1842 Circular Letter of the Licking Association

[T]HE FELLOWSHIP OF THE SAINTS is the effect of the love of God shed abroad in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto us, and is confirmed by a joyful reception of the truth and obedience to the commands of our Lord Jesus Christ; hence it is said, “Everyone that loveth him that begat, loveth him also that is begotten of him,” and we are constrained to judge favorably or unfavorably those claiming to be sons and daughters of Zion, in proportion as we see the image of Christ manifested in their walk and conversation; from all of which it is worse than idle to say we must fellowship this or that, seeing that fellowship flows spontaneously from the implantation of grace in the heart.