VARIOUS LETTERS SIGNS 1838

Circular Letter.

The Eel River District, (Ia.) Association, to the Churches which she represents.

Dearly beloved in the Lord:—In accordance with a long-established custom of addressing you with a circular on some subject of faith, or matter of duty, in religion, we shall, at the present, call your attention to the subject of works, as it forms a matter of considerable importance, and which is necessary to be rightly understood. Work, in a proper sense, is the effect flowing from some spirit or principle of action. Man has a principle, which is active, and the effects thereof are what we now call works. This principle in man previous to regeneration, is in scripture most explicitly defined, as being opposed to all good; and the whole man represented as being corrupt as a mass of putrifaction; that there is none good, no not one, consequently we cannot define the work produced by such a creature good, but quite to the reverse; although there may be the greatest profession made to goodness, and benevolent actions, prayers and alms-giving, yet without charity, we are nothing and without regeneration by the Holy Spirit—the implantation of Grace in the heart, that wicked principle being subdued, folly we are nothing; all our works, are like ourselves; for a corrupt fountain cannot send forth that which is good. But when grace reigns in the heart, the work thereof is sure to be good. Why? Not that poor man has performed it, no it is the effect of grace—According to Isaiah xxvi, 12, “Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us, for thou also hast wrought all our works in us;” and Paul to the Philippians ii, 13, “for it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do of his good pleasure;” again, to the Ephesians, “for we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Being thus changed from the love of sin, and its works, the soul thirsts after righteousness, and it is their daily prayer that the Lord would work in them both to will and to do of his good pleasure; for they feel and know their inability is such that if left to themselves, but for one moment, their work is contrary to that which is good, and is sure to render them unhappy, when brought to a knowledge of themselves and what they have done; for only by and through the Holy Spirit, can there be any thing which is truly good.

We may as rational beings, perform benevolent actions to our neighbors, and strangers, which is right, and our duty to do, when needful, and circumstances will permit; yet, when that action is strictly known and scanned by an all searching eye, as well as the motives which led thereto, is it not frequently manifested that all was done through some sinister motive—either in hoping to receive again, or to be honoured of men, or some other intention, has produced the benevolence, all by the same Spirit.

But how different from this is the work produced by the Holy Spirit on the child of grace. He is led in the path of duty, not by constraint, but willingly, giving when needful, not hoping to receive again; through grace he can do all things, rendering unto Cesar the things that are Cesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s. We find them concerned for their neighbors, and friends, or enemies’ eternal welfare; praying that the Lord would, if consistent with his will, bring them to the knowledge of the truth; and while thus engaged for them, how often have they been treated most shockingly? Does money or anything else, short of grace, produce such a sensation on the hearts of its advocates as to pray for the prosperity of enemies? Surely not. Such, is the child of grace, when found in its duty; when engaged in the cares of life he is not found mixing with those who are after vanity, but shunning profane and vain jangling; and in the most humble walks of life, we find him engaged for the honor of God, trying to be found in all his duty.—And as a member of the church, we find the same spirit at work, seeking peace, when it can be had on Gospel promises, yet not willing to forsake truth, though they have to wade through blood, keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace. Dear Brethren, look round, and hear the sound reiterated through our land of good works; and benevolent deeds, falsely so called! do we not hear much and see little. Shall we not see those institutions that have been established for making preachers and christians, to Sunday Schools, Missionary, Bible, Tract, and Temperance Societies; or to their monied hirelings, who are calling on us to join with them, in the work of evangelizing the world, whose cry is money, more money for to educate ministers, and to save millions of souls from hell, and all such newly invented schemes to wrest from the pockets of the poor honest peasant the hard earned means of his own support, under pretence of assisting the Lord in doing his work, all without authority from scripture. Are these good works? Surely not; for the Lord needeth neither money nor the power of man to carry on his purposes. Man of himself is always found resisting, and we can assure you that wherever man, or money, has endeavored to spread the Gospel, without a thus saith the Lord, it has proved a curse instead of a blessing to both land and people. We would, thereupon, warn you, dear brethren, beware of such works of all monied institutions for the advance of the Gospel. Remember, brethren, that you did not so receive Christ; neither yourselves nor money were deserving him; all your powers were exerted in running contrary to him, and had it not been for that small still voice, which sounded behind you, saying this is the way, walk ye in it, you had still continued to oppose the truth. Some men think that much lies within the power of the creature to perform, which is his duty to do, and the fulfilling of which will obligate the Lord to do the rest, and be co-workers together in their salvation; this they think constitutes good works; as the poet says:—

In (do and live) some vainly hope,
To make their peace with God,
But naught his sinking soul can prop,
But Jesus and his blood.

