The Divine commandment of our Savior, is, that we shall love one another; to promote this object, shall our present effort be directed. We may promote Love, Union and Harmony, by the faithful performance of every duty enjoined upon us in the Word of God; by attendance upon the means of grace, and by a faithful adherence to our covenant relations, as the Sacramental host of God. While a departure from these principles will bring upon us confusion, strife, and every evil work. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, answered the Scribe, who interrogated him with regard to the first great commandment, with the word of his eternal truth, "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord," "and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength." This is the first commandment: John 12th chapter, 29-30 verses. Therefore it is necessary to our acceptance with God, and to our enjoyment of his Holy Spirit, that we should give him our whole hearts, that we should come to him by wholehearted repentance, with that faith which brings trust and confidence in Jesus Christ. Saying, as did Peter, "Lord, save, or I will perish." By this means, love is begotten in the heart, which flows out in obedience to God, in all things which he may require of us; Baptism, with all the ordinances, belonging to the house of God, not one of which may be neglected without offense in his sight.

"If ye love me, keep my commandments." As the great family of Baptists, we believe in a strict observance of the word of God, in every point, great and small. If it be lawful to call any commandment of Jesus Christ small, and that not one is to be neglected or forgotten, when it is in the power of the individual to perform the same. That it is necessary to our acceptance with God, that we be found faithful in his sight; that to promote harmony, unity and love, we are compelled to adhere strictly to the time honored doctrine of one Lord, one faith, and one Baptism; one legally and lawful organized Church of Jesus Christ, spoken of by Daniel the Prophet: In the days of those Kings shall the God of Heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed, and the kingdom shall be left to other people; but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. - Daniel 2:44. Jesus Christ himself left with us the unmistakable landmarks of his kingdom, when he was baptized by John the Baptist, and came up straightway out of the water, the spirit of God descending upon him like a dove; and also a voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased;" the love of God is manifested in his approbation of the deed done by the son. I would to God that the love of Christians for God, would lead them to acts of obedience, in following the Son of God, according to his example. Jesus Christ the last night of his stay here upon earth, called his disciples, Hearken, hear it, all ye descendants of other denominations - no account of any others, only the disciples. No invitation to sects, or denominations; as you would have us now give, contrary to the example of Christ. None only the kingdom that he himself set up, to commemorate the death and suffering of Christ. He says to them, as oft as ye do this, do it in remembrance of me. The Disciples now partake of this glorious ordinance, having all been baptized. According to John, (4th chapter and 1st and 2nd verses). They unite their voices together in a hymn of praise to God for the glorious institution of his visible kingdom here upon earth.

Let us, my dear brethren, unite in love together, for the continuance of the Faith once delivered to the Saints, of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Bear with undeviating firmness, the banner of our Great Law Giver, to the ends of the world, while there shall be inscribed on its ample folds, love to God, love to all the laws of Christ, and love to man. By the proper observance of the above principles, we may be able to promote peace, love and harmony among ourselves, also to show to the world the true principles of love to God, as esteeming Him more worthy to be obeyed, than the teachings of men.

Woe unto them who teach for doctrines the commandments of men. God has said, "If any man shall add to these things," God shall add to him the plagues that are written in this book. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

He that testifieth these things, saith surely, I come quickly. Amen. Even so come Lord Jesus. Revelation 22d chapter, 19th and 20th verses.
================ [Pacific Baptist Association Minutes (CA), 1859, pp. 12-14. Document was re-typed by Robert Cullifer, Folsom, CA; used with permission. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]

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