1848 Circular Letter of the Ocklockonee Association

SPECIAL REDEMPTION—a theme which the world of mankind is not delighted with, and even the humble saints of God, though delighted with it, often meditate with astonishment upon it—that the rich treasures of God’s grace should have been reserved in the bosom of eternity, through the mediation of the eternal Son of God; “for such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the Heavens—who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” And his peculiar people must be the very people that Jesus Christ undertook for, before the world began—the same that he said his Father gave him— the same that he laid down his life for—the same that his Father chose in him, before the foundation of the world—“in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated, according to the purpose of Him that worketh all things after the council of his own will”—by which the stupendous plan of redemption was invented, and help laid on Jesus, who was mighty to save. And in the order of time was delivered up, according to the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, not only for the satisfaction of law, but for the payment of the debt of his people, who would otherwise have been accountable—of whom the Lord hath said, “they shall be my people, and I will be their God—their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.”