Dear Brethren, we are exhorted to try the spirits, for there are many false spirits gone out into the world, and we daily see or hear of their operations: men profesing godliness but denying the power thereof; by their works we may be assured their faith is vain; and that grace is not the ruling, or acting principle, as a spiritual consequence, for where grace and faith are implanted, there beget good works. In conclusion, dear brethren, look to the Lord for all things, for strength, and instruction to do his will, for light, life, and liberty, in a word, for all your support both temporal and spiritual. Ask him to do that for you, and they cannot do for themselves, that the mercies may redound to his holy name. May grace, mercy, and peace be with you, and finally bring us to reign with him, is our prayer.

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Narramissic County, Va. Dec. 21st. 1837.

Dear Brother Beebe:—The time is come for me to communicate to you my best feelings, and good wishes towards you, as one with whom my views of that covenant ordered in all things, and sure, doth agree. May Israel’s God bless you and grant you supporting grace, both in preaching and publishing the Truth as it is in Jesus Christ the Lord. I am truly sorry to hear that there is so much disregard paid to you, by your numerous subscribers, that you are near to despair of your support in publishing the Signs of the Times, I hope better things my brother, I hope that Jacob’s God will never desert those, his servants, whom he has sent to teach his children knowledge and understanding, and to defend the cause of God and Truth. It would give me great satisfaction to see you before I die, which I have no reason to expect; my age forbids me to expect to see many of those, in the flesh, whom I hear from, and believe that the constitution of their souls is spiritual and divine.

WM. COSTIN.

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CALUMNY DISPROVED.

Near Waynesburgh, Greene Co., Pa. Jan. 1st. 1837.

Brother Beebe:—I regret exceedingly that circumstances have made it absolutely necessary for me to appear before the public in vindication of my character, from the foul slander of men, to whom we could reasonably have looked for better things; even men, who from the treasury of their benevolence have bestowed on me, gratuitously, some bare-faced falsehoods, which I am able to prove, as such, from churches and from individuals members. As my object is not to solicit controversy, but to stop the mouth of slander, by presenting facts which cannot be successfully denied; and to give the reader an idea of what, and by whom I am accused, together with the shuffling course they have resolved so, to keep the matter in the dark, to prevent detection for when I took with me accompanying brethren, and called on them, at their houses, and asked an explanation of the report, we could get no satisfaction; but was rather treated with contempt than with christian courtesy; and as I am credibly informed, they are still, in an underhanded way, insinuating that they are able to establish, that the report is true, I will now ask them, as I have done before, to step forward and do so. Ye boys, let us no longer stay in the dark, but come to the light, that our deeds may be either reproved or made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

I herewith transmit for publication a copy of the following certificates, which I have received from individuals and from churches; sufficient, I conclude, to satisfy every candid person, of the base and unfounded nature of the report, viz.

Certificate, 1st. I solemnly certify that Jane, the wife of Francis Downey, first told me, at different times, that “Elder Barnett Whitlatch had made a collection of money, at one of the churches where he preached for another preacher, and that kept the money himself, and that none of the new party had ever done that.”

Given under my hand, this 10th day of Oct. 1837.
MAHALA CUMINGS.

Certificate, 2nd. I solemnly testify that Jane Downey, in presence of her husband, Francis Downey, told me that “Barnett Whitlatch had made a collection of money for a visiting preacher and had kept the money himself,” and after she had finished her story, Mr. Downey said, “it was true; and that some of the new school party had ever done any thing to reach that.”

Given under my hand, Oct. 10th, 1837.
JACOB CUMINES.

