(First published summary. Letter by Beddome)
The Elders and Messengers of the several Baptist churches at Aulcester, Bengeworth, Bromsgrove, Bourton on the Water, Bridgenorth, Hooknorton, Leicester and Sutton, Leominster, Pershore, Upton, Warwick, and Worcester, having Letters also from Bewdley and Tewkesbury, met in Association at Pershore, maintaining the great Doctrines of the Divine Personality of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in one most glorious, and immutable God, eternal and personal Election; the original Guilt, and universal Depravity of the human Nature; Justification by the imputed Righteousness of Christ; efficacious Grace in regeneration, and the certain Perseverance of the Saints.
To the Church of Christ of the same Faith, and Order meeting at
Grace, Mercy, and Peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Dearly beloved Brethren
WHAT will it profit a Man, if he should gain the whole world, and lose his own Soul? or what will a Man give in exchange for his Soul?* When we consider, that we arc possess'd of immaterial self-consciousness, and immortal Spirits. which must be either eternally happy, or everlastingly miserable; Spirits originally form'd, and professedly renewed after the Image of God, we have reason to be Ashamed that our Actions are so little agreeable to the Dignity of our Nature, or the Height of our Pretensions - Permit us therefore to stir up you, and ourselves to greater Activity in the Service of God; that instructed by his Word, and animated by his Spirit, we may approve those things that are most excellent; be steady in our Adherence to every important Truth, as well as Duty of the Christian religion.
Let not those secret Duties of Piety, which are necessary to maintain Communion with God, and promote the Peace, Comfort, and Spiritual Growth of our Souls, be formally attended, or slightly passed over: let that Eye, that all penetrating Eye, which saw Nathaniel under the Fig tree frequently behold us in our Closest Prayer, Meditation, and that much neglected Duty of Examination; and when we return into our Families, and the World, let others take Knowledge of us that we have been with Jesus.
Let us seek after an Evenness in our Conduct, and endeavour to balance the Inequalities of our Temper by the Dictatees of Prudence: an ungovernable or an ungovern'd Spirit is like a City in Confusion and without Walls, open to every Assault and Exposed to every Invader.
'Tis still a matter of Complaint, that the Catechism, that excellent Form of sound Words is so seldom put into the Hands of our Children, tho' it may be a Preservative from Error, when it is not the Means of conveying Grace; and many of them being well instructed in their Childhood, may not only retain a strong Attachment to a set of good Principles, but likewise, by the Influences of divine Grace, talk their Spiritual Sweetness, and feel their Spiritual Power.
Give us leave also with a Mixture of Tenderness and Authority to remind you of the Necessity of public and private Meetings of Prayer: which are, alas! too little attended; as likewise of the great Importance of Family Worship, a Duty to our Shame, to our Grief be it spoken, less neglected by nominal Christians a hundred Years ago, than it is now by real Saints.
Well might one of our Ministering Brethren complain this Day, in the Words of the Prophet "Jacob is small!'** How small is the Number of the truly Godly? How small the Experience, the Gifts and Graces of God's professing People. Does not this call upon us to lay our Mouths in the Dust, and continually to cry Wilt thou revive us again? Lord, strengthen the Things that remain, and are ready to Die. Let the Salvation of JERUSALEM go forth like a Lamp that burneth, and every Inhabitant partake of her Joy.
Some of the Things we have now mention'd have been, indeed, often repeated, yet to inculcate them afresh to us is not grievous, and we hope to you profitable and safe; God forbid therefore that they should be treated as customary things or disregarded as we fear they have be in Years past.
Finally Brethren, our Hearts desire and Prayer to God for you is that you may be saved, that your Conduct may be uniform, your Conversation Spiritual, your whole Walk as becometh the Gospel of Christ that your Zeal may provoke many, and that being nothing terrified by you this World, and in the World to come Life eve Adversaries, you may poffefs the Peace of God i thus pray
Your Ministers your Bretheren, and your Servants for Jesus Sake
PHILIP JONES Moderator
P. S. We think it proper to inform you, that all the churches, which we represent, are in Peace amongst themselves, enjoy the stated Means of Grace, have had 29 Persons added by Baptism 24 removed by death, and 2 excluded for Irregular behaviour.
The next Association to be at Leominster, to meet on Tuesday evening in the Whitsun Week at the Unicorn in Broad-Street. Messers Beddome and Ash are appointed to preach, and in Case of Failure, Mr James Butterworth to supply the place of either.
Pershore, June 6th, 1759.
* Matt XVI.16 The Words explained this day by our brother Mr John Ryland.
** Amos 7:5 Words explained by our brother Mr John Overbury.
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