USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Hartford > Catalogue of the officers and members of the First Congregational Church in Hartford, February, 1852 > Part 3
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August, 1830. tNovember1838. April, 1834.
tFebruary, "
November, 1838.
August, 1834.
tAugust, 1833.
+July, 1841.
tJanuary, 1843.
+
wife of Frederick,
October, 1807.
June, 1838.
wife of John,
Naomi A. Olmsted,
Maria Olmsted, Augusta P. Orcutt,
Julia A. Parker,
February, 1822.
June, 1838.
July, 1840.
widow of Nathaniel,
August, 1809.
February, 1788.
Ruth Patten,
=
Mary Patten,
Anna Perkins, Ann Perkins, Charlotte Perkins,
Thomas C. Perkins, Mary Perkins,
Henry A. Perkins,
Sarah E. Perkins, Volney Pierce, Charlotte Pierce,
widow of John,
+May, 1807.
August, 1808.
June,
1814.
-
-
---
June,
1821.
August, 1838.
+September1842. + =
28
Names.
Remarks.
Admitted.
Haynes L. Porter,
June, 1831.
Lucinda Porter,
1821.
Mary E. Porter,
May, 1841.
Maria Porter,
November, 1838.
Eliza H. Powers,
widow of Rev. Grant,
+ " 1841.
Caleb Pratt,
=
Sarah Pratt, S
+
June, 1838.
Hiram G. Prior,
May, 18.11.
Mehitabel Putnam,
wife of Thomas W.
April, 1828.
Elizabeth Putnam,
October, 1829.
Ann A. Putnam,
August,
1838.
Delia M. Putnam,
June,
Elizabeth I. Putnam,
May.
18.11.
Elias Rathbun, -
May, 1811.
Betsey Rathbun, S
iFebruary, 1838.
Emily A. Rathbun,
May, 1811.
William W. Reed,
June, 1838.
Valentine Reynolds, Caroline Reynolds, Charles O. Reynolds, James Richardson,
+December 1837.
+January, 1843.
=
Francis Richmond,
1840. tMay,
Julia C. Richmond,
+
1841.
Martha E. Richmond, Phineas S. Riley,
Lucy Ripley,
April, 1814.
Edwin G. Ripley,
October, 1832.
Nathan Ritter,
+September1839. + 66
Rowland A .. Robbins, Mary Ann Robbins,
November, 1841.
Miriam Roberts,
widow of Aaron, wife of George,
August, 1795. +May, 1840.
Maria Rockwell,
October, 1826.
Elizabeth Rogers,
June, 1808.
Elizabeth Root,
1825.
Louisa Root,
February, 1931.
Esther Russell,
widow of Barzillai,
44 1798.
John B. Russell,
June, 1834.
Susan Russell,
tAugust, 1837.
Mary A. Russell,
tFebruary,
widow of Thomas,
+Jane, 1833. November, 1796. +June, 1835.
Lucy Sanford, Jacob Sargeant, Mary Scarborough,
June, 1834.
Elvira Roberts,
widow of Joseph, wife of Samuel,
.
Elizabeth M. Ritter,
May, 1841.
Frances T. Richmond,
wife of Charles A.
Elizabeth A. Prindle,
29
Names.
Remarks.
Admitted.
Emily Scranton,
May, 1841.
Catherine Seymour,
wife of Charles,
tFebruary, 1804.
Julia Seymour,
August, 1821.
Charles Seymour, Jr.
June, 1834.
Harriet Seymour,
1832.
Mary Seymour,
1838.
Emily Seymour,
July, 1841.
Henry P. Seymour,
December, 1834.
Charles Sheldon,
May, 1831.
Alicia Sheldon,
1827. February,
Alicia Sheldon,
April, 1833.
Elizabeth B. Sheldon,
May, 1841.
Charles H. Sheldon,
August, 1838.
Sarah Sheldon,
May, 1841.
Mary Sheldon,
+January,
1842.
Ann Shepard,
June, .6 1808.
Betsey Shepard,
wife of Francis,
tMay, 1841.
Phebe W. Shepard,
October, 1832.
John Simpson,
May, 1841.
Margaret Simpson, S
December, 1813.
