A pastoral lett 
 Conf Pam 12mo #400 
 
A PASTORAL LETTER; 
 
 WRITTEN IN 
 
 PERILOUS TIMES, 
 
 AND SUrrABLE TO THE 
 
 PI^ESEIVT TI^JCES. 
 
 MONTGOMERY, ALA.: 
 
 FLOYD & W\RROCK BOOK AXD JOD PRINTEKS. 
 1861. 
 
At a recent Union Prayer meeting of Christians in Montgomery, Ala., assem- 
 bled to intercede with Almighty God in behalf of our country, the following 
 extract of a Pastoral Letter, written in troublous times of the Revolution, was 
 read by the minister presiding at the meeting. A patriotic Christian lady, who 
 was present, being much impressed with the suitableness of this letter to our 
 own perilous times, and desiring that it might have a wider circulation, ex- 
 pressed a wish that it might be printed in the form of a tract, and provided 
 means to defray the expense of its publication. 
 
 This letter bears date May 22, 1775; and was written by Drs. Witherspoon, 
 Rodgers, and others, of a Synod of the Presbyterian Church, to the Congrega- 
 tions under their care. 
 
Pj^STOlFt^VL LKTTEFt. 
 
 Ver/j Pear Brethren : — The S^^iiod being met at a time when 
 public affiiirs wear so threatening an aspect, and when (unless 
 God in his sovereign providence speedily prevent it) all the 
 horrors of a civil war throughout this great Continent arc to 
 be apprehended, were of opinion, that they could not dis- 
 charge their duty to the numerous Congregations under their 
 care, without addressing them at this important crisis. As 
 the firm belief, and habitual recollection of the power and 
 presence of the living Grod, ought at all times to possess the 
 minds of real Christians, so in seasons of public calamity, 
 when the Lord is known by the judgment which he execut- 
 etli, it w^ould be an ignorance or indifference highly criminal 
 not to look up to Him with reverence, to implore his mercy 
 by humble and fervent prayer, and, if possible, to prevent his 
 vengeance by unfeigned repentance. 
 
 We therefore, brethren, beseech you in the most earnest man- 
 ner, to look beyond the immediate authors either of your suf- 
 ferings or fears, and to acknowledge the holiness and justice 
 of the Almighty in the present visitation, lie is righteous 
 in all his ways, and holy in all his works. Affliction spring- 
 eth not out of the dust. He doth not afflict willingly, nor 
 grieve the children of men ; and, therefore, it becomes every 
 person, family, city, and province, to humble themselves be- 
 fore his throne, to confess their sins, by wdiich they have pro- 
 
voked his indignation, and to beseech him to pour out upon 
 all ranks a spirit of repentance and of prayer. Fly also for 
 forgiveness to the atoning blood of the Redeemer — the blood 
 of sprinkling, which speaketh better things than that of 
 Abel. Remember and confess not only your sins in general, 
 but those prevalent national offences, which may be justly 
 considered as the procuring causes of public judgments ; partic- 
 ularly profaneness and contempt of Grod, his name. Sabbaths, 
 and sanctuary ; pride, luxury, uncleanness, and neglect of fam- 
 ily religion and government, with the deplorable ignorance 
 and security which certainly ought to be imputed to tliis as 
 their principal cause. All these are, among us, highly ag- 
 gravated by the inestimable privileges which we have hither- 
 to enjoyed without interruption since the first settlement 
 of this country. If, in the present day of distress, we ex- 
 pect that Grod will hear our supplications, and interpose for 
 our protection or deliverance, let us remember, what He him- 
 self requires of us is, that our prayers should be attended 
 with a sincere purpose, and thorough endeavor after personal 
 and family reformation. '-'If thou prepare thine heart, and 
 stretch out thy hand towards him, if iniquity be in thine 
 hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy 
 tabernacles." Job xi. 13, 14. 
 
 The Synod cannot help thinking that this is a proper time 
 for pressing all of every rank, seriously to consider the things 
 that belong to their eternal peace. Hostilities, long feared, 
 have now taken place ; the sword has been drawn in one 
 province, and the whole continent, with hardly any exception, 
 seem determined to defend their rights by force of arms. If, 
 at the same time, the British ministry shall continue to en- 
 force their claims by violence, a lasting and bloody contest 
 must be expected. Surely, then, it becomes tliose who havo 
 taken up arms, and profess a willingness to hazard their lives 
 in the cause of liberty, to be prepared for death, which to many 
 must be certain, and to every one is a possible or probable 
 event. 
 
We have long seen with concern, tlie circumstances which 
 occasioned and the gradual increase of, this unha])py differ- 
 ence. As Ministers of the gospel of peace, we have ardently- 
 wished that it could, and often hoped that it would have been 
 more early accommodated. It is well known to you, (other- 
 wise it woukl be imprudent indeed thus public y to profess) 
 that we liave not been instrumental in inflaming the minds of 
 the people, or urging them to acts of violence and disouler. 
 Perhaps no instance can be given on so interesting a subject, 
 in which political sentiments have been so long and so fully 
 kept from the pulpit, and even malice itself has not charged us 
 with labouring from the press : but as things are now come to 
 sucli a state, that we do not wish to conceal our opinions as 
 men and citizens, so the relation we stand in to you seemed 
 to make the present improvement of it to your spiritual bene- 
 lit, an indispensable duty. 
 
 Suffer us then to lay li(dd of your present temper of mind_, 
 and to exhort, especially the young and vigorous, by assur- 
 ing them that there is no soldier so undaunted as the pious 
 man, no army so formidable as those who are superior to the 
 fear of death. TLere is nothing more awful to think of, than 
 that those whose trade is war should be despisersof the name 
 of the Lord of hosts, and that shey should expose themselves 
 to the imminent danger of being immediately sent from curs- 
 ing and cruelty on the earth, to tlie blaspheming rage and 
 desparing horrors of the infernal pit. Let^ therefore, every 
 one, who from generosity of spirit, or benevolence of heart, 
 offers himselt as a champion in his country's cause, be per- 
 suaded to reverence the name, and walk in the fear of the 
 Prince of the kings of the earthy and then he may, with the 
 most unshaken firmness, expect the issue cither in victory or 
 death . 
 
 Let it not be forgotten, that though for the wise ends of his 
 providence it may please God, for a season to suffer his peo- 
 ple to Ifc under unmerited oppression, yet in general, we may 
 expect, that those who fear and servo Him in sincerity and 
 
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 truth, will be favoured witli his countenance and strength. 
 It is both the character and the privilege of the children of 
 God, that they call upon Him m the day of trouble, and He, 
 who keepeth covenant and truth for ever, has said, that his 
 ears arc always open to their cry. We need not mention to 
 you in how many instances the event in battles, and success 
 in war, have turned upon circumstances which were inconsider- 
 able in themselves, as well as out of the power of human pruence 
 to foresee or direct, because we suppose you firmly believe that 
 after all the counsels of men, and the most probable and 
 promising means, the Lord will do that which seemeth him 
 good ; nor hath his promise ever failed of its full accomplish- 
 ment: "the Lord is withyou while ye be with him, and if ye seek 
 him he will be found of you ; but if ye forsake him he will 
 foiwake you." 2 Chron. xv. 2. 
 
 The Union Prayer-meeting, at which this Pastoral 
 Letter was read, is held on every Monday afternoon, between 
 the hours of five and six, in the Lecture Room of the Metho- 
 dist Episcopal Church. 
 
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