MINUTES
" OP THE
SlSGoct.iftoift.
HELD AT
CENTRE, OGLETHORPE COUNTY,
OCTOBER the 9th, 10th, and 11th, 1824.
1. Brother Roberts being absent on account of sickness, the
introductory sermon was preached by brother A. Sherwood,
from 2d Corinthians^ 2d chap, and 15th' and 16th yerses~-
" For we are unto God, a sweet savor of Christ," &c. I'
2. Read the letters from the Churches, and made the neces- "
sary record of their state. . ' *
3. Continued the brethren Mercer-and Marshall in office.-
4. Appointed the brethren Brockman, Porter, Walker, Pa-
vis, Win, Lumkin, E. Lumkin, and'Landi:um, aacommittee to.
select preachers during this Association^ ^wd Sherwood, San¬
ders &nd Thompson to examine and - arrange business for this
Body.
5. Received and read affectionate letters of correspondence,
viz. from the Ocmulgee Association, a letter and minutes, by
their messenger; brother Pace ; from the Ebenezer, minutes, by
their messenger, brother Ross; from the Tugulo, a letter and
minutes, by their messengers, Calloway and D^vid; from the
Saluda, a letter and minutes, by brother Crow ther;. from the
Sarepta, a letter and minutes, by their messengers, GosS, Rai-
ney and Bledsoe; from theHephsibah, a letter and minutes, by
brother Huff; from the Edgefield, letters and minutes, by their
messengers, Cartledge and Hardy; from the Yellow River, a
letter, by brother Moore. Messengers of sister Associations,
and ministers of our own and other ^denominations, not of this
Body, were cordially invited to sit with us, and assist us in our
deliberations; and appointed the following brethren to corres¬
ponding Associations, viz t Marshall and Walker, to the'Tugu-
Uh Battle and Sanders to the Edgefield^ Thompson and Barnes
tp the Ocmulge'e; Roberts and Perkins to the Ebenezer; Sher¬
wood,- Mercer and Reeves to the Saluda J Lumkin, Calloway
fand Gibson to the Sarepta; Thompson and Barnes to the
Hephsibah; Mercer and Marshall to the Savannah River; Sher-
wood to the S anbury"; Davis, Reeves, Marshall and Walker to
the Yellow River Ordered the Clerk to send minutes to the
Charleston, Tombeckbee and Mississippi Associations.
G, Received and read the Address of the Tenth Antiual Re¬
port of the "Board of Managers of the General Convention ol
the Baptist Denomination in the U S.the Report of the
Committee on the "WithingtoiV Station," and a letter from an
Indian boy, (exhibited to us by brother Ross) in connexion
with specimens of Indian children's band writing, which af¬
forded us peculiar gratification.
7. Read the minutes of the " General Association of the Bap¬
tist Denomination in this State." Resolved, That we acknow¬
ledge and approve the proceedings of that Body; that we con¬
cur with them in relation to the necessity of uniform discipline,
and the mode suggested in its address, or through the General
'Convention, as may be ultimately thought proper; that it is
our pleasure that the Mission Board give to the General Asso¬
ciation the care and direction of the Withington Station, in¬
stead of a joint Board from co-operating Associations. Ap¬
pointed the brethren Sherwood, Reeves, Mercer, Davis and
Armstrong to their next meeting, atEatonton, on Friday before
the last Sabbath in May, 1825; and appropriated 15 dollars to
defray our part of the expenses of the printing of the Minutes
of the General Association.
8. Rtsolved, That this Association concur with the Saluda
Association in the object of observing a day of fasting, humi-
liaton and prayer, that God would preside over our national
affairs; give us a suitable person to be our next President; also
that Me would continue his blessings towards us, avert his judg¬
ments, pour out his spirit, favor us with an extensive gracious
revival, and' send forth more laborers into his vineyard—that
the Saturday before the first Sabbath in November, be observed
in tlx* manner above specified, to accomplish the first object;
and Saturday before the first Sabbath in April, 1S25, for the
last purpose; and that the fasting 111 both instances continue h
until sunset.