=
Catherine Skinner,
February, 1814:
Elizabeth Skinner,
widow of Lucius,
March, 1841.
Alfred R. Skinner,
October,
1824.
1813.
Jerusha K. Smith,
tApril, 1837.
Thomas Smith, ?
+
Roswell C. Smith, -
Lois C. Smith, 1
Caroline C. Sinith,
..
Frances A. Smith,
١١ + April, 1838.
Mary S. Smith, S Horatio L. Smith, Sarah C. Smith,
May, 1841.
Mary Spencer,
June, 1821.
Theodore Spencer,
= 1807.
Nabby Spencer, n
December, 1813.
Martha Spencer, Eliza Spencer,
June, 1821.
Calvin Spencer,
tApril, 1821.
Mabel Stanley,
tNovember 1842.
t
Lucy J. Stanton,
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO
+January,
Margaret Skinner, S Fanny Smith,
widow of Lory,
widow of Elisha, .
1819.
Mary A. Smith, 5
+November1838. + May, 1841.
David HI. Smith, 2
widow of John,
February, 1799.
1834.
Enoch C. Stanton,
1821.
Abby P. Skinner,
Harriet Skinner,
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30
Names.
Remarks.
Admitted.
George Starkweather,
Mary Stark weather,
Eunice Starr,
Catharine Stebbins,
widow of John, wife of David,
April, 1838. May, 1831. April, 1837.
August, 1808.
Ellen J. Stone,
t December 1834. + 1832.
November, 1833.
66
tJanuary, 1840.
Helen Talcott,
June, 1820.
Emily Talcott,
wife of Ansel,
t. August, 1836.
Mary Talcott,
April, 1833.
Emily 'Talcott,
May, 1811.
Russell G. Talcott,
Huldah Taylor,
Josiah JI. Temple,
May, 12.41.
Julia Terry,
tJune, 1837.
Anna W. Terry,
January, 1336.
Catharine E. Terry,
April, 1831.
Luther Terry,
t.August, 1235.
Peter 'Thacher, -
1803. December, 1826.
February,
1822.
Sheldon P. Thacher,
+October, 1835.
Elizabeth Thacher,
January, 1843.
Apphia 'Thacher,
tNovember 1833.
Eliza Thacher,
tJune, 1831.
Henry Thacher,
May, 1841.
Henry E. T. mas,
tAugust, 1836.
Sarah A. Thomas, S
June, 1833.
Edward R. Thompson,
May,
1841.
James Ti al., 2
June, 1821.
Lydia Torr v,
May, 1841.
Jerusha 'Treat,
tOctober, 1833.
Selah Treat. }
June,
1831.
Anna Trea:, y
1824.
Joseph Trumbull,
1825.
Eliza Trumbull,
tOctober,
1835.
Bela Turner,
July,
1841.
Mary B. Turner,
+Jannary, 1841. ..
Catharine Stoddard, Eunice Stone, Collins Stone,
Amariah Storrs, Lemira Storrs, Sophia Sweetland,
August, 1-31. 1.December 1835.
widow of Henry, wife of Henry W.
Anna Thacher, S
Emeline Tha. her,
Nancy Thacher,
widow of Augustus,
Fanny Tradile, S
1
31
Names.
Remarks.
Admitted.
Mary R. Turner,
June,
1838.
Frances E. Turner,
Susan W. Turner,
May,
1811.
Cornelia D. Turner,
William W. Turner, 1
Maria L. Turner,
Elizabeth C. Turner,
Charles P. Turner,
Frederick Tyler, ?
Sophia Tyler,
tJuly, 1840.
February, 1815.
Daniel Wadsworth,
Faith Wadsworth, Lydia Wadsworth, Joseph Wales, James Wallace,
December, 1813. June, 1838. January, 1811. iJune, 1837.
Mary Warburton,
1832.
John Warburton,
Mary A. Warburton,
May, 1841.
Mary C. Warburton, Hannah Warner, Jemima Waterman,
tFebruary, 1837. 1-27.
David Watkinson,
Olivia Watkinson, S.
widow of Edward
May,
1831.
June,
1833.
Anna O. Watkinson,
May, 66
1811.
Margaret L. Watkinson, Emma Watkinson, Mary Watson,
widow of William,
tJune, March, tAugust,
1811.
