THE
MINUTES
OF THE
1AW3OT AWWIAWMI »
HELD IN THE
CITY OF AUGUSTA, RICHMOND COUNTY, GA.
ON
FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY, and MONDAY,
THE
9th, lOth. 11th & 13th of Oct. 1836
WASHINGTON, GA:
PRINTED AT THE OFFICE OF THE " CHRISTIAN INDEX."
1835.
Library of
Emory University
MINUTES.
la consequence of" the absence, both of brother Mathews and brother
Gunn, his alternate, the Introductory Sermon was delivered by brother Jes¬
se M. Davis, from Luke 24: 4G, 47—"And he said unto them thus it is writ¬
ten," <fcc.
2. The letters from the Churches were read, the names of the delegates
enrolled, and the state of the Churches minuted.
3. Elected brother Jesse Mercer, Moderator, and W. H. Stokes, Clerk.
4. The Church at New Providence, lately constituted in Warren county,
applied for membership, and after the constitution was read, she was recei¬
ved as a component member of this bod}'.
5. Invited ministers of our own, and other denominations to seats with us.
6. The following committees were appointed by the chair, viz: On preach¬
ing, Mallary, J. H. Walker, E. Perryman, and C. Battle from the Associa¬
tion; from the Church, Turpin, Whitlock and Bunch: On finance, T. G.
Janes, R. Q. Dickinson and John Mercer: On arrangement, Sherwood, Har¬
ris and E. Callaway.
7. Read letters of correspondence from other bodies as follows: A letter
from the Female Benevolent Society of Columbia county; a letter from the
Ebenezer Association; from the Saluda a letter and minutes, by the hand of
their messenger, brother Burriss; from the Cahaba a letter; from the Tugalo
a letter and minutes; from the Edisto (a new Association) a letter by her
messengers, Thomas McSrriss and James G. O. Wilkerson; from the Central
a letter, but no minutes or messenger; from the Savannah a letter and minutes,
by her messengers, Walker, Brooks and Bradford; from the Greenwood Fe¬
male Benevolent Society a letter with contributions ; from the Hephzibah a
letter and minutes, by the brethren Kilpatrick and Polhill; from the Wash¬
ington a letter and minutes, by the hand of her messenger brother Lockhart;
from the Edgefield a letter, by brother Morriss. The Association then ad¬
journed.
Saturday morning, 9 o'clock. Prayer by brother William A. Callaway.
8. Read and received the report of the committee on arrangement.
9. Appointed a committee consisting of the brethren, Mallary, Sherwood
and E. Callaway, to report upon the decease of ministers amongst us during
the last Associational year.
10. Ordered correspondence, and appointed messengers to the bodies with
which we correspond, as follows: To the Vv ashington Association, the breth¬
ren Roberts, Perryman, Johnston and Jesse B. Battle—brother Roberts to
write the letter. To the Saluda, flarriss, Taylor and John Q. West—Ilar-
riss to write. To the Cahaba, A. L. Kennady—Sherwood to write. To the
Tugalo, Sherwood and Jonathan Davis—Davis to write. To the Edisto, (a
4
correspondence with' the Edisto commenced this session) Tucker and Ken¬
nady—Tucker to write.- To the Central, Jonathan Davis, Sherwood, Thorn¬
ton, and Johnston—Sherwood to write*- To the Savannah River, Harris,
Kennady, and W. P. Steed—Steed to write. To the Hephzibah, Johnston,
Kennady, Perryman, Roberts and the Moderator—Johnston to write. To
the Edgefield, James Blanchard—Absalom Jane$ to write. To the Sarep-
ta, Jesse M. Davis, Sherwood, Mathews, and the Moderator—Davis to write.
To the Western, Sherwood, West, Jonathan Davis—West to write. To
the Yellow River, Gunn, Stokes and Tucker—Stokes to write. The breth¬
ren Sanders, Jon. Davis and Roberts, were appointed a committee to ad¬
dress a letter to the Ebenezer Association; the same persons were requested
to "be the bearers of it, in connection with the brethren Johnston and Perry-
man.
11. A committee was appointed, consisting of the Moderator, Sanders,
Sherwood, A. Janes and C. Battle, on the Southern Baptist College, to re¬
port on Monday morning.
12. At the request of the Columbia county F. B. S., appointed Jonathan
Davis, and V. R. Thornton his alternate, to preach a sermon before the socie¬
ty the first Wednesday in June next,
13. Took into consideration those Associations that have ceased to corres¬
pond with us; whereupon the subject was referred to the committee on the
Ebenezer case.
14. Read the Circular Letter, prepared by brother Stokes, and voted its
adoption—requested brother Jonathan Davis to prepare one for the next
year.
16. Appointed Union Meetings, as follows:
1. District, at Williams' Creek, Friday before the 5th Sabbath in July.
2. do. at the Grove, Friday before the 4th Sabbath in July.
3. do. at Antioch, Oglethorpe, Friday before the 2d Sabbath in July,
4. do. atRehoboth, Friday before the 5th Sabbath in May.
16. The following queries were presented by the delegation from the Shi-
Ioh Church, which were considered and answered, viz: 1st. "Is it the duty
of Church members to partake of the Lord's Supper, when regularly admin¬
istered in the Church?" Answer yes!
(2.) Are members excusable who merely take their seats in order, but re¬
fuse to partake of the elements!" Answer no!
(3.) "Is it the duty of the Church or not, when members take their seats
and do not commune, to inquire into the reason thereof?" Answer yes!
(4.) "When members take their seats at communion, and fail to partake
on account of a want of fellowship with some brother or brethren, and yet do
not lay charges against those for whose sake they refuse to commune, ought
the Church to deal with them who thus act?" Answer yes, after Gospel steps
have been taken!
(5.) "Is any member of the Church justified in refusing to partake of the
Lord's Supper, because he has not full confidence in the piety of one or more
members'?" Answer no!
17. The condition of the Springfield and Spirit Creek African Churches,
J
was taken into consideration, and after some pertinent remarks by the Rev.
Mr. Reid, of the Presbyterian Church, the matter was referred to the Execu¬
tive Committee of the Baptist State Convention.
18. Appointed the next session of this body to be held at Baird's Meeting
House, Oglethorpe county, to commence Friday before the 2nd Sabbath in
October, 1836. Bro. James Mathews to preach the Introductory Sermon;
brother R. Gunn, his alternate. Brother Joseph Roberts to preach the Mis¬
sionary Sermon, and brother Johnston, his alternate.
19. Three sermons were delivered in the Baptist Church on the Sabbath,
by the brethren Sherwood, Mercer and Sanders. The Presbyterian and
Methodist Churches were also supplied by our ministers.
Monday morning, 9 o'clock. Prayer by brother Brookes.
20. Elected the brethren Jesse Mercer, Johnston, Jon. Davis, A. Janes,
Thornton, E. Callaway, Sanders and Sherwood, as the delegates of this body
to the next Georgia Baptist Convention, to be held at Talbotton, Talbot
county. Friday before the first Sabbath in May next.
21. The Report from the' Committee on the decease of ministers, was read
and received. (See Report A.)
22. The Rev. Luther Crawford, the accredited Agent of the American
Baptist Home Missionary Society being present, a committee composed of the
brethren Johnston, Sanders, Jon. Davis, Sherwood and the Moderator, was
appointed to report upon the object of his visit to this State; the report was
subsequently received, and will be found under the letter B.
23. Read and approved the report of the Financial Committee. (See Re¬
port C.)
24. Received the Report of the Committee on those Associations, which
have ceased to correspond with us. (See Report D.)
25. The Committee on the subject of the Southern Baptist College report¬
ed. (See Report E.)
26. Called for and read corresponding letters.
27. Requested the Clerk to superintend the printing and distribution of
3000 copies of these minutes, and ordered that he receive $30 for his services.
28. Voted the thanks of this body to our Presbyterian brethren, for the use
of their Lecture Room during our present session.
29. The Moderator addressed the delegates affectionately; and after sing¬
ing and prayer, the meeting was adjourned.
JESSE MERCER, Moderator.
W. H. Stokes, Clerk.
RESOLUTIONS PASSED BY THE ASSOCIATION.
Resolved, That this body use their exertions to circulate the pamphlet
published some time since by the Moderator, upon the subject of the analogy
between the Passover and the Lord's Supper.
Resolved, That brother Sherwood be requested to furnish for publication,
a copy of his sermon, preached on the Sabbath, to be appended to the min¬
utes of this session of the Association; farther, that the expense thereof, be
defrayed out of the minute fund.
6
Resolved, That the Editor of the Index be requested to publish the Mis-f
sionary Sermon, delivered on the Sabbath of the present session, by brothel
Sherwood, in his paper; and that he publish our Circular Letter also.
