentiful, because they are enjoined hospitality. The matter of their maintenance is expressed in terms so general as to leave the people at liberty to pay them in kind, or value, all good things. The manner of paying is, cheerfully and not grudgingly. The contributors are all who "are taught in the word."

The truth of these things, beloved brethren, we make no doubt you are convinced of, but the neglect cannot but feel exceedingly sorry on this account. The consequences arising therefrom are very pernicious. By this sad neglect the poor ministers of the Gospel are necessarily obliged to follow their worldly avocations for the support of themselves and their families, which prevents them from reading the Holy Scriptures, meditating, preaching constantly, and giving themselves wholly to the work -- which weakens their hands, dulls their ideas, cools their zeal, and of necessity they are not so profitable to the churches, nor to the cause of Christ in general. These things, in a measure, you must be sensible of. Much more might be said upon this subject, but the bounds of a circular letter will not admit of it.

Thus have we, dear brethren (pursuant to an ordinance of our last Association), endeavored to consider this important duty; and now permit us affectionately and solemnly to call upon you to consider our adorable Master's weighty and powerful expostulations -- "Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things I say? Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you. If ye love me keep my commandments. He that saith I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed, and in truth." -- Luke 6:46. John 14:15; 15:14. 1 John 2:4. 1 John 3:18.

Finally, brethren, those things which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen, do; and the God of peace shall be with you.

Signed by order of the Association,

NATHAN MAYO, Moderator,

LEMUEL BURKITT, Clerk.
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Note
¹ We would not be understood to insinuate that those establishments do yet remain. They have been wholly removed, and finally abolished in this State, by the late most glorious Revolution.
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[From Elders Lemuel Burkitt & Jesse Read, A Concise History of the Kehukee Baptist Association; Revised and improved by Henry L. Burkitt, 1850, pp. 82-84. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]

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