Mary A. Watson,
1832.
Jerusha Watson,
t May,
1831.
Elizabeth B. Webb,
t
+
66
1811.
Harriet Webb,
.6
Harriet S. Webb,
1836.
Ann L. Webster, S
Emeline Webster,
Gideon G. Webster,
tJune, + 6 = + 66 +September1839. June, 1821.
Sarah Weeks, George M. Welch,
August,
1833.
widow of John,
16 1808
1809.
Lavinia Watkinson, Harriet Watkinson, Maria Watkinson,
66
1803.
66
Frances C. Webb, Amelia Webb,
widow of Nathaniel,
Margaret A. Webb, Ira Webster,
May, 1841. 66 tNovember 1838. +
George F. Tyler,
t.August, 1822. July, 18226.
3:2
Names.
Remarks.
Admitted.
Lewis Weld,
+February, 1831.
Mary A. Weld,
+
Rachel Wells,
widow of Thomas,
June,
1805.
Horace Wells,
tAugust, 1836. 'April, 1834.
Elizabeth Wells,
Harriet Wells,
February, 1832.
Noah Wheaton,
May, 1841.
Amelia Wheaton, Mary White,
August, 1831:
Ezra White, Jr.
+ April, 1837.
Nancy A. White, Sally White,
t May, 1840.
Phebe C. White,
+ November 1841.
Lucy Whiting,
+ August, 1820. September, 1814.
Sarah Whiting,
June, 1821.
1838.
Maria K. Whiting,
May, 1841.
widow of James,
April, 1798.
Horace Wilcox, {
tJuly,
Lois A. Wilcox, S
widow of Silas B.
February, 1827.
Clarissa B. Wildman,
May, 1841.
Asaph Willard, -
tFebruary, 1822.
Sophronia Willard,
June,
1833.
Charlotte Willard,
1841.
Abby Willard,
May, 66 August, 1834. tJanuary, 1843.
Emily Williams,
t
-
Emily Williams,
+ 16
=
Mary Williams,
t June, 1837.
Lney Williams,
+ May, 1840.
Maria Williams,
+ June, 1837.
William P. Withey,
+
¥
Mary Withey,
May, 1841.
Mary J. Withey,
Martha A. Withey,
wife of Jason L.
+July, June, =
1814.
James R. Woodbridge,
", 1833.
Mary Woodbridge, Mary Woodbridge,
March, 1841.
William Woodbridge,
July, 1815.
Roxalinda Woodford,
wife of Ezekiel,
-
May,
1841.
Dorothy D. Woodworth, Nancy Wright.
wife of William L.
August,
1821.
+
wife of George R. widow of Seymour, wife of Charles, widow of Spencer,
. Sarah Whiting,
Gurdon S. Whiting,
Sarah Wickham,
May, 1841.
Harris B. Wildman,
March,
John Willard,
Thomas S. Williams,
Martha M. Williams,
widow of Samuel W. +December, 1836.
Elizabeth Williams,
wife of Levi,
Emily R. Wolcott,
tJanuary, 1842.
33
Names.
Remarks. Admitted.
Sally Wright, Theodore L. Wright, Catharine B. Wright, John B. Wright, Caroline Wright,
widow of Isaac,
June, +July, + ..
1-39.
1-33.
June, May. 1811.
Charlotte D. Young,
widow of Gideon,
October, 1832.
Whole number,. August, 1835, - 552
Added since, -
-
409
Removed by death or otherwise, 318
Present number,
6.13
Joseph Church
THE
CONFESSION OF FAITH
AND
COVENANT OF THE FIRST CHURCH
IN NEWBERRY HARTFORDLIBRARY CHICAGO
WITH A
CATALOGUE OF SURVIVING MEMBERS.
JANUARY, 1843.
" For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness [ and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Rom, x. 10. " Thy vows are upon me, O God." Ps. Ivi. 12. " The foundation of God standeth sure, having, this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his ; and, let every one that nameth the name of Christ, depart from iniquity," 2 Tim. ii. 19.
HARTFORD : D. B. MOSELEY, PRINTER. (Observer Office.) 1843.
