USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Bradford > Articles of faith and covenant; adopted by the First Church of Christ in Bradford Mass., with its standing rules and practical principles, a catalogue of its officers, from its first organization in 1682 up to 1832, and an appendix, containing some facts in its history > Part 1
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Gc 974. 402 B72b 1822096
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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Gc
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01100 9070
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
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ARTICLES OF
FAITH AND COVENANT,
ADOPTED BY THE
FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST IN
Bradford, Massachusetts,
WITH ITS
STANDING RULES AND PRACTICAL PRINCIPLES,
A CATALOGUE OF ITS OFFICERS, FROM ITS FIRST ORGANIZATION IN 1682, UP TO 1832, AND AN APPENDIX,
Containing some Facts in its History ..
HAVERHILL : PRINTED BY A. W. THAYER. 1832.
Articles of Faith
and 1822096 Covenant ,
of the
First Church of Christ mi
Bradford, Mais.
1832.
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO
1: .
BRADFORD, MASS. FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST. D .1
284411 Articles of faith and covenant, adopted by the First church of Christ in Bradford, Massa- chusetts, with its standing rules and practi- cal principles, a catalogue of its officers, from its first organization in 1682, up to 1832, and an appendix, containing some facts in its history. Haverhill, Thayer, 1832. 22p.
2545
QHALF CARE
NL 36-4178
CATALOGUE OF OFFICERS.
Pastors.
Rev. ZECHARIAH SYMMES, Ordained, Dec. 1682; Died, March 22d, 1707.
" THOMAS SYMMES, Installed, Dec. 1708; Died, Oc- tober 6th, 1725.
" JOSEPH PARSONS, Ordained, June 8th, 1726; Died, May 4th, 1765.
" SAMUEL WILLIAMS, Ordained, Nov. 20th, 1765; Dismissed, June 14th, 1780.
" JONATHAN ALLEN, Ordained, June 5th, 1781; Di- ed, March 6th, 1827.
" IRA INGRAHAM, Installed, Dec. 1st, 1824; Dis- missed, April 5th, 1830.
" LOAMMI IVES HOADLY, Installed, Oct. 13th, 1830.
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Deacons
DAVID HASSELTINE, Not properly chosen as Deacons,
but, "nominated to provide ele-
RICHARD HALL, ments for the Lord's Supper," Nov. 2d, 1682.
JOHN TENNY, Probably the first Deacons, and cho- JOSEPH BAILEY, sen Dec. 13th, 1702.
RICHARD HALL,
Lieut. SAMUEL TENNY, but possibly Deacons, Feb. S Probably a Committee only, Sergt. RICHARD BAILEY, 2d, 1713.
WOODMAN, S Chosen Jan. 24th, 1728.
MOSES DAY,
JOSEPH HALL, chosen May 30th, 1730.
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THOMAS CARLETON, chosen Oct. 31st, 1742.
DAVID WALKER,
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Nov. 28th, 1745.
MOSES DAY,
May 1st, 1751.
STEPHEN KIMBALL,
Jan. 18th, 1754.
OBADIAH KIMBALL,
March 16th, 1762.
THOMAS KIMBALL,
THOMAS WEBSTER,
66
April 21st, 1767. -1782.
RICHARD WALKER,
"
April -, 1797.
JOHN GRIFFIN,
Feb. -- , 1804.
JOHN HASSELTINE,
June 18th, 1804.7
JESSE KIMBALL,
April 8th, 1826.
WILLIAM DAY,
66 April 25th, 1829.
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Elders.
Sergt. JOHN BOYNTON, S Chosen March 28th, 1718 ;- Dea. SAMUEL TENNY, 52 Brethren present.
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Standing Rules and Practical Princi- ples.
1. The Lord's Supper shall be administered in this church the first Sabbath in every other month, begin- ning with January.
2. At the close of each communion, before the bene- diction is pronounced, a collection shall be taken up in support of the table, and for any such charity as the church shall choose to patronize with the surplus of re- peated collections, if a surplus shall from time to time accrue.
