USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Hatfield > Confession of faith and covenant of the Congregational Church in Hatfield > Part 1
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Gc 974.402 H284ha
Gc 974.402 H284ha 1851583
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00085 1581
44.84
CONFESSION OF FAITH AND
COVENANT
OF THE £
Congregational Church in Hatfield. "Ovo.
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO ?
1851583
Congregational Church in Hatfield.
ORGANIZATION, 1670.
PASTORS.
Rev. Hope Atherton, settled 1670, died June 8, 1677. Rev. Nathaniel Chauncy, installed 1683, died Nov.4,1685. Rev. William Williams, ordained 1686, died Aug. 31,1741. Rev. Timothy Woodbridge, ordained as colleague with Mr. Williams Nov. 14, 1739, died June 3, 1770.
Rev. Joseph Lyman, ordained March 4, 1772, died March 27, 1823.
Rev. Jared B. Waterbury, installed as colleague with Rev. Dr. Lyman, Jan. 10, 1827, and dismissed Feb. 24, 1829.
Rev. Levi Pratt, ordained June 23, 1830, dismissed May 9, 1835.
Rev. Henry Neill, ordained April 16, 1840, dismissed April 15, 1846.
Rev. Jared O. Knapp, installed Dec. 11, 1950, dismissed April 10, 1855.
Rev. John M. Greene, the present pastor, ordained Oct. 20, 1857.
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DEACONS.
NOTE .- This Church has no separate record of its existence prior to 1772, and the names of those who filled the office of Deacon before that time are gathered from the town records where they incidentally occur.
Edward Church, supposed to have been elected 1670.
John Coleman, 16 66
1670.
Died Jan. 22, 1712.
Samuel Marsh, 66
1706.
Died Sept. 7, 1728.
John White,
1712.
Nathaniel Dickinson,
1726.
Nathaniel White, 16
1735.
Samuel Bodman,
1735.
John Hubbard,
1746.
Died Sept. 4, 1778, aged 86.
John Belding, supposed
1746.
John Smith,
"
1750.
Simeon Wait,
1764.
Elijah Morton, -
Elected Nov. 25, 1772.
Died Oct. 5, 1798, aged 80.
William Williams, Esq.
Nov. 25, 1772.
Obadiah Dickinson, Died June 24, 1788, aged 84.
April 8, 1773.
Jonathan Porter,
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Died April 25, 1833, aged 81. - May 23, 1785.
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/confessionoffait00unse 7
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Lemuel Dickinson, · Elected May 23, 1785.
Cotton Partridge,
Died Nov. 13, 1846, aged 81.
Benjamin Morton, -
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Feb. 28, 1799.
Jan. 7, 1807.
Died Feb. 4, 1810, aged 50.
Moses Warner, - -
- March 1, 1810. -
Died Aug. 1, 1828, aged 74.
Joseph Billings,
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Oct. 30, 1817.
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Died May 23, 1850, aged 74.
Rufus Cowles, - - -
Aug. 31, 1827.
Died Feb. 6, 1840, aged 57.
Geo. W. Hubbard,
July 10, 1849.
Erastus Cowles,
Aug. 28, 1850.
Confession of Faith,
ARTICLE I.
You believe in (a) one, only, the living and true God, (b) the Creator and (c) Gov- ernor of all things, existing in (d) three persons in one Godhead ; that each person in the Godhead is (e) equally and (f) eter- nally possessed of all perfection and (g) worthy of supreme adoration and obedience.
(a) Deut. 6: 4. Hear, O Israel : The Lord our God is one Lord. Is. 45: 22. Jer. 10: 10. Jn. 17: 3. 1 Cor. 8 : 4 : 6.
(b) Gen. 1: 1. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Eph. 3: 9. Col. 1: 16. Rev. 4: 17.
(c) Ps. 22 : 28. For the kingdom is the Lord's : and he is the governor among the nations. Ps. 103: 19. Job 12: 10. Jer. 18: 6. 2 Kings 19: 15.
(d) 1 Pet. 1: 2. Elect according to the foreknowl- edge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. Mat. 28: 19. 2 Cor. 13: 14. Eph. 2: 18. Jn. 15: 26.
(e) Phil. 2: 6. Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God. Acts 5: 4. Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. Jn. 5: 18. 17: 5. 10: 33. Mat. 28: 19.
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(f) Jn. 1 : 2. The same was in the beginning with God. Heb. 9: 14. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Jn. 1: 1. Rev. 1 : 8, 17. Is. 44 : 6. Gen. 1 : 2.
(g) Phil. 2: 10, 11. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Jn. 5: 23. That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son, honoreth not the Father which hath sent him. 1 Cor. 2: 8, 10. 1 Jn. 5: 20. Acts 5: 3, 4. 2 Cor. 13: 14. Rom. 8: 14. Jn. 14: 26. Matt. 28: 19.