9. Resolved, That this Association cordially recommend to
the patrouage pf the Churches, the Latter Day Luminary, and
the Columbian Star, published at Washington City, in tht^
District of Columbia, under the superintendence vt the Bdptist
Convention, by Mr J, S^ Aleehan; the former issued monthly,
at $2 per annum ; the latter weekly, at $3.
10. To an enquiry from the Grove Church, we answer, tha^
we consider the time of performing the washing of feet, entirch
discretionary with every Church
11. Qi ery.—Should a person on profession of Lis faith, re¬
ceive baptism by immersion at the hands of a minister who is of
the same faith, but of another and Arminian denomination, on
a change of sentiments and a desire to come into union with a
regular Baptist Church, be required to submit to the ordinance
again ? Answer in the affirmative.
12. We recommend the ministers of .this Association to itine¬
rate more, and the Churches make suitable provision for their
encourageme't and support, in that laudable work.
13. We recommend to the Churches, to send up in their letters,
an account of all the ordained and licensed preachers in their
bounds.
14 Received the circular, prepared by brother Sherwood,
and appointed brother Lumkin to write the next; also the cor¬
responding letter by brother Battle, and (brother Sanders, to
writ^ the next.
15. We recommend the Churches to appoint three members
from each Church, to attend each general meeting; and that the
districts have the preference, in their order, of appointing the
time of their meeting ; which will be as follows for this year, viz.
1 jt Diet. at Bethel, Hancock, on Friday before the 5th Sunday in May, 1325.
2d do. Ursion, Warren do. do. 5th do. July.
3d do. Bethesds, Greene, do. do. 5th do. September.
4th do. Clark's Station, do. do. 2d do. July.
16. Appointed the next Association, at Greenwood, Lincoln
county, on Friday before the second Sabbath in October, 1825,
brother Mercer, (and in case of failure, brother Lumkin,) to
preach the introductory Sermon.
17. Resolved, That a Missionary Sermon be preached on
Sabbath morning, at each session of the Association ; and a
collection be taken in aid of the funds forwarded by the Church¬
es for Missions.
18. Received the Report of the Mission Board, which reads
as follows :— ^
Beloved Brethien—Since we have had the care and direction
of your funds, we have been called on for an appropriation of
only$350, in support of the Withington Station, in the Creek
Nation. We are happy to say, the School is still an a flourish¬
ing and prosperous condition. The superintendent, brother
Compere, attended the late session of the Ocmulgee Asssociation;
and presented to the Executive Committee of the United Board,
his books and accounts, which were found correct; and speci¬
mens of writing, and a letter of one: of the boys in the School, to
the patrons of the Institution* expressive of gratitude for, and
praying a continuance of those benefits, which the benighted
condition of their parents forbids them to afford : all which were
not only satisfactory, but highly pleasing. The prospect is
iruly encouraging, and inspires zeal in the prosecution. The
President of the U. S. has taken a lively interest in the sup¬
port of our Institution, and has given it a good proportion
among others. The General Board also continues tb extend
their fostering care towards it; but their funds are quite ex¬
hausted ! And in this regard, we regret to say, that the contri¬
butions from the Churches are diminished, where they should
have abounded. Many of the Churches still remain inactive.—
Will they never be provoked to emulation ? Will they be con¬
tent always to lie still at home, while their brethren go to war
in the good cause of benevolence and charity ? But, to the praise
and honor of some of our beloved sisters and friends, be it said,
that they are producing a remedy for this deficiencj\ We have
been presented by brother Walker, with a subscription from a
benevolent Female Society, in the Church and*congregation at
Greenwood, of about 500 yards of cloth, for th^ clothing of the
children, at the Withington Station ; which will be ready for
transportation in a few weeks. The grateful acknowledgments
of the Board, are hereby voted them for their kind and charita- ,
ble labors of love, towards the children of the roving tribe. We
most heartily wish they may provoke to emulation, many to whom
it would be a mercy to abound in this grace also. The want of
benevolent fruit, which might abound to the account of any of
the Churches, may, we think, be traced to the inactivity of^he
ministers, or other influential members. O for Davids, Ezrahs,
Haggais and even Deborahs, in our Israel! " Let us look to
ourselves, lest we lose the things we have' begun; but that we
receive a full reward."