3. Any member of a sister church, in good and regu- lar standing in the same, shall be entitled to the privi- lege of communion with this church one year, without removing his or her relation from that church to this; but it shall be considered irregular, and therefore not allowable, for any one to continue the practice of occa- sional communion in this church longer than one year, without a special vote of the church, admitting it in
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view of some peculiarities of situation, which, in the judgment of the church, justify such continuance: and, on the other hand, any member of this church, on going to reside within the bounds of a sister church, shall re- move his or her relation to that church as soon as con- venient; and it shall be considered irregular for any member to neglect such removal beyond the period of one year, unless for reasons satisfactory to the church.
4. In relation to the reception of members by letter from other churches, it is a principle with this church to receive them on examination by the pastor and deacons, with two other brethren, chosen by ballot, by the church, all of whom together, constitute a standing committee, whose duty it is to attend to such examina- tions, and also to any other business preparatory to its being brought before the church: the committee make report to the church, and the church act on the report. as to them seems charitable, just and proper.
5. All persons making a profession of religion are ex- pected to abstain entirely from the use of ardent spirits, except as a medicine.
6. All resolves of excommunication in this church shall be read before the whole congregation on the Sab- bath, as likewise all confessions of members under dis- cipline accepted by the church-unless the church shall order otherwise: and the person making a confession shall rise while his or her confession is read.
7. Before being received, every person wishing to make a profession of religion in this church shall pub- licly assent to the Covenant and Confession of Faith adopted by the church, and also signify his or her ap- probation of the Rules and Principles of the Church :- And, whereas, there are persons from time to time who cannot accord with Baptists as to the necessity of im- mersion and the practice of close communion; and who, therefore, although they do not perfectly accord with Paedobaptists either, as to the duty of infant baptism, wish to join Paedobaptist churches: it is a principle with this church not to require such persons to assent to so much of the Articles of Faith and Covenant as re- lates to infant baptism, or the baptism of households: because, although this church consider infant baptism 1*
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as involving a highly important privilege and duty for the believing parent or guardian, they do not after all consider it as being fundamental, like the doctrine of atonement or regeneration: and they, therefore, feel at liberty, and think it not inconsistent with christian princi- ple, to allow such persons as are herein described to be so far members of their body as to enjoy the communion of the Lord's Supper and the rights and privileges of christian fellowship-only, as they have no faith in the covenant in relation to the baptism of children, their children will not of course be included in the covenant vows of the church, and they themselves will not be ex- pected to have any voice or vote in relation to baptism any way.
8. In relation to baptized children, left orphans by the death of the believing parent or guardian who dedi- cated them in baptism, it is a principle with this church not to suffer them to be brought up in irreligious fami- lies, but to secure for them as far as practicable, in pious families, a truly religious education.
Articles of Faith.
1. There is one only living and true God, the Creator, Preserver and Governor of the Universe: a being self- existent, independent and unchangeable; infinite in power, wisdom, holiness, justice, goodness and truth.
2. The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were written by holy men as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, and are an infallible rule of faith and practice.
3. God exists, as revealed in the Scriptures, in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one God, the same in substance, cqual in power and glory.
4. God made all things for himself, and governs them according to the counsel of his own will; the principles and administration of his government being perfectly holy, just and good.
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5. The first human pair were made upright, and con- stituted the general representatives of the whole human family ; but they sinned against God by eating of the forbidden fruit, and in consequence of their apostacy all their descendants are alienated from God and opposed to his law, till renewed by the Holy Spirit.
6. In sovereign love, not willing that any should per- ish, God hath from before the foundation of the world, chosen some unto salvation, through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth.
7. The only Redeemer is the Lord Jesus Christ, who being God as well as man, has made atonement for sin, in view of which pardon is freely offered to all, and God can be just and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus; yet such, notwithstanding, is the obstinacy of the heart in sin, that none ever do accept or believe, but such as are made willing in the day of his power, by the grace of his Holy Spirit.
8. Repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ is the immediate duty of every sin- ner; and they who are effectually called by the Holy Spirit, and made willing to accept of salvation, will be preserved to God's eternal kingdom of glory in heaven.
9. Under the christian dispensation, the ordinances of the church are Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Be- lievers and their households are proper subjects for bap- tism, and all who are truly penitent and believing in Christ are proper candidates for the Lord's Supper.
10. There will be a general resurrection, both of the just and of the unjust, and a day of judgment in which the Lord Jesus Christ will award to every accountable creature according to his deeds: The wicked will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal.
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The Covenant.
