Circular Letter 
 
 from the Ministers and 
 
 Messengers of the 
 
 several Baptist Churches 
 
 of the Northamptonshire 
 
 Association, 1806 
 
 j^. 
 
 ■•«5^ 
 

 N8A4 
 
rite assistance that people should render to their 
 ministers in promoting the interest of Christ. 
 
 CIRCULAR LETTER 
 
 JTROM THE 
 
 MINISTERS AND MESSENGERS 
 
 OF TflE SEVERAL 
 
 BAPTIST CHURCHES 
 
 OF THE 
 
 NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ASSOCIATION, 
 
 Assembled at Leicester May 27, 28, 29, 180(). 
 
 Maintaining the important dodlrines of three equal perfons in the Godhead » 
 eternal and perfonal eleftion 5 original fin ; particular redemption ; free juftifica- 
 tion by the imputed righteoufnefs of Chrift ; efficacious grace in regeneration ; the 
 final perfeverance of real believers ; the refurretlion of the dead 5 the future judg- 
 ment J the eternal happinefs of the righteous j and everlafting mifery of fuch as 
 He. impenitent ; with the congregational order of the churches, inviolably : 
 
 To the fe-veral Churches they reprefent, or from ivhich they ba-ve recei-ved Letters : 
 
 Meeting at Lofcoe, and Sivanivick, Derbyfliire ; Sutton-AJhfield, and Nottinghamf 
 Nottinghamihire J Burton-upon-'frent, StafFjrdfliire ; Sheep/head, Lekejler, Sutton- 
 in-the-Elms, Arnjhy, and Foxtcn, Leiceiterfhire ; Oakham, Rutland ; Spaldingf 
 Lincolnfhire ; Gretton, Gipflone, Guiljborough, Braunjiorty JValgra-vey Ketterbig, 
 Mouhon, Road, BugLrook, and Northampton, Northamptonlhire ; Olney and Iving- 
 boe, Buckinghamihire ; Dunftable and Lutm, Bedfordfhire ; and St. Albansy Hert- 
 
 ■ fordfliire, 
 
 Grace be to you, and peace from God our Fathc, and from 
 Jesub Christ our Lord ! 
 
 '} 1)EAR BRETHREN, 
 
 THE defires cxprefled in moft of your letters, that we 
 might enjoy a happy interview, have been gracioufly 
 granted. We do not remember an aflbciation which, upon 
 the whole, was more pleafant, and we truft more profitable. 
 It is true that our numbers have been confiderably diminifhed 
 in the laft year by death. It is alfo true that the whole deno- 
 mination, and we may fay the church of Chrift in general, has 
 fulfdined a lofs in the death of one of its moft eminent minis- 
 ters.* Ic is however a confolation that our brethren who have 
 
 * ?'.Tii. A m?An AM Rooth, pastor of the chuich in Little Prescot-stroet, London; 
 a niMi) \\lio for personal godliiiesSj uit;grity, benevolence, and prudcsice, had but 
 
 few c;! 's's, 
 
 ■■■ . , ■ " W ' — 
 
 PKINIED BY J. W. MORRIS, DUXSTADLB. 
 
 i^tice Two PciKC. 
 
2 
 
 been removed have finifhed their courfe with honour, and in 
 feme inrtances with joy. And while (jod hath diminiftied us 
 on one hand he hath increafed us on the other : feveral of the 
 churches have had large additions ; and two new ones have 
 been raifed, and provided with paitors, both which, on appli- 
 cation, have been received into this aflbciation. Upon the 
 whole, we may fay of this meeting, as is faid of another, 
 Havingy^^« the brethren^ we thanked God^ and took courage. 
 
 The fubject to which we on this occafion would call your 
 attention is the ajfi/lance which you may afford us in promoting the 
 interejl of Chrijl. 
 
 The miniftry to which God by your election hath called us 
 forms a diftinguifhed part of the gofpel difpenfation. Divine 
 inftru6}ion was communicated under the old teftament, and an 
 order of men appointed of God for the purpofe : but their work 
 can fcarcely be denominated preaching. They foretold the good 
 news: but it is for us to proclaim it. The poor having the 
 gofpel preached to them is alleged in proof that the Mefliah 
 was come, and that they were not to look for another. 
 
