23959 Baptists. Rhode Island. Warren Association, 1791. Minutes ... in New-Rowley, MDCCXCI. Boston, Bumstead, [ 1791 ] .14 pp. AAS copy.

MIN U'f E S 'JF T'l-iS

Warreli A.ffociatioll,

HELr) AT Tll£

RAPTIST MEETING-HOUSE

IN

NEVV-ROWLEY.

MDCCXCI.

---------.----------'-.-~ •. ~L~ ________________ ~7.~~td

PRIl'\TED IN DOSTOt',

'By JOSEPH J3U~1STEAD) c:,lo~.sTREET~· . ..... . .,

MINUTES, &c • ....

TUESDAY, September 13. t 'AT two o'clock, P.M. Dr. StiHma:l, 3(:cording

~o ~1pointmellt, preached the Introdutlory SerDlon, from Rev. xiv. 6. And I la"w n"nothtr anG11

.flY in tt,t ",idJl of !Jea·v~lI, htl'Ving the ftlerky1ing go/pel " p, .. f."C'~ unio ,liel1z that dwel' 67'1 the torth.

2. After public worlhip, chofe brother Rezekiall Smith, Moderator, arKi bretherl"'homas Baldwirl, Clerk.

3. Read the letters from tl,c fcveral churches, ancf took the follflwing account of the members who have been added, difnailfed, excluded, or who hd.'e died the year pafr. and the whole number in each chur~h~

N. B. \tv e bad no inforlnalioll from cb,(lrches marked tbus -. ~lini{lers' names in Italich. Tllofs with this mark t ,vcre not prefeJu. Dailies denote IlG fettlcd minifter.

lil. B'o{lon,

]3cningh~m, Haverhill,

* '\T arren,

i'tIES6EtfGERS.

Lf)fimNfl Still/naIl, \,,~ illialTI Capell, JOhil R~rtlct, 'fhol1tQS Baldwitt, Jacob Holland, t N"lh .Il1den, Hezcliah ,S,nitl" Phinehas Nichols, J Ohll Chafe,

rft Mi~leboro', lfaac Backus, t.d. '*1vlicidlcboro', 3d. Middleboro', l 'harlwl1)

.. .

I 2 123

I I I 52 I 2 1St;

, i

I ,~1 ~l '2 I lIZ

, 170

IS 2 ~93 ~, 2 1 ~112

MOlltagueJ

CHt"RCHE~.

- I\.lontaguc, Ro~·:lf1on)

Rlchmonc,

( 4 )

lv/ofts Krnnl', jac,)b .E~il }:, ~ime. Ch2111 bcrlajl1~ John Davis

... \Vrentham, t IFiil. IFi/lilims, ~ South~Hrimfield) t Elijah Codding, Attlcborough, A/rnl-r LIU'is ~ \\TjJoraham, tStti) Li'ark ¥ ,\.7" codfiock . , (;ht: 1!11~ford,

:Barnfiablr, New-Saleln, L~icefier, .. }"'rccto\\'n, 7,': l\ledfield, }J;~ rVJ j c r.., ~ IJuolev, '* Southington,

='i- ~ch()both, j IJr\'ird,

~ e\\tcn.,

Ealcm (N. Ii.)

~ (" 1 · .;r'> cral1~,

• Nc)rthhriJgc, '-:an~ br,d~e,

'- '

~ 1\(~h"rI1h~·n ... il, \.. '.'-l.,

.. N ath. I-J utcl1infon Samuel j3j\.)W~1 I ]0(cph Bc~t~'rfielJ En:t:h E"ll,..jd~Tl',

............ - ...... ...-

i- ,'':£·1:1 HickJ, i l(aiah Parka, 'l"'llomas Nichols Y~/tpl' Grlifton, N ~tb2,n I)ana f,''''Il. }~~(t(her, ](raeI Rowel i Obed H/arrin,

1. 121-

36 b

I I 4 ~} •

~~'j 10 l:' 5

I '4-7 22 + I I '43

J 1. 2 151

I 2

·~o , I

" ,b2

2 ~57 22 fl~ IICQ

) 1122

193

Z I 58

II I J

}'r()\' iJcflce,

• Glouccl1cr, '] Ol!(/t /;(111 llIa ... ·c)''t 12

t .7 ~II '/, b II /:'.'! / ~, r,

.5 2

2 5 2 40

65 6 !159

I~l .* Sturbridg(;~

- - -- --- -- - --- - ~ ~ ~--- --",,---- '--~--------- ~ - -

- ---~---------~- ---~-~ ~------- ---------~- -------- ---------~--~-~

CHURCHES •

. \. Sturbridge, 'f emp~eton,

Bridgewater,

~(- Newport, \Vefron, Braintree,

Carver, Hollis,

( 5 )

I\lEsSENGtRS.