1853313
THE
CONFESSION OF FAITH
AND
COVENANT OF THE FIRST CHURCH IN
HARTFORD,
WITH A
CATALOGUE OF SURVIVING MEMBERS.
JANUARY, 1843.
" For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness ; and with the mouth . confession is made unto salvation." Rom. x. 10.
"Thy vows are upon me, O God." Ps. Ivi. 12.
" The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his; and, let every one that nameth the name of Christ, depart from iniquity." 2 Tim. ii. 19.
HARTFORD :
. D. B. MOSELEY, PRINTER.
(Observer Office.)
1843.
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CM :. . . .
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FIRST CHURCH IN HARTFORD.
HISTORICAL NOTICES.
THIS Church was originally gathered in Newtown, (now Cambridge,) Mass., and was duly organized by the Installation of THOMAS HOOKER as pastor, and SAMUEL STONE as teacher, October 11th, 1633. It is supposed that William Goodwin was ordained as ruling elder, and Andrew Warner as deacon at the same time.
In June, 1636, Messrs. Hooker and Stone, with about one hundred of their people, removed to this place. Here the Church was permanently planted, being the first Church established in Connecticut ; and here the ordi- nances of the gospel have been regularly administered from that time to the present.
This Church embraced the territory now occupied by the Churches of the City ; of East Hartford, and of West Hartford. During the joint ministry of Messrs. WHITING and HAYNES, the former, with thirty-one members of the Church, withdrew and formed the South Church in this City, February 12th, 1669.
The Church in East Hartford was set off from this Church and received a separate organization in May, 1702; and that in West Hartford in February, 1713.
On the 23d of September, 1824, ninety-seven mem- bers received dismission from this Church, and were, with others, organized as the North Church.
On the 10th of January, 1832, eighteen members of this Church, having received dismission, were organized, with others, as the Free Church, now the Fourth Church,
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PASTORS OF THE CHURCH.
NAMES.
ORDAINED. DIED. AGED.
THOMAS HOOKER,
Oct.11, 1633. July 7, 1647, 61
SAMUEL STONE,
Oct.11, 1633. July 20, 1663, 61
JOHN WHITING,
1660. Nov. 1689, 50
JOSEPH HAYNES,
1664. May 14, 1679, 38
ISAAC FOSTER,
1679. Jan. . 1683,
TIMOTHY WOODBRIDGE, Nov. 18, 1685. April 30, 1732, DANIEL WADSWORTH, Sept. 28, 1732. Nov. 12, 1747, 43 EDWARD DORR, April 27, 1748. Oct. 20,, 1772, 50
NATHAN STRONG, D. D. Jan. 5, 1774. Dec. 25, 1816, 68
JOEL HAWES, D. D.
March 4, 1818.
5
DEACONS.
NAMES.
CHOSEN.
DIED.
AGED.
Andrew Warner,
1633.
* 1684,
Edward Stebbins,
Aug. 1668,
Richard Butler,
Aug. 1684,
Paul Peck,
1681.
Dec. 1695,
87
Joseph Easton,
1681.
Jan. 1712,
Joseph Olmsted,
1681.
Nov. 1726,
Nathaniel Goodwin,
1734.
Nov. 1747,
John Edwards,
1734.
May, 1769,
Isaac Sheldon,
April, 1749,
63
Thomas Richards,
April, 1749,
83
Joseph Talcott,
1748.
Nov. 1780,
79
Ozias Goodwin,
1756.
Jan. 1776,
87
Daniel Goodwin,
1769.
Jan. 1772,
67
Benjamin Payne,
Jan. 1782,
54
John Shepard,
April, 1789,
80
Solomon Smith,
April, 1786,
52
Caleb Bull,
Feb. 1797,
51
Ezra Corning,
July, 1816,
79
Isaac Bull,
Nov. 1824,
84
Joseph Steward,
April, 1822,
69
Aaron Chapin,
1813.
Dec. 1838,
85
Aaron Colton,
1813.
June, 1840,
Josiah Beckwith, 1813.
Jan. 1827,
64
Russel Bunce, 1821.
William W. Ellsworth, 1821.
William W. Turner, 1828.
Thomas S. Williams, 1836.
Thomas Smith,
1838.
Melvin Copeland,
1840.