On motion Resolved, That a committee, consisting of the brethren, Jon.
Davis, Sherwood, Sanders, A. Janes and R. Q. Dickinson, be appointed to
draw up the reasons why we correspond with the Central Association, and to
present them at ttie next session of this body.
Resolved, That this Association set apart the first Thursday in April next,
as a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer, in reference to the difficulties and
divisions existing In our denomination; and that our sister Associations be in¬
vited to unite with us. Resolved farther, that the owners of slaves be re¬
quested to grant them liberty on that occasion, to assemble with us at our pla¬
ces of public worship.
Report A.
The Committee to whom was referred the subject of deceased Ministers in
our body Report as follows :
Whereas it has pleased the all-wise and sovereign Disposer of events, to
remove from amongst us by death, since the lafet meeting of the Association,
our venerable and beloved Brother, Elder James Armstrong, therefore
Resolved, That we most sincerely sympathize with the bereaved family
in the irreparable loss which they have sustained, and that we are deeply
sensible that in the death of our worthy and venerated brother, this body has
lost one of its most pious, enlightened, and judicious counsellors, society a
lovely and invaluable member, and Zion at large a pure and precious orna¬
ment.
And whereas our beloved Brother, Elisha Bradshaw, a licensed preach¬
er of the Shiloh Church, has also been removed by death,
Resolved, That we condole with the afflicted family of the deceased, and
that we feel that by his removal the Church has lost a pious, upright, and
useful member.
Resolved further, That in view of the solemn and afflicting dispensations
of Divine providence which we are now contemplating, the Members of this
Association should regard themselves as loudly called upon to consider their
own frail and dying condition, to awake to new and higher efforts in the
cause of our blessed Redeemer, and in the exercise of more enlarged faith,
and of a more perfect sense of dependence on Divine Grace, to do with their
might, whatever their hand findeth to do.
And Resolved finally, That by the removal of these pious, and useful
laborers, ,we should be impressively reminded of the command of our Lord
Jesus Christ, « Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he will send
forth laborers into his harvest/'
Report B.
The Committee to examine the credentials of Rev. Luther Crawford, the
accredited agent of the American Baptist Home Mission Society, present the
following report:
I
That they have road satisfactory recommendations from the society which
sends him, and letters from various gentlemen, ministers and mercantile hou¬
ses in Now York, commending him to the confidence of Southern Christians
as a man of piety and prudence, &, absolutely opposed to the measures of those
who are attempting to produce a dangerous excitement among us: that they
have also conversed'freely with him, and are assured his views are such as
would be approved by all friends to the South.
Resolved, That we approve the American Home Mission Society, whose
object is to spread the Gospel in the destitute parts of the United States, es¬
pecially in the Valley of the Mississippi—that we regard their resolution to
attempt to raise $50,000 the current year, as laudable, and we commend it to
ministers, churches and friends, as worthy their approbation and aid.*
Resolved further, That in consequence of the state of excitement produ¬
ced in our community by the Abolitionists at the North, that all agents from
that quarter, are looked upon with such jealousy and suspicion, that the pre¬
sence of any such agent among us at this time, will be calculated only to in¬
crease the excitement, and that we recommend to brother Crawford to de¬
cline a further prosecution of his agency here.
On Abolition.—Your Committee, while on this subject, beg leave to sub¬
mit for the consideration of this body a few other resolutions, viz:
1. Resolved, That we understand the Scriptures fully to recognize the re¬
lation of Christian master and Christian servant, without the shadow of cen¬
sure on the existence of such a relation; but that they give full directions how
each party should fulfil the duties of such a relation.
2. Resolved, That we consider all attempts, under the cloak of religion, to
disturb the quiet existence of such a relation to be fanatical, and unauthorized
by the Holy Scriptures, and that in a civil point of view, the authors of such
conduct, arc officious intermedlers with the lawful rights of others, and guilty
of a degree of criminality worthy of the serious attentionof the civil authorities.
3. Resolved, That we believe that the course adopted by some of our
brethren at the North, in relation to this subject, is well calculated to break
off all intercourse, both of a civil and religious nature, between the North and
South, which event we look to, vvitli serious regret, and which unhappy re¬
sult we believe can be avoided only by the timely and efficient interference
of the Northern people themselves.
f;Dr. W. H. Turpin, of Augusta, will receive any contributions that may be made,
in aid of the above-named society, and forward them accordingly.
Report C.
The Committee on Finance have received from the Delegates of the
Churches of the Georgia Association, and from individuals, their contribu¬
tions sent up, (as per list of the Churches accompanying the Report) and
report the aggregate, or total amount, as follows, viz.:
Received for Printing Minutes of the Association, - - $104 05
« Home Missions, - 184 93$
" Foreign Missions, ----- 652 78$
" Educating Young Ministers, - 214 00
5
Received for General Purposes, p 391 25*
from Powelton Church, for the Burmah Bible, - 5 00
« Kiokee Church, for Mercer Institute, on 5 year plan, 20 00
« Sweet Water Church, for Burman Bible, - 5 25
1* Bro. Wm. Lumpkin, of Antioch, Oglethorpe, for
general purposes, - * - 20 00
« Bro. John Beasley, ot do. for Home Missions, 3 00
*♦ Female Missionary Society, of Greenwood, Lin¬
coln, for Foreign Missions, - - - 33 00
" Columbia co. Female Mis. So., for Burman Mission. 70 00
" Church at Washington, Wilkes, and its adherents,
for Foreign Missions, to aid the $100,000 plan, 300 00
" Female Missionary Society of Augusta, for Foreign
Missions, - - - - - 66 12 J
Amount taken on Sabbath, by public collection, for Missions, - 120 00
« on Sabbath evening, at African Church, for Missions, 15 00
Received from a Snuff Taker, for Burman Missions, - - 3 00 '
" Thomas W. Butler, of Taliaferro, for do. - 2 00
$2,209 40*
All of which we respectfully submit,
THOS. G. JANES, )
R. Q. DICKINSON, / Committee on Finance.
JOHN MERCER, )
Received of Financial Committee as per the several items
hereunto annexedj total amount, - $2,209 40*
Oct. 12th, 1835. Wm. A. Mercer for W. H. STOKES.
Domestic
Foreign Educat.
General
' Missions. Missions. YoungM. Purposes
Aberleen,
1 25
00
5 50
Antioch, Richmond,
1 37*
Antioch, Oglethorpe,
4 00
Augusta, -
2 00
20 32*
Bethel, Crawfordville,
- 5 00
118 00
40 00
Bethlehem Bethel,
1 50
40 00
3 00
Bethesda,
4 00
75 50
66 00
Baird's Meeting-House,
3 00
20 00
Clark's Station,
1 50
20 6$
County Line,
3 00
20 56*
Damascus,
1 00
34 00
Double Branches,
2 50
30 43$
Ebenezer, - ■»
2 00
28 6£
Elim, -
2 00
Fishing Creek,
- 2 00
23 5
14 43|
Friendship,
1 00
8 12*
$37 12*
87* 389 62*
177 43|
9
Min utes.
Domestic
Foreign
EJucat.
General
Amount bro't. forward,
?rTtssions.
Missions.
YounecM. Purvosw
$ 37 12{
i 87.\
389 62-|
177 43|
Greenesboro',
2 00
30 00"
38 00
Greenwood,
2 00
29 12\
Goshen,
- 1 50
22 00
Grove, -
1 50
5 00
7 50
Hephzibah,
- 2 00
1 00
13 431
Horeb, -
2 00
Kiokee, -
2 37-J
3 00
23 10
Lincolnton,
- 1 50"
22 6-1
Long Creek,
2 00
A
Mount Zion,
1 00
16 75
New Ford,
- 2 00
14 75
New Hope, Greene,
1 25
5 00
New Hope, Lincoln,
1 50
e m
New Providence,
- 2 00
7 25
Pine Grove,
1 00
6 00
Powelton,
3 50
70 00
Philips' Mills,
2 50
16 00
16 00
20 00
Rehoboth,
3 00
31 31 i
Salem, Taliaferro,
1 00
6 75
Salem, Lincoln,
1 30
8 25
Sardis, -
4 00
20 00
Shiloh, -
4 00
39 75
Sharon, -
75
8 37£
Smyrna, -
1 50
10 00
10 00
Sweet Water,
3 00
6 50
Union, Lincoln,
1 50
7 30
Union, Warren,
2 25
5 48
Warrenton,
- 1 50
White Plains,
2 50
13 6*
13 6-1
Williams' Creek,
- 2 00
23 10
Washington, Wilkes,
2 00
145 00
155 00
African Church, Richmond,
3 00
■Spirit Creek,
2 00
$104 05 184 93| 652 78| 214 00 391 25£
Report D.
