An Ancient Church Letter

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 12, 1907

An Ancient Church Letter

THE following letter is an exact copy of a church letter granted by the Congregational church of Canaan, Conn., to Rev. Benj. Green and wife to join the same church at Stillwater, N. Y. It will be noted that these early Christians held the hope sacred of the near advent of the Lord:—

“April ye 8, 1753, the Church of Christ in Canterbury to ye Church of Christ in Canaän Sendeth Greeting, Wishing Grace, Mercy and Peace may be multiplied to you through our Lord Jesus Christ we Rejoyce to heir of your order in ye Gospel fellowship, and that the Lord hath united you to make a visible Confession of ye Lord Jesus Before Man, and here gathered into a visible Church & for as much as by the Providence of God, our Beloved Brother and Sister, Benj. Green and his Wife are Removed in ye Surcomstances of habittation, from us to you & also Joyn in hart and Profession with you and Desire as he tells us, that ye outward order of Christ’s house may be kept &c., that we give him a Leater of Recommendation and Dismission from us to you, therefore we Sartify that we do hereby Recommend and Dismiss them from us to you, as Beloveds in ye Lord, Cleare of any Error Either of princaple or Practise, Submitting our Selves to ye Soverain Providence of God in removing them Praying God to Build you and them up, in the most holy Faith and Give you a pastor, after his own hart, and that you Would Watch over one the other in the Pure Discipline of Heaven, & then after a Letle While we Shall have N° Local Distance, But Shall Joyn that triumphant Song, Round ye throne crying Allilua, Amen. So come, Lord Jesus. Come quickly Amen. The Grace of our Lord Jesus be with you all. Amen.”