 The very exiftence of chriftian churches is in fubferviency 
 to the preaching of the gofpel ; or they would not have been 
 defcribed as " golden candlelHcks," the ufe of which is to im- 
 part light to thofe around them. We fpeak not thus, brethren, 
 to magnify ourfelves. There is an important difference between 
 chriftian minifters and the chriftian miniftry. The former we 
 are ready to acknowledge, exift for your fakes. " Whether 
 Paul, Apollos, or Cephas — all are yours ;" but the latter, as 
 being the chofen mean of extending the Redeemer's kingdom, 
 is that for which both we and you exift. ' " Ye are Chrift's, 
 and Chrift is God's." 
 
 Thefe confiderations will enable us to account for the joy 
 which the apoftle exprefted in " Chrift's being preached," even 
 though it were from " envy ;" and may teach us to rejoice iu 
 the fame thing though it be in the moil corrupt communities, 
 or even from the moft fufpicious motives. But though God 
 may cauJe his truth to triumph wherever, and by whomfoever it 
 is taught ; yet it (hould be our concern to publifti it willingly 
 and to the befl advantage. 
 
 The primitive churches were not mere aflemblies of men 
 who agreed to meet together once or twice a week, and to fub- 
 fcribc for the fuppoit of an accomplilhed man who ihould qw 
 thofe occaftons deliver lectures on religion. They were men 
 gathered out of the world by the preaching of the crofs, and 
 formed into fociety for the promotion of Chrift's kingdom, in 
 their own fouls, and in the world around them. It was not the 
 
concern of the minifters or elders only : the body of the people 
 were interefted in all ihit was done, and according to their 
 leveral abilities and ftations took part in it. — Neither were 
 they aflemblies of heady, high-minded, contentious people, 
 meeting together to argue on points of doctrine or difcipline, 
 and converting the worlhip of God into fcenes of ftrife. They 
 fpake the truth ; but it was in love: they obferved difcipline; 
 but, like an army of chofen men, it was that they might attack 
 the kingdom of Satan to greater advantage. 
 
 Happy were it for our churches if we could come to a clofer 
 imitation of this model. God has gracioufly heard our prayers, 
 and fucceeded the labours of our brethren in a diftant country,' 
 and fome of the churches in this land, and in our own imme- 
 diate connexion, have experienced fome happy revivals : but 
 this inftead of rendering us negligent of further means, fhowld 
 turnilh us with encouragement to prefs forward. 
 
 We truft it is our iincere defire as minifters to be more 
 intent upon our work : but allow us to afk for your assist- 
 ance. Nehemiah, zealous as he was, could not have built 
 the wall if the people had not had a mind to work. Nor could 
 Ezra have reformed the abufes among the people if nobody had 
 flood with him. But in his cafe the elders, when convinced of 
 the necelHty of the msafure, offered themfelves willingly to 
 aflift him, " Arife, faid they, for this matter belongeth unto 
 thee : we alfo will be with thee : be of good courage and do 
 it." Such is the afliftance, brethren, which we lolicit at your 
 hands. 
 
 We might enumerate the different ways in which your afliff- 
 ance in promoting the intereft of Chrift is needed. We might 
 afk for your prayers, your early attendance, your counfels, your 
 contributions, and your examples : but what we have to off^er 
 will arife from a review of the different brandies of our own 
 labours. 
 
 In the difrharge of our work we have to do wit^ four 
 deicriptions of people, and in dealing with each we ffand in 
 need of your affiffance : namely, ferious and humble chriftians 
 — difordcrly walkers — perfons under concern about falvation— 
 and perfons manifeftly unconverted. 
 
 Firft : It may be fuppofed that in every church of Chrifl 
 there will be a confiderable proportion of ferious and humble 
 chrijiians. Our work in reipect of them is to feed them with 
 the vvholefome dodtrine of the word, and to teach them the 
 mind of Chriik in all things. The affiftance which we alk of 
 you, brethren, in this part of our miniftry is, that you' would 
 not only pray for us, but be free to impart to us the ftate of 
 
your minds, and whether our labours be edifying to you, or 
 not. It is not fo much by a fyftematical ftatement and defence 
 of chriftian doctrines that believers are edified, as by thofe 
 dodtrines being applied to their refpedlive cafes. This is the 
 way in which they are ordinarily introduced in the fcriptures, 
 and in which they become " words in due feafon." But we 
 cannot well preach to the cafes of people unlefs we know 
 them. — Add to this: The intereji which you difcover in the 
 things of God has a more than ordinary influence on our minds 
 in the delivery of them. You cannot conceive the difference 
 between addrefling a people full of tender and affectionate 
 attention, whofe fouls appear in their eyes, and anfwer, as it 
 were, to the word of God ; and preaching to thofe who are 
 eicher half afleep, or their thoughts manifeftly occupied by 
 other things. By looking at the one cur hearts have expanded 
 like the flowers before the morning fun : thoughts have oc- 
 curred, and fenfations been kindled, which the labours of the 
 ftudy could never have furniTned. But by obferving the other 
 our fpirits are contradcd like the flowers by the damps of the 
 evening ; and thoughts which were interefting when alone 
 have feemed to die as they proceeded from our lips. 
 