The whole sum with which we were charged on our
appointment was $1020 37 1-2
Appropriation ol £pril, $"5° )ff 529 00 00
Amount for Education forwarded, 179 S UU UU .
Leaves 491 37 1-2
RECEIVED FROM VARIOUS SOURCES SINCE.
From interest on loans 43 00
„ Church and Congregation at New Hope, for last year 17 18 3-4
,, ,, ,, M the present 10 £7 1-2
,, „ Powelton 70 00
„ ,, „ Philips' Mill 27 81 1-4-
,, „ „ Bethesda 38 50 '•
„ " „ „ ' Greenwood 30 25 „
„ „ Kiokee 10 00
„ j> » * Bethel, (Wilkes) 4 00
,, „ „ Bethel, (Hancock) 5 0.0
ft
rt
J5
99
Ebenezer
19
5*
Fort Creek
y>
5 9
99
W hiteplains
99
99
Richland
,99
99
)9
Horeb
99
99
9
Centre
»
99
9*
Grpensborough
99
99
99
Union, (Warren)
j*
99
99
Damascus
99
99
99
Sharon
JJ
99
99
Fishing Creek
«<
99
19
Shi I oh
5J
)»
99
Clark's Station
99
99
Double Branches
1 00
a 50
9 75
4 00
7 00
10 00
10 00
6 50
9 00
5 00
10 75
12 50
4 62 1-2
6 00
$105 62 1-2
FROM INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS.
From Ffev.TMr. Kilpatrick, lot- Creek Mission, $5 o0
„ „ B. A. Hemp', lor Burmahdo. 4 00
Mrs H ' 5 oo
Mr. John Cliatt 2 0q
Rev. A^r, Wm. Fuller 2 00
„ C. Foster, for- Domestic Mission, J 00
Miss B. Blanchard 1 yg
Mf. Wiley G- Tatom j 00
Rev. M. Reeves J 00
„ F,. Calloway 100
„ W.Jackson 3 00
$879 6ii 1-2
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COLUMBIAN COLLEGE.
* From sundry persons in the Church and Congregation at Powelton, $C0 00
,, collection at Fishingscreek 6 50
j, J. P. »ud M. Marshall, third instalment, 20 00
,, West and Sandford, „ „ 10 00
„ William S. Foster, „ „ 5 00
„ Ross Congers, „ „ 5 00
„ Bethesda, „ „ 59 00
„ Miss Appling, • 1 00
„ Mr. John Frazier, 1 00"
*,, Mr. R. T. Battle, for 'Presidency, 30 OO
„ „ do. Education, &c. 5 001
„ „ M. Ely, for Presidenny, 10 0G
,, „ do. '"heo Institution, 1 Ofr'
,, ,, Wm. Redd, 3d institution, » 10 00'
„ Rev. Mr. Jack Lumpkin, 2d and 3d instalments, ■ 20 00
$243 50
JESSE MERCER, Pres.
Quod Attestor J. P. "Marsham., Serfy.
19 Appointed, the brethren Mercer, Marshall, Reeves, Ro¬
berts, Sherwood, Battle and Walker, our Mission Board, for
next year. ^
20. Brother Sanders was appointed to receive the contri¬
butions, from the Churches and individuals, for the Augusta,
Church.
21 iicsohrd,' That this Association, hereby siAnow'lcd.;*1,
with sentiments qf sincere thankfulness, tiie benevolence and
friendship of the neighborhood of Centre.
22. Collected money for the printing of the Minutes; agreed
that 1200 copies be printed and distributed, that the Clerk su¬
perintend the same, and have 25 dollars for his services. After
a forcible exhortation and prayer, by'the moderator; the Asso¬
ciation adjourned.