The Committee to whom was referred the case of those Associations that
have ceased to correspond with us, beg leave to submit the following Report,,
to be inserted in the Minutes, viz.: Whereas, the Brethren sent from this
Body as Messengers to the Ocmulgee Association, have reported that said
Association asserted that her reasons for rejecting our correspondence, were
First, because we had stated in our Minutes, that we " did not consider As--
sociational Correspondence to involve the fellowship of the Churches, or of
individual Members"—and Secondly, because we correspond with the Cen-
10
iral Association. To the first, we would reply, that, in Association^ Cor-
lespondence, we do not correspond with single Churches, nor, Members of
Churches; and whatev< r mny he tlio impropriety of any •Church or Church
Member, until said Association, by some act of hers, takes the responsibili¬
ty of it upon herself, she is not answerable for it.
But if even the Association herself, were guilty of some impropriety,
whereby christian fellowship might be broken, it would be far more in ac¬
cordance with the spirit of the Gospel to labor with her by Christian corres¬
pondence, in order to correct her error, than to break off abruptly, as the
Ocmulgee Association has done, without even sending us a notice of the
cause of their offence. We invite the Christiail community to x-ead the 18th
of Matt, and the 6th of Gal. and then to judge whose principles and practice
are most in accordance with the spirit of the Gospel.
2ndly. With regard to our impropriety in corresponding with the -Central
Association, neither the Ocmulgee nor any other sister Association, has at¬
tempted to point out to us one solitary reason, sastained by any evidence,
that the act was wrorg. And what to our mind renders the conduct of the
Ocmulgee Association the more strange and unreasonable is, that we had
sent to her in respectful terms a statement of serious difficulties in our mind
arising from her usurpation of the rights of Churches, which she deigned to
answer, only by an abrupt rejection of our correspondence.
At our last session,Ave sent a letter to the Flint River Association, contain¬
ing complaints of the same character with those against the Ocmulgee,
which letter, we learn, was received by that body,, and the complaints treated
in precisely the same manner as by the Ocmulgee.
We have learned also, by authentic information, strengthened by the ab¬
sence of their Letter and Messengers, that the Yellow River Association lias
declined further correspondence, giving a practical demonstration of the doc¬
trine, that the first breach of fellowship, should cut off all further correspon¬
dence. Resolved therefore, that instead of imitating the unchristian spirit of
such a course of conduct, we treat all the Members of said Associations, with
Christian respect, and with meekness, endeavor to convince them of the er¬
ror of their course.—Resolved also, That their Ministers be invited most cor
dially, to visit us and to preach in our Churches.
Report E.
The Committee to whom was referred the subject of a Southern Baptist Col
lege, to be located at Washington, Wilkes County, beg leave to Report the
following Resolutions:
itesolved 1st., That we are of opinion that the general interests of science
and religion, and the peculiar wants of our denomination require the estab¬
lishment of such an institution, and that we approve of the location above
designated.
Resolved 2ndly., That the Association, in accordance with the request of
the Washington Church, appoint a meeting previous to ils adjournment, for
the purpose of taking up a subscription in aid of the proposed Institution.
Resolved 3rdly, That the Executive Committee of the Georgia Baptist
11
State Convention be requested to take the subject into eon^idoraiion, and a-
doptsuch preparatory measures as they may deem expedient to aid in the
establishment of the proposed Seminary oi' Learning.
Resolved 4thly., That we do not consider it expedient to commence the
operations of the Institution, until the sum of One Hundred and Fifty
Thousand Dollars sha>ll have been subscribed.
STATE OF THE CH5JKCHES.-
Ordained Preachers in small capitals ; Licensed Preachers in Italics•;
those marked thus * were absent.
w & b tsi & b
a ■ <•$ p ^
Churches, Counties, and Delegates.
' -7 >• ^ ^ •;
FIRST DISTRICT. | j ;
Powelton, Hancock, Malcom Johnston, John
W. Rabun, Cullen Battle, ----- 1.3 12 1 G 150
Mount Zion, do. Thos. Neal,* A. E. Reeves, 4 8 6 2 2 40
Horeb, do. Jos. Roberts, John A. Evans, 5 7 7 2 1 6 94
White Plains, Greene, Isaac Moore, Samuel
Johnson, E. P. Jarrel, ------ 20 9 12 1 1 2 156
Warrenton, Warren, Peter Cody, Wm, Castle-
berry,* 2 4 11 12-1 51
New Providence,' do. H. Hite, Saml. 'Hall, 34
Long Creek, do. W. L. Tucker, J, Veasy* 3 2 11 2 1 1 110
Williams' Creek, do. R. V. Asbury* S.
Torrance, ---------- 2 26 2 1 2 9!)
Elim, do. Wm. Hill, Burch M. Roberts, 3 5 2 1 4 66
Salenj, Taliaferro, R. Gunn,* L. L. Andrews,* 7 1 IS
Bethel, do. Jon. Davis, W.D. Cowdrey, L.
B. Mercer, H. Mercer, A. Gresham, W.
Peek, J. V. Davis, 48 20 23 13 1 6 354
second district.
Kiokia, Columbia, Juriaii Harris* A. Heggie,
C. Collins, D. Stanford, - -- -- 31 18 2 4 2 2Q0
Pine Grove, do. A. L. Kennedy, G. Dorsey, 9 3 . 57
Sharon, do. L. Mulkey, L. G. Steed, 5 3 3 2 75
Damascus, do. F. Taylor, John Cartledge, 19 3 1 43
Grove, do. G.Ivy, J. Cliatt, - - - - 2 7 3 2 2 59
Aberleen, do. Sam'l. Jones, Jos. Darling, 8 2 1 1 52
Bethlehem, do. Sam'l. Crump, G. W. Toole, 12 11 72
Double-Branch, Lincoln, E.Lockhart, D. Kin¬
der, ----------- 38 3 2 3 115
Sweet Water, Warren, E.Perryman, W. P.
Steed, - - - - 18 5 21 3 106
Union, do. G. W. Harda,way, E. Hilman, 6 4 3 1 3 71
Augusta, W;H. Turpin, Doctor Bunch, 5 17- 13 4 1 131
Antioch, do. H. Robinson, Thos.Wylds, 112 2 16
African Church, do. Jacob Walker, J. Wal¬
ton, S. Bell, C. Brister, 28 2 7 26 26 15 1321
Spirit Creek, do. Robt. M'Ghee, S. Twiggs, 2 3 3 1 9 345
New Hope, Lincoln, J. Little,* D. Florence, 3o 4 2 1 1 65
3
12
STATE OF THE CHURCHES.
-.Ordained Preachers in smail capitals ; Licensed Preachers in Italics ;
those marked thus * were absent.
bs & b tej fe)
§ 1 %
Churches, Counties, and Delegates. ^ £• S §
^ ^ | s. ^
THIRD DISTRICT. j 5$. "j ^ i
Bethesda, Greene, A. Janes, R. Q,. Dickinson,
Simon Morriss, C. N. Daniel, J. Mercer, 6 5 30 2 2 8 268
-Shiloh, do. T. U. Wakes, E. H. Macon, W.
Moncrief, W. M. Tryon, - -- -- 2 16 26 4 1 230
Smyrna do. Y. R. Thornton, J. M. Peek, 4 3 2 63
New Hope, do. A. Sherwood, W. Terrell, 2 3 4 1 37
Greensboro', do. B. M. Sanders, T. G. Janes, 6 16 4 1 3 91
Philips'Mill, Wilkes, J. Davant, R. Anderson, 14 11 15 1 0 3 142
Antioch, Oglethorpe, W. Lumpkin, W. Jew¬
el,* N. Lumpkin,* Sam'l. Lumpkin,* - 7 1 14 3 219
Baird's M. H., do. J. Brisco,* J. Brooks, M.
Wright, John Hudson, ------ 1 9 12 5 203
County Line, do. E. Meadows ,* J. Winn,* J,
M.Callaway, 15 1 21 4 1 3 183
fourth district.
Goshen, Lincoln, Thos. Simmons, R. Prather,
H.H. Glaze, 23 1 a 1 3 1 154
Clark's Station, Wilkes, I. N- Bolton, J. M.
Davis, , - « - - 1 3 4 3 88
Sardis, do. E. Callaway, I. T. Irvin, R. Stro-
zier, Seaborn Callaway,* L. J. Callaway,* 8 $ 12 7 1 5 263
Newford, do. Wm. Pool, F. McCleftdon, ^ 22 2 11 2 2 2 123
Rehoboth, do. W. Jackson, J. Burdett, IV.