• Stephen Hafchal .Ab~lhai G~rqlll!1r:, Satnu.r.j Herriman, IchabDd Chene)Y, Samuel Plummer, G,'crg~ RobinJon J3mes Perki!1S t AliclJOti E,IJ]

•

I 3 I

9

1 138 I. ~6q

I I ,19

i-07

John 2"'ripp 115 David j" oun~man~ • 14-- ,,....-----------

l'otal, 23~155!2CI4If3695

N. B .. The thrN! iaft Chtlrc}l~s \'·~re rccci \'ed this f~ffion .. 4. Adjourned 'till 8 o'c.1oc1:: tomorro\v Inorning.

f'crmon in the evening by brot11cr Baldwir., fr(1:11

( ' · g 'I:" ~ h J .. or. 1. 1. t'v F.DNESD!\. "(, veptcm er 14. ~'1ct according to adjourntnent.

5. Received letters 2nd Ii1inutes from the PhiJadelphi~, Charlefio?.'n and Ne\¥halT.~~ilire aiTociations. Alfc)

~

letters ~nd minute~ from the \V oodfiock a{l()ciation, by Elders, l)e(ken~, Seamcn~~ :;~~d Lelt1nd, their l\1cf­fengcrs. A letter and Ininutes from the Bov.'doinhain a1Tociation bv brother Cafe; a letter arld minutes

J

from V crtnont affociation, b, brother Silvanus IIaynes. ~ ~

6. The Baptift Annual Regificr, by the Rev. 1\·Tr. Jol1n Rippon of Lor,don, \\·as prcfentcd by I)r. Still ... man, and highly rec()mmcnded to the members ()f the affociation. ']'0 wh(,m all who v.'in, to l)ecotnc fuh­fcribers for it, arc defircd to fend their 11amc~, v., ho \\,i11 irnport as many as are fubfcribcd f:)r. Price of t!~c firti part is 2{.3d. ()fthc f~cond lnd fuccecding !~1lr.1-bel-s about lj:&fl. 'l'llc cXI)enccs of i!nI)Ort~tion ~r~ incwderl ill the above~ i ~

, ,( 6 )

, --' .' -.,-

It is deGrd that the earJieft and m~ ,,~i:a",-~~ iil~ -re}ligence, relative to revivals of rci!i;ion, the ~oii!li­ruti,·n of· chllrches, an:! huliI1Cf, of alfociarion~ ;n;ght be trJnfinitted' to Dr. Stiilm311,' or -brother BJld\'i~ -ri BufiO(l, for the benefit of the Baptifl

. . ~~nnual·R~i~"~r.· _ .. ..... ' - l"'h~ fvJIl)wing' ~Ian fOr ~ftahlinling a charitable

f~:1d, far the purpofe therein ~entioilcd, was received h,: Dr. StillmaiJ frOin 2 fri~nd, and prefenteti t~ the &.iroci'!ti~: which, after Cl ferond reading, was unani-:

. _ incuR;· adopted. ',\00 it is "..u-~J). recotr:m~,lt.td-.tfj , t:1{~ ~~r;.·~ ~ cfJllt:tt what monies t:iey-can, in th~il

-. ~ .. W~ 1t2y~' 'ia:;d·1c:ld it to the !lext afiociatio~ hy who~ iUC~l ~ttaf~,cs \\·iJI be" -raren, as aei ncccf~y to carry the p1;!r. ·i:1to execlltiorL " , . .

