The "f"s are changed to "s"s for easier reading. The spelling is unchanged. The Stonington Association was established in 1772; it included churches in CT, NY & western RI. - jrd
CIRCULAR LETTER
Stonington Baptist Association, (CT)
1807The STONINGTON ASSOCIATION to the CHURCHES composing the same.
BRETHREN, dearly beloved in our Lord, through the long-suffering goodness of our compassionate Redeemer, we have been permitted to assemble once more in association, by which we do learn something of the dealings of our Divine Master with his professed followers in the year past. From the information received through the medium of letters by the hands of our esteemed Elders and Brethren, we have renewed cause, with repentance and humility, to ascribe praise and thanksgiving to our God for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the sinfull children of Adam. The ever blessed redeemer is still on the mercy seat, and thro' the agency of his Divine Spirit, is, rendering the dispensatrion of his gospel effectual upon the hearts of the King's enemies; those, who were far from righteousness, without hope, and without God in the world; those, who were not only the opposers of experimental religion, but also violent opposers of our faith and order, in the gospel, have been brought to bow at the foot of sovereign love, to take upon them the easy yoke of the Redeemer, and. to follow the footsteps of the fiock, as marked out by Christ and his apostles.
The visible kingdom of Christ is extending, and the word of God is fulfilllng -- that he would give his son the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possessions -- Papal power and deception is expiring -- Mahometan delusion is giving back -- Pagan idolatry is tumbling before the word of the Lord -- Europe is emerging from thte dark confines of established priestcraft -- India's spicy vales are now resounding with praise to our Redeemer -- Ethiopia's fable sons stretch forth their hands to God -- Many in this American land are running to and fro, proclaiming the acceptable year of the Lord, and knowledge is increasing. When our venerable but persecuted fathers fled from their pleasant native land, to seek an asylum of liberty on these Columbian shores, then uncultivated, and only inhabited by the tawdy savage of the wilderness, and the terrible beast of prey, the God of Jacob attended, conveying them in safety across three thousand miles of dreary ocean, to Massachusetts' shores. Here the Lord planted them, and with them the growing order of his gospel. Here the God of Israel displayed his power in extirpating the ruthless savage, and giving unto his chosen their land for a possession. O how wonderful is the providence of God! In a few years this little band of heroes were increased to numbers as the stars in the firmament of heaven. While they have been thus multiplied, preserved and extended, until we have become a great nation, scattered over our western hills, the God of grace as well as providence, has been pleased, as we humbly trust, to preferve to himself, in our American Israel, a chosen band, who have not bowed the knee to Baal. Blessed be the name of our God, that from time to time, ever since our first settlement in this favored land, he has beep raising up young men of our own coasts, qualifying them by divine grace, sending them forth to preach unto us the unsearchable riches of his grace in a glorious Christ. Thousands and thousands have been made to hear the Almighty voice, and enter while there was room. With propriety, dear brethren, we may adopt the words of the Psahnist, "O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men." Within the last few years, how hath the Lord or the harvest been visiting our guilty land, with the rain of his grace -- in Boston, Salem, Sedgwick, on the eastern border of our union, Providence, Newport, New-London, New-York, Philadelphia, the cities and towns in Virginia, the Carolinas and Georgia. All these and many of the villages and hamlets throughout these states, have been made to sing of redeeming grace and matchless love.
"Where will the growing numbers end,
The numbers of his grace."We have further cause to praise our heavenly King, for the exhibition of his power and love, in filling the hearts of numbers of our brethren in the ministry, with an ardent desire to carry the knowledge of our Savior, by the administration of his word and ordinances, to our kindred in the western countries, and the poor natives of that land. The Lord has been faithful to his promise, "and lo, I am with you, &c. Even to the extreme parts of our land and country, the labors of our missionaries have been greatly blessed, and even now, dear brethren, while we are contemplating the pleasing scene, we may rationally believe, that the lonesome forests far beyond the cloud topt summits of Allegany's mounts, are made to reverberate with praise, from savage tongues, to Jesus' name.
Under the consideration of such visible tokens of God's power and faithfulness, in accomplishing the predictions and promises of the scriptures, how emphatical and appropriate are the words of the apostle to us, "that feeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnsses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and run with patience" in the heavenly race, &c.
Since our last anniversary, the Lord has been working in many of our churches, by the power of his spirit. O! that it may spread from church to church, and from heart to heart, until Zion shall become a praise in the whole earth. If any of our churches, or the individuals composing them, are destitute of the special communications of the Divine Spirit, is there not a cause therefor? Can any of us say, that under a sense of our want, we have asked our Lord for bread, and have received a stone? Have two or three of us ever met together to call upon the name of our God, with some good measure of agreement to ask our Divine Lord for the effusion of his blessed Spirit -- have we been denied?
Dear brethren, search your hearts, and try yourselves by the divine standard; we are directed to exemplify our faith by a life and practice correspondent thereto. Are the servants of our Lord laboring with you, statedly, and occasionally, in word and doctrine, striving to break unto you the bread of life? Remember, that a Paul may plant, and Apollos water, but of God we have the increase. Also, remember, dear brethren, that those who minister unto us dwell in houses of clay. Do we need the support of temporal bread from day to day -- so do they? Do we love our lives, with those or our companions and children? Do we delight to comfort, instruct and support them? In like manner do your ministers desire to fulfil the pleasing duties to their families and friends. Therefore, dearly, beloved, we recommend to you to take the word of God for the man of your counsel; asking the wisdom of God, that you may have light in your paths; and while the servants of God minister unto you of their holy things, be not unmindful of them in your temporal good things; that you and they may become mutual comforts to each other, while here on earth.
"Each in their proper station move,
And each fulfil the care of life and love."Now unto the King eternal, invisible, the only wise God, he praises everlasting.
AMEN.[From Stonington Baptist Association Minutes, 1807, pp. 12-15. The document is from microfisch at the University of Cincinnati Library. Transcribed and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
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