TO THE CHURCHES COMPOSING HER BODY.
VERY DEAR BRETHREN: Another manifestation of the Divine goodness and long forbearance, and the tender mercies of our Heavenly Father, is manifested to us in our protection, preservation and support, through the vicissitude of another year; and we are again permitted to meet together in our associated capacity, and hear from the different branches of the Zion of God, which has been to us, a very pleasing interview. Our minutes will show to you what has been the progress of the Churches in relation to their increase by baptism, &c., while their letters testify to us, that peace and union exist among them. These signal favors of divine goodness, call loudly upon us, to reverence, adore, and extol his unchangeableness, for we are not consumed; his Omnipresence, for we are preserved; his Omnipotence, for we are upheld; his Omniscience, for we are guided, we trust by his unerring wisdom; his grace, for we are supported under all the trials and conflicting scenes through which he in his providence calls us to pass. And, while we thus adore his mercy and goodness, we feel disposed to invite your attention in a few words upon the antonement that Christ has made by the shed[d]ing of his blood. The word atonement, seems to signify literally a covering, and in a scriptural sense, it is manifest to our views, a covering for sin, or that by which sin is expiated, or blotted out, and for which a full equivalent is rendered. But how various are the conjectures of men upon this all important point of doctrine. There are some that do contend that it virtually embraces all mankind; and that too without distinction of elect, or non-elect; saints or sinner, believer or infidel apply it to all, while others in like manner say, it was made for all, but leaves the virtue and efficacy of it, to depend upon the creatures exertion, and if there should be failure on the part of the creature -- to use those exertions, its virtue and efficacy is lost; holding forth the inconsistent idea that it covers all, yet all are not covered. But as it is not our design to debate these erroneous views and opinions of men, for we conclude that the short limits of a circular, forbid the idea. But we do desire to hold out to the humble christian, a short scriptural view of the nature and efficacy of the atonement, that they may have some realizing sense of its true view.
For, our God is a sovereign, infinitely wise, just and holy, possessing all power in heaven and earth, governing all things after the counsel of his own will, and for the manifestitation of his love, grace, mercy and glory, he has in his wisdom, designed according to his determinate counsel and foreknowledge to save his people from their sins; and for that special purpose and cause, we see according to the word of God, a Mediator, set up from everlasting, from the beginning or ever the earth was, according to Prov. 8 ch. 23rd verse, and in this ever-loving Savior and Mediator, all these attributes meet; and sweetly harmonized in the salvation of sinners, and this Mediator did possess an inheritance agreeable to Deut. 32 ch. 9 verse. The Lord[']s portion is his people. Jacob is the lot of his inheritance, and this inheritance or people, were chosen in him before the foundation of the world, that they should be holy and without blame before him in love; having predestinated them unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will Eph. 1 ch. 4, 5 verses, and see Isaiah 62 ch. 9 verse, he bare them and carry [sic] them all the days of old. And when this blessed Savior made his advent into the world, according to Isaiah, he comes bringing his reward or inheritance with him. Now it appears that these are the ones to be atoned for, and there can be no shadow of doubt, or uncertainty in the matter, for we see according to Rev. 3 ch. 6 verse, 13 ch. 8 verse, 17 ch. 8 verse, 21 ch. 27 verse, Phil. 4 ch. 6 verse, and Luke 10 ch. 20 verse. That their names are all written in the Lamb's book of life from the foundation of the world, and also we see, that they all bear the name or appellation of sheep, in destinction [sic] of those brought to view under the name or appellation of goats, for it is written, we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture, and according to the words of the Saviour, He gives his life and lays it down for the sheep. But why should they be atoned for, or why must they be redeemed? The reason appears to be plain; they have a relationship to an earthly head -- they are the children of an apostate Adam, and according to that relationship, they are a fallen and degenerate offspring and in that nature they have disobeyed the commandments of God, and violated the law, and are under its curse, see Gal. 3 ch. 10 verse, and in that nature they have sold themselves for nought, and must be redeemed without money. Here then seems to be a way opened for the greatest display of love, justice, grace and mercy, that men or angels could have thought of, and in the Saviour as we said above, they are all richly portrayed, and from and through him they shine forth in their most brilliant lustre, here mercy and truth are met together, and righteousness and peace have kissed each other. But how are these attributes to harmonize, when Justice seems to cut off the offender, and mercy cries forbear. These attributes cannot conflict with each other, they must go hand in hand, or the guilty sinner cannot be saved. Then the demands of stern Justice must be fully and amply satisfied, before mercy can enter or have access to the guilty sinner. In order then that Justice may be cleared, the offenders must suffer the penalty, and bear their own iniquities themselves, or by their surety. -- Hence we see the blessed Redeemer brought to view as the head or representative of his offending members, the husband of his sin-polluted bride, bearing their sins and iniquities, see Isaiah 53 ch. 5 verse. He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; verse the 6th, and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all, verse the 11th, By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many, for he [shall] bear their iniquities; and according to Peter 2 ch. 21 verse, who his own self bear our sins in his own body on the tree, and here we see that when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his son made of a woman, made under the law to redeem them that were under the law: Hence we hear him call to Justice under the appelation of a sword Zech. 13 ch. 7 verse. Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of host; smite the shepherd. Here we can see that justice is fully satisfied, for it appears that judgment is executed upon the head, husband or shepherd of the sheep; see John 19 ch. 30 verse, he said, It is finished; and he bowed his head; and gave up the Ghost. Now mercy can freely enter in, and bind up the bleeding wounds of his sin polluted children, for judgment and justice are the habitation of his throne, and mercy and truth shall go before his face.
And now dear brethren, how humiliating is the thought, when we take into consideration, how unworthy, how sinful and wicked, we have been before him, yea and our rebellion against him; when we hear from the very portals of heaven, bursting in such animated strains of everlasting love, glory to God in the highest, and on earth, good will and peace toward men, may we not then say, how blessed are the people that hear and know the joyful sound, whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are pardoned, here we see and behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed on us, that we should be called the sons of God. Then brethren let us ever pray for this love, that it may ever reign in our hearts, and continually flow in melting strains to its great author, and in its sweet embraces gather all his dear children, in one band of eternal love. But who are they? The heavy laden, the maimed, the blind, the naked, the halt, the faint, the hungry, the thristy, and the poor, mourning desconsolate [sic] and lost sinner. Thus the gospel of the grace of God characterizes its subjects, and from it ushers forth the sweet invitations and exceeding great and gracious promises, while the work of regneration prepares the soul for the reception of the atonement and propitiatory sacrifce and takes the things of Jesus and show them unto us, then our hearts are made to rejoice with that joy which is unspeakable and full of glory, which will never leave nor forsake us, but will safely conduct us through this world of sin and sorrow, to that bright world of eternal day, and crown us heirs in his kingdom of eternal glory. -- Amen. ============= [Lewis Kleete was a licensed preacher. From The Associational Minutes, 1845. Document provided by Mrs. Elizabeth Kirtley. jrd]
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