JESSE MERCER, Moderator.
Jabrz P. Marshall, Clerk.
The brethren Crowther, Ross, and Mercer,«according to ap¬
pointment, preached with zeal, perspicuity and faithfulness, to
an attentive congregation, and we have reason to believe their
labor will not tie in vain.
STATE OF THE CHURCHES.
Ministers narnes.are in CAPITALS, preachers.in italics, those absent marked thus *
CHURCHES
AM)
COUNTIES.
NAMES
Ol'
MESSENGERS.
Powellon, Hancock, JESSE MERCER, E. BATTLE,
Fort Creek, UaofioUi, JAMES BARNES, John Wayne,
Richland, Greene, John Slaughter, Joseph Tanner*
Bethel, Hftncock, |B. THOMPSON, J. Lockhart, d.
Whiteplains, Greene, J. Howell, W. L. Astin, [Murphy,
Horeb, Hancock, " iJOS. ROBERTS,* James Thomas.
Greenesborough, Greene, A. SlI KR WOO II, J as. Tretwell,
Kiokee. Columbia, J. P. MARSHALL, D. Stanford,
J.P £jevrrett, VV. S. Foster,
Adam Jones, jr. Samuel Hall,
Philips's Mill, Wilkes,
Long Creek, Warren,
Williams's Creek, Warren
Bethel, Wilkes,
Sweetwater, Warren,
Union, Warren,
Sharon, Columbia,
Damascus, Columbia,
Grove, Columbia-,
Aberleen, Columbia,
Augusta, Richmond,
Springfield, Richmond,
spirit Creek, Richmond,
' Bethesda, Greene,
Shiloh, Greene,
County Line, Oglethorpe,
Newhope, Greene,
Beard's M. H. Oglethorpe,
Centre, Oglethorpe,
"Fishing Creek. Wilkes,
Greenwood, Lincoln,
Ebenezer, Wilkes,
Goshen, Lincoln,
Clark's Station, Willies,
Sardis, Wilkes.,
Newford, Wilkes,
Rehoboth, Wilkes,
Double Branches, Lincoln
t Union, Lincoln,
Henry Perl-ins, Archibald Gresham,
H. Montgomery, E. M'Ghee,
B. M. Sanders, Michael Cody,
James Smally, Wm. P. Steed,
Jerem. Blanchard, Jus, Blanchard,
WM. FULLER, Jonathan (^liatt,
John Skinner, Joseph Darling,*
W H. Turpin,* Edw Campfield,*
J. WALKER, 'J. Walton, J. Rox
Stepney, [bourth,
John Mercer, Redman Thortiton,
William Redd, Oliver Porter,
Radford Gunn, John.Arnold,
John Butler,* Asa Bishop*
Samuel Brooks, Lewis Biockman,
JACK LUMICIN, John Landrum,
JAS. MATHEWS, GUV SMITH,
J. H. WALKER, F. T. Alien,
John Turner,* Joseph Holmesr
W. G- Tatorti, R W. P rather,
WM. DAVIS, S. GIBSON,
M. REEVES. Ei CALLOWAY,
B. Burton, M. Pullin»
John Frazer, Wfb. Prattler,
ELISHA PALMER,* James Curry,
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7
THE CIRCULAR LETTER.
I?atfycrs and Fellow Laborers-—The duties devolving upoii
ministers, are many and laborious. A great pait of tiieM, it is
lioped, are performed with prudent faithfulness and untiring
patience. But it is feared, that with us, there is one part of duty
which has not receiyed such share of our attention, as its impor¬
tance justly demands : This is Pastor til Visit alien,
We embrace in the phrase, pastoral visitation, the visiting and
religiously instructing every family which constantly or occa¬
sionally attend on our ministry, or reside within our reach. Let
therq b* days, if possible. stated ones, in which the Pastor is
expected to visit one or more families. Let these families re¬
member that he comes to them, not on the common concerns of
life—not to engage in the ordinary chit-chat of the neighbor¬
hood, nor to while away the ({ay in feasting aiul amusement;
but, on a religious visit,—a visitjn which the great concerns of
the soul shall be brought into view, and in which he may form
some opinion of each individual member, whether it is travelling
the narrow road to heaven, or {he broad to hell. Discourses
from the pulpit, can not besufiicu ntly minute id their specifica¬
tions, to ijieet the cases of but a small part of the congregation.