 it will tend not a little to increafe your interelt in hearing 
 if you exercife yourfelves on other occafions to reading and 
 reflexion. If you attend to the things of God only or chiefly 
 while hearing us, we ihall preach to you under great difadvan- 
 tage. The apoftle complained of many things being hard to 
 be uttered, owing to the Hebrews being dull of hearmg; and 
 that for the time when they ought to have been teachers, they 
 had need that one fhould teach them again which were the 
 firft principles of the oracles of God. Thinking hearers give 
 a f^icility to preaching, even upon the moft diflicult fubjetls ; 
 while thofe whofe minds are feldom occupied at other times 
 can fcarcely underftand the moft eafy and familiar truths. 
 
 Secondly; \n every church we muft expe£t a greater or 
 lefs proportion of a'lforderly tvalkcrs. Our work in refpe6l of 
 ihem is to warn, admonifli, and if poflible to reclaim them ; or 
 if that cannot be, to I'eparate them, left the little leaven fliould 
 leaven the whole lump. But in thefe cafes more than in many 
 others we ftand in need of your afllftance. It is not minifters 
 only, but all " who are fpirituril," that the apoftle addrefles on 
 this fubje<Sl; and fpiritual characters may always exped^ em- 
 ployment in reftoring others in the fpiric of meeknefs. It is 
 of great importance to the well-being of a church that men 
 are not wanting who will watch over one another in love, 
 obferve and countcradl the iuik fymptoms of declcnfion, heal 
 
differences at an early period, and nip difturbances in the bud* 
 By iuch means there will be but few things of a difagreeable 
 nature which will require eicher the cenfures of the church, or 
 the interference of the paftor. 
 
 There will be inltances, however, in which both the paftor 
 and the church muit interfere; and here it is of the utmoft 
 confeqence that they each preferve a right fpirit, and aci^ in 
 concert. There are two errors in particular into which indi- 
 viduals have frequently fallen in thefe mitters. One is, a harfh 
 and unfeeling condudt towards the offender, tending only to 
 provci.e his refentment, or to drive him to defpair : the other 
 is that of Tiding with him, apologizing for him, and carrying 
 it fo familiarly towards him in private as to induce him to 
 thinlc others who reprove him his enemies. Beware, brethren, 
 of both thefe extremes, which, inllead of aflilting us in our 
 work, is doing the utmoft to counteract us. We may almoft 
 as well give over difcipline as not to a£t in concert. It was 
 on this principle that the apoftle enjoined it on the Corinthians 
 not to keep company if any man that is called a brother be a 
 fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunk- 
 ard, or an extortioner ; with fuch an one, no not to eat. 
 
 Your affiltance is particularly necell'ary to refift and over- 
 come thofe unlovely partialities which are too often found in 
 individuals towards their relations, or favourites. We have 
 feen and heard of diforderly walkers whofe connexions in a 
 church have been fo extenfive that when they fhould have been 
 •enfured or adm©niftied, either a ftrong oppofition was raifed 
 in their favour, or at leaft a confiderable number have chofen 
 to ftand neuter, and fo to leave the officers of the church to aft 
 in a manner alone. It is glorious to fee a people in fuch cafes 
 afting the part of Levi, who " did not acknowledge his bre- 
 thren, nor know his own children; but obferved God's word, 
 and kept his covenant!" 
 
 It is often extremely difHcult for a paftor to go through with 
 fuch matters without injury to his charadler and miniftry. He 
 being by 1-is office obliged to take the lead, becomes the prin- 
 cipal object of refentment ; and every idle ftory is raked up by 
 the party and his adherents which may wound his reputation, 
 and impute his condu£l to fufpicious motives. If in iuch cir- 
 cumftances his brethren ftand by him, he will difregard the 
 flander of his enemies : but if they be indifferent, it will be 
 death to him. Should fuch a condu£l iffue in his removal^ it 
 is no more than might be expcdfed. 
 