* Removed to Hadley, Mass., with Elder Goodwin, in 1600, where he died.
1*
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CHURCH NOTICES.
1. A Prudential Committee is annually appointed, consisting of six members chosen by ballot, who with the Deacons, assist the pastor, by their counsel and influence, in promoting the peace and welfare of the church and in maintaining gospel discipline therein.
2. Persons wishing to profess religion and thereby become members of the church, are to give satisfactory evidence of christian character; and after having been examined by the pastor and approved by the prudential committee, and having been publicly propounded two weeks, are to be received by their profession of faith, and solemn, public assent to the covenant of the church.
3. Any person bringing a dismission and recommen- dation from a christian church, may be admitted to membership in this church, without a public assent to the covenant, after having been examined by the pastor and approved by the prudential committee. Testimo- nials in such cases are to be read to the church two weeks before the question .is taken.
4. Members of this church, who remove out of town, are required to take a dismission from us, and unite with some church in or near the place where they reside, within one year after their removal.
5. Members of other churches wishing to commune with this church for more than one year, are desired to request a removal of their church relation to us, unless there be special reasons for delay.
6. This church holds itself ready, on due application, to dismiss and recommend its members to any other evangelical christian church ; but it is deemed an irreg-
7
ularity and a breach of covenant for any member to withdraw from its communion, without making such application.
7. The Lord's Supper is administered on the morning of the first Sabbath in January, March, May, July, September, and November.
8. The church, whenever they come to the table of their Lord, cordially invite those, who are in regular standing as members of other evangelical churches, of whatever name or denomination, to unite with them in celebrating his dying love.
9. Baptism is administered to adults at the time of their admission to the church,-to children in the after- noons of communion Sabbaths, and at such other times as parents find more convenient for presenting them.
10. Members, whether of the church or congregation, desirous, on any special account, of an interview with the pastor, will be visited at their own houses, by making known their wish to the pastor.
ARTICLES OF FAITHI.
-
ARTICLE I.
WE as a Church, believe that Jehovah, the true and eternal God, who made, supports and governs the world, is perfect in natural and moral excellence, and that he exists in three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, who possess the same nature, and are equal in every divine perfection.
Dent. vi. 4 ; Isaiah xlv. 5; 'Psalm xc. 2; Neh. ix. 6; Math. x. 20, 30; 1 John iv. 8; Math. v. 48 ; Exo. xxxiv. 6, 7; John i. 1, 3; Phil. ii. 1, 6, 11; Heb. i. 2, 3, 6, 8 ; Acts v. 3, 4; Acts xiii. 2, 4 ; Math. xxviii. 19; 2 Cor. xiii. 14-see also Colos. i. 14 to 19; Rev. v. 8 to 13 ; 1 John v. 7, 8, 20.
ARTICLE II.
We believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testament were written by holy men, as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, and are the only infallible rule of doctrine and duty.
2 Tim. iii. 15 to 17 ; 2 Peter i. 19 to 21; Math. xxii. 20 ; Psalm cxix. 105; Psalm cxix. 97-see also Luke xxiv. 27, 41, 45; John v. 39; Isaiah viii. 20; Gal. i. 8; Rev. xxii. 18, 19.
ARTICLE III.
We believe that God has made all things for himself ; that known unto him are all his works from the begin- ning, and that he governs all things according to the council of his own will.
Rev. iv. 11 ; Romans xi. 36 ; Acts ii. 23 ; Isaiah xlvi. 10; Acts iv. 27, 28; Eph. i. 11 ; Psalm xxxiii. 11-see also Isaiah xlv. 7; Prov. xvi. 4, 19, 21; Heb. vi. 17; Malachi iii. 6.
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ARTICLE IV.
We believe that men are immortal and accountable ; that the law of God is perfect and his government just and good; and that all rational beings are bound to approve, love and obey them.
Eccles. xii. 7; Math. x. 28; Rom. xiv. 12 ; 2 Cor. v. 10; Rom. vii. 12-see also Ps. xix. 7, 9; Rev. xv. 3; Math. xxii. 32, 12, 36.
ARTICLE V.
We believe that in consequence of the apostacy of Adam, sin and misery have been introduced into the world, and that all men, unless renewed by the Holy Spirit, are destitute of holiness, and under the curse of the divine law.