Certificate, 3rd. I do solemnly testify that I asked Mr. H., that I had been informed, that he had told M. Cumins, that Barnett Whitlatch and some other preacher, had been together at some church where a collection was made, and that Whitlatch got the money and kept it. The said Downey, after a little pause said, “he had heard such a report, and that Milton Sutton was his author.” I replied that I would not believe it, if my brother should say it; for I had been acquainted with Whitlatch for twenty years, and even in his wildest time, before he professed religion, I never knew him to act dishonestly or unmanly in his dealings.

Oct. 20th, 1837.
DANIEL FULLER.

Certificate, 4th. I hereby certify that on the 18th of September 1837, in conversation with Francis Downey, in our house, respecting the slanderous report circulated by himself and others against Elder B. Whitlatch, I asked Mr. Downey where the collection was lifted? And he replied, at Ruff’s-creek.

ELIZABETH RUSSELL.

I certify that I was present and heard the above conversation.

HENRY RUSSELL.

Certificate, 5th. I certify that on Saturday evening Sept. 2nd, 1837, Levi Griffiths stated, in my presence, that Barnett Whitlatch and Milton Sutton had been together when a collection was lifted for them both, and that the said Whitlatch was so fond of money, he did not wait to divide, nor have it handed him; but swept it off the table and put it in his own pocket.

JOHN STIGARS.

Certificate, 6th. We hereby certify that we accompanied Elder B. Whitlatch to the house of Levi Griffith, and he being absent, Mr. W. made his errand known to Mrs. G., namely, to enquire after the slanderous report; and she said she had lately heard her husband talking on the subject, saying he had been informed that Mr. Downey was like to get into difficulty about the same story. Mr. W. then stated verbatim the report, as given in Stigar’s certificate, and asked her if that was the story she had heard her husband tell, and she said it was. Mr. W. then asked, where it was said to have occurred, and she replied; at Big Redstone, Mr. W. then told her, that it was his wish to have the thing settled in a christian manner, and requested her to request her husband, either to call and see him or to write him a few lines, to let him know what course he would take to have the matter settled.

Signed
ENOCH BROX,
JOHN STIGARS.

Ruff’s Creek, December 9th, 1837.

Whereas, it appears to us, from sundry certificates, that Francis Downey and Levi Griffith, have assailed the character of Elder Barnet Whitlatch, our minister; by reporting that he had taken up a collection of money among us, for a visiting minister, and kept the money himself, which report we know to be false, from the fact, that all monies taken up among us for visiting preachers, is uniformly attended to by brethren appointed for that purpose, and such money never passes thro’ Elder Whitlatch’s hands.

Done at our Meeting for business, and signed by order of the church,
JOHN DELL, Church Cl’k.

Big Red-Stone, November 18th, 1837.

Whereas it appears to us, from sundry certificates, that Levi Griffiths and Francis Downey have assailed the character of Elder B. Whitlatch, by circulating a report, that a collection of money was taken up among us, intended for Whitlatch and Milton Sutton, and that W. was so fond of money, that he got hold of it, and kept it all himself, which report we do know to be false; first because there never was a collection lifted among us, intended to be divided between Whitlatch and Sutton.

Second. All monies ever bestowed on Whitlatch by us, has been handed to him, or put into his pocket in a way which could attach no blame to brother Whitlatch.

Done at our church meeting, and signed by order of the church,
JAMES FREY, Minister,
JONATHAN DAVIS, }
ANDREW LYNN, } Deacons.

Cast-Steel Run, Oct. 29th, 1837.

Whereas Insinuations have been spread abroad by Francis Downey, representing that the act took place amongst us. We hereby certify the same, to be utterly without foundation in truth.

NOAH GRANT, Church Clerk.

The reader has now before him evidence sufficient to show the wicked intentions of those professional gentlemen, whose names are exhibited in the foregoing certificates. If the testimony of individuals and churches, can be relied on, the reports are basely false. Whether Mr. Sutton is himself the author of the story or not I am not prepared to decide, but I have my doubts, I leave him with the gentlemen implicated to arrange that matter among themselves, while I remain, Brother Beebe, your real Friend and Fellow sufferer in the Kingdom and Patience of Christ,

B. WHITLATCH.

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Colchester, N. Y. Dec. 10th, 1837.