ARTICLE II.
You believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments (a) to be the word of God, and (b) to contain all things nec- essary for us to believe and practice ; that man was (c) at first made upright and (d) placed under a covenant of works ; that he (e) lost his innocency and (f) by sin involved himself and his offspring in guilt and misery. ·
(a) 2 Tim. 3: 16. All scripture is given by inspira- tion of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
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istification before God, the sinner must elieve in Christ and repent of all his sins.
(a) Jn. 6: 44. No man can come to me, except the 'ather which hath sent me draw him. Rom. 8: 7. er. 13: 23. 6: 10. Prov. 5: 22. Josh. 24: 19.
(b) Acts 4: 12. Neither is there salvation in any ther: for there is none other name under heaven given mong men, whereby we must be saved. 1 Tim. 2 : 5. Mat. 1: 21. Acts 10: 43.
(c) Gal. 2 : 16. Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law : for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Is. 53: 4-6. Titus 3: 5, 6. Eph. 2 : 8,9. Rom. 3: 20. Acts 4: 12. 1 Cor. 15 : 3. Gal. 3: 13. Eph. 2 : 13. 1 Pet. 2: 24. 1 Jn. 2 : 2.
(d) Mark 16: 16. He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved ; but he that believeth not, shall be damned. Luke 13: 3. I tell you, Nay ; but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. John 1: 12. 3: 16,18. 6: 29. Rom. 10: 4. Gal. 2: 16. Ezek. 14 : 6. Acts 2: 38. 3: 19. 8: 22. 10: 43. 16: 31. 17: 30. Mark 6: 12. Rev. 2: 5.
ARTICLE IV.
You believe (a) the moral law to be the rule of obedience to all men ; (b) that the violation of that law deserves death ;
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for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 2 Pet. 1: 19, 21. 1 Cor. 2: 13. 2 Sam. 23: 2. Heb. 1 : 1. Acts 1: 16. Gal. 1: 11, 12. 1 Thess. 2: 13. Jer. 1 : 9. Zech. 7: 12. Luke 1: 70.
(b) Ps. 19: 7. The law of the Lord is perfect, con- verting the soul : the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. Is. 8: 20. Luke 16: 31. Gal. 1: 8.
(c) Eccl. 7: 29. Lo, this only have I found, that God bath made man upright ; but they have sought out many inventions. Gen. 1: 27. Col. 3: 10. Eph. 4: 24.
(d) Gen. 2: 17. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Rom. 6: 23. 10: 5. Lev. 18: 5. Ezek. 20: 11. Gal. 3: 12.
(e) Rom. 3: 12. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable : there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Gen. 3: 6, 7, 10. 6: 5. Ps. 14 : 2, 3. Rom. 3: 10. 5: 14.
(f) 1 Cor. 15 : 22. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. Rom. 5: 12. 3: 23. 5: 18,19.
ARTICLE III.
You believe (a) that man of himself can never recover from his fallen state; (b) that salvation is by Christ alone; (c) that the obedience and sufferings of Christ are the only meritorious cause of the sinner's jus- tification before God ; (d) that to obtain
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(c) that Christ Jesus has fulfilled the law for believers, (d) but against all unbelievers it is in full force to their condemnation.
(a) Eccl. 12: 13. Fear God, and keep his command- ments : for this is the whole duty of man. Rom. 2: 15. 3: 19, 31. 10: 4. Mat. 5: 17-19. 7: 21. Luke 16: 17. Is. 8: 20.
(b) Ezek. 18: 20. The soul that sinneth, it shall die. Deut. 27 : 26. Ps. 119: 21. Jer. 11: 3. Gal. 3: 10 .. James 2: 10.
(c) Gal. 3: 13. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us. Acts 3: 18. Mat. 8: 17. 1 Pet. 2: 24. 3: 18. Heb. 9: 23. Is. 53: 4-7. Rom. 8: 1-4.
(d) Mark 16: 16. He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not, shall be damned. Luke 12: 46. Rev. 21: 8. Jn 3: 18, 36. Rom. 11 : 20. Heb. 3: 12.
ARTICLE V.
You believe (a) in Christ as the only Mediator between God and man and the (b) Redeemer of God's elect ; (c) that, to accomplish the work of Redemption Christ became man by (d) being conceived of the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary ; (c) that his Divine and human natures
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being united in one person and two dis- tinct natures, he was very God and very man.
(a) 1 Tim. 2: 5. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. Heb. 8: 6. 9: 15. 12: 24. Is. 53: 5, 6. 2 Cor. 5: 21.
(b) Heb. 9: 12. Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood ; he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Gal. 3: 13. Rev. 5: 9. Acts 4: 12. 1 Pet. 1 : 18, 19. Titus 2 : 14.
