USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Foxborough > Confession of faith and covenant of the Orthodox Congregational Church in Foxborough, Mass > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Gc 974.402 F83fob 1822084
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01100 0459
THE
CONFESSION OF FAITH AND
COVENANT
OF THE
Orthudar Congregational Churchy
IN
FOXBOROUGH, MASS.
"For with the heart, man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation."
BOSTON : PRINTED BY J. B. CHISHOLM, 5 WATER STREET. 1856.
1822084
/: ·
28443 .2 D FOXBOROUGH, MASS. ORTHODOX CONGREGATIONAL CHURCT The confession of faith and covenant of the Orthodox Congregational church in Foxborough, Mass ... Boston, Chisholm, 1856. 24p.
"Names of members": p.18-24.
,,2545
THE Church in Foxborough was formed on the 25th day of November, A. D. 1779. In the Covenant of the Church at its formation, the members of it adopted, in subordination to the Holy Scriptures, the Cambridge Plat- form of Ecclesiastical Government and Dis- cipline, which was formed A. D. 1648 by the Synod at Cambridge. And as their subordi- nate standard, in respect to doctrines, they adopted the Confession of Faith that was formed A. D. 1680, by the Synod at Boston. On the 2d day of March, A. D. 1820, the Church adopted the Confession of Faith, and on the 17th day of June, A. D. 1855, the Covenant, that are printed by their vote, and for their use, in this Pamphlet.
Articles of Faith and Covenant.
ADDRESS.
w ...
BELOVED FRIENDS :
You have presented yourselves, in this public manner, to make a profession of your religious faith, and to enter into covenant with God and with this Church. God, angels, and this assembly are witnesses to the trans- action. The profession which you now make, and the engagements into which you now enter, are of the most solemn moment ; they will be heard on high, and will be exhibited. on your trial at the last day.
Attend then to your
CONFESSION OF FAITH.
1. There is one, and but one God, who is the Creator, and Preserver, and Governor of
1*
.
6
the Universe, and who possesses every natu- ral and moral perfection.
Deut. vi., 4. 1 Cor. viii., 4, 6. Gen. I chap. Heb. iii., 4. Neh. ix., 6. Prov. xvi., 33. Dan, iv., 34, 35. Job. xi.7-9. Ex. xxxiv., 6,7. 1 John, iv., 8.
2. The Bible was written by holy men, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit ; and it is a perfect rule of faith and practice.
2 Tim. iii., 16. 2 Pet. i., 21. Is. viii., 20. Mat. xxii., 29. Gal. i. 8, 9. Rev. xxii., 18, 18. Ps. xix., 7-10.
3. God exists in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit ; and these three are one God, the same in essence and equal in every divine perfection.
I John v., 7. Mat. xxviii., 19. 2 Cor. xiii., 14. Mat. vii., 21, and x., 32, and xx , 23. John v., 17. Mat. viii., 29. John i., 34. Heb. i, 3, 8. Job xxvi., 13. John xiv., 16, 17. Acts v., 3, 4. Rom. viii., 26, 27.
4. God has for his own glory, fore-ordain- ed whatsoever comes to pass ; and he works all things after the counsel of his own will.
Eph. i., 11. Rom. ix., 17-23. Phil. ii., 13. Rev. xvii., 17, and iv., 11. Eccl. iii., 14. Is. xlv., 7, and xlvi., 9, 10. Prov. xvi. 4, and xix., 21, and xxi., 1, and xvi., 1, 9. Job xxiii, 13, 14. Is. xliii. 7, and xlviii .. 11. Amos iii., 6. Mat. vi., 13. Ps. xxxiii,, 11. Dan. iv., 35. Acts ii., 23, and xv., 19.
5. God created Adam perfectly holy, and constituted him the representative of all his posterity, suspending their moral character upon his probationary conduct.
Gen. i., 26, 27. Eccl. vii., 29. Rom. v., 12-19. 1 Cor. xv., 21, 22.
6. In consequence of the fall of Adam, all mankind are by nature totally depraved in
7
their moral character; and by their impeni- tence and unbelief deserve to be punished with eternal death.
Gen. vi., 5, and viii., 21. Jobxv., 16, and xxv., 4. Ps. xiv., 1-3, and li., 5. Is. xlviii., 8. Jer. iii., 5. Mat. xii., 34. Rom. i., ii., iii. chaps., and viii., 7, 8. 2 Cor. v., 14. Eph. ii., 1-3. Gen. ii., 17. Deut. xxvii., 15-26. Ezek. xviii., 4. Rom. vi., 23. Gal. iii., 10. Eccl. ix., 3. Jer. xvii., 9.
7. The Lord Jesus Christ, who is God and man, has, by his death on the cross, made an atonement for the sins of the whole world.
Mat. xxvi., 28. Rom. viii., 32. 2 Cor. v., 14, 15, and viii , 9. Gal. iti., 13, and iv., 4, 5. Eph. i., 7. I Pet. i., 18-20. Rom. v., 6, 8, 19. 1 Tim. ii , 5, 6. Heb. ii., 9. 1 John ii., 2.
8. Through the atonement, salvation is freely offered to sinners in the gospel; yet they all naturally reject this gracious offer, and refuse to come to Christ that they may have eternal life.
Is. xlv., 22, and lv., 1-3. Mat. xi., 28, 29, and xxii., 4. Mark xvi., 15. John vi., 35, and vii., 37. Rev. xxii., 17. Mat. xxii., 3, 5, 6. Luke xiv., 18-20, and xix., 14. John iii., 19, and v., 40. Prov. i., 24, 25, 29, 30.
9. God has, in the covenant of redemp- tion, given to Christ a certain number of mankind, who were from eternity predesti- nated to be holy, and to be heirs of eternal glory.