" A F ri~nd·to the oitfe of true religion, and of the BaptiA: intere~ in particu!Clr, having tor fome 'fiole confidered. ,that among that denomination thure are but few cbaritahle infiitutions, and reReCling tllat there ;:r\! at~3U times, many ~·ouog' ~n, ~·ho ~ight be ~er1 u[\!ful itl the Churc!l as m~ntjers of Cbriit, wbofe

. ~.irc.~il~~cs in-]if{-, i,l a great meafure exclude t~el1\ from the 2dya:ttagcs oc"a good educ3tion ;. bfJi~l(~ j_~ t" be a duty real;y illcumbent OD us to afiiit. thore of our O~tn pcrf~iolJ, fo as to rellder them a5 uf~tul as pof­j;bie in the \\·(Jr~d.-I-Ie i5,f~nfiblc that .tlle ·great Heacl :..,~: the C~urch, tr&a\·, alld often ooes make ufe of mea

~

'.\ ~ ~hf 'ut flcaiJti of huml:l Jearlling, as irl~~(j"*nts f ,·,:~tiy tJ prornote :115 cauk:; yet thih {houlJ by no J:!~~llS P~~\·Clll us fr()in G():ng what nlay ~PI)c:lr to be U~: c~~·:· : man)· a mall \\110 might,ha.vc itJOlle a. a {lac f'(\:l~ fir!t Ini!:!aitude in tb~ church, ha~ beel} c;(,nmled

~ . f,) ~ ; ~ u::i: l:: rcl~, to: \\-aflt of io.r.e a1Jj tlartcc1 ot the J!~::~J~C ~~.-~ n~w ('ontenl!~;lt~. I'npretlcd vvitIl the'e i .~{:: .. ~, ;u~~ a f:I~c~rc dc~ire to l)rorr.CJtc the caufc of trae r.: j!~i'):l, C!:1J the O;:~~ll~~:1CCS (If tne llew tc!ltnl~nt, ;;, .: ,,:\' \'. ":.:-c i !1flitut::c.i b;' (lUr b!cflc,-i I.lord 311d S~viour, ~.: : .. l.~.::i~· .::J ;non rdl;,:tfull y to offer to thi~. ;lfl()Cia-.~ •. 't tho.':" (' t-u'U "rlj~,r 'l:' l·'''fl~t~ltl·O·l f"l..'or tl"t .' • ~ .... a'" j .. .,.. ." ,.~ .1.,:) ,.. .J 1.... : , C '.

11~lrpoJc

( 7 ---) - --

.. ""-

~ ~ odIiiling fu~h young men .of the ~!~ft denomiaatiOD, as may appear- to be fu,rably qualified for tb: minift:ry, with a collegiate education" c J - • .­

It is tbe~ propofed, that.be affociation fhould recommend to all the churehes in their communion in Maifachufetts, Ncwbampfhirc and lUaode-IAaRd, 3

public collcCbOll on fome Lor~s-Day, for the purpo:e of commencing it; or in any othcr- way they (ball prefer.i that the monies in this, and (jtbfr

ways i~~ined, --£hall bei>aid into the hands of a cOI!l­mittee [of dG or *see) appointed by thi~~ ~~~~r;-~. _ ~~ 6:.:,~hok- &,t~ t-: cl)llee~~~~~I~~~~:.i-~C~";"~.:"_ ---mittec PaKf into- thc:~kPds-of tbi~' l'fu.~es -- ofih6-

Charity---who will fa di"fpofe it, as thi!Y fball judge moi for the benefit of th.e ioftitution; the intereft oaly of all filch mODi~ or odler proper~' as" may be abtained, fhall be yt2rly appropriated, for the We ef luch ftudents as may be admitted to the bene~it; of the propofed plan., l~he writer is fenfibJe that the fum thus to be expended will . be man at fira ; but rhu. ought by DO means to difcourage us, if the plan itfelf i!i thought to be feafible ~ ror the foundation ,"~e lai47

tile fupedbuCture we hope, will be conftantly build. . ing up until it fuall be completed, h}' the charity of our­tienck, both in their life time, and at their death.­And it muft afford a. pleafing rr qeClion, that we have ~fi~ in the baIleR: degree,~. _ who are ~ngaged II) tbf! lI11porbnt worle of the mlnlftry. Befides affift-­edby tbis very i'laitution, fome of our own children may at a future period, by their faithfulnefs and abilities, gre~tly promote the callie of Chriil. If fuch an infii­CUtion fuould appear in the fame light to th~ AflOcia­cion, as it does to the writer, and ~y tbould think proper to recommend it, it wouJj be neceflarv that

J

the mallagement of the funds fl-!Ould he placed ill the hands of 'I'ruilees, aJld that they {h()uld be incorpora­eed bv Government, more completely to anfwcr the 811ds propofeJ.