Rut in pastoral visits, the man of God can descend familiarly to
every particular—can seize on circumstances and occasions,
which may have transpired to awaken serious emotions—learn
the features of each miud—remove its prejudices—recijfy it*
mistakes—correct its errors—enlighten and inform,t Many
children are inquisitive about invisible things. The distance,
which in their minds, livs between them and the milliliter whom-
they see but once a month, and then in the pulpit, prevents
their making, even, if they 1md opportunity, such inquiries as
might conduce to the awakeniug of the slumbering con¬
science, and renewing the stubborn heart A thoughtless girl,
in a distant town, was convicted by the bare question from a
AlissrfouJtry,' now laboring in (he gospel field, "haveyou thought
seriously about your soul
It \vas the custom of tiie ApostV Paul, to teach not only in
the Synagogues, but " publicly from house to hout-e. ' He could
not satisfy his conscience to preach once on Uie Sabbath, and
perform ail his pastoral'duties on Saturday nigf.tj $ no brethren,
he conceived ministerial duties a, in alter loo weighty—an em¬
ployment too high and, holy to be dispense*! wiili at sho.^im'er-
vals and cessations from, lirmuel labor, as a something which
might be done or not, as convenience sauted, lie charged !n>
pupil* Timothy, to be instant " in sen .-on, om t rf s'-nson,'* ruu
I
an example of the believers, "in word" and u conversation "—
The commission to his disciph-s, of a .greater tlmu Paid, incul¬
cates the same momentous duty, [see Matt. X 14 ] and his
whole life was a practical comment on the sentiment «nh which
we wish to impress your minds.
Hiving explained the duty, brethren, we proceed (o enforce it
from two considerations:
1. That so few are enraged in it. Because there v. ere so " few-
men" to assist him, when run >vlng the " rubbish" and rc-Lu'dd-
ing the wall of Jerusalem, Nohemiah, no doubt, urged upon his
associates the indispensible necessity of sleepless viglance, with
their constant and laborious exertion. It is doing no injustice
to the religious influence, which obtains in our state to sa}',
that not half of our population are found in the Sanctuary, orj the
Sabbath. Tcfbe sure, from circuit preachers and others, who
frequently make appointments, the gospel is proclaimed in vari¬
ous sections, on week days ; but very few of those who do not
attend preaching on the Sabbath, seldom enjoy that special
means of grace. So that a pretty fair estimate of our professed
worshippers is made, wfyen we put down 170,000 Then 170,-
000 more immortal beings, are exposed every Sabbath, to all the
-enticements of vice, and all the temptations of the devil! What
a powerful consideration for.ministers t > be awake! The barrier,
which conscience or education may have erected in childhood,
against the inroads of iniquity, have long ago been beaten down
in the aged, and the monitory voice of no herald of salvation
persuades to repair it The young mind is left to receive such
impressions from the seal of the " wicked one," as will best im¬
prove it for its future unalterable destiny. The ear which we
can npt gain in the Sanctuary, brethren, because the objects of
our solicitude have uo taste for the message we bear; let us
reach at its home, where it may be won by our urgent importu¬
nity. Let us like the Apostle, go K from house to house, warn¬
ing every man, encouraging the feeble-mindtd," rebuking the
wayward, instructing the ignorant, and enlisting the feelings of
the young, on the side of virtue. We have an immense popula¬
tion, and yet how few men v\ holly demoted to the interests of their
souls! If " ail," to use the expression exf Paul to the Phllip-
pians, " seek their own" wealth and prosperity; how important
is it that ministers seek those things which shall promote the
lunir^om of Christ.