Rom. v. 12, 19-see Gen. i. 26, 27; Eccles. vii. 29 ; Gen. vi. 5; Gen. viii. 21 ; Eccles. ix. 3 ; Jer. xvii. 9; Jolin iii. 7, 8; Rom. viii: 6 to 8-see also Psalm xiv. 1 to 3; Eph. ii. 3; Rom. iii. 9 to 18; John iii. 36.
ARTICLE VI.
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ assumed the nature of man, and by his mediation and death on the cross, made atonement for the sins of the world.
Heb. ii. 14, 16; John i. 14, 29; 1 John ii. 2; Rom. v. 8; Rev. v. 9-see also 1 Peter i. 18 to 20; Phil. ii. 6 to 8; 1 Tim. iii. 16 ; Math. x.xvi. 28; Heb. vii. 27; 1 John ii. 2.
ARTICLE VII.
We believe that men may accept of the offers of sal- vation freely made to them in the Gospel; but that no one will do this, except he be drawn by the Father.
Rev. xxii. 17; Isaiah xlv. 22; Ezek. xviii. 30, 31 ; Luke xiv. 17; John v. 40, 6, 44-see also Ezek, xxxiii. 11; Mark xvi. 15, 16; John vi. 37.
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ARTICLE VIII.
We believe that those who are finally saved, will owe their salvation to the mere sovereign mercy of God, in Christ Jesus, through repentance and faith in him, and not to any works of righteousness which they have done.
Ezek. xxxvi. 26, 32; Eph. i. 3 to 5; 2 Thess. ii. 13; Rom. ix. 18, 21 ; Titus iii. 5-see also Acts xiii. 48; Rev. vii. 9, 10; John x. 11, 27, 17, %4; Rom. viii. 29, 30.
ARTICLE IX.
We believe that a conscientious discharge of the various duties which we owe to God, to our fellow men, and to ourselves, as enjoined in the gospel, is not only constantly binding on every Christian, but affords to himself and to the world, the only decisive evidence of his interest in the Redeemer.
John xv. 14, 12, 8; Math. x. 37, 38 ; Luke vi. 46; James i. 26, 27-see also James iii. 17; Math. xviii. 20, vi. 6; 2 Cor. i. 12; Micah vi. 8; Joshua i. 8.
ARTICLE X.
We believe that any number of Christians duly or- ganized, constitute a church of Christ, the special ordi- nances of which are Baptism and the Lord's Supper.
Math. xviii. 17; xxviii. 19 ; Luke xxii. 19, 20-see also 1 Cor. xi. 20, 23 to 26 .; Acts viii. 36; ii. 41 ; xvi. 33; xvi. 15; 1 Cor. xi. 27, 29.
ARTICLE XI.
We believe that all mankind must hereafter appear before the judgment seat of Christ, to receive a just and final retribution, according to the deeds done in
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the body ; and that the wicked will be sent away into everlasting punishment, and the righteous received into life eternal.
Such are the doctrines believed by this church .- Do you cordially assent to them ?
2 Cor. v. 10; Acts xvii. 31; Math. xiii. 40 to 43; 2 Peter ii. 4, 9; 2 Thess. i. 6 to 10; Heb. x. 31 ; Rev. xx. 12, 15 ; xxi. 8; Math. xxv. 31 to 46-see also John xvii. 24; 1 Thess. iv. 17 ; Rom. ii. 2 to . 12, 16; Eccles. xii. 14 ; Jude vi. 15; Dan. xii. 2 ; Mark viii. 38; Rev. xxii. 10, 11, 12.
COVENANT.
IN the presence of God and this assembly, you do now seriously, deliberately and forever give up your- selves in faith and love and holy obedience, to God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost ; - accepting the Lord, Jehovah, to be your God; Jesus Christ to be your prophet, priest and king ;- and the Holy Ghost to be your Sanctifier, Comforter and Guide .- Although sensible of your weakness and guilt, and of your liability to error and sin, still you do sincerely desire, and by the aids of Divine grace, do promise, to receive in love the pure doctrines of the gospel, to walk in the statutes and ordinances of the Lord blame- less, and to do honor to your high and holy vocation by a life of piety towards God and benevolence towards your fellow-men .-
You do, also, cordially join yourselves to this church of Christ, engaging to submit to its discipline, so far. as conformable to the rules of the gospel, and solemnly
13
covenanting, as much as in you lies, to promote its peace, edification, and purity, and to walk with its members in Christian love, faithfulness, circumspection, sobriety and meekness. This you promise and engage to do, with humble trust in the grace of God, and with an affecting belief, that your vows are recorded on high, and will be reviewed in the day of final judg- ment.