 Thirdly : In every church of Cbrift it may be expe<5ied 
 there will be feme perfons inquiring after the way offalvation-: 
 
 A 
 
6 
 
 This may be the cafe much more at fome periods than at 
 others; bat we may prefume from the promiie of God to be 
 with his fervants, that the word of truth (hall not be any 
 length of time without cffe6l. Our work in this cafe is to 
 cherifh conviction, and to diredt the mind to the gofpel remedy. 
 But if when men are enquiring the way to Zion, there be 
 none but the minifter to give them information, things muft 
 be low indeed. It might be expe£ted that there Ihould be as' 
 many perfons capable of giving direction on this fubjedl as 
 there are f(^rious chriiKans ; for who that has obtained mercy 
 by believing in Jefus Can be at a lofs to recommend him to 
 another ? It is a matter of fadt, however, that though, as in 
 cafes of bodily difeafe, advifers are feldom wanting ; yet, either 
 for want of being fufiiciently interefled in the matter, or fuffi- 
 ciently Ikilful in the word of righteoufnefs, there are but few, 
 comparatively, whofe advice is of any value. And this we ap- 
 prehend to be one great caufe of declenfion in msny churches. 
 Were we writing on minifterial deleiEts, we (hould not i'cruple 
 to acknowledge that much of the preaching of the preicnt day 
 is fubjedl to the fame cenfure : but in the prefent initance we 
 muft be allowed to fuppofe ourfelves employed in teaching the 
 good and the right way, and lo folicit your affiftance in the 
 work. When the apoftle tells the Hcbrev/s that coniidering 
 the time, ** they ought to have been teachers," he does not 
 mean t'mt they ought all to have been minirters^ but aDle to 
 inftrudt any inquirer in the great principles of the gofpel. 
 
 It has been already intimated that to give advice to a pcrfon 
 under concern about falvation, it is neceflary in the firfi place 
 that he be interejied on his behalf, and treat him in a free and 
 affectionate manner. Some members of churches acl as if they 
 thought fuch things did not concern them, and as if their whole 
 duty confifted in fending the party to the minifter. A chmch 
 compofed of fuch characters may be opulent and refpedtable ; 
 but they poflefs nothing inviting or winning to an awakened 
 mind. To cherilh conviction, and give a right diredtion to 
 fuch a mind, we muft be free and affediionate. When a iinncr 
 begins to think of his condition, fuch queftions as the following 
 will often Crofs his mind : Was there ever fuch a cafe as mine 
 before? Are there any people in the world who have been 
 what 1 am, and v/ho are row in the wav to eternal lifei' It 
 there be, who ate they I But if while he is thinking what he 
 muft do to be faved, he neither fees nor hears any thing amongft 
 you which renders it probable that, fuch was ever your con- 
 cern ; if, as foon as a fcrmon is ended, he fees merely an ex- 
 change of civilities, and on leaving the place oblerves that ail 
 
the congrifgalion immediately fall into converfation about 
 worldly thincjs, what can he think ? He mull either think 
 there is nothing in religion, or if there he, that he muft leek 
 elfevvhere for it. The voice of a chrillian church to thofe 
 who attend upon their miniftry fliould be that of A'loies to 
 Hobabj *' VVe are jotirneying to the place of which the Lord 
 hath faid, I will give it you. Come thou with us, and 've 
 will do thee good : for the Lord hath fpoken good concerning 
 Ifrael !" 
 
 It is of 'great eonfequence to the well-being of a church 
 that there be perfons in particular in it who are ?ccefiible to 
 charadlers of this defcri,f tion, and who fnall take p'e^iure in 
 introducing themfelves to them. Barnabas, wht> by a lender 
 and afFedionate fpirit, was peculiarly fitted for this ijnr.ploy- 
 m»nt, was acquainted with Saul v;hile the other oifcipics were 
 afraid of him. It was he that introduced him to the apc'ltles, 
 and declared unto them how he had feen the Lord in '.he way, 
 and that he had fpoken to him, arid how he had prcai bed buiuiy 
 at Daniaicus in the name of Jefus. 
 
 AfFe^Vion, however, is not the only qualification for this 
 work : it requires that you bcjkilful in the word ofrigh'.eouj'hep ; 
 eife you will adminifter falfe confolation, and may be iiiitru- 
 meutal in deftroyiag inflead of faving fouls. Not that it re- 
 quires any extraordinary talents to give advice in fuch ca^es : 
 the danger arifes principally from inattention and erroneous 
 views of the gofpel. 
 