'Ch<: \ .... rit\:r has llcither abilities Qr lcifure tQ form arl entir~

( s )

tl1tire fyflem for the government of the charity; he ha~· however, thrown together a few rules which appear to him important,alld tubmics the whole to the contidcr4'" tion of this afiociation---contidil1g ill their candout

"-

for any apology that may be nec~ifary---and trolling that if they tbould not vic\\" the piopotition in the fame light with him-they \\"ill )'ct do. juiiicc to the purity of his jDtention~ ,

A. B. R U L E S •. -

I. That the m3fl2gement of the charity {hall be \"eil ... ed ill twelve Truflt%S, v.'ho fuall be illcorporated UD­

der the name of the <[ rdj'itts of tbt Boptijl tdurlltilll fond. .

II. So many of the Baptift Fellows of Rhode-Ifland· College, \vim are members of churches, {hall be "f ruf­tees of this charity; the rt.m~ning nunlb:r filall be eleCted (by ballot) by the Warren Afioc~ation.

III, The Truflees ilia!l make t}leir o",·n by-laws, appoint their own meetings; and (hall annually deliv­er in writing to the \Vacren Afiociation, an account of the fund' the additions made, alld the furns expclld­ed, and a ~~neral ftatcmellt of whatever COllcerllS the inftitution.

IV. That the intercfi: annually !hall be appropriated for the iJlftruttioll of fuch perf OIlS as thall be admitted by the 1'ruftces~ to tIle benefits of tile charity; and when 110 u,~ thall be IlYdde of the interetl for Olle year -it {ball be added to the principal, and confidt:red in­violable, ulltil fucn principa!, in property (,f \Vhatever kin.d, tllali a~nount to the fUln of 'I'en ~l"houfand Dol­lars; after which it lllall be allo"'cd, \vh~n 11('\ applica­tion is made of the intercft for the purpofcs of education, as by there rules pretcribcd-to make ufe of the etnnual illtcreft, as the \V arr~ll A flociation-and the '£ ruflees of this illfiitution fila!l jointly agree to.

V. rI'hat WIlen applicati(>ll is 111aJ~ LO th'~ '"'ru!1ecs fvr aiIiftallce, Cl1(luiry alail b~ 111 .. J~ by a cOlnlnlttcc:

floln.

( . 9 )

fronl them, into the morals, piet}·, and abilities of the applicallt, \vho fulll certify the refult of their exam ill­ation to the board, at their next m~eting, who fuall then grant affiftancc ill fuch manner alld ~)ropor­lion as to tnenl {hall feem p!'~pcr.

VI. N" perfor. {b~l be admitted to the llenefit of this charit}" ~~ut fuch as have been baptized by immer­{ion, on prot,:ffion of uleir faith, and are members of fome Baptift church, in ¥:hom it may be reafonably hoped there is a real love to religion, :!nd a good clifpofition to literahlf\!. _

VII. All .pt-rfons who recei\,c affittance from this inflitution, lhall be CdUCdtCJ at Rho(ie-Ifland College ..

VIII. \Vhen t~le funds \I.-ill permit, the l'ruftees rna}' allow to thofe who by their attention arlO profici­ellcy in their fiud~es, have dOlle credit to themfelve~ and benefaCtors, a fum not cxceedillg fixty dollars 011

their leaving college. IX. E'.'ery 3pplicant {h3Il gi\'c bond to refund \\lhat

has been expended upon him in the courfe of his edu­cation, provided he lhould not engage in the miniftry~ arnong the BaptiG: denCimination. _ 8. Voted, 'fhat Dr. Stillman, l\1r. Backus, ~1r~ Baldwill, l\'ir.Green, and l\1r. Graftoll be a committee to wil0m an}~ perfons, or ch~rches ag~.r.:ieved by being. taxed to other denomillatioflS1 may apply for advice •• Alld alfo that the abOVe-llamed conlmittee are defired to ad1refs thofe churches belonging to this affociation,. which for a number of years have negleCted to attend i and inquire into the realons of their negleCt.

