Salem Association of Predestinarian Baptists
Circular Letter 1891
Meeting in Owen County, KYThe Salem Association, Old School Predestinarian Baptists, in session with the Little Hope Church, in Owen county, Ky., on the 26th, 27th and 28th days of August, 1891, to the churches composing her body, and to all with whom she corresponds, sendeth love in the Lord. May the peace of God and the love of Christ be multiplied unto you. Beloved Brethren, when we attempt to communicate with you, through a circular letter, of those things pertaining to our holy religion as the subjects of his grace and objects of love, we are made to wonder that a being so grand and so glorious should be united and related to such depraved sinners as we are made to know we are, helpless, defiled, unworthy in ourselves even of life,
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dependent upon Him for everything we receive or enjoy. We are all gone out of the way and therefore there is none that doeth good, no not one. This is the true condition of all the race of the earthly Adam; but notwithstanding this, Paul in Ephesians 2d chapter, 1st and 2d verses, says: “And you who were dead in trespasses and sins, wherein in time past, ye walked according to the course of this world; according to the Prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. Among whom, also, we had our conversation in time past in the lust of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath even as others.” What! Doing? In a state of death? Yes, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind. Hence Saul did many things contrary to the name of Jesus. “But God who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us even when we were dead in sins, quickened us together with Christ (by grace are ye saved) and hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” therefore “if any man be in Christ Jesus he is a new creature. Old things have passed away [with Him] and behold all things have become new.” Jesus says: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit.” Hence the Apostle in spirit was brought to comprehend the whole council of God, and exclaims, “Oh, the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God, how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out”. – Romans 11:33.God reveals them unto us by his Spirit, for the Spirit searcheth all things: yea, the deep things of God. It is not the flesh that is quickened into a knowledge of these things, for it is said “the flesh profiteth nothing, and there is no good thing dwelling in the flesh,” therefore the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God, but if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, “He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.” – Romans 8:11.
But this mortal must put on immorality, and this corruptible must put on incorruption. So when this mortal shall have put on immorality and this corruptible shall have put on incorruption,
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then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory.” Upon this foundation rests our hope of salvation as sinners. “Brethren, be ye followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an example, for many walk, of whom I have told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ.” – Philippians 3:17, 18.Our conversation is in heaven from whence we also look for the Savior. Being brought to a true sense of your condition as a sinner in the sight of a just and holy God, you realize you have a vile body and are looking for a change to come. Job said, “All my appointed time will I wait till my change come.” – Job 14:14.
Paul said: “Who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body according to the working whereby He is able to subdue all things unto himself.” But some men will say, “How are the dead raised up, and with what body do they come? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened except it die.” – I Corinthians 15:35, 36.
“Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die it abideth alone; but if it bringeth forth much fruit. Ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God.” When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Jesus intercedes for his dear saints in these words: “Father, I will that they also whom thou hast given me may be with me where I am that they may behold my glory. All mine are thine, and thine are mine, and I am glorified in them that they may be all one as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee that they may be one even as we are one.” Therefore, Dearly Beloved, be ye steadfast and unmoveable. Finally, brethren, farewell. Be ye perfect; be of good comfort; live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
========== [From the Minutes of the Salem Association of Predestinarian Baptists, 1891. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
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