Thus you promise and engage.
We, then, as a church, (all the members of the church here rise,) do cordially receive you, into our fellowship and communion, and give thanks to God, who we trust, has inclined your heart to fear his name. We promise to treat you with christian affection ;- to watch over you with tenderness ;- and to offer our prayers to the great head of the church to enable you to fulfil the solemn covenant which you have now .made .- " The Lord bless you and keep you ; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you ; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace." And may God of his great mercy, give us all grace to be faithful to him, and faithful. to each other while we live, that we may be admitted at last through the merits of Christ, to the everlasting fellow- ship of saints and angels in the presence of the Father and Son and Holy Ghost,-Amen.
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QUESTIONS OF EXAMINATION FOR PROFESSORS OF RELIGION.
1. Are you at present in the exercise of a true spirit of piety,-humble, tender, prayerful-disposed to know and do whatever God requires of you, as necessary to promote his glory, your own spiritual improvement, and the salvation of your fellow-men ?
2. What is the prevailing tenor of your conversa- tion ? Is it spiritual or worldly-serious or trifling ; adapted to help or to hinder others in the great con- cern of life ?
3. With whom do you associate as your intimate friends ? What are the prospects for another world of those in whose company you take most delight, and what influence has your example upon them ? Is it holy, or unholy ? Will it save or destroy ?
4. Do you esteem it a privilege to deny yourself for Christ's sake? And is it a pleasure rather than a grief to be called to engage in sacrifices and services to advance his kingdom ?
5. Do you love and study the Bible ? Do you un- derstand and prize its doctrines and duties ? Do its precepts regulate your intercourse with men and your communion with God ?
6. Do you perform the duty of secret and family prayer ? How often and with what spirit ? Have you enjoyment in these duties ; or do you perform them as a task, merely to pacify conscience, or keep up the form of religion ?
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7. Is your religion merely negative, not doing any harm; or are you positively active in devising and executing plans of usefulness ?
8. How do you spend the Sabbath ? Is it, to you, a day holy to the Lord, a delight and honorable ; and are you careful never to profane its sacred hours, by worldly conversation, business or traveling ?
9. Do you strive at all times to act from a regard to the will and the glory of God ? When you pray for knowledge, self denial, zeal and holiness, do you really desire that your prayers should be answered ; and do you prove that you have such a desire, by a diligent use of means for the attainment of these bles- sings ?
10. Do you in reliance on the Holy Spirit, strive to govern your temper, subdue your passions, and quell a spirit of fault-finding with your brethren and others around you? Are you of a meek, forgiving temper? And is there in your tongue the law of kindness, and not of evil speaking or slander ?
11. If you are a parent, are your children baptized -instructed in the truth, commended to God in prayer, and educated for eternity ?
12. What proportion of your worldly property do you sanctify to the Lord ? In what do you deny your- self for the purpose of doing good ?
13. Do you feel any tender, practical concern for the salvation of sinners out of Christ ? What have you ever done, what are you in the habit of doing, for the conversion of the impenitent and the perishing around
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you ? Is there one to whom you are faithful, for whose conversion you feel any special interest, or who is likely to be saved by your instrumentality ?
14. Are you interested in the Weekly Prayer Meet- ing of the church ;- the Monthly Concert-the Sab- bath School ? And do you sustain them by your pres- ence, your influence, and your prayers ?
15. Do you realize that you are to live but once ?- That the character you form here, whether holy or sin- ful, will be your's forever ?- that the influence you are exerting, whether for good or for evil, will be felt when you are dead ?
16. Do you aim so to live that you may be habitu- ally ready for the coming of the Son of man; and should you now be called to die, have you reason to believe that you should die in peace and go to be forever with the Lord ?
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