Editor's note: This is an interesting Circular. It describes the need of church covenants (Articles of Faith) to maintain proper church order and harmony and is a description of some practices of preachers who were not careful in carrying out their duties. The basis for this Circular was one written in the Wabash Baptist Association in 1810. - Jim Duvall
CIRCULAR LETTER
Lost River Association, 1827
"The Government of Churches"
By Rice M'CoyTo the churches composing the Lost River Association, and all others whom it may concern. --
DEAR BRETHREN -- We call your attention to a subject, which we think in our present situation very interesting; (being the substance of a letter in the minutes of the Wabash Association of 1810:) namely, the government of churches &c. The propriety and utility of church union appears from the following Scriptures: Psalm, 133, Ecclesiastes 4th, 9th, 10th, 12th, Math. 13, 17, 18, 19. John 13, 34, 35. Acts, 15, 22. 1st Corinthians 1, 10. 5, 4, 5, and 12, 26. 1st John 1, 3, and many others; and argues,
1st. That those engaged in one cause should be acquainted with each other, lest through mistake they should be divided against one another.
2nd As in all societies, both civil and religious, there is a diversity of gifts; it is necessary they should be united, so that each one might occupy according [to] their proper gift.
3rd It is proffitable [sic] for the people of a nation, tribe or family to be united to the nation, tribe or family to which they belong: 1st Because of the language; 2d Because of the laws; 3d Of the customs; 4th For their safety; 5th For their health [?-blurred]; 6th For their honour, and 7th For their happiness.We therefore believe it necessary to join in a church capacity; and that harmony may abound; be particular to learn, 1st Each others experience, hope, and religious principles. 2nd Their conduct, and conversation; these agreeing with the word of God; let the principles on which you unite, be particularly specified in your constitution.
Objection: Will it not be sufficient to constitute on the scripture without mentioning any particular doctrine therein contained? Answer: Agreeable to the above objection, we should receive into our Society, Romans, Halcyans, Ariens, Universalians &c. All denominations of religionists, professing to believe the scriptures, and walking accordingly, could with equal propriety claim a seat in your churches, and further, should you be asked of what Society you are, what satisfactory answer could you give, would you say, we are a christian Society? So say all religionists (with a few exceptions.)
But we are a Society constituted on the Scriptures, professing to believe them and walk accordingly. So say all who bear the Christian name, whether worthily or unworthly [sic]. Should you make the attempt once more and say, (tho' improperly.) We are Baptists, it would be nothing in point as there are essential differences among those who bear the appellation. The question still remains unanswered; the enquirer would only learn that you were in confusion: and again; should occasion require you to admonish or reject a heretic, he would plead your constitution, and, (as some might think,) prove his system: Should a majority oppose him, with what propriety could the strong bear down the weak, while the minority remained faithful in their covenant.
Objection. Will not the above idea reflect disgrace on the Scriptures, and the author of them, by placing our principles as a guide? Answer: By transcribing our principles, we do no invalidate the Scriptures, but let each other, and all whom it may concern, know how we understand them, and according to our understanding we shall judge and act. -- Constitutions should not take place in the bounds of other Churches without mutual consent, and in no case whatever, unless there is deemed a sufficiency of gifts for the governing of a church in gospel order. Great care should be taken in the reception of members, to receive none but such as subscribe to the articles of your union.
Objection. Will not the person coming forward and sueing [sic] for admittance, be a sufficient proof of their orthodoxy, without any further interrogation [sic]? Answer. It is observable that almost all heretics, who are pests to our Society, are willing to join us, and suffer our sentiments; the reason is obvious; They never felt that zeal which is according to knowledge. Gifts which only concern the church to which they belong, may be encouraged, or discouraged at the discretion of the church without being answerable to any other church or conference whatever; and each receiving their appointed station, should consider it a disgrace to use tasteless apologies, boasting of their unworthiness &c. but with alacrity and delight, perform the duties God has enjoined on them by means of the church. But gifts which concern the union, such as ministers &c. not being confined to a single church, should receive the approbation of the union, so far as they are known, who [s]hould never be licensed to preach out of the bounds of their respective churches, unless it be manifested that they will be generly [sic] received by sister churches. We believe the cause of religion has greatly suffered by preachers being willingly placed where they ought not, and conceive it to be an abomination that makes desolate. (Let him that readeth understand.) St. Paul informs us in the 12th chapter of 1st Corinthians, that there is a diversity of gifts by the same spirit, and teachers who had not the authority of Apostles, representing to us the necessity of each of the members occupying the proper place. Now brethren if the foot essay to perform the office of the hand in feeding and clothing the body, would you not soon become contemptible in your own eyes by reason of filth, and at length perish with hunger and cold.[?]
Ministers should not be ordained, without the approbation of several Sister Churches, best acquainted with their gifts and as large a presbytery as can conveniently be collected from the churches with whom they correspond. Again, we believe that churches are blameable [sic] in their treatment of their ministers, in not correcting habitual errors, such as uncomely gestures, improper language, unless repetitions &c. How often are we disagreably [sic] haranged [sic] with the preachers apologizing for themselves, telling us their unfitness for the arduous task, his disagreeable feelings, & what an indifferent sermon he expects to preach at that time, which likely are the effects of pride, for the hearers, will be better acquainted with his abilities by the time his sermon is ended, than he will describe them; yet, by reason of fear or disrespect, the preacher seldom hears of his failings though freely talked of among others. It is also common for preachers to imbibe a notion, that because they possess a gifts of preaching, they should have the pre-eminence in Churches, Conferences, Associations &c. which is an error that ought to be corrected. Again -- Churches ought to act more liberal toward such preachers who are industriously [sic] engaged in the ministry, exposing themselves and families to hardships, notwithstanding all their endeavors to provide for the same, by laboring with their own hands -- and a people who profess to receive of their Spiritual things, and will not communicate to the preachers of the Gospel, and to the poor, in such cases, of their carnal things, there is reason to doubt their possessing a part of the true riches. It would swell our letter to a volume, were we to expatiate on each particular that might be deemed essential to the subject; we shall therefore submit to your serious consideration the above observations, hoping you will improve them to your advantage, and to the glory of God, so that there be no schisms in the body. The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all -- AMEN.
================== [Taken from Lost River Baptist Association Minutes, 1827, pp. 2-4. The grammar is unchanged; the title is added. Incorrect spelling has been noted [sic]; some paragraph markings have been added for easier reading. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
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