For the Signs of the Times. Westville, Champaign Co., O., Dec. 18th, 1837.

 
For the Signs of the Times.

Westville, Champaign Co., O., Dec. 18th, 1837.

Dear Brother Beebe:—A number of the Cross and Journal, containing what is called the Circular Letter of the Mad River Association, has just fallen into my hands; and in perusing said letter, I could not help noticing the art, cunning, and deception made use of by the writer, to strengthen the interests of New Schoolism. And on this account, or some other, the Editor of the Journal has given it a place in his paper. The said Elder, together with his co-worker, Editor Bryan, would wish the readers of the Journal to understand that the dead weights and reformers are falling off from the New School, Arminian, and Mad River Association, and that that body is getting clear of anti-mission obstacles. Had that body been possessed of the common honesty of Mr. Stevens and complied with his desires, in inserting in their Minutes, an account of their domestic missionary efforts, they might have got clear of so many more obstacles that it is quite likely they would have been a minority of the churches which composed the Mad River Association in 1835. But Mr. Stevens will have to wait (patiently if he can) about two years yet, before he will be able to find, in their Minutes, that of which he says, we should have been glad; because the principle of free toleration suits their designs better at present, than to come out openly in favour of either foreign or domestic missionary efforts.

As the word Toleration is one that is much used by the New School Baptists of the present day, it may not be amiss for us here to point out the manner in which they make use of it, and then compare their use of it with the Word of God. If a member of the church sees fit to cast in his mite in support of the benevolent institutions of the day, although the church believes it wrong for him so to do, yet they ought to bear with him, say they, because it is his own, and he has a right to do with his own as he pleases. On the other hand, suppose a person belongs to a church where they are generally in favor of the said institutions, and does not see fit to give one cent, nor join those institutions, still, the brethren ought to bear with that person, and allow him liberty of conscience. Well, that is what men say. But Christ says, “If thy brother trespass, tell him his fault,” and we are also informed, that if he cannot be reclaimed, he is to be set aside;—Oh no! say the New School, tolerate him; bear with him; for to do otherwise, would be acting with a similar spirit to that, which established the INQUISITION, AND DELUGED THE EARTH WITH BLOOD.

To aid and support the institutions of the New School, are duties enjoined upon the children of God, in His word, or they are not: if they are duties, those who neglect to attend to these things, should (according to God’s word) be dealt with for their negligence, for to leave undone things that should have been done, is as great a trespass as it is to do things, that should not have been done. And on the other hand, if they are not duties which we owe to God, those who advocate them should be “rebuked sharply,” the middle ground toleraters, and the New School “vain talkers,” to the contrary notwithstanding; but more on this subject in another letter; for if my life and health be spared, I intend to try to point out some of the cunning craftiness contained in the aforesaid Circular Letter, for we must admit that there is a great deal of ingenuity manifested in said letter, in misrepresenting and wresting the Scriptures.

And now, my brother, I would inform you, and all my brethren who may read this, that I have been blessed with the privilege of attending four Associations during the present year, viz: Sciota, Muskingum, Miami, and Mad River; and all these stand aloof from the Arminian inventions of the present day for the conversion of the world. The Sciota Association met with the Jonathan’s Creek Church, Licking Co., on Saturday, before the third Lord’s day in August, when the introductory sermon was delivered by Elder J. B. Moore, from 2nd Tim. iv. 1, 2, 3, and 4; and on that occasion, the trumpet gave a certain sound, and the brethren prepared for battle accordingly. After preaching, the letters from the churches were called for and presented, when it appeared there were four churches that presented two letters each, but there were none of the letters from those four churches read, until the Association became organized. The other letters harmoniously accorded with the introductory sermon and were decidedly opposed to the New School inventions. One letter from each of the four churches aforesaid was rejected by the Association, together with all those persons from whom they emanated. The other four letters were received, and their Messengers took their seats. The New School men, after several unsuccessful attempts to do what they wanted to do, filed off by themselves, having failed in their attempts to change the faith or practice of the Regular Baptists. Two letters, purporting to be from the Mad River Association, were presented; the one was taken and the other left. The letter from those characters whom Elder Bryant says filed off by themselves was received by a unanimous vote. The Muskingum Association met in the Town of Lancaster, Fairfield County, on Thursday before the fourth Lord’s Day in August. This Association is very little (if any) infected with the New Schoolism. Correspondence with the Salem and Meigs Creek Associations dropped (both of the new order of Baptists). The New School Mad River Association was rejected by a unanimous vote, and correspondence continued with those whom Mr. Stevens of the Journal terms DEAD WEIGHTS. The Miami Association met at the Tapscott Meeting House, Warren Co., on the Friday before the 2nd Lord’s-day in September, Daniel Bryant and his reformers, having filed off by themselves, of course, peace prevailed among the brethren. Last but not least, the Mad River Association met with the Grassy Point-Church, Madison Co., on Friday before the third Lord’s Day in September; Introductory sermon by Brother James Osborne, of Baltimore, Md., from 1st Chronicles xxvi. and the xxvii. And with my soul, I can truly say, it was truly refreshing in the presence of the Lord. All was peace, union, and harmony throughout the session. There were seven churches represented, containing in all 152 members: and there are seven other churches that did not send a letter to either party; and these, we think, will be with us at our next meeting.

Your unworthy Brother,
SAMUEL WILLIAMS.