In the presence of God, angels and men, you do now solemnly avouch the Lord Jehovah, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, to be your God, the object of your supreme love and your portion forever. You cor- dially acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ in all his me- diatorial offices, as Prophet, Priest and King, to be your only Saviour; and the Holy Ghost to be your only sanc- tifier, comforter and guide. You humbly and cheer- fully devote yourself to God in the everlasting covenant of his grace, consecrating all your powers and faculties, with all that you possess, to his service; promising through the assistance of his Spirit, that you will give diligent attendance on his word and ordinances, seek the honor and interest of his kingdom, and, henceforth, denying all ungodliness and every worldly lust, live so- berlyt righteously and godly in the world.
Moreover, you devote not only yourself, but also all those in relation to whom God has constituted you, or may constitute you, the guardian; covenanting to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and thus to instruct them in the duties and privileges of the christian religion as implied in baptism; bearing them on your heart in prayer, and pleading for them God's remembrance of his covenant, "To be a God to thee and thy seed after thee."
You also cordially join yourself to this church, as a true church of Christ, engaging to submit to its govern- ment and discipline, to strive earnestly for its purity, peace and enlargement, and to walk with its members in all charity, faithfulness and circumspection.
We, then, the members of this Church, receive you affectionately to our communion, promising you our prayers, our christian sympathy and our love; engaging on our part also to walk with you in all becoming watchfulness, kindness and fidelity; hoping that you and we shall become more and more conformed to the ex- ample of our divine Master, till we come at last to the perfection of holiness in the kingdom of his glory .- AMEN.
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APPENDIX.
NO. 1.
Ordination of Zechariah Symmes, and formation of the Church.
Mr. Symmes appears to have preached in Bradford, and to have been the minister of the place several years before the Church was founded, or he ordained. In- deed, when the Church was founded, appears not to be very clear. The first meeting preparatory to it, was held, October 12th, 1682. The younger Symmes, also, in a note in his hand-writing, on the blank leaf of the Old Record, says that the Church was gathered and his father ordained, December 27th, 1682. It would seem, however, as though he must have designed to specify the ordination only of his father, and that the Church was formed earlier; for the record shows, not only that persons were appointed previously to provide elements for the Lord's Supper, and that the Lord's Supper was previously administered, but that members dismissed by letter from other Churches, were previously received. The appointment of persons to provide elements, was November 2d, 1682; the reception of members from other Churches, November 7th, 1682; and the com- munion, November 21st, 1682-text of the sermon on the occasion, Jeremiah, 1. 4, 5. It would seem, there- fore, as though the Church must have been formed ear- lier than December 27th, 1682, when Mr. Symmes, ac- cording to his son's note, was ordained. One thing only about it is certain, and that is, that Mr. Symmes was ordained in December, 1682.
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NO. 2. The Deaconry.
Respecting the Deaconry, there seems to have been some difficulty in the early times of the Church. What it was, does not appear; but for some reason, it was not till after a number of years, and so far as the Record reports for certainty, thirty years, that regular Deacons were chosen. Hence, at a meeting of the Church, Oc- tober, 1699, (page 5, Old Records,) " a vote past to express the desire of all present, that Brother David Hasseltine and Brother Richard Hall, would still con- tinue to provide the elements, till Deacons should be chosen:"
At length, at a Church-meeting, December 13th, 1702, (page 7, Old Record,) Br. John Tenny, Br. Jo- seph Bailey, and Br. Richard Hall, were chosen. The Record does not say expressly, that they were chosen Deacons, but the probability is, that that is what is meant; at least, if it be not, the Church had no Dea- cons, so far as the Record reports, till February 2d, 1713, above thirty years after its organization.
