The author of this circular letter is unknown as he was appointed the year previously and those records are not available. — Jim Duvall
CIRCULAR LETTER
Associational Meeting
The Salem Association of Predestinarian Baptists
Held with the church at Gunpowder, Boone County, KY
August, 1850To the Churches of which she is composed, sendeth greeting:
BELOVED BRETHREN AND SISTERS IN CHRIST JESUS:
Through the tender mercy of our heavenly Father, we are again permitted to meet our annual appointment; and according to our custom, you will expect to receive from us our annual epistle of love, and as our address will be to the Churches, we will try to make some few remarks in reference to the Church of God. She is called by many names, but we will say in this she is the body of Christ. But we speak of churches as we are divided into different branches; but the Church of God is one, but composed of many members. This people were created in our first father, (to wit: Adam) in common with all the rest of the human family; and in Adam transgressed the law of God, and as sin is the transgression of the law, therefore, they, with all the human family, became dead in trespasses and sins. But this people was chosen in Christ before the world began, as appears from the Scriptures, as follows: in the 1st ch. and 40th [4th, - jrd] verse of Eph. we read thus - "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." Again, in the 2nd epistle of Paul to Timothy, 1st ch. and 9th verse, reads - "Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose, and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began; [the writer then begins quoting from the Book of Ephesian without any break in his quote. - jrd] and he gave some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of all the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." Eph. 4th ch. and 11th and 12th verses. Hence we see, that this people stood in Christ, their covenant head; but not in flesh and blood, but in the eternal purpose and foreknowledge of God. As he speaks of things that are not as though they were, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times, the things that are not yet done: saying "My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure." Isaiah 46th ch. and 10th verse. Hence we see, that Christ, their covenant head and husband, had the right of redemption. And "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, that we might receive the adoption of sons," Gal. 4th ch. and 40th [4th, - jrd] verse. When we speak of the fulness of the time, we say that it was the exact time, according to his covenant engagement, that he should redeem his people from their sins by the shedding of his precious blood; and his blood was as efficacious before it was shed, as it was after his death — in the redemption and salvation of prophets, as it is now in the salvation of saints, without which the prophets could not have been saved; but we see in the 13th ch. and 8th verse of Rev., the book of life, of the lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Here we see, God speaks of things that are not as though they were. Hence we see, that the lamb was not actually slain for about four thousand years, but in the purpose and will of God. Hence we see, that it is the pleasure of God to reveal himself as a God of wisdom, beholding all events as one eternal now — and that the Church of God was as complete in the purpose and wisdom of God before time began, as she will be in heaven, with her robe of righteousness and crown of glory. But she, as the workmanship of God, must be prepared for that enjoyment; and before she can enjoy a spiritual kingdom, she must be made spiritual. She is born here of the flesh, a natural birth; and she must be born again of the spirit, a spiritual birth.
This subject recently, has been much controverted by the Baptists of our denomination; and why it should be the case, we cannot see, for there is no subject of more vital importance, that the children of the kingdom should agree in, than that of the new birth: seeing that it is a test of fellowship, and without fellowship there is no agreement. We do not intend to take up the different notions or opinions of men on the subject of the new birth, but we will give our own, in as plain a manner as we can, in order that the weakest lamb of the fold may understand us; and we have reason to hope, from the evidence of the Bible, and the witness of the children of grace, we shall succeed. The Bible informs us, in Is'h. 54th ch. and 13th vs., "and all thy children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of thy children." Again, in the 6th ch. and 45th vs. of John, "It is written in the prophets, and they shall be all taught of God." Hence, we see the propriety of all the children being of one mind, and of one heart, seeing they have a perfect Teacher, (to wit: God;) but in order for them to receive a spiritual education, they must first receive spiritual life. And here we wish now to give our views on the subject of the new birth. We believe that it is the same identified person that is born of the flesh, that must be born of the Spirit. The Savior said to Nicodemus, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man (not a spirit) be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God;" and this new birth is called in Scripture a quickening, in 2nd ch. 1st vs. Ephs., "And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins." This address was to the Church composed of men and women of the Gentiles. Subjects that had been dead in sins, and foreigners, and all such persons, whether Jews or Gentiles, when quickened, are made to feel a sense of their sins, and under the reign of grace become humble beggars; and when prepared to see their entire dependence on God for mercy, then it is the pleasure of Christ to reveal Himself to that poor desponding soul, the way, the truth, and the life. Hence the soul, in receiving this manifestation of pardoning love, is made to love God and His people with that kind of love that the world cannot give or take away. Then we will say to all such subjects, to adhere strictly to all the laws and duties, as laid down by the Master to be governed by, while we pass through this world of sorrow and affliction; and as there is a warfare with every child of grace, while in this world, between the flesh and the mind, which is called the old and new man, and the Apostle Paul, in explaining that subject, said, in 7th ch. 25th vs. Rom., "So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh, the law of sin." Hence you will observe, that the Apostle speaks of himself in the singular, as he said "I, myself," then it is the same man, and no other. But the flesh of all the children of grace must be changed, as well as the mind, from a natural to a spiritual state. The Apostle Paul said, concerning the resurrection (of the body,) "It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body." Then the bodies of all the Saints will be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump. Then shall all the members of Christ's body meet, and be complete, both soul and body, and go home with Christ their Head, where they will receive the happy welcome "Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world," there to feast on the love of God in eternity without end. AMEN. ========= [Published in the Minutes of the Tenth Annual Meeting, 1850, pp. 5-8. Printed at the Ben Franklin Printing House, Cincinnati, OH. Document provided by Mrs. Elizabeth Kirtley, Florence, KY. — jrd]
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