Fratfier, - -- -- - -"--- 18 2 12 6 2 161
Greenwood, Lincoln, J.H.Walker, P. Steed,
W.R.Hart, 29 4 12 4 2 1 179
Lincoln ton, do. John Zellars, W. Dallas, - 14 1 3 1 64
Salem, do. J. McCord, E. Garnetc, - 13 111 84
Hephzibah, do. E. Ross, J. Morman, - * 11 5 3 1 62
Fishing Creek, Wilkes, W. T. Lane, N. Wi¬
ley, M. A. Lane, - -- -- -- 336331
Washington, do. Jesse Mercer, William H.
Stokes, ,----735 2
Friendship, do. W.Curry, W.Walton, - 1 4 1
Ebenezer, do. John Q,. West, J. Kendrick, 7 7 10 2 1 3
Union, Lincoln, John Moss, W. Harper,* - » 7 1 6 12
164
63
53
98
56
05^ The number baptized during the Associational year is 478.—Th8
jvhole number in the Churches is 6,987*
13
CIRCULAR LCTTER.
The Georgia Association to the Churches of which it is composed, s&ids
Christian salutation.
Dear Brethren:
The subject upon which we propose to address voa this year, is, the prac¬
tical character of the doctrine of Election and Predestination. And in railing
your attention to this subject at the present, we shall take for granted that the
doctrine in question is true. We shall assume, that believers in Christ are
the "elect, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sancti-
fication of the Spirit, and belief of the truth—that they were chosen in Him
before the foundation of the world, that they "should be holy and without blame
before him in love." Having been "predestinated unto the adoption of chil¬
dren by Jesus Christ to God, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the
praise of the glory of his grace"—predestinated to be conformed to the image
of his Son.
But before we proceed with our design, perhaps it will not be amiss to de¬
fine the words Election and Predestination. The word Eklego, from which
our word Election comes, means, in its first and most obvious sense, to choose:
"and of them he chose twelve, whom he also named Apostles." Luke 6: 13..
"Jesus answered them, have not I chosen you twelve." Jno. 6: 70. In the
doctrinal application of this term, it is sometimes used to express, 1st. a plea¬
sure in a thing; in other words, to tcill the performance or the existence of a
thing. "Peter rose up, and said unto them, men and brethren, ye know how
that a good while ago, God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my
mouth, should hear the word of the Gospel and believe." Acts 15: 7. I will do
to him that which shall seem good unto thee." Septu. 2 Sam. 19: 38. 2d. To
distinguish one thing from others by some peculiar mark of favor: but for the
"elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days." Mark 13:
20. The God of this people of Israel, chose our fathers," &c. Acts 13: 17.
3d. To choose prospectively: "God hath chosen the foolish things of the
world to confound the wise: and God hath chosen the weak things," &c. 1
Cor. 1: 27. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of
the world." Eph. 1: 4. "Hath not God chosen the poor of this world?"—
James 2: 5.
As it respects Predestination, the word (ProorizoJ from which it conies,
means, 1st. Simply to predetermine—to predestine. "For to do whatsoever
thy hand and thy council determined before to be done." Acts 4: 28. "For
whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate.'''' Rom. 8: 29, 30. 2d. To
ordain: "Even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world un¬
to our glory." 1 Cor. 2: 7. Havingpredestinated us to the adoption of chil¬
dren: Eph 1: 5 and 11. To predestinate a thing then, is to determine be¬
fore hand, that it shall be done, or that it shall exist.
Having thus taken this holy and sublime doctrine as true, and having defin¬
ed the principal terms used in its discussion, we assert,
First, That this doctrine is perfectly consistent with the most diligent
use of means to effect the purposes of God's Providence and Grace. The
14
dilliculty which many pi rsms have felt upon thus subject, lias been owing to
the fact, that then; are, so far as men are concerned, certain contingencies, as
it respects the means employed by the Almighty, to consummate his high and
holy designs!. It has not occurred to these persons that it matters not how
many contingencies there may be as to the means used in the prosecution of
any design, so the end is fixed upon from the beginning. But brethren, we
suppose you would prefer a confirmation of our position from the Scriptures
themselves, to any course of induction we might employ? We shall therefore,
adduce a few facts from the Bible, which we think will fully sustain us in what
we hcive mow advanced.
1. God predestinated that his chosen people should go do\vn to Egypt and
sojourn there 400 years, and afterwards return to their own land. Now this
people went down to Eg}Tpt and returned, in exact accordance with the fore-
ordination of God; yet, not without the existence of many contingencies, and
the most active exertions on the pfirt of Moses and Joshua, and others, to
bring it about. Witness the prayers, anxieties and exertions of these eminent
saints of the Most High upon this subject. «Thus I fell down," says Moses,
"before the Lord forty days and forty nights, as I fell down at thy first; be¬
cause the Lord had said he would destroy you. I prayed therefore unto the
Lord, and saicf O Lord God, destroy not thy people, and thine inheritance,
which thou hast redeemed through thy greatness which thou hast brought forth
out of Egypt with a mighty hand-" Dout. 9; 25, 26. Qf Joshua it is said,
when about to pass over Jordan, into the promised land, "he rose eaily in the
morning; and they removed from Shittim and came to Jordan» he and all the
children of Israel and lodged there before they passed over." Joshua 3: 1.
Every preparation was made, «very precaution taken, as though their suc¬
cess depended entirely Upon their skill and management.
But it will probably be objected that the cases are not parallel. In those
just mentioned, the time in which the foreordination was made is expressed;
but with respect to the predestination of persons to eternal life, it is said to
be from eternity. To which it may be replied, that whenever God foreor¬
dains any event, that event is actually predestinated. The fact that only a
few hundred years may roll around between the period at which the foreordi¬
nation takes place, and the existence of the event itself, does not change the
thing in principle at all. In like manner, the principle is the same, whether
God's purpose that any particular event shall exist, be expressed at any parti¬
cular point of time or not expressed. The period at which God predestinated
the bruising of the serpent's head is recorded in the Bible, that of his predes¬
tinating men to eternal life is not; yet the fact as it relates to an actual pre¬
destination, is the same in both cases.
2. God predestinated that after the Jews should serve the King of Baby¬
lon seventy years, they should return to their own land, ^nd rebuild the walls
of their city and their temple. This toas a positive decree of God himself.
*«And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will
punish the King of Babylon, and that nation, saith the Lord, for their iniquiu,
and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations. Fui
many nations and great Kings shall serve themselves of ihem aloo. and I will
15
recompense "them according to their deeds aiuf according (o the w orks of their
own hands." Jcr. 25: 12,14. See also chap. 29: 10, and 32: 42-44; and 33:
10-14. But notwithstanding this positive assurance that Jerusalem should be
rebuilt, those employed in the enterprise, resorted to the most diligent use of
means to accomplish the design. "Now the second year of their coming unto
the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the
son of Shealtiel, and Jeslma the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their
brethren the Priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the:
•captivity unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old
and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the Lord. Then stood
Jeshua with his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Ji>
'dah, together, to set forward the workmen in the house of God; the sons oi
Henadad, with their sons and their brethren the Levites." Ezra 3: 8, 9.
Nehemiah both prayed and worlccd—instructed his men to hold in one
hand their weapons of defence, whilst they built the wall with the other. This
course was enjoined too, upon his brethren, by one who had found out that
the time to build the Lord's house had come! -With this knowledge in his
possession, why did not Nehemiah say, as too many say at the present d;jy,
"•The Lord will perform his own work, we need not concern ourselves about
it?" Why did he not sit down and see the Lord carry on his work without
the instrumentality of himself or his brethren?
3. There is an incident upon record in the 27th of Acts, that so fully illus¬
trates the matter in hand, that we shall just quote it, and with it, dismiss this
part of our address. When Paul was sent as a prisoner from Jerusalem to
Rome, that he might appear before Caesar himself, the ship in which he
sailed was overtaken by a stormr and was in imminent danger of being lost.
Whilst in these perilous circumstances-whilst, to use the Apostle's own words,
"neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on
us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away. But after long
abstinence, Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, sirs, ye should
have harkened unto me and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained
this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there
shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. For there stood
by me this night the angel of God, whose I am and whom I serve, saying fear
not Paul: thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all
them that sail with thee. Wherefore sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God;
that it shall be even as it was told me." And as the shipmen were about to
flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea under color,
as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship, Paul said to the
centurion and to the soldiers, except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be
saved—the soldiers cut off the rope of the boat and let her fall off." See
verse 20-25, 30-32.
Here we are informed in the first place, that an Angel had given Paul an
assurance that all that sailed with him were given to him; yet when the ship-
men were about to flee out of the ship, Paul said to the centurion and to the
soldiers, except these abide in the ship, ye cannat be saved. Ajid why? Be¬
cause the shipmen were the most competent to manage the affairs of the ship-.
