Circular Letter
Salem Association, KY 1821DEARLY BELOVED BRETHREN,
We sincerely congratulate you, on the consideration of your safe deliverance from the degraded, fallen, and justly condemned state, that all human mortals are exposed to, by transgression: as the whole world of mankind lieth in wickedness, while in a state of nature: all children of wrath, all dead in trepasses and sins: without hope, and without God in the world. But God who is love, and rich in mercy, so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Therefore brethren, if we be of the happy number, who believe in the son of God, he is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption; for he was made of a woman, made under the law, that he might redeem them that were under the law. And all the ransomed, are brought into a happy union with the great, the gracious and transcendantly glorious redeemer. They are made heirs of God, and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. "Oh brethren" when we take a retrospective view of what we were by nature, and then consider what we now are, and look forward into the celestial regions; to the inheritance of the saints in light.
What great cause have we to exclaim, as the church did formerly, and exultingly say as she did, the Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad. "And now dear brethren" seeing that we are of such high extraction, it is most certainly our indispensible duty, to conduct ourselves accordingly, and always be striving to make it manifest, that we are the sons of God without rebuke, by letting our light so shine before men that they may see our good works, and glorify our heavenly father; and never forget that a bare profession avails nothing, without a conformity to the laws and rules of what is professed. Dear brethren, we cheerfully hope you will, willingly suffer us, to admonish you to give attendance to reading the holy volume, with unceasing prayer that you may understand what the true meaning is, and that you may always be growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To whom be glory, both now and forever. Amen.
THOMAS HUBBARD, Mod'r.
J. LEWIS, Clk.
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[From Minutes of Salem Association of Baptists, KY 1820; SBTS Archives, Adam Winters, Archivist. The paragraph break is supplied. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
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