1843 Circular Letter of the Rappahannock (Virginia) Association

BUT AMIDST GREAT AND DISTRESSING apostasy from the faith, in different ages and at different periods in the history of the church, a people formed of the Lord have lived, and, blessed be God, such a people now live, as monuments and living witnesses of the truth, that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church. Amidst all the cruelties the devil could invent, and the relentless church of Rome could inflict, this people were sustained and provided for; and indeed almost every age tells of some new theory of religion, and consequently of some untried cruelty, oppression or opposition exercised against the people of God.

But the Lord is their Refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. And in this age,—outnumbering any other, perhaps, in the multitude of its institutions and converts to the various systems of men, should we be surprised to meet with the frowns, contempt, and scorn of the high dignitaries of the church? (so called.) Should we account it strange if we are tried with fiery trials? If we are persecuted for righteousness’ sake? O, no! But strange, and no less true, that God such poor, weak, and worthless worms hath formed to show forth his praise; making manifest his strength in our weakness, and supplying grace according to our day and according to our trial.—The opposers of the truth and advocates of the anti christian interest can go no further than God permits—no further than is consistent with God’s purpose, which associates the true interests of his people with his glory. Not only, then, SHALL all these things work together for the good of them that love him, of the called according to his purpose, but they do so work, even now.