16
The other part of the crew, it is presumed, knew but little about it- Thus it
is apparent, that God connects the means with the ends to be accomplished;
and most generally sucli means as are the best adapted to produce the con¬
templated results.
Secondly. The doctrine of Election furnishes a solid ground for reli~
gious effort.
If God promises any thing as sure, and at the same time informs us that
we are to employ an instrumentality tq bqng it about, doubtless there is upon
this ground great encouragement to labor Because there is a prospect that
our labor will not be vain. When "t)aniel understood by books the number
of the years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the Prophet,
that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem,'* did
he set down and quietly expect the fulfilment of the prediction, or did he
pray and labor for its accomplishment? Let us hear his own language: "And
I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with
fasting, and sackcloth and ashes." Dan. 9: 3. See also 10: 2,3.
There is a prophecy in Zechariah to the same point: "Therefore thus saith
the Lord, I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my bouse shall be built
in it, saith the Lord of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusa¬
lem. Cry, yet saying, thus saith the Lord of hosts; my cities through pros¬
perity shall yet be spread abroad; aijd the Lord shall yet comfort Zion, and
shall yet choose Jerusalem." Zech. 1: 16, 17. But did Zerubbabel and his
associates abate their exertions upon the strength of this promise, or foreordi-
nation of the Lord ? The farthest from it imaginable. They worked with all
their might, for the iord had said, "be strong O Zerubbabel, and be strong
O Joshua son of Josedech, the high priestj and be strong all ye people of the
land saith the Lord, and work: for I am with you saith the Lord of hosts."
Hag. 2: 4. Thus the absolute decree of the Most High, in this instance, af¬
forded the strongest ground of encouragement to his servants to put forth vig¬
orous efforts in the prosecution of their design.
2, While the ,Apostle Paul was at Corinth, preaching the Gospel of the
Kingdom, many of the Jews "opposed themselves and blasphemed." Ho*
then "shook his raiment and said unto them, your blood be upon your own
head, I am clean; from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles." But while he
•abode in the house of Justus, previous to his intended departure, "Crispus,
the chief ruler of the Synagogue, believed in the Lord, with all his houses
and many of the Corinthians hearing believed and were baptized. Then spake
'the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, be not afraid, but speak and hold
not thy peace: for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee;
for I have much people in this city."
Now what constituted the ground of encouragement to christian effort in
this .case? Was it not the assurance that the Lord had "much people in the
city?" And upon the strength of this assurance the Apostle continued there
"a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them." Acts 18:
6-11. And so may we brethren, labor in faith and hope, wherever the Pro¬
vidence of God may cast our lot, believing that God has much people in the
city.
17
Again: The Apostle informs us, that this very doctrine, caused him to en¬
dure all the difficulties with which he had to contend, in the discharge of his
ministerial duties. Hear him: " Wherein," speaking of the Gospel, "I suf¬
fer trouble as an evil-doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not
bound. Therefore, I endure all things fqr the Elect's sake, that they may
also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." 2 Tim:
2: 9, 10. That God's elect then, might obtain the salvation of Christ Jesus
with eternal glory, the Apostle endured all things—all the privations, the
bufferings, the persecutions and imprisonments that he met with in the whole
course of his ministry. Hence we think it is apparent, that our doctrine af¬
fords the strongest, the most scriptural ground for religious effort.
Thirdly: The doctrine of Election is perfectly consistent with the per¬
sonal accountability of rationed agents. We shall proceed in this case as in
the other; a few scriptural facts must sustain us. Joseph's brethren acted
most freely when they sold him into Egypt, and they were responsible for the
deed too, and afterwards repented sorely for it; yet "Joseph said unto them
fear not, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil
against me; but God meant it. unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to
save much people alive.
When the Lord was about to chastise the whole nation of the Jews for
their idolatry, and to do it by a heathen King, he said, "O Assyrian the rod
of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. I will send
him against a hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath
will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to keep the prey and to tread
them down like the mire in the streets. Howbeit, he mcanoth not so; but it
is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few. For he saith, are
not my Princes altogether Kings?" Isa. 10: 5-8. Here God is represent¬
ed as having one object in view, whilst Sennacherib, the rod of his anger, had
another.
Again: Speaking of the deliverance of the Jews from their Babylonish
captivity by the hand of Cyrus, the Lord said by his Prophet, "remember
this and show yourselves men; bring it again to mind O ye transgressors.
Remember the former things of old: for i am God, and there is none else, I
am God and there is none like me; 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: calling a ravenous bird ironi the East,
the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, 1 have spoken
it, 1 will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it." Isaiah
46: 8-11.
Though Cyiius, as "a ravenous bird jrom the East." was thus the instru¬
ment in the hand of the Lord, in carrying forward the designs of his provi¬
dence, he acted most freely, from motives of his own personal aggrandize¬
ment. There was no restraint whatever, of an arbitrary kind imposed upon
him. "For Jacob my servant's sake, saith the Lord, and Israel mine elect,
I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee though thou hast
not known me. I am the Lord and there is none else, there is no God be¬
sides me, I girded thee though thou hast not known me." Isa. 45: 4, 5. T. his
18
•
was a prophecy concerning Cyrus, several hundred years before he was born.
When the Apostle Peter addressed the Jews on the day of Pentecost, he
said concerning Christ, " Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel
and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken and by kicked hands have cruci¬
fied and slain." Here we perceive, that Christ Was delivered up to be cruci¬
fied according to the " counsel and foreknowledge of God;" yet, it was by
« wicked hands" that he wa3 « crucified and slain." In this transaction, we
have a striking exemplification of a sentiment in the 76th Psalm: "surely the
wrath of man shall praise thee; the remainder of wrath shalt thou'restrain."
The murderers of our Lord intended it for evil, but God overruled it for
good. Judas Iscarriot actted as a responsible agent in betraying his Lord and
Master, though he was the instrument in the accomplishment of ail event, that
" God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets" should take
place in the world. « The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but wo
unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed, it had been good for
that man if he had not been born.'*" Math. 26: 24.
We have thus brethren, attempted to show you, that the doctrine of Elec¬
tion is practical in its tendency, and that it is consistent with personal accoun¬
tability. We sincerely hope this Sublime doctrine of the Bible will be preach¬
ed in all our churches; but at the same time, we are aware that it may be in¬
judiciously handled. It is possible to introduce it upon improper occasions,
or to detach it from its appropriate connections. In either case, prejudices
will be excited against it, and the way of truth will be evil spoken of. It cer¬
tainly does become us at all times, to approach this mystery with the views
and feelings of the Apostle when he says, " O the depth of the riches both of
the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgements,
and his ways past finding out 1 For who hath known the mind of the Lord ?
or who hath been his counsellor?"* Rom. 11:433, 34.
We remain yours affectionately,
JESSE MERCER, Moderator.
W. H. STOKES, Clerk.
19
rhe Covenant oj Redemption—the true ground of encouragement for
Christians to labor for the salvation of the Heathen.
THE MISSIONARY DISCOURSE,
DELIVERED BEFORE THE GEORGIA ASSOCIATION IN AUGUSTA, OCT. 11, 1835.
1312 &M1WL
" Have respect unto the covenant; for the dark places of the earth, are full
of the habitations of cruelty.''''—Psalm lxxiv. 20.
All parts of the earth, at times, are destitute of the light of the sun—that
is, they are dark literally; hence our text can not regard literal darkness,
since all places are dark and light, as they are deprived of the solar rays, or
blessed with their genial influence. Moral darkness then is to be under¬
stood. "Darkness has covered the earth and gross darkness the people."
" Such as sit in darkness." " To open the blind eyes—and bring out them
that sit in darkness." " The people which sat in darkness—which sat in
the region and shadow of death." The Greek translation of the verse is,
Look upon thy covenant; for the tenebrious places of the land are full of the
houses of lawless or impious pergpns. It is well known that the heathen, as
a mass, have no regard for law, justice, truth, chastity, kindness or mercy.
To these our text alludes, as the places full of cruelty.*
Theologians mention but three prominent covenants as contained in God's
word, viz: those with Adam and Abraham and the covenant of Redemption.
Our text can not regard the covenant with Adam, for that was a covenant
of works, nor that with Abraham; for this relates to his natural seed and the
* "Bribes are universally offered as well to the judge on the bench, as to the
petty constable of the village. There are no female schools among the Hindoos,—
every ray of mental improvement is carefully kept from the sex. The lives of the
Hindoo females are always spent in a state of degradation, if not in hardship and
misery. It is only necessary for a man to call his wife by the name of mother, and
all connubial intercourse is at an end! The number of Hindoo gods and goddesses
amount to 330,000,000! At the temple of Juggernaut $60,000 are annually col¬
lected from pilgrims—half of which is expended to support worship. A body of
prostitutes are maintained in the temple for the vise of the worshippers! The
Hindoos worship beasts, rivers, fish, books, stones, &c."—Ward's History.
