Beloved Brethren in the Lord,
We met together according to appointment, and have continued our Meeting several happy days in peace. You will see from our minutes what we have done, as also the state of our Churches.Dear Brethren, it is necessary for us often to call to mind the corrupt, depraved, and truly hopeless state to which sin has reduced us. From such a view of ourselves our pride will be humbled, and the unmerited grace of God appear glorious in our eyes. Such truths as these, Ephesians 1 & 4th. "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love;" - will be comforting to our souls, and make us cry out - why me Lord? "He," the Lord Jesus Christ, "hath redeemed us from all sin." Shall we not here say, it is enough we will henceforth glory in nothing, save in the cross of Christ. "Called to be saints," shall we not here say, we were aliens and strangers from the common[wealth] of Israel, and now by thee called to be saints, sons, and heirs! Lord teach and enable us to live according to our high calling. "In thee, Lord Jesus Christ, have we Righteousness and Strength," from a view of this sacred treasure, we shall be led to say - we daily see in ourselves this want of righteousness, and our enfeebled state shows us the need we have of this strength - and have we Righteousness and Strength in thee our Lord and our God? Precious freedom! glorious fulness of overflowing grace! let us pause - and for a while feed on the transcendantly glorious riches of grace unmerited - "kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation," and shall we for a moment doubt our safe keeping? Lord increase our faith, and enable us confidingly to depend on that power, and not on our own strength - "Through faith unto salvation" break forth into joyful acclamations of adoring gratitude, wonder, and praise - and cry, this is liberty, rich liberty, replete with every blessing and comfort - durable riches and righteousness, treasured up in our Lord - and preserved for us (if children) by the three, one God, Father, Word, and Holy Ghost.
And as we ardently desire our happiness as Churches, we wish you to continue to support and exercise your right of authority as such, independent of councils or associations, who are no more than messengers sent to you, and amenable to you for their conduct.
Finally, brethren farewell. - Love the truth, love one another for the truth's sake. Study the things that make for peace, and the God of peace shall be with you all. AMEN. (Author unknown)
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