2. From its vUal importance to the. welfare <f the Church,
and the Salvation of the rising race, «
Brethren, you haVe sometimes found in the solitariness of the
9
tvildernessj jti follower of the lamb that has been years removed
from the privileges of the Sanctuary, and the society of Chris¬
tians. With what anxiety has she Jistened to every sentence
dropped from your lips, hoping- j'ou were a public servant of her
master, and bore some interesting and consoling message to the
aiflicted and lonely. What joy lightened her countenance, when
she heard the name " Jesus" announced, and filled with transport,
she exclaimed, blessed be the Lord, " for he hath regarded the
low estate of his handmaid."
How many differences and jealousies in Churches, which had
nearly ripened into incurable hatred, and separated brethren,
have been adjusted and removed by the timely visits and kindly
faithful manner in which the man of God has discharged his
pastoral duties. ,
Pastoral visitation carries something in it which evidences
that the minister is solicitous for the eternal welfare of the souls
of his hearers ; that his life is a busy one, engaged chiefly on
subjects which relate to our future existence, and tries to abstract
the busy crowd from things wholly temporal and perishable,
%o meditate on those which are eternal and imperishable. And
*,vill not the world apprehend concerning him, who performs no
pastoral duties, except on Saturday and the Sabbath, that all
his studies and thoughts on invisible things, are cpnfined to those
two days ? »
How many children and servants might have grown up and
died ignorant of a Saviour, had it not have been for the solici¬
tude for their best interest expressed by the pastor in his repeated
visits and faithful inquiries concerning the state of their souls ?
Where this brancln of duty is not performed, the Church fre¬
quently becomes cold and lifeless. To be sure God may rain
down the spirit of his grace, and multiply converts; but unless
visited, assisted and encouraged, as they are supposed, to be, in
^Che preceding observations, forgetting in a. measure the impulse
tbward heaven, whirh they felt in their earliest lov&, they will
slide- back into listless indiffererence; promising gifts will be
unimproved and neglected; the knife of discipline will rUst; hard
thoughts of each other and backbiting, will succeed to spoil all
that which charmed much and promised more. As you have
passed in the spring, you have discovered a highly cultivated
garden J its herbs were growing luxuriantly, and its buds open¬
ing and filling the air with fragrance J but on your return, "Lo
it was all overgrown with thorns, and nettles had covered the
face thereof !"—When the strong arm' of grace .first seizes the
•wandering -sinner, it doed not quench all desire for the lawful
10
tilings of the world; but in his ordinary pursuits, lie is brought
into contact with these, and these alone, and imperceptibly they
draw him into immoderate desires for them, if his daily call¬
ing introduced him into a kind of spiritual scenery and led him
to handle things of a spiritual nature, as it does those which are
temporal; the necessity of some one's calling from the former
and beckoning to the latter, would not so imperiously demand
the repetition of the means suggested.
Why have notions so preposterously absurd prevailed among
us, as those which denythe use of means for the conversion of
the young ? Our preachers address adults in the melting lan¬
guage of love, and beseech them to be reconciled to God- \ and
should the heart be subdued, its subjugation is ascribed to the
influence of the Holy Spirit; for no genuine preacher is so im¬
pious as to affirm he of himself effectually reaches it. And why
then would you preclude from similar means the tender hearts
of youth ? If you have hopes that means will be blessed to
''turn the hearts of the fathers," which have been hardened by
the sins of sixty years, " to the wisdom of the just;" surely you
have more solid ground to hope that the hearts of the children,
in a measure free from the guilt of actual transgression, would b«
affected by the same means. And yet " knowing the terrors of
the Lord," nothing can cool youlr zeal, nor damp your courage,
nor tire your patience in attempts to warn and persuade men."