"The Hindoos charged the Baptist missionaries, after they had translated the
Bible into their language, with having forged the 1st chapter of Romans, to suit
the state of profligate manners and wickedness among that people"! What a
comment!—Mr. Sutton picked up 150 sculls of pilgrims on a half acre of ground
near the temple of Juggernaut, and saw 140 dead bodies on a few feet of ground!—
"Many places of the earth are in gross darkness as to the knowledge of spiritual
things; even all those places inhabited by Pagans, Mahommedans and Papists: in
these dark places cruelty reigns, and especially in the antichristian states; where¬
fore the church pleads the covenant of God and his promises, that he would send
forth his light and truth and cover the earth with the knowledge of the Lord,
&c."—Dr. Gill in loco.
LV
land of Canadn. God's tv^md for those coven,mts would have no hearing on
the condition of the heathen world—the habitations of cruelty. If there be
but three covenants, and4he former two are not intended; then it follows,
that the third, 1I16 covenant of Redemption, is the one which the petitioners
pray maybe regarded: this embraces believers of all nations, kindreds and
people. The command of«a risen Saviour was, "Go ye into all the world,
and preach the Gospel to every creature:" the object seems plainly to be,
as, expressed in Acts, to "visit the Gentiles to take out of them a people for
his name." It is evident that God's regard for the covenants with Adam
and Ab ram, would have no bearing on the "habitations of cruelty ;n but let
us understand the covenant of Redemption, and there is a pertinence in our
text, which wilt enlist the feelings and prayers -of all who love and obey the
Saviour. The spirit of our text is a petition,—the church pleading with God
in behalf of the heathen world: 0 Lord wretched is the state of the heathen
nations,—the dark places are Inhabited by ungodly men—'they know nothing
of the plan of recovering mercy, which thou hast devised to save sinners-—
they are ignorant that thou hast pledged " to thy Son, to give the heathen for
his inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for liis- possession;" there¬
fore "have respect unto the covenant" and disclose its propositions of mer¬
cy—speak and great shall be the company of preaphers who shall inform
them of the plan of salvation—let thy word have free, course among tha hea¬
then and be glorified even as it is with us (at Thessalonica)—gather in those
for whom Jesus while upon earth prayed "shall believe through" the disci¬
ples'"word."*
Now brethren let us come to the consideration of this subject as explained,
in & bold and manly spirit—and if any duties are implied in it for us, let us
enter upon the performance of them with a zeal which no misfortunes can
allay, and a perseverance which no obstacles can conquer.
I. What bearing will God's regard for his covenant exert upon the con¬
dition of the heathen toorid ?
The design of the petition, as it springs front the bosom of piety, pan be
no other than that this condition should be bettered—that God would select
his people from among them, irt answer to the importunate prayer of his chil¬
dren, and as the result of their untiring exertions. In this way sinners have
been brought to the knowledge and obedience of the truth in all ages of the
church. Christians have prayed and labored, depending solely, on the oper¬
ations of the Spirit to enlighten and subdue the heart of ignorance and unbe¬
lief, and to bring it into subjection to the will of Christ. On this covenant
their hopes have rested, and fhat God would regard it, they have gone forth
to labor in the strongest confidence that his blessing would be 011 them. This
we may anticipate as the result of God's regarding his covenant—that per¬
sons covered with the darkness of heathenism, sunk down in the most stupid
idolatry, will be elevated to the liberty of the Gospel, and .rejoice in the
hope of a blessed immortality. This was happily the result in the days of
the Apostles, find primitive christians; this too, has been the result in our
own times. The Universal prayer was, "Thy kingdom come,"—the gener-
* See Pslanis Ixviii. 11. 2 Thess. iii. 1. John xvii. 20.
21
al ebaiaclt-r ol (lie pe titions, "We are laborers together with God." By
these laborers, the gospel was preached ill many nations, and thousands be¬
came obedient to the faith; but where the .Spirit might have been most pow-
eiful in its operations, we have 110 evidence of conversion without means—
without laborers. So in our day ; in Hindostan, Burmah, Ceylon, the Sand¬
wich Islands and other places, thousands of lawless persons have bowed to
the Saviour and their habitations of cruelty are become houses of prayer
and praise to the living and true God. But no such happy results where
Christ lias not been preached.
II. Our next question is, Whether there is any connection between God's
regard for his covenant and the prayers and exertions of his people, touch¬
ing the condition of the heathen world ?
It was the general impression among primitive christians, that such a con¬
nection did subsist; hence they prayed and labored.* The quotations cited
show that they prayed and labored to save the heathen ; but if there is no
such connection, then their labor was "in vain." But Paul entreats the dis¬
ciples to pray that their labor might "not be in vain,"—that is, that the cau¬
ses might produce their effects, the conversion of sinners. But prayers and
labors would inevitably be "in vain" if they had no connection with God's
purposes in saving men.
Now the disciples prayed and labored either with reference to God's pur¬
pose of saving sinners among the heathen or without it, or in the belief that
He was indifferent about it. The acknowledgment of the Apostle to persons
converted from heathenism at Thessalonica and at Ephe^us, was, that they
"had been chosen from the beginning"—"before the foundation of the
world,"t and of consequence according to God's purpose or covenant. But
God has but one plan of salvation; that is according to previous purpose*
through the instrumentality of his people : if heathen at Ephesus and Thessa¬
lonica were operated upon to exercise faith by this plan and these means;
then may we expect that other heathen will be saved in the same way. If
they did not believe in such connexion, we should not hear this language, "I
have planted—Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.—We aro
laborers together with God."! Why were the planting and watering of the
laborers, mentioned in such close connection with God's giving "increase,"
if thev were wholly distinct matters'? The increase was giyen in the ac¬
complishment of previous promise, "Lol am with you alway even unto the
end of the world." This promise was made, not to drones, but to laborers,
* " We pray you in Christ's stead bs ye reconciled to God."—2 Cor. v. 20.
Christians were exhorted to offer supplications and prayers and intercessions for
all men rl Tim. ii. 1)—"They gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellow¬
ship, that we should go unto the heathen. —Gal. ii. 9. For what ? to persuade
them to turn from idols to tne living* God. That the Gentiles should be fellow
heirs and of the same body and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel
(Eph. iii. 6. 7). "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glo¬
ry of this mistery among the Gentiles (Col. i. 2/). "A teacher of the Gentiles.
JJgre we fiud prayers and labors fox* the salvation of the heathen* The Gentiles
are K> be made partakers of Christ throug-h or by the gospel,—not by some secret
plan, which has nothing but conjecture for its basis.
| See Eph. i. 4.—and 2 Thess. ii. 13. | 1 Cor. iii. 6. 9.
22
to those preaching the gospel- No man is to suppose because he labors in
his cornfield iljat the heatheu will be converted, because there is no connec¬
tion between the two things. That God is not indifferent about the salvation
of sinners, we are assured ; else He would have made ao provision for it, nor
commissioned men to preach the gospel. The commission is evidence of the
connection* It is absurd to suppose that the Apostles entertained the idea of
God's indifference, for they did not worship a Being who had no previous
plan. They had not dreamed of the modern scheme to convert sinners,
which would operate without means and go on like the growth of the trees in
the forest, without the care or concern of man; for if God accomplished all
without human instrumentality, no laborers would be appointed and no pray¬
ers would be breathe4 forth for the Spirit's operations.
III. If this connection dots subsist, then may we expect that God will
control it, in order to answer his purposes of mercy towards a world that
lieth in wickedness.
This is nothing more nor less, than to bring into operation the means which
are inseperably connected with human salvation. The gospel must be
preached in order that sinners may hear; for "how shall they hear without a
preacher V' We have no reason to expect God will work miracles or rain
down Bibles to instruct and convert men—they will be instructed in the ordi¬
nary way by tbose who have been " begotten through the gospel." There is
no ground to hope that God will « respect his covenant" and rescue from the
miseries of heathenism, without the active exertions of his people: as the end,
salvation is ordained,—so also the means; but the end can not be attained
without the means. When God ordains an end, he looks to the instrumen¬
tality which is to accomplish it. True in temporal—true also in Spiritual
things. He has ordained that there shall be " seed-time and harvest:" but
take away the human instrumentality whicih should so^ and reap—set men
down contented in their houses waiting for a miracle to gather in their grain
■—and you destroy the doctrine that a crop is ordained: so in spiritual things.