9& The Circl11ar I~etter prepared by brother Heze.-" kiah Slnith, was read, fome atnendments were propofed» with \\'hich it wa5 received.

10. Read alld approved the letter to the corrc[~ r..onJing aflociations, prepared by brother Maxcy.

I I. '-file church at N cw-Salerr. defire an an[wer to the tollowin~ qucilion, viz. "If one church receive into fcllo\vfhip an~ excluded members of another church WiU1QUt her cOllfcut) bv what rulf {hall we

· il · dctcrmillc

( 18 )

f~t:terminc \\"11il11 or'the tV-"O to hare ft:llo\~·{hip \\9ith f " -\:'otcd, that the church at Ne\\·-Salenl be referred tel

the a~\\Ycr gl\'cn in the mi11utes of the lail jYcar, to the churcll at Royaltl:on.

()nc of th~ churches ill their letter mentioned \\-itlt conr~rn, that fon1e of their brethren had applied to the General Court for incorporation, that they might have the pO\\ger of parithcs" which brought on a contiderable deb3te: The rcfult ()f \vhich fo110\\"5 :

\' oted, '[hat it be eamefily recommended to th~ churches belonging tc this afioci;ltion, b)' )10 mCaI1S­

to apply to civil government' for incorporation; it heing contrary' to the prc\'ailing OpiI1icl1' of this bed}·, and the uniform conduct uf our denolnj~~tion fin,ce tl1(! fettlement of the cOtlntry.

\\7 e believe th~t Jcfus Chrift is the Cole head' of the church; and th!t he hath gi\'Cll to her all that- power that is necefTary for the management of her !Iff-airs. All \ve alk of the government ,ve live in (not as a favour, but a right) v.hich we) \\yith others, chccrfuHy (upport, 1S, prote(:1ion from injuf}Y :-That our money may not be taken from us to (upport, either fcntiments, or praaices) that are contrary to Oilr j udgment.­\\1 e afk nut, as rtl:~~ious /ofictits, for the power of parifhes ~ becau(e \\'e canllot COl1fcI1t to blend the kingdom of Chrift' \vith the kingdoms of this vvorld ; nor to fupport it by the power of the civil n1agitlrates. At the fame time we believe It to l)c our duty to fupport the goipe1, by vollintary agrlemtnls among eurfelves. .

12. Appointed our beloved brethren Noah Alden and l\lIofcs Kenney l\1fflcngers to the \V oodHock afio­tiation :-'1"0 the N C\Vh;.llnpfhir~, Samuel l~lctcher and Abitl1ai Crofn1311 :-To the Stonin~tOJ1, Ifaac fbcku5 and Jofeph Grafton. To the ""V crmont, 1\;1ofcs Kenney: and to tl1c Shaft(bufY, .. «\bner J.lev.'is and Nathan Dana.

13. AppointcJ brother Baldwin to prep;:rc the Circular I .. cttci" ti.)r the next YC:lr.

{ I I )

14. Voted, That Lie nr~t alfociation be heid at tJ!e R.ptill: mecting-lloufe i~ Harvard, the l~ue{day after tbe firft \VedIlCfoa}' ill Srptember 1792) at 2 o'clock., P ~ M. brother G feen to preach the introduclof}' fcrlIloll; in cafe of failure, brother 1t1axcy ~ COI1-

eluded with prayer-Sermon in the af!ernoc->n hy bro­ther Le1311J i _lila in the evelling b}' brother Grafton.

~--... ____ .a--~-CIRCULAR LETTER.

l~t:""td Brcthrc/~·, 'THt~ entertaining truths of the i)leffed gofpeJ)

r~gea particular hOIlor UPOll the v.ifGolil ;inli goodllefs of ih~~ GuD, \I. no halll fet forth his SC,K to b~ -a prQpitiatioil t:)f jIll ; b~i:)g fclt~moved to thi~ gracious acl, he 11ilth given us the moil tlriking (11-

1tanc~ of ullnlerited love, ill laying a Jure fO~lld4tif):l f(Jf the hope of his people.