No, in this you seem actuated oy the spirit of Luther, when
cited by the papal Diet to appear at Worms : He could " go in
the name of the Lord, though as many devils as there were tiles
on the houses should combine against him." Nor is there any
thing unbecoming the importance of the subject in which you
are engaged. " The love of Christ" holds you under obliga¬
tion to be strenuous in your exertions for human salvation, and
we feel persuaded, should the flames of persecution rise as high
as under the reign of bloody Mary of England, you would re*
gard them as the idle wind. But when we survey the self-denial
you practice, and the sacrifices you make, to exhibit a Saviour
to " lost adults we are led to wonder at your indifference to
the rising race, who were ruined in the same fall, and must
inevitably perish, unless restored by the same Saviour. By
neglecting them till they are older, you cannot expect their re¬
generation will be more easily effected; foi1 every principle of
sound reason, and all the knowledge which revelation has iqade
certain concerning the human heart, warrant the belief that it
will be more difficult. In proportion to the distance the sinner
has wandered from God, so will be his tedious return—s<J will
11
be the kee*J anguish of his soul—so the overflowing cup of Vfpenfanc*'
which he llrink. O seek then his salvation while young, before
he reacht^ U.Ht rPturnW'ss.distance from God, where the " conscience is
seared with a hot iron," and th.e heart mocks crtnviction It is said the
mother of Achilles dipped her son while a child, in the river Styx, fo
render hitn invulnerable to the Trojans, his enemies : so if the figure 19
allowable, let (he godly Pastor and faithful parent imbue the young with
christian sentu^ents, that the arrows and temptations of the devil may
not prov*1 thei^ternal ruin. And brethren, it is to be feared, we shall)
not see ah extensive revival of religion in our state, until we use all the
appointed means to pro'mote it. Among these we think the subject of
onr letter holds a distinguished place.
Query t But if the minister employs his whole time in pastoral duties
and in preparations for the pulpit, how shall he support his family ? If
the people of his charge value his useful instructions to them and their
children, and desire that he " come unto them it) the fulness of the bless¬
ing of the gospel,'1 every Sabbath,—to bring "forth out of his treasure',
things new and old,"' to " feed them with knowledge and understand¬
ing," and to evince that he is a workinaf) "that needeth not to Geasham-*
«d they will, see to his support—they vyill unloose his hands from
constant manual labor, and his mind from perplexing worldly cares.-*-
But If they are content with monthly preaching and monthly pastoral
visiting, wijh the same sermon for years, with having the "ministry
blamed," on account of the scantiness of its instructions, with seeing
their children grow up in vice and immorality, we have no answer ;
their own conduct is the best comment on the estimate in which they
hold the gospel and the instructions of its ministers. We know pf some
in many Churches, who desire a better state of things; but from their
minority cannot produce a favorable change. Such we would not in¬
clude in our last remark, and would respectfully suggest, that where one
Church cannot support the ministry, that two or three unite in the object.
.Finally^ Brethren, let us bear in mind the paucity of our number, and
mighty influence which men of God should exert in the community.—
Jt is not enough that we are jrffeproachable in morals and blameless in
life, and inoffensive in our demeanour 5 negative goodness was not the
distinguishing characteristic of the Jirst preachers of righteousness, nor
of the reformers of the 16th century ; they were positively virtuous.—
They were unawed by the threats and unaffected by the favors even of
princes. They shook off the impression made by the wicked decrees^
of kings and impious'bulls of popes, as easily as does the " lion the dew-
drop from his mane." The " kingdom" for which we are contending,
" is not .of this world," nor will God divide to us our portion here. }Ve
are laboring for an " incorruptible inheritance," and that others with
ourselves may wear, not crowns that have been adulterated by the alloy
of man, though they may be bestudded with the richest pearls and sparkle
with the most brilliant diamondsj but for those that were moulded in
heaven. Let these considerations quicken us to duty, and animate us to
plan, and labor^ and suffer for God.
n
The Georgia Association, to her Sister con esponding ,ii>io$iat{ons.
