The Horsley Association 1749 (Western Association)

These Breviates passed on by Joseph Belcher are found in the Baptist Memorial and Monthly Chronicles of 1843.

BREVIATES

The first day time being spent in prayer by our brethren Robert Day, William Plummer, Hugh Evans and Isaac Mann. A sermon was preached by our brother Edmund Jones from 2 Cor 2:1. The words are these For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ in them that are saved and also in them that perish. After sermon was ended the letters were read and the several Messengers being asked what they had to offer that night be inserted in the General letter and nothing new being stated but what had been usually inserted our brother Benjamin Beddome was unanimously desired to draw it up and after time spent in prayer by our brother Ebenezer Ludlow, the first day was concluded.

On the second day time being spent in prayer by our brethren John Evans, Thomas Davis, James Hanks and Edward Western the case of Plymouth was considered and referred to our brother Edmund Jones who intends paying them a visit shortly. The General letter was then read approved and signed and Thursday 8th of June next recommended to be kept as a day of fasting and prayer or as near it as may be and one or two more such days to be kept in the year. Afterwards time was spent in prayer by our brethren Benjamin Beddome and Philip Jones and a sermon was preached by our brother Robert Day from Rom vii:9. The words are these For I was alive without the law once but when the commandment came sin revived and I died. Next association to be held at Wellington on Tuesday in the Whitsun week the sermon to be preached by our rother Hugh Evans and in case of failure by our brother John Hayden.

Exposition of the Catechism Commended in the West

A second edition of the exposition of the catechism appeared in 1776. It was commended in the circular letter of the Western Association.

The churches are desired to take notice, that at their repeated request, a new edition is printed of that excellent little body of divinity, A fcriptural exposition of the Baptift catechism, by our Brother B. Beddome, it having been long out of print. And as the reprinting this CATECHISM will be attended with a very considerable expence to the author, it is hoped the several churches will take a competent number of them to keep by them for future as well as prefent use, as the author will not otherwise be indemnified for the expence he is necessarily put to by this labour of love.

In 1771 the same Association had added an NB to its circular letter as ollows

N. B. Those churches that are in want of Beddome's Baptift Catechism, which has long been out of print, are desired forthwith to send orders for any number of them they are willing to take, to the Rev. Hugh Evans, Bristol; that another edition of that useful work may be speedily obtained, should there be a sufficient number subscribed for to defray the expence.