(c) Jn 1: 14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. Heb. 2: 16. Gal. 4 : 4. 1 Tim. 3: 16. 2: 5. 1 Jn 4 : 3. Phil. 2 : 7.
(d) Luke 1: 35. And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: there- fore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God. Mat. 1: 20, 25. Luke 1: 30-33. 2: 7.
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(e) Col. 2: 9.' For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. 1 Tim. 3: 16. And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness : God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. Col. 1: 19. Heb. 7: 24. 1 Jn 5 : 20. Acts 20 : 28. 1 Tim. 2 : 5.
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ARTICLE VI.
You believe (a) in Christ's death as an atonement necessary for the salvation of sinners ; (b) that he continued under the power of death for a time; that on the third day He arose from the dead ; (c) that He ascended into heaven; (d) that He now intercedes with the Father for sinners ; and (e) hath sent down his Holy Spirit into this fallen world.
(a) Heb. 9: 22. And without shedding of blood is no remission. Phil. 2: 8. Heb. 9 : 23. Eph. 2: 13. Vid. Art. III. (b), and Art. V. (a).
(b) Mat. 12 : 40. For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly : so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Mark 16: 9. Now, when Jesus was risen early, the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. Phil. 2: 8. 1 Cor. 15: 4. Luke 24: 46. Mark 15: 44, 45.
(c) Mark 16: 19. So then, after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. Luke 24: 51. Jn. 20: 17. 16: 28. Acts 1: 9. Eph. 4: 8.
(d) Rom. 8: 34. Who is he that condemneth ? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who
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is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Heb. 7: 25. 9: 24. 1 Jn. 2: 1.
(e) 2 Cor. 1: 22. Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. Jn. 16: 7-11. Acts 2: 33. Rom. 8: 16. 2 Cor. 5 : 5.
ARTICLE VII.
You believe (a) in the effectual calling of the Spirit ; (b) the new birth ; (c) the necessity of the Spirit's influences to ena- ble men to perform any gracious acts.
(a) 2 Tim. 1: 9. Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. Acts 2: 39. Rom. 1: 6,7. 8: 30. 9: 23, 24. 1 Cor. 1 : 23,24. 1 Pet. 2: 9. 2 Tim. 1 : 9.
(b) Jn. 1: 13. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Jn. 3: 3-7. Gal. 6: 15. Titus 3: 5. James 1: 18. 1 Pet. 1: 23. 1 Jn. 3: 9. 4: 7. 2 Cor. 5 : 17.
(c) Ps. 127 : 1. Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it : except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. Jn. 6: 63. 5 : 5. 15 : 5. 2 Cor. 3: 5. 2 Thes. 2: 13. Heb. 13 : 20,21. Ps. 17: 5. 68: 35. 119: 32, 117. Song. 1 : 4. 1 Cor. 15 : 10. 1 Pet. 1 : 5.
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ARTICLE VIII.
You believe (a) in God's sovereign and gracious election of believers unto ever- lasting life ; (b) their adoption into God's family ; (c) their indissoluble union to Christ ; (d) and their perseverance in grace and holiness unto the end.
(a) Rom. 11 : 5. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. Deut. 7: 6. Ps. 33: 12. Is. 45: 4. Mat. 20: 16. 24 : 22. Jn. 15: 16. Acts 13: 48. 1 Tim. 1: 4. 1 Pet. 1 : 2.
(b) Eph. 1: 5. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, accord- ing to the good pleasure of his will. Jn. 1: 12. Rom. 8: 14-17. 2 Cor. 6: 17. 1 Jn. 3: 1, 2.
(c) Jn. 15 : 5. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit : for without me ye can do nothing. Eph. 5: 30. Jn. 15: 6. 17: 21. 14: 20. 10: 28, 29. 1 Cor. 1: 9. Rom. 8 : 35-39. Is. 54: 10.
(d) Phil. 1 : 6. Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Job 17: 9. Ps. 37: 23, 24. 89: 30-34. Prov. 4: 18. Jer. 32: 40. Mat. 24: 24. Jn. 5: 24. 10: 28, 29. 1 Jn. 5: 18.
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You believe (a) in Christ's spiritual dominion in the hearts of believers and (b) in His government of the world.
(a) John 18: 36. Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world : if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Rom. 14: 17. Rev. 15: 3. Dan. 7: 14. Is. 33: 22. Ps. 89 : 18. 76: 10. 1 Cor. 15: 25.
(b) Mat. 28: 18. And Jesus came, and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Rom. 14: 9. Jn. 3: 35. 5: 22. Heb. 1 : 2. Mat. 11 : 27. Eph. 1: 20-22. 1 Cor. 15: 25.
ARTICLE X.