Brother Beebe:—I send you a few lines expressive of some of my religious exercises, and as I sometimes have strong doubts of the reality of a work of grace having ever been wrought in my soul, I desire that you or some other Father in Israel, if you should think proper to publish these imperfect sketches, would give me your views of such exercises. My first exercises of a religious nature were when I was young, and having been instructed that man was totally depraved, and God an absolute Sovereign, my heart rose in the most bitter enmity against him. So strong was the enmity of my mind in exercise that I resolved, if it should be my unhappy lot to go to the regions of darkness, I would exercise all my power in blaspheming the name of Jehovah. And ah! it makes me shudder at this moment to think how dreadfully wicked it was. In meditating on the works of God, I was led to see that God was good, and that it was my duty to love God for temporal blessings; an idea which I should not think was the effect of education. But nothing more than serious thoughts passed over my mind till my fifteenth year, when, without any preaching or exertions on the part of Christians, not even family prayer; in the silent watches of the night, I was struck with awful forebodings of eternal wrath. There seemed to be a requirement of me, that I should bow myself in prayer to God, a thing which I had often felt to be a duty, but had never complied with; my proud stubborn heart was made to yield and I bowed before God to supplicate his forgiving mercy, and found some relief. For some months I was, in externals, a consistent christian, but soon I forgot my closet, which seemed to renew my convictions and fear of hell; I was the subject of such exercises for near eight years, when in a time of revival and under the influence of christian friends, I was brought to be more in earnest about my eternal welfare, and the more I strove to be good, the more sinful I appeared in my own sight. And when I was expecting by a few prayers, and contrition of heart, God would manifest himself to my poor soul for its relief, it seemed quite the reverse, my sins were all laid in order before me; darkness and doubt hung over me and as I was giving up my beloved sins, one after another, I was expecting the Lord would come down and speak peace to my soul, and fill me with joy and comfort; but it seemed as though the heavens were brass and the earth iron, and like Job, my prayer was shut-out from God, and I was bordering on despair, when it was made manifest to me that I was still holding the dearest idol; and therefore was not resigned to God, or rather reconciled, a rebel, justly deserving greater wrath and sore displeasure, requiring of him that he would sign the pardon before I did the allegiance (how much like human depravity.) But when I come to give myself up to the Lord, to be at his sovereign disposal my horrors and fears of hell fled, yet I was still a mourning soul, I had no assurance of God’s favour till at length reading in P. Doddridge’s rise and progress of religion, I was led to hope, which caused me somewhat to rejoice; and a few days afterwards, at an anxious meeting, my hopes were blasted and I was in a sad case, I entered a grove determined not to leave it, till I had an assurance, but I was again nonplussed for it seemed as though I was tempting the Almighty, that it was my duty to obey, and leave the result with him. Since which time I have had no particular fears of hell or death, but have had great occasion to mourn in consequence of sin, and at times have thought I did, and often it is a grief to think I mourn no more. I joined the congregational church at the time and afterwards became acquainted with Elder Trott, at Little-town, N. J. and sure I think, if I ever was fed from the pulpit, it was through him. I intended to give you an account of my conversion to Adult Baptism but cannot at this time for want of room; probably shall do it some other period.

Meantime receive my best wishes for your spiritual welfare, and success in the business in which you are engaged, pray for me that my soul may be subject to the Lord, in all things obedient to his will, and enjoy the visions of his smiling face and the spirit of adoption.

Yours in the best of Bonds,
SAMUEL C. LINDSLEY.

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Extract of a letter from Brother John Miller, Pastor, Canton Old School Baptist Church, New Jersey. Dated, Dec. 26th, 1837.

“I cannot feel satisfied to close this letter without giving you some information relative to the Old School Baptists in this place. Since the organization of the Church in July last, we have had to stand a torrent of opposition arising from the whole combination of the New School order, who seem determined to crush us, if possible, to death. But, through the mercy of God, we are yet alive. We are collecting materials for building a new meeting house which we hope to commence early in the Spring. We hope our brethren will aid us, as far as in their power, in our undertaking. The house is to be for the special use of the Old School Baptists, and we desire our ministering brethren, of that order, to visit us, and preach for us the word of Life.

May Grace, Mercy and Peace be with thee, my Brother.
JOHN MILLER.