That the Church may judge for themselves, however, and as the article referred to in the Record, whether it relate to the choice of Deacons or not, is rather inter- esting, as affording a specimen of the quaintness of the times-it is here inserted:
" At a Church-meeting (p. 7, Old Record,) at Brad- ford 13 of 11: 1702-3 appointed to be at my house at three of the clock, after our private meeting at Br. Abraham Hasseltine's, Br. David Hasseltine absented, and no other as I took notice of that was at the private meeting. After some discourse, two objected, [against choosing deacons, it is presumed.] I alledged two scriptures, that all in the Church should be done in charity and for edification. If any would bring any scripture contrary to any thing I had done, I would fall under it; but every one abounding in his own sense, I would not listen to any man's own private notion or hu- mour. Br. Abrm [Abraham Hasseltine, probably,] ob- jected that there were some chosen before, which was
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denied. The votes brought in to me were overhalled by Br. John Tenny and Br. John Kimball; and there were 19 for Br. John Tenny and two and twenty for Br. Richard Hall and 27 for Br. Joseph Bailey, and these were the three that had the most votes. The Captn. [Hasseltine probably who is mentioned in the Record under date of December 21st, 1709,] and Br. Chadwick had 6 a piece, and Br. John Bonton [Boynton,] 14 :- one for Br. Robt, Hasseltine. I de- clared that the three first were chosen by the votes of the Brethren; and acquainting [them with the fact] Br. Hall accepted. 40 out of the Church were for procur- ing the element of Bread to be delivered to him by my- self, which he accepted [what is meant by this is not understood exactly.] This Church meeting thro' the divine benediction was carried on peaceably."
Such is the article referred to, and from November 13th, 1703, the time of its date, up to December 21st, 1709, above seven years, no record is preserved. Nor is there any mention made of Deacons, after the Record commences again, till February 2d, 1713; and then, whether they are spoken of, as already existing in the Church, or as then first chosen, the mutilated state of the Record at the entry, leaves doubtful. The probability is, however, that they are spoken of as already existing in the Church, inasmuch as notwithstanding no men- tion is made of the choice of Deacons subsequent to this time, till January 24th, 1728, Dea. Bailey and Dea. Hall are both mentioned by name as the Deacons of the Church, under date of September 9th, 1716.
In an entry respecting the call of Mr. Parsons, 1725, Dea, Hasseltine is mentioned, but whether David Has- seltine is meant, who was first nominated with Br. Richard Hall to provide elements, cannot be ascer- tained.
In 1728, January 24th, two Deacons were chosen, Capt. - Woodman and Moses Day; and from this time the succession appears to have been regular and uninterrupted.
The last chosen Deacons, Dea. Kimball and Dea. Day were ordained. Of the ordination of others, if they were ordained, the Record is silent.
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NO. 3.
Ruling Elders-Order and Decorum.
Considerable attention appears to have been paid by the younger Symmes as well to the external order and good government of the Church as to its spirituality and growth in grace. It was under his ministry, March 28th, 1718, that, having in Church meeting voted their approbation of the Cambridge Platform and their readiness to be governed according to its provi- sions, the Church proceeded to appoint Ruling Elders. Indeed, they are spoken of as officers in the Church once before, under date of July, 1716, and they may have existed from an earlier date. No record, however, is to be found of the appointment of Elders earlier than March 28th, 1718; and though the office of Elder is alluded to as late as January 20th, 1740, when the three Deacons of the Church were appointed "to attend the Elder" at the Council called to ordain Mr. Abner Bailey over the Second Church in Methuen, no record remains of the appointment of Elders later, or other than that of March 28th, 1718. It is presumed, there- fore, that the office gradually fell into disuse under the ministry of Mr. Parsons and Mr. Williams, especially as the most extended wake of its history has not been found to have reached the times even of the earliest re- collections of the oldest members of the Church at present.
As to order and decorum, the Church passed a vote, June 30th, 1723, expressing their sense of the indecen- cy and irreverence of laying down the head and sleep- ing in the worship of God, and making it an offence in any of the "members or communicants," for which, if guilty of it, they should be publicly admonished before the whole Church, which was to be "stay'd for that end." December 29th, also, of the same year, the Church voted, " that any Brethren who, duly notified, should not seasonably attend Church meetings, should be 'accounted and treated as delinquents, and be ad- monished before the whole Church,"-to which, there
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was this exception only, that in case of necessary ab- sence or delay, a member might be excused by men- tioning it to the " Elders or Elders for the time being."
NO. 4.
Standing Rules and Practical Princi- ples.
These have been adopted with a view, simply, to con- venience and good understanding-except that the lat- ter part of the 7th and 8th, are designed to set infant baptism in its proper light, and no less to express the liberality of the Church, and its readiness to extend, as far as possible, the freedom of its communion and chris- tian fellowship.
NO. 5.
Confession of Faith.