You believe (a) in the death of the body ; (b) the immortality of the soul ; (c) the future resurrection of the body, and its re-union to the soul forever.
(a) Heb. 9: 27. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. Gen. 3: 19. Job 30 : 23. Ps. 89 : 48. ' Eccl. 8: 8. Rom. 5: 12.
(b) Jn. 10 : 28. And I give unto them eternal life ; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand. Mat. 25: 41. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me,
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ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and hisangels. Eccl. 12 : 7. Mat. 22: 32. Luke 16: 22,23.
(c) Jn. 5 : 28, 29. Marvel not at this : for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth ; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life : and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. Luke 20: 37. Jn. 11: 24. Acts 26: 8. 1 Cor. 6: 14. 15: 42-54. Job 19 : 26, 27.
ARTICLE XI.
You believe (a) that Christ shall come to judgment in the last day to sentence all mankind according to their works, (b) when the wicked shall go away into everlasting burnings, but the righteous into life eternal.
(a) Mat. 16: 27. For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father, with his angels ; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Jn. 5: 22, 27. Acts 10: 42. 17: 31. 2 Tim. 4: 1. Mat. 25: 31-33. 2 Cor. 5: 10. Rev. 20 : 12.
(b) Mat. 25: 41, 46. Then, shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels : And these shall go away into everlasting punishment : but the righteous into life eternal. Dan. 12: 2. Luke 3: 17. Jn. 3: 36. 2 Thess. 1: 7-9. Rev. 16: 9-11. To these doctrines you give your full assent and consent.
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COVENANT.
IN the presence of God and this assem- bly you now solemnly choose the Lord Jehovah, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, to be your God, the Supreme object of your affection and your portion forever. You cordially acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ to be your only Redeemer and final Judge; the Holy Spirit to be your Sanc- tifier, Comforter and Guide. You humbly and cheerfully devote yourselves to God in the everlasting covenant of his grace ; you consecrate all your powers, faculties and possessions to his service and glory ; you promise to give your infant seed to him and to train them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; and you promise that through the assistance of His Spirit, you will regard the honor and interests of his kingdom as your chief object of pursuit ; that henceforth denying
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all ungodliness and every worldly lust, you will live soberly, righteously and godly in the world.
You do now cordially join yourselves to this Church, engaging to submit to its discipline, to attend diligently with its members upon the word and ordinances of God; to strive earnestly for their peace and edification and purity ; to walk with them in humility, faithfulness and love ; to bear your share with them in sustaining the gospel at home, and to aid in publish- ing it to all the world.
This you severally and sacredly covenant to perform.
RESOLUTIONS.
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In dependence on the promised grace of my covenant God and Saviour, through continued prayer for the presence and aid of the Eternal Spirit, I will carry into EFFECT the following RESOLVES :-
1. I will value my SOUL more than my BODY, con- secrating both to the service and glory of ALMIGHTY GOD.
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2. I will improve my MIND in the knowledge of the doctrines and duties of the GOSPEL.
3. I will SUPPLANT the evil propensities of my heart, and cultivate the same to high attainments in PERSONAL HOLINESS.
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4. In my CONVERSATION, I will introduce subjects of a RELIGIOUS nature, seeking to make them experi- mental and searching. I will not ALLOW myself to spend time in idle and frivolous TALKING.
5. I will AVOID conformity to the extravagancies, FASHION, and follies of the WORLD.
6. I will, when invited to places of amusement and parties of pleasure, ask myself-Shall I by COMPLYING increase my spirituality, and benefit the souls of my impenitent friends !
7. I will improve opportunities to pray with my Chris- tian and impenitent friends.
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8. I will be CONSTANT in attending the means of grace-the Sanctuary, the Prayer-Meeting, the Lecture, the Monthly Concert, Sabbath School Teachers' Meet- ing, and other occasional Meetings. I will allow my- self NO EXCUSE, extraordinaries excepted.
9. I will be ACTIVE in benevolent objects, and will engage in none that render me censorious and suspicious.
10. I will seek to RETAIN truth which I hear from the pulpit, and which I gain by reading. I will con- terse upon it, and pray that it may be sanctified to myself and others.
11. I will read portions of the Bible, and perform the duty of SECRET PRAYER DAILY !
12. I will SPEAK EVIL, of and HATE no one, will be KIND to ALL, looking upon and treating every human being as a neighbor and a friend !
13. As I may die suddenly and soon, I will. in the secret place of prayer, peruse these resolutions on SATURDAY evening of each week, or if prevented doing it then, will do it on SABBATH morning or evening. Trusting in the BLOOD OF SPRINKLING, and in the grace of God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. the GOD OF THE EVERLASTING COVENANT, I will seek to be READY for death and the JUDGMENT !
D 2844385.3
MAY 75
N. MANCHESTER, INDIANA
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