'] '11C do~lriIlc of atonement has bren \'ariouOv '" expiaincd b); perfons of ditlinguifhcd abilities, 111 diHt"r-

ent perioos of ti.ne ; alld as it is a leading d~1rille of the chrt{liatl faith, allJ a n10ft important or:e in the ptUl of fai\'ation, a fe,v rcnl;lfks Ui)()11 it Ria}· l:ot be . . 111111ropcr .--

Atoncme'lt prlfuppufcs forne offence given, and as cOnlnl\lJlly \Jnclcrf'lccd, dcfigns a c(afl'pietc Lltisfa,lj'Jn 111ade f()r iin, fo tb~t G Lid call IhlW llC j ufl t anJ yft tIle J uflifler of hiin th~l b~·:ic\" ~ tIl in Jcfu~, who hath broug,ht ill all cverlafiin~ ri;htc· ()t.I(ne[~, according to I),liliel ix. 2.;..-1..,ct it 0(- (,hJ~'r­\'e\~, that atonenlcilt, l)fOpitiatioJl, and fati::- ;"~l(-' iun, (J~: jig' nOll c t hi !1 S ; he ri cc the fa me idea i =' con '.' ~ ~ 'l J b.v th~ u{~ of citll\:r of the \\"ords.-'l"-() ctlcct 211 a!~,llt­n1cnt for iin, it \vas 11ccf.:fE\rv th~t the fJn1e n~!tu\c {houlJ be cn;la:?:cd, \\':lich J;J at .irlt (Jiit':ld; hc:~(c ( " , · 1 k "- '. , . t'" I L .. !1rl'.[ too .. nat on !~~!:1 the 11lturc 0 an~el~; 'Lt Ii ....

t<-Jok on hi~ll thl~ 1~'L'.llJf .t\br:thanl. In this l~c.t:~:·l: he J ,. ,. f' · ".

'~d ~~ J;~\j ant. h.! ! ~ rl:';! t \I; or ~ 0, r('Ulern pt 1()11, ~t ,-IU ~:;" Il~"~

'1 ,"\ "f,l .• " "("" I.' '. l·'·· .. l .. :" "·'·"'o~" ~ t·",,· ,' .. ~ , \ .... ,·t· ... \.1", '- • ,:t ... , •• ~" ,.,.,' ••• , '1,.~ ... ~ ...... , . •

I , .~

( 1 :' )

of rle;J[h, that i~, the devil." Heb. ii. I.~ 16. This conqueft implies t~e removal of fin, which is the flipg of death.-{iOti hath ret forth C~rift CiS l\1ediator, to he a prcpitiation for fin, thro't faith in his biood. ~r~e blood of ChriA: dcfigns the \\'Ilole of his futferillgs to death, \\-ithour the fheddinl! of which there is no re-,-miifio;~. faith ill his blood is a mean by which \\-e becof!l~ partakers of the benefits of his atonement, alld do cxperi~ncc reconciliation to God. Chrift as Medi~ atar to atone fi~r tin, is fet forth from ev~rlafling in GOD'S purpof~~" in ~he promifes of the old tefiaolent, in t!1c type~, fhaG<)\\:"s :1nd facrifices of the foml~r

• J

ditpcr.t:!t!on ; alto by inCMnation, and in the rniniftrcl-tioJl of the goij't"l. He fuff~red all that punifhment \'9hich di\'ine juflice required, on the account of all the iniqui~je~ of his p~ople. He W:iS \\90unded for our tr:ini~reffion!==, h~ ~\vas bruifed for our iniquities, the chafliie:ncnt of our peace \\Y~s upon him, and \\,jtb his ~ripes \\"e 3r~ he3!ed-·rhc Lor.] hath laid on him t~c iniquit~" (,f us c~11. Ttl. 53. 5, 6.--

l-he tufrerin;s Qf Chr;fl: both ill foul alld body, mu~ have been moft excruci:itinlJ' ; for he hath n-:3tl'o him to b - e

.! 11n for u~ who kne\v no fill, that \\·e migllt be made the righteoulnef, of GOD in him. 2. Cor. \'. 21.-

