CIRCULAR LETTER - ELDER SAMUEL TROTT (1864)

[Tom Adams]

Dear Brethren and Friends,

I hope this finds you in good health and good spirits! We are living in a day that by all outward appearances is very questionable as to what the future holds. We can look at this news source and get this information and then look at another news source and get something completely contrary. But, we have a SOVEREIGN who is COMPLETELY in control of “ALL THINGS” and NOTHING happens or occurs outside of HIS will and decree! That should be music to the believer’s ears! 

Below is another Circular letter from Elder Samuel Trott. The subject mater is from Romans chapter 8 verse 28 and I hope will be a wonderful reminder and encouragement to you all. Keep in mind that Trott wrote this in the midst of “The War Between The States.” So, physically there was chaos and unrest, YET, Elder Trott was given to focus on the Lord and His comfort.

A Sinner in Hope,
Tom

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ROMANS 8:28

CIRCULAR LETTER: The Salisbury Old School Baptist Association, to the several churches composing the same, sends her annual circular.

Beloved Brethren: – In accordance with our usual custom we send you our epistle of love. We trust we are thankful to the great Head of the church for his abounding goodness and mercy in preserving us through another year. And granting us once more the privilege of meeting together. And we feel indeed this is a great blessing in these perilous times. And one we cannot appreciate too highly. Amid the civil strife that still unhappily exists in our country, many of our brethren have been deprived of what we are permitted to enjoy. We are rejoiced to learn from our letters and messengers, that notwithstanding the errors and delusions with which our world is flooded, the seeming prosperity of the kingdom of Anti-christ, you remain steadfast and immovable. That you have not been permitted to forsake the old paths, but are at peace among yourselves, still earnestly contending for the faith once delivered to the saints. There are many precious promises recorded in the scriptures for our encouragement. We desire however, to call your attention at present, to one found in the 8th chapter and 28th verse of Paul’s epistle to the Romans. For we know that all things work together for good, to them that love God; who are the calling according to his purpose. We have here amongst glorious assurance, addressed to a special and particular people which is here described. Them who love God according to his purpose. This comes from the highest authority, from the eternal Jehovah who has all power in heaven and in earth. Who cannot lie, and, certainly has the power to make it good. It is unconditional. It is made to His and to them only. But there is no condition to be performed by them; but all things shall work together for their good; and this all things, should be taken in its broadest and most comprehensive sense. All things in heaven and in earth, that ever can take place shall work for their good. All are under the control of him who made the promise. He knows exactly what is for their good. And if their good should require that all the wicked, or those who are not of this people should be cut off from the face of the earth it would surely be done. Nothing shall be permitted to take place in the earth, but what is necessary for their ultimate good, even the things at which this very people are so often complaining, are all ordained and designed by God, for their happiness. The inward corruptions of their own hearts, the malice and hatred of their enemies, war, pestilence, and famine, loss of reputation, character and standing in the world, and all things else, which can by any possibility come to pass, are all ordered by Him who has made the promise. All subject to His control and must work out this one glorious object. Happy, thrice happy is that people whose God is the Lord. But who are this highly favored people? The text informs us in the first place, it is them who love God. That there is a class of men in the world who do not love God, the scriptures abundantly testify. And that all men who ever did, do now, or ever will live upon the earth, must either be classed with those who love God, and are this highly favored people spoken of in the text or they are the enemies of God, and love Him not. All come into the world alike under condemnation. All exposed to the righteous indignation of a pure and holy God. All have departed from Him by wicked works, and are exposed to His wrath. Yet there ever has been, is now, and ever will be a people who love Him. The text says it is them who are called according to His purpose. All men are by nature the enemies of God. They are born in sin and shapen in iniquity. Prone to evil all polluted and unclean, from the head to the feet, nothing but a mass of corruption and without the power, or the will to change themselves. It is evident they must ever remain in this condition or some power greater than their own must deliver them. Now one infers from this text that God had in eternity purposed to save from this awful state of condemnation and misery, in which mankind had plunged themselves, a people for himself, that the Lord Jesus Christ the only Son of God was made responsible on their behalf, that this people should be redeemed from under the curse of the law and finally brought to live with Him forever in glory. That in the fulness of time He would take upon Himself their nature, suffer the penalty of the broken law in their stead, reconcile them to God through his death, call them from darkness into light, from the power of sin and Satan to a knowledge of Himself. And all this in accordance with His purpose, formed in eternity. This is the secret why any of the poor sinful depraved sons and daughters of Adam are ever brought to love God. And if any of us do feel in our hearts that we love the Lord, it is not in consequence of any thing which we have performed, but owing entirely to God’s eternal purpose to save us, and He deserves all the glory. Now if we have been called according to his eternal purpose, it will be manifested in our love for Him, and if we love him we know it is because He first loved us, and gave Himself for us. Then we are the people to whom this promise is addressed, and all things shall work together for our good. Is not this enough to quell all our anxious fears? Is it not enough to dispel all our gloomy doubts? Let all the powers of earth be let loose; all the wicked machinations of the enemies of God and His church be carried to their utmost limits. Let Satan with all his hellish hosts assault us. What need we fear? The Lord of hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge. Therefore will we not fear though the earth be removed and the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea. Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled. Though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Come behold the works of the Lord. What desolation He hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; He breaketh the bow; He cutteth the spear in sunder; He burneth the chariot in the fire; be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the heathen; I will be exalted in the earth. Everything which takes place in the earth must exalt the Lord Jesus Christ, and His people must be exalted with him, He is in his church and they in Him. There is such an everlasting and dissoluble union between Christ and his people, all things must work for good to them and He will be glorified. Things are now going on in our own country at which we who profess to be the children of God often murmur, but let us remember they are all by divine appointment. All under the control of the everlasting God, and He sees exactly how they shall all work and how they will all contribute to the good of his church. Then let us cease to murmur but leave all things in His hands, where they belong, and spend the time allotted us on earth in praising Him for the great love where with He has loved us, and given Himself a ransom for us. Let us cease to murmur at the dispensations of His Providence, cease to complain of what we deem to be our misfortunes, they are all under the control and take place according to his purpose. He is the great Captain of our salvation and all He bids us to do is obey his commands and trust entirely to His wisdom and power to bring us off more than conquerors through him who hath loved us. Soon the battle will be over; soon we shall hear the shout of victory. Christ our great Captain will overcome all His enemies and ours, and then what a joyful day. O, what an eternity shall we spend in singing His praises. Who hath redeemed us from under the curse, hath fought all our battles for us, and made us kings and priests unto God. And now to Him that is able to keep you through all your trials and present you holy and acceptable to God, be all the glory forever. Beloved, grace be with you, farewell.

S. TROTT, Moderator.
L. A. Hall, Clerk.

SIGNS OF THE TIMES
Volume 32, Number 23; December 1, 1864.