Dear Brethren.*—Though we are ia a world of difficulties, and U^uflgh l* mua
is bora Co trouble a3 the sparks fly upward," Jub 5, 7 ; yet wticn w* contrast
Uur blesdin£s with our fellow mortals abroad, it plainly declares io us '»the
lines are fallen '.into us in pleasant place?, and ours is a goodly h©rit:i£o."—.
Psalms 16,6. This utxler^iod we ©We to'some philanthropy. Ancient hitlto*
ry informs us our fathers were once miserable heatfte is, that tbey were caoi-
bals. The rays of the gospel had not reached thetn. 1'he lose of God, and
the love of man, kindling ia, and bursting from, some noble Sfel, a missionary
was sent; aud we are now enjoying the blessed effects. And shall we, s\nd
can we, with a quiet conscience fold our arms together, atul say, " Aha, I am
warm, I have seen the fire," (Isa.44, 16) and not pass it oa to others? O
Carey! after thy dust shall have returned to its mother dust, thousands re¬
verting to ancient history, will call thee " blessed." And a Fuller i who
" held the rope" made collections to uphold thy hands4 and the hands of thy
fellows, "shall not lose his reward." Beloved brethren: it is time to be-
united; we are too much divided; the world knows it, Or we would not tell it, *
If missions are of <?od, you must admit it is a sin to oppose, or neglect them.—
If they are not of God, why does he so abundantly bleas thena? VVe lov£ you,
brethren, and wish to form a mjro close connexion with you ; to effect which a
peucral Association has been formed. This some ofyou have embraced ; some
have visited this Association lor a while, with whom we have been delighted,
but to ®ur grief have taken their leave of us. An enemy may fl^ttef, but a
real friend will offer gentle reproof, when necessary. Look back at tbtf his¬
tory of oUr Church as fur as the Apostles' day, and you will find.they were a
people zealous of good works. Now, brethren, if .your pastor was to " order
you upon the first day of the week, for every ont of you to lay by in store "ah
God had prospered you, that your liberality might be ready," (1st Cor. 17, I,)
would you not be displeased ? would you not say, " away with" such a pastor,
will he " lord it over God's heritage." But although that aucient practice has
gone out of fashion, yet tfuiny <of our churches imitate the example, as our
minutes shew. When we go up to the Association, we do not like to go
" empty."—Ltent. 16f 16, 17. Our Saviour says, " ye hive the poor with you
always, and whenever ye will ye may do them good." Brethren, we shoull
no% we dare not, live for ourselves. Christ lived for us, and We must live
for others as "good stewards of the manifold grace of God."—1st Pot, 4.10.
Lef the records of our respective Associations prove to our ch^dfen^ vvh#jrive
sleep in the dust, th'at We lived for the Lord and oar teliow creatures. TUe
Lord is with us, we hope, aud condescends to bless our efforts, weak as they
are, and seems to say to us, " Bp strong, QZerubabel { and be strong, O Jo¬
shua, aud work; and be strong all ye people of the land, for I am with thee,'*
Brethren: we highly prize your correspondence, w® delight in your mes¬
sengers ; they are to us as the Coming of Titus. If you all do not embrace
our viewijrejative to Missions, and are not disposed to co-opehite with us, we
hope it will produce no- unpleasant feelings, no obstacle to our correspon¬
dence—we hope you have your way to extend your liberality. May the good
Jhepherd and Bishop of our souls dir'ect us all in the way that will b« most
pleaiinj* in his sight, is our united prayer. , - >
Our jflmutes will shew ypu our progress. We ha,ve had a harmonious As-*
sociation, f motherly love abounded. Since our last, 288 have been baptfaretk-
We hope, breuaren, from the admouition of our venerable Moderator* We l^ve
taken courage m trust it) the Lord, and nl^re deyot^ ourscHcs to his great
and good cause; to itinerate more, and see if the Lord * ill provide lor oui;
families. "Lord increase our Faith." Atnm and Atnutn. *
JESSE MERCER, Moderator.
* J. P. MarshAtt., Clerk. - (