~

'I-he (:\·:1 of fin for "'hiell Chrift fuffcrcd, cannot he oui~' eilimated by finite being~, bt~aute, ohjeClively cO:1!!d~re~, it is i1ifinitt j and the punifhmcnt threatned is f:·lrlt?/li!2g; hence \\·c conct:i\'c the pUl1ilhment of !~nne!,"5, l\"hich i5 proportioned to their crimls, to be c:1dlt:(~. '''his Funiilin1erlr, or thct \\hich ill the di':!!~e ,~~ew is reckc'!1ed an equivolcnt for fil', Chrii! f~!{tt!"ed \\'hen he \,."as made a curfe for us; by \vhich \\·c '.-It-ere :ed::e;I~~j frO!l'- the CUffe of the law, which (,oi~dCtl:r.~·d us t~ rClr.edilc;fs \vce ~ it is "~ritten " Ct~r:ft h~t!l r,.!dcen1ed us fr())n the curfe of the 13\\', h( in~ FT'3de a Cl"'Cl: for U~. " flc:1CC \\YC argue, that Chr~ II' c; fuff"c rij~t: c; ~rc not (-Ill Y unt'9uallul, .bll~ l!O far r':~~ ~"'d !:ur.·,:.n or tinite c\)n~prcht:nf;on-lI!, toul :!11d " J\~ \\" .. 1\: (,n~rcJ ~~~ on~ lJcri~cc for tI1S i l)y which

J ll~

( T3 )

he hath perfcaed for ever all them thlt are iSJllUfitd. Heh. x. 12-14-.

Chrift hl\'illg fulfilled the law, and rat~sfied divine juftice ill a pub/i," Cflpo{i~r, hath introdl~ced an ever-­fafting rightcoufilCfs, compieatcd the wo~·k of redemp­tion, alld brought to light, life and i,nmortality thro'

- the gofpcl. It appears as nccefTary that Chr~ft lhould have fuf­

fered the pCllalty of the law, il~ a public cap~cit}" to atone for fin, as it was for him aBually to obey it thro· life. It is certaill that he bo!c the \\'eight a!ld punifh-~mcnt of all the fins of his r,eople in his o\\-n body on the tree. Agreeably to this dOCtrine of atonement, ~, GOD hath reconciled ~s to himfelt~ by Jefus Chrift, and Ilath gi\·en to us t~le miniftry of reconciliation: to wit, L~3t GOD \\C\s!n Chrift reconciling the \\yorld unto hitnfe!f, Ilot inlputing their trctpatTes unto them. 2 Cor. \ .. 18, Iq. l'his dotlrille flrcn~thens the,

~ ~

hope of the pellitent, and- fupports the hun1bJe foul, wh.) is cOllfcious of his utter inability to do any thing toward~ ator,ing for his o\'-'n fins. A view of ehrift's finilhed atf.Jnement, by fJit:., is abfclutcly Ilfceffary to acquit thi! fillller fronl k!,uut, agreeably to the gofpeJ, Wllich is the po\\'er of GOD unto Ijlvation.

Sh_ould "yc clofe this letter, ~'ithout taking notice of the Providence of GC.'D in the removai of t\\10 of o:.r rniniftcrs by death, the: year paft, \\·c fhould betray ~ crirnillal iJlat~cntion.

l"hc one is brc)thcr Mltho/liel Gr,"en, ()f Cllarlto.~., \\'ho hJth iong fu1laine.1 a good ch~lraclcr ill our Churchc~. The.! other w~s our tnUCll etieenlcd brother .. Tan;,:s .i~!tlllllilll, 1). D. Prcfident of Rhode-Iflarld C c!lcge, Wh(lfe abili ties (llld uf~fulllefs \vcre "'ell kno\vn to us all; alld \vhcfe attcntiofl to the intcrcfls of learning and religion, ju{lly rlailn our eftcem. 0 thlt the great ~Ie~!d l)f the church ill WhOlll are ~ill gifts aId grace) woul~ f.lvO:Jr US with otpcr 11l'rfons of

equal

( 14' )

equal atcomplilhments .!- that thereby the breaches 'ill abe -walls of ,our Zion may \lc built up. .'

~~ e have had a conlfortablc -mcetillg at th;s time, received .good news from fevcral of our churches, alld alfo from \,2rious other parts of our ·land.

The prophecy concerJling~Chrift is accompjjfhing, ce Of the jncreafe of his government and peace theJ C

fIlall 'be no end." Now unto the King eternal, immortal, in\'ifil)le,

lite only Yt·jfc God, be '~on(lr and glory for e\·er.

/

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