 If, brethren, you would afFift us in this delightful work, 
 allow us to caucion you againit one prevailing error, and 
 to recommend one important -rule. The errcr to which we 
 allude is. Taking it for granteb that the party 
 
 HAS NO POUBTS AS TO THE GOSPEL WAY OF SAI/VATION, 
 AND NO UNWILLINGNESS TO BE SAVED BY IT, PROVIDED 
 GOD WERE EUT V/ILLING TO SAVE BIM. Such are prp- 
 
 bably his thoughts of himrelf ; and the only queftion v/ith hihq 
 is, whether he have an viicreji in Chrift and ipiritual bleffings ? 
 Hence he is employed in fcarching for fonrething in his reli- 
 gious experience which may amount, to an evidence of his con- 
 verfion ; and in talking v/ith you he expe£ls you to aflill him 
 in the fearch. But do not you take this account of thini;s as 
 being the true one : it is founded in Icif-deceptinn. If he uiuier- 
 flood and believed the gofpel way of falvation he ivouKi know 
 tbac God was willing to lave any finner who is wiJ!it;g to 
 be laved by it. A williiigncfs to rclmquiOi every fall'c con- 
 fidence, every claim of preference before the. moll ungodly 
 clrarailer, and every ground of hope faye that which God hath 
 
laid in the gofpel is all that is wanting. If he have this, there 
 is nothing ui heaven or in earth in the way of his falvation. 
 In conveiiing with fu.h a chara6ler we {hould imprefs this 
 truth upon hi n, alluring him that if he be (traitened, it is not 
 in God, buL in his own iiowels ; that the doubts which he 
 eiuercaias ot the willingnefs of God, efpecially on account of 
 his fuifuhiefs and unworthinefs, are no other than the work- 
 ings of a felf-righteous oppofition to the gofpel (as they im- 
 ply an opinion that if he were lefs finful, and more worthy, 
 God might be induced to fave him) and that if he be not faved, 
 it will be owing to his thus continuing to ftumble at the 
 ffunibling ftone. Inltead of allowing him to believe the gofpel, 
 and to be willing to be faved in the golpel way,' while yet his 
 very moans betray the contrary, we ihould labour to perfuade 
 him that he does not yet underitand the deceit of his own 
 heart ; that if he were willing to come to Chrilt for life, there 
 is no doubt of his being accepted ; in fhort, that whenever he 
 is brought to be of this mind, he will not only afk after the 
 good way, but walk in it, and will alFuredly find reft unto his 
 foul. 
 
 The rule we recommend is this : Point them directly 
 TO THE SAVIOUR. It may be thought that no chridian can 
 mifunderftand or mifapply this important dire6lion, which is 
 every where taught in the new teitament. Yet if you fteer 
 not clear of the above error you will be unable to keep to it. 
 So long as you admit the obttruition to believing in Chrift to 
 confift in fomething diftin6t from difafFedtion to the gofpel way 
 of falvation, it will be next to impoilibie for you to exhort a 
 finner to it in the language of the new teftament. For how 
 can you exhort a man to that which you think he defires with 
 all his heart to comply with, but cannot ? You muft feel that 
 f'uch exhortations would be tantalizing and infulting him. 
 You may indeed conceive of him as ignorant, and as fuch 
 labour to inftrudl him: but your feelings will not iuffer you to 
 exhort him to any thing in which he is involuntary. Hence 
 you will content yourfelves with direi5ting him to wait at the 
 pool of ordinances, and it may be to pray for grace to enable 
 him to repent and believe, encouraging him to hope for a 
 happv illlie in God's due time. But//'/; is not po'mting the finner 
 direilly to Chriji. On the contrary, it is furnishing him with 
 a refting place fhort of him, and giving him to imagine, that 
 duties performed while in unbelief are pleafing to God. 
 