This connection God has controlled in every age of the world to gather in
his chosen people. He ■ designed to save sinners in Pisidia,* and commis¬
sioned Paul and Barnabas to accomplish the object. We cannot perceive
how "as many as were ordained unto eternal life," in that region, could have
been constrained to believe, had not the gospel been preached to them,—had
not the means been put into operation. "How shall they believe in him of
whom they have not heard, and how shall they hear without a preacher l"t
Paul seemed to discover no other than the ordinary way to save men f i. e.
through preaching and believing. He had not pried into the secret plan of pro¬
ducing effects without adequate causes, which distinguishes some ministers of
■the present age—a glorious plan indeed, which keeps men idle lest they
v should be proud and rob God of the glory of converting sinners.
God designed blessings for our rising nation; so He influenced our pilgrim
i fathers to bring with them the Bible to instruct and sanctify. Knowing the
(■influence which truth would exert on many minds and the capabilities of such
* See Acts xiii. f Rom. x. 14.
for self-government, the Lord infuses into the pioneer settlers, courage to
contend successfully with tyranny, and patience to endure all the trials and
sufferings incident to the desperate struggle they were making for freedom.
Bui was it ever ascertained that a nation of ignorant, idle cowards were ever
predestined to be a free and happy people 1 No—their character must be
changed before they could achieve their independence ; or maintain it after
the bloody work of revolution had been accomplished.
What would restrain from fatal insurrections, 12 millions of people in a
mild government like ours, were it not for the light which the Bible sheds up¬
on all,and the wisdom exhibited by many who fear and serve God? All
these ends were descried by the All-seeing eye, and means put in operation
to accomplish them. May we never, by our ignorance and vices, spoil the
fair fabrick, which has sprung up so far, the admiration and wonder of the
world. But unless we continue to increase in virtue and knowledge, in a ra¬
tio with our rapid increase of population; our civil and religious liberties will
not survive the present century. It is possible the wave of Papal influence
may be permitted to sweep over the land, to convince us of our ingratitude—
to shew us how easy it is for God to take away privileges, which we have un¬
dervalued and which we dreamed would be perpetual without means.
Of what avail would have been the Declaration of Independence, if our fa¬
thers had not gone on to achieve it ? It required Something more than pre-1
determination to shake off the galling yoke—it required action, bold and
bloody, and courage too, which defied death in its most dreadful forms. Iir
the use of the weapons of war, we became free and independent.
God did rain down manna for the Israelites in the wilderness; but this fact
in their history, did not induce that highly favoured people to infer that al¬
ways after, they were to be fed without industry: no, when they entered Ca¬
naan, the land was divided out by lot, on which each, except the Priests, was
to earn his bread by the sweat of his brow. Much as their faith may have
been strengthened by the special interpositions of God's power in their be¬
half, it did not sink into stoic fatalism, when the day of miracles had passed
away. And now since the miracles, which were requisite to establish the
Christian religion in its infancy, are no longer necessary; the work of con¬
verting sinners must go on in the ordinary way which the Saviour has ordain¬
ed, to wit: the preaching of the Gospel. Whilo we proceed in this way, we
may expect the promised influence of the Spirit to subdue and sanctify the
heart. In this way, @od will control the connection of means and ends to*
save lost-men.
If we Have been guided in the foregoing observations by the lighbof reve-
lation and experience, we shall perceive the justness of the following Re¬
flections :
1st. The wisdom of God in the scheme of recovering mercy.
It would be the height of stupidity to devise a plan without means to ac¬
complish it; it would exhibit so much weakness as to convince us that infi¬
nite wisdom had not conceived it. Hence, God s plan looks to its accom¬
plishment in the instrumentality which He has appointed, to wit—his people.
We discover no reason why that part, which involves the use of means,.
24
should be revealed, unless it were to instruct us m duty « and provoke us to
love and good works." If human instrumentality were a mere matter of
chance, atid the purposes of mfercy could be carried 011 without it; the Au¬
thor of the Gospel plan of salvation wquld never have required the sacrifices
necessary to exemplify " the work of faith and labour of love," which
characterized the Church at Thessalonica. Paul might have been spared his
labours, and watchings, and perils, if the scheme of recovering mercy were
to be developed by miracle only.
But suppose we will not labour; will not the elect, the subjects of the cove¬
nant, be saved any how 1 Answer: In the first place, if we use no means, we
are destitute of the characteristics of God's people: " By their fruits ye shall
know them." In the second place, we represent the plan of salvation in such
a light as to disparage the wisdom of its Author* i» e. as a plan without means
to carry it on. In the third place, if we will not use means, we deprive our¬
selves of all the pleasure connected with labour. In the fourth place, we may
expect chastisement for inattention to duty.
The above query was never suggested by a Christian heart—-at must have
been -engendered by antinomianism and infidelity- The Gospel plan of con¬
verting sinners, requires labours and sacrifices; and hence unconverted men
dislike it, and prefer one which refers all to the work of the Spirit; that they
may have time to amass \fealth. An enlightened child, of grace loves to la¬
bour for God.
Tha professed, not real friends of God, in the days of the Apostles, made
objections against attempts tQ convert the heathen} so that Paul complains of
their « forbidding us to speak to Jhe Gentiles."* So strong was the preju¬
dice of Peter, an eminent Apostle, on the subject of preaching to the hea¬
then, that £tn unusual vision of beasts and reptiles must be brought before his
mind to cure him. Christian !zeal, however, did not regard the objections
and prejudices of the ignorant, it went on to proclaim salvation to every crea¬
ture.
But if then an elect, "covenant" people, among the heathen, Jesus inter¬
cedes for them* and his prayer will be answered; therefore, no need of the
exertions of missionaries. Answer: The elect already converted ,in Chris¬
tian Churches, are the objects of the Saviour's petitions; therefore, they need
not pray for themselves; let them not waste breatfy and time for that which
will be accomplished without trouble. But may not the Saviour's prayers be
answered through the instrumentality of his people's exertions'? You pray
for a crop; but may not your prayers meet their answer in your persevering
in the cultivation of that crop? If you still deny the connection between ends
and means, try to grow a crop merely by prayers, and see how you succeed.
But the wisdom of God is exemplified in this connection, and excites our ad¬
miration in this scheme of recovering mercy.
2d. Those who pray " have respect unto the covenant," will, in order to
evidence the sincerity of their petitions, labour that its merciful provisions
may be accomplished.
So inseparable are means and cuds, that it is preposteious to hope for the
*1 Thess. ii. 10.
25
one without the employment of the other. We have seen in the discussion of
this subject, that there is a connection subsisting between our prayers and la¬
bours, and God's regard for his covenant; now while we pray, we must re¬
member this connection, and feel that we have no ground to hope sinners
will be saved unless we labour. Indeed, the sincerity of our prayers may well
be questioned, if they go forth from a heart so cold as not to excite to exertion.
But will God be moved by our prayers and labours'? Here is another sure
index of a slothful disposition. If they produce no change in the immutable
Jehovah, the connection is established, and " what God has joined together,"
let no idle drone "put asunder."
3d. Those who believe in a « covenant," since it always implies human
instrumentality, will use that instrumentality.
They will not sit down and wait; because then the instrumentality ceases,
and hence there is no hope that the covenant will be regarded. The Apos¬
tles, who believed in a "covenant," in God's ordaining "to eternal life as
many as believed," laboured with all their energies to " persuade men."—
Now if we would be their followers, we shall labour also. " The faith once
delivered to the saints," was full of life and action: it did not seek to shew it¬
self more by the tenacity with which it grasped the " covenant," than by the
industrious manner in which it laboured for the sinner's good. So questiona¬
ble, in primitive times, was profession without the fruits of industry, that an
Apostle inspired to denounce all "faith without works" as " dead." This
was the touch-stone. No doubt many were offended with this heart-search¬
ing definition. They wished that a reputation for orthodoxy would be main¬
tained without all this busy, stiring activity, and hinted that "works" was
■not religion, because they did not greatly abound in them. But hew times
-are changed! Now it is orthodox with many to be idle, and works are set
down as a pretty sure index of unscriptural faith ! While this state of things
obtains, it behoves believers in a "covenant," to "show their faith by their
works," and spare no pains to convince the world what abundant encourage¬
ment is furnished in this doctrine to labour for the conversion of men. If we
■find those who profess to believe in "a covenant," while the instrumentality
necessarily connected with it, is not employed; the inference is irresistible
that they are too indolent to labour—or they have mistook God's covenant,
and conjured up some scheme of salvation as wild and fanciful as the Indian's
theory* of the earth's foundation—impracticable because one essential fea¬
ture, the labours of disciples, are left out of the question.
4th. Those who neglect the means connected with the covenant, ought al¬
so to reject the covenant itself.