The Confession of Faith adopted by the Church when it was first formed, has not been preserved. The Cov- enant, or perhaps a part of it, only remains. The only means besides this, of ascertaining the faith of the first founders of the Church, is to be sought, in what was called by them, "a preparatory help towards the gath- ering of a Church in Bradford;" an "instrument of pa- cification and mutual obligation to church union and order, drawn up and signed by such of the members of [the] Church in full communion as were present at a private fast, kept at Brother John Tenny's, October 12th, 1682." The instrument is as follows:
" We whose names are subscribed, being awfully sensible, that we live in an age wherein God hath, in part, executed that dreadful threatening to take peace from the earth, and wherein Satan, that great makebate and author of confusion doth, by God's permission, ex- ceedingly rage, even in the visible Church of God, and wherein that wicked one is sowing the tares of discord,
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almost in every christian society, (the sad effects of which, we that are the inhabitants of the town of Brad- ford have for some years past experimentally felt and have yet the bitter remembrance of ) we being now (through the rich and undeserved mercy of God in Christ Jesus) under hopeful probability of settling a Church of Christ in Bradford, do take this occasion, as to express our hearty and unfeigned sorrow and humili- ation for what unchristian differences have broken out among us to the dishonor of God's name, the grief of his Spirit, and to the obstructing of the work and king- dom of Jesus Christ, and to the hindering of our peace and edification; so also in the name of God, and by his gracious help, seriously and solemnly to engage and promise, for the future, to forgive and forget, to the ut- most of our endeavors, all former unchristian animosi- ties, distances, alienations, differences and contests, pri- vate or more public, personal or social, that have arisen ever among us, or between us and others; to pass a general act of amnesty and oblivion on them all, and not to speak of them to the defamation of each other, at home in Bradford town, much less abroad in any other place; nor to repeat or revive them, unless called by scripture rule, or lawful authority, to mention them for the conviction, or spiritual advantage of each other. Besides, we promise through the grace of God, that, in case God, in his most wise and holy providence, should permit any offences, for the future, to break forth among . us (which we desire God of his infinite mercy would prevent as far as may be for his own glory and our own · good) that we will then conscientiously endeavor to attend to scripture rules for the healing and removing „of them, and those rules in particular, Lev. xix, 17, Matth. xviii, 15; and to bring no matter of grievance against each other to our minister or to the Church, but in a scriptural and orderly way and manner. That we may be helped inviolably to observe this our agreement, we desire the assistance of each other's mutual both christian and church watch, that we may be monitors or ; remembrancers to each other of this branch of our cov- enant; as also the instant and constant prayers of each other, that God would enable us carefully to observe
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1822096
this instrument of our pacification and our conditional obligation to church union and order, that God's name may be honored by us and we may experience God's commanding his blessing upon us, even life forever more."
This instrument was voted to be entered on record, April 20th, 1683, and was again read, February 7th, 1686, and again, December 22d, 1689, "there being but two of the males in full communion absent;" from all which, it seems to be a sufficiently important paper, especially as regarded by the founders of the Church, to deserve a place in this appendix.
As to the Confession of Faith, as has been stated, it has not been preserved. Nor is there any record of one till the time of Mr. Allen. And of the different forms in his hand writing, that only of June 18th, 1806, is dated. When the others were adopted, does not ap- pear. As to doctrine, this is full, and clear, and highly evangelical; and when adopted was subscribed by 19 males and 30 females.
The first movement of the Church towards having its confession printed was, March 5th, 1830, when the offi- cers of the Church were appointed a committee for that purpose; a committee having been appointed, April 19th, 1828, to draft a confession anew, and the Church having adopted one as reported by that committee, De- cember 5th, 1829.
In the present confession, the article on election and that also on the perseverance of the saints, are additional to what was contained in that of December 5th, 1829; the subjects of them both having been overlooked in that confession, though remembered and included in that of 1806. The other articles also with the Cove- nant, have been revised ;- and the whole was approved by the Church, and ordered to be printed for the use of its members, December 6th, 1831.
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NO. 6.
Covenant.
Whether the first Covenant remains entire or not, is not perfectly clear. From the circumstance that the first word in it, or in what remains of it in the Record, is written without the capital, as if in the middle of a sentence, it would at first seem as though it must be a part only which remains; but, as the opening of the sec- ond paragraph begins in the same way, and the sense of the whole is good, considered as entire, it may be that the Record contains it in full. Whether the whole or a part only, what is preserved, is as follows:
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