 If you point the awakened finner direcStiy to the Saviour, 
 after the manner of the new teftament, you will not.be em- 
 ployed ia aflilting hii« to analyfc the diftrelTes of his mind. 
 
and adminiftering confolation to him from the hope that they 
 may contain fome of the ingredients of true converfion, or at 
 leait the iigns that he will be converted. Neither will you 
 confider diftrefs as afcertaining a happy iffue, any otherwife than 
 is it leads to Chrift. If the queltion were, Do I believe in 
 Jefus for falvation? then indeed you muft inquire what effects 
 have been produced ? but it is very different where the inquiry 
 is, What Ihall we do ; or what muft I do to be faved ? The 
 murderers of Chrift were diftrefTed : but Peter did not attempt 
 to comfort them by alleging that this was a hopeful fjgn of 
 their converfion, or by any way dire£ling their attention to 
 what was within them. On the contrary, he exhibited the 
 Saviour, and exhorted them to repent and be baptized in his 
 name. The fame may be faid of the Philippian jailor. He 
 was in great diftrefs, yet no comfort was adminiftered to him 
 from this quarter, nor any other, except the falvation of Chrift. 
 Him Paul and Silas exhibited, and in him dire61;ly exhorted him 
 to believe. The promife of reft is not made to the weary 
 and hea/y laden, but to thofe who come to Chri/i under their 
 burdens. 
 
 Once more : If you keep to this rule, though you will labouf 
 to make the finner fenfible of his fin, as till this is the cafe he 
 will never come to the Saviour; yet you will be far from 
 holding up this his fenfibility as offbrding any warrant, quali- 
 fication, or title, to believe in him, which he did not pofTefs 
 before. The gofpel itielf is the warrant, and not any thing in 
 the ftate of the mind ; though till the mind is made fenfible of 
 the evil of fin, it will never comply with it. 
 
 Fourthly : There is in all congregations and neighbourhoods 
 a confiderable number of people who are living in their fins ^ and 
 in a ftate of unccncernednefs about falvution. Our work in re- 
 fpecf of them is, whether they will hear, or whether they will 
 forbear, to declare unto them their true character, to exhibit 
 the Saviour as the only refuge, and to warn them to flee to 
 him from the wrath to come. In this alfo there are various 
 ways in which you may greatly affift us. If as heads of fami- 
 lies you were to inquire ot your children and fervants what they 
 have heard and noticed on the Lord's day, you would often 
 find occafion to fecond the imprefTions made by our labours. — 
 It is alfo of great confequence to be endued with that wifdom 
 from above which dictates a word in feafon to men in our ordi- 
 nary concerns with them. Far be it from us to recommend the 
 f uKome pradlice of fome profeflors, who are fo full of what they 
 cail religion as to introduce it on ail occafjons, and that in a molt 
 t)ftenfive manner. Yet there is a way of dropping a hint to a 
 
10 
 
 good purpofe. It is admirable to obferve the eafy and inoffenfive 
 manner in which a patriarch introduced lome of the moft im- 
 portant truths to a heathen prince, merely in anfwer to the 
 queftion, How old art thou ? " The days of the years of my 
 pilgrimage (faid he) are an hundred and thirty: few and evil 
 have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attain- 
 ed unto the' days of the years of the life of my fathers, in the 
 days of their pilgrimage." This was infmuating to Pharaoh 
 that he and his fathers before him were ftrangers and pilgrims 
 upon the earth — that their portion was not in this world, but 
 in another — that the life of man, though it extended to an 
 hundred and thirty years, was but a few days — that thofe few 
 days were mixed with evil : ail vyhich, if the king reflected on 
 it, would teach him to fet light by the earthly glory with which 
 he was loaded, and to feek a crown which fadech not away. 
 
 You are acquainted with many who do not attend the preach- 
 ing of the word. If by inviting them to go with you an indi- 
 vidual only fhould be caught, as we fay, in the gofpel net, you 
 would fave a foul from death. Such examples have frequently 
 occurred. It is an eftabliflied law in the divine adminiltration 
 that men both in good and evil fhould in a very great degree 
 draw and be drawn by each other. The ordinary way in which 
 the knowledge of God is fpread in the world is, by every man 
 faying to his neighbour and to his brother. Know the Lord. 
 It is a charadter of gofpel times that " Many nations fliall come 
 and fay, Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to 
 the houfe of the God of Jacob, and he wijl teach us of his 
 ways, and we will walk in his paths : for out of Zion fliall 
 go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerufalem." 
 Add to this, by vifiting your neighbours under afflidlion you 
 would be furniflied with many an opportunity of converling 
 with them to advantage. JNlen's confciences are commonly 
 awake at fuch feafons, whatever they have been at others. It 
 is as the mouth to the wild afs, in which they that feek. her 
 may find her. 
 