If means are ordained as well as the covenant; it is absurd to pray that it
may be regarded while the means are neglected. It is consistent for persons
who entertain no faith in a particular plan of salvation, to pray and labor
without Teference to it, in the hope that perhaps God will bring about con-
*The Indian mentioned that the earth stood on a great turtle; but his theory left
•the turtle without any foundation: so are all plans of salvation which embrace a
^covenant, but leave out the means connected with it.
26
versions, because their prayers are so fervent afld their exertions so marked
with zeal and energy. It is consistent too for those, who look upon the
covenant as did the Stoics upon all events and misfortunes—the result of a'
stern inflexible frite which nought could prevent or mitigate, to grieve in si¬
lence over the condition of the heathen world, feeling it to be presumptuous
to attempt relief. But, blessed be God, a glorious remedy is provided and
the manner in which it should be applied is developed in his word, " Preach1
the Gospel to every creature." Hence it is inconsistent to profess belief in
a covenant which embraces provisions of mercy, while we neglect to use the
means by which these provisions can bear on the " habitations of cruelty."
Either let us employ the means implied in the covenant, or reject that cove¬
nant altogether. We do not deserve the reputation of believers in the cove¬
nant, unless we employ the means prescribed for its developement. If we
talk about our faith in the covenant while we leave out a material part, the
instrumentality of God's people: we are to be classed with those who " say
and do not."
5th. The friends of benevolence, entertain the only consistent views of
God's plan of salvation.
All views which leave out the operations of the Spirit, are unscriptural;
so are also those which regard the covenant as embracing a secret plan of
saving sinners without means. " Hmw can they believe in him of whom
they have not heard ?" Now, if faith be necessary to salvation, and " faith
cometh by hearing," we perceive the indispensable necessity of the means of
grace. "How shall they hear without a preacher!"
The system which acknowledges God as the author of salvation, the Spirit
as the agent, and Christians as the means, is the only Scriptural system.—
Guided by this, the primitive disciples laboured for God, and seemed as so¬
licitous to press truth upon the heart as if exertion alone could suve. They
did not understand the phrase " Wait on the Lord," a permission to sit down
in indolence, till miracles should convert men; hut, in order that sinners
might be alarmed and flee from the wrath to come, they " ceased not to warn
every one night and day with tears." Paul never would have wept over
men in the fear that they would fail of eternal life, if he believed the cove¬
nant was so arranged as to save without means. His face was bathed in
tears for fear, all that instrumentality, which the covenant implies, would not
be employed, and so brought to bear on the heart as to make it feel. This
view is entertained by the friends of benevolence.
Antimonians have been so fearful of trenching upon the Lord's preroga¬
tive of converting sinners, or that the set time to favor Zion had not arrived,
that they have attempted but little. If there is a warrant, however, for them
to labor at all; prejudice or ignorance alone can circumscribe their limits;
for « the field" which the Bible points out " is the world ;" the time for cul¬
tivating is, now—" now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation."
If they had been guided by the Scriptures, they would have been " lip and
doing" long ago, for the same commission which authorizes them to labor in
their own neighborhoods—not only gives liberty, but presses the duty of
preaching " the Gospel to every creature."
27
encouragements foe. the friends of benevolence :
1st. In the last 50 years, God has wonderfully strengthened the faith
of his people:
In 1790, when the English Baptist Mission was in embryo, and even after
Carey and Marshman had begun to labor at Serampore, most of the Chris¬
tian world regarded Missions among the heathen as'the reveries of a distem¬
pered imagination, and the men who would throw away their labors on such
unpromising subjects, as blinded enthusiasts. Now, it is no longer problem¬
atical whether the Spirit can convert heathen sinners, through means ; the
experiment has been tried \ the result is honorable to the riches of grace
through the instrumentality oi God's people—they are encouraged. Again:
In 1811, so weak was the faith of the whole American Israel, that they fear¬
ed there was not in all their bounds, substance enough at disposal, to sustain
a single Missionary in heathen lands, and Mr. Judson was actually sent to
England, to negotiate for assistance, provided it should be needed ! Now,
we have hundreds in the field, and the inquiry is not so much for means to
sustain as for men to go. This encourages our faith.
2d. He has conquered prejudice as inveterate as idolatry itself:
When Carey and Marshman first sailed for India, most of the christian
world considered their attempt to convert the heathen as Utopian as that of a
journey to the moon. After 8 years of incessant toil, Kristnoo, a stupid i-
dolater, whose idols are now in this country,* was baptized on profession of
his faith in Christ. Thousands have since followed him in breaking
Hindoo " casfe." Still thousands of professed Christians disbelieve the pe¬
riodical accounts of the work of Grace on a heathen heart ; so it has seemed
more difficult to convince Christians at home of the reality of conversions
from heathenism than to effect the wonderous change. But signal instances
are on record of what enlightening Grace can accomplish. The prejudices
of men who hated even the name Missionary have been subdued, and they
have become hearty co-workers in this labor of love. They refused to read
the account of what God had wrought, till, by chance as it were, a tract or a
sentence, has fallen under their notice, and imperceptibly truth has found its
way to their hearts and changed their prejudice into burning zeal to spread
the Gospel. Many, who looked upon the " covenant" as containing a mys¬
terious power to arrest and sanctify the sinner without means, have abandon¬
ed their unscriptural notions, and now like Saul of Tarsus, are " preaching
the faith" and exhibiting the practice of primitive christians, which their in¬
dolence and prejudice rendered inoperative and unavailing. The Lord en¬
courages us by multiplying our number.
3d. He has opened facilities for laborers. Fifty years ago, China, as a
field of labor, was looked upon as inaccessible to the hand of moral culture;
the laws forbade the residence of foreigners in the kingdom, and though
christian philanthropy pitied the hopeless condition of the inhabitants, it
could not relieve ; Now the country has been explored, the language of her
350 millions, which was considered more difficult to decypher than the hiero¬
glyphics on the Egyptian Pyramids, has been conquered—the Bible transla-
* Andover Theol. Seminary.
28
ted into it and scattered among the people!' Through the Karen country
on the West also, Bible light has shined upon them.
4th. He has imbued young men with the Apostolic spirit. Though men
driven on by the lust of wealth, could endure the heat of a tropical sun to
traffic and get gain on heathen shores, it was the prevailing opinion that sucli
as would go " to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ," could not live
more than one season, even if they survived the acclimatizing fever ; hence,
few dared to enter those inhospitable climes amid the dark " habitations of
cruelty." But now so much of Christ's solicitude, for the salvation of men,
has been infused into the servant's of the Lord, that healthiness of climate
and probable length of life, do not enter into their calculations, when souls
are perishing « for lack of knowledge." Our own countryman, Judson, has
already lived about 23 years in sickly Burmah, and Carey, the pioneer of
modern Missions, labored about 42 years in the neighborhood of Calcutta,
that grave-yard of foreigners, before he was called up to receive his reward.
What but the spirit of Christ could detain a Missionary near " the golden
feet" when his life is in jeopardy every hour t
In view of the truths presented in this discourse, what are our obligations
and duty 1 If the heathen, are in a state of darkness and wretchedness, as
we have seen in examining this subject, and as instruments, we may rescue
and'save them ; can we be guiltless in not attempting it? No one of this-
enlightened audience could, unaffected, see sinking in j^onder river, even a
stranger, no, you would throw him a rope and snatch him from a watery
grave. If all practicable means were not employed to save him and he sunk
to rise no more, you would pass a sleepless night under the lashes 6f a guilty
conscience for indifference to duty and obligation. The heathen are perish¬
ing for lack of knowledge—we may convey to them the Bible " which is
able through' faith" to save their " souls" from a miserable hell.
If antinomianism should throw up its old, stale objection " we are not able
to convert the heathen:" we answer that no one is certain of an ear of grain.'
merely by sowing and culture; but who waits for any more assurance than iV-
furnished in God^ word, "seed-time and harvest shall not ceaseT" And'
who but a " wicked and slothful servant" needs any more to " plant and wa¬
ter" the moral field--"the world," containing eight hundred millions of undy¬
ing-spirits T
The Saviour estimates one soul as of more value than the world: we may be the
means of saving it from a hell of eternal misery, and of elevating it to a heaven of
eternaljoys: now shall we neglect to use our instrumentality, or shall we engage in
this praiseworthy labor with untiring zenl and becoming liberality ? Upon the'
inhabitants of Meroz the angel imprecated, a bitter curse* because they came •
not up to the help of the patriotic contending against their enemies; so may
we dread the blighting of a similar malediction, if we remain neutrals in a
causey compared with which that espoused by the Jewish army is but the
sigh to the whirlwind or the dew-drops to the billows of tlie ocean. If we
feel this subject as we ought, the collection will be honorable to this, commu¬
nity famed for its liberal contributions..