 Finally : Enable us to ufe ftrong language when recom- 
 mending the gofpel by its holy and happy etFeCts. Unbelievers 
 condantiy object to the doctrine of grace as licentious ; and if 
 they can refer to your unworthy conduct, they will be con- 
 firmed, and we (hall find it impoffible to vindicate the truth of 
 God without difowning fuch conducft, and it may be you 
 on account of it: but if we can appeal to the upright, the tem- 
 perate, the peaceable, the benevolent, the holy lives, of thofe 
 among whom we labour, it will be of more weight than a 
 volume of reafonings, and have a greater influence on the con^ 
 
11 
 
 fcieiices of men. A congregation compofed of kind and gene- 
 rous mafters, diligent and faithful fervants, affectionate huf- 
 bands and obedient wives, tender parents, dutiful children, and 
 loyal fubie6ts, will be to a minifter what children of the youth 
 are faid to be to a parent, " As arrows in the hand of a mighty 
 man — Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them : 
 they fliall not be afliamed, but they fhall fpeak with the ene- 
 mies in the gate." 
 
 Thefe, brethren, are fome of the principal ways in which we 
 affe6lionately folicit your affiftance in promoting the intereft of 
 Chrlft. In doing this we virtually pledge ourfelves to be 
 ready on all occalions to engage in it. We teel the weight of 
 this implication. Let each have the others prayers that we 
 may both be aflifted from above, without which all the affift- 
 ance we can render each other will be unavailing. 
 
 We remain in the bonds of the gofpel, your affedionate 
 brethren, &cc. 
 
 Signed on behalf of the Affociation, by 
 
 ROBERT MILLS, 
 
 Aloderator. 
 
 BREVL^TES. 
 
 Tuesday etening vi. Brother Cave, minister of the place, opened 
 the meeting by prayer. Brother Mills of Sheepshead was chosen 
 ^loderator. Letters from the churches were read, and their con- 
 tents minuted. Two Letters of request tor admission to the Associ- 
 ation from the newly-formed churches at Bugbrook, Northampton- 
 shire, and Ivinghoe, Bucks, were referred to the meeting on Thurs- 
 day morning. Brother Nicholls closed with prayer. 
 
 IVtdnesdaii morni/ig vi. Met for prayer. Brethren Berridge, 
 Hall, Danid, Wheeler, Douglas, and Fletcher, were engaged. 
 
 half-past X. Brother Crapps prayed. Brother Morris 
 
 preached from 2 Thess. iii. 5. The Lord direct your hearts into the 
 luxe of (iod. Brother Janitun prayed. Brother j(J/«//c/f/ preached 
 from John xvii. 13. And now coine I to thee, and these things I speak 
 in the world, that they might have 7ny Joy fulfilled in themselves. Bro- 
 ther Fletcher closed in prayer. 
 
 evening vi. Brother Heighten prayed. Brother Fuller 
 
 preached from Acts xi. 23. When he (Barnabas) came, and had seen, 
 the grace of God, he was glad, and exhorted them all that with purpose 
 of heart they would cleave uido the Lord. Brother Sutclijf concluded 
 in prayer. 
 
 After the evening service, the Circular Letter, drawn up by bro-) 
 ;her Fuller, was read, and approved. 
 
12 
 
 Thursday mormng vii. Brother Chowii prayet!. Several ministers 
 gave a brief account of tiieir experience during the past year. 
 Brother Burton prayed. The business of the Fund was settled. 
 The churches at Bugbrook and Ivinghoe were received. Agreed 
 on a trust for a place of worship at Oatby, given by Miss RusselL 
 The next Circular Letter to be drawn up by brother Sutcliff, on 
 moral and positive obedience. The Moderator concluded in prayer, 
 
 NB. The next Association to be held at Spalding, in Whitsun 
 week, 1807- Brother Keely and brother Cave to preach. 
 PUT UP AT THE GEORGE. 
 
 State of the Churches since the last Association. 
 
 f By profession of faith 146") f By death - SG 
 
 ^c?(ferf < By letter - - - - 12 ^Diminished < By dismission J 6 
 
 (^ Restored - - - - 6) (^ By exclusion 24- 
 
 164 76 
 
 Clear increase 88 
 
 FINIS, 
 
PHOTOMOUNT 
 PAMPHLET BINDER 
 
 eAYLORO BROS. Im. 
 SyfMusa, N. Y. 
 
 StacV^eit, CaKf. 
 
i^