.
Is. liii., 10. John x., 27-29, and xvii., 6, 9, 11, 24. Rom. viii., 29-39. Acts xiii., 48. Rom. ix., 11, and xi., 5, 7. Eph. i., 4, 5, 11. 2 Thes. ii., 13. 2 Tim. i., 9. 1 Pet. i., 2.
10. The Holy Spirit, by an act of special grace, renews the hearts of all the elect, and
.
8
causes them, in the present life, to accept the salvation of the Gospel.
Ps. cx , 3. John iii., 5. Eph. i., 19, and ii , 1. Col. ii., 12, 13. 1 Pet. i., 26. 1 Cor. vi., 11. Tit. iii., 5. Ezek. xi., 19. 1 Thes. i., 5, 6. 1 Pet. i., 12. 1 Cor. ji, 9, 10. 2 Cor. v., 17. John xiv., 26. Luke x., 21.
11. The foundation of the elect's forgive- ness and salvation from endless punishment, is the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, in which they become interested by true faith alone ; yet God will reward them for all their holy services.
Is. liii., 4-6, 8, 11, 12, and xxviii., 16. Mat. xxvi., 28. Acts xx., 28. Eph. i., 6, 7. Col. i., 14, 20. Heb. ix., 22 26, 28. 1 John i., 7. Rev. i., 5. Rom. iii., 24. Eph. v., 2. John j., 12, and i:i .. 36, and vi., 47. Aets xvi., 31. Gal. ii , 20. Rom. iii., 25, 26, 28, 30 and v., 1. Eph. ii., S. Rom. 1v., 5. Mat. x., 42, and xxv., 34-40. 2 Cor. ix., 6 Gal. vi., 8.
12. God promises to preserve all who have been renewed in the temper of their mind, from final apostacy, and to conduct them, through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth, into the kingdom of glory.
Job. xvii., 9. Ps. cxxv. Prov. iv., 18. John iv., 14, and vi., 39, 40, 54-58, and x., 28, 29. Rom. viii., 30, 33-39. 1 Pet. i., 5. 1 Thes. v , 9, 10, 24. 2 Thes. iii., 3. Plnl. i., 6. Col. iii , 3, 4. John xvii., 11, 24.
13. All who were not given to Christ, in the covenant of redemption, will persist in sin, and be formed, by their impenitence and
9
unbelief, into vessels of wrath, and fitted for endless perdition.
Rom. ix., 22, and xi., 7-10. 1 Peter, ii., 8. John ix., 39, and xii., 37-40. Mat. xiii., 13-15. 1 Thes. v., 9. Is. vi., 9, 10, and xxviii., 13. Ps. Ixix., 22. 2 Cor. ii., 16.
14. None but the cordial friends of Christ ought to partake of the Lord's supper; and every church ought to require a profession of holy love to the Lord Jesus Christ, of all whom they admit to their communion.
r Mat. xxii., 11, 12, 13. 1 Cor. x., 16, 21. 2 Cor. vi., 14-18. 1 Cor. xi., 23-29. Acts ii., 47.
15. Adult believers who have not been baptized, and the children of professing be- lievers, are the proper subjects of baptism.
Mat. xxviii., 19. Acts viii., 12, 37, and ii., 38, 39, and xvi., 15, 33. 1 Cor. i., 16, and vii., 14. Mat. xix., 14.
16. God has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ, who will then receive the right- eous to endless happiness, and sentence the wicked to endless punishment.
.
Eccl. xii., 14. Acts xvii., 31. Jude vi., 14, 15. 2 Peter ii., 4. Rom. ii., 16, and xiv., 10, 12. Mat. xii., 36, and xvi., 27. and xxv., 31-46. John v., 22, 27. Rev. xx., 12, 13. Luke xviii., 29, 30. John iii., 15, 16, and vi., 27. 2 Cor. v., 1, 10. 1 Peter i., 4, and v., 4. Rom. ii., 7. Rev. iii., 5, 12, 21, and viiy 9-17, and xxi., 4. Is. Ixvi., 21. Mat. xiii., 40-42, 47- 50. Mark ix., 43-48. Luke xiii., 27, 28, and xii., 10. Rom. ii. 5, 8, 9. Phil. iii., 19. 2 Thes. i., 6-10. Heb. I., 26-31. 2 Peter iii., 7. Rev. xiv., 10, 11, and xxi., 8.
All these things you heartily profess and believe. [The ordinance of Baptism is here administered.]
THE NEWR
10
Attend now to your
COVENANT.
IN the presence of God, his holy angels, and this assembly, you do now solemnly avow the Lord Jehovah-Father, Son, and Holy Ghost- to be your God and your portion for- ever. You do solemnly devote all your facul- ties, powers, and possessions to the service and glory of your Maker; covenanting that you will be the Lord's forever ; engaging that, through the aid of his Spirit, you will cleave to him as your chief good, will love him su- premely and obey him faithfully ; that you will give diligent attendance to his word and ordinances ; that you will seek, above all things, the honor and interests of his king- dom ; and that you will aim, without ceasing, to adorn your profession by a blameless life, and by holiness of heart.
You do also now cordially join yourselves to this Church of Christ, and engage to sub- mit to the regular administration of its gov- ernment and discipline; to strive earnestly for its peace, edification, and purity ; and to walk with its members in Christian faithful- ness, fellowship, and love.
Trusting in the grace of God, you thus cove- nant and engage.
11
[The members of the Church here rise.]
In consequence of these professions and engagements, we, the members of this Church, do now affectionately receive you to our com- munion, and in the name of Christ declare you entitled to all its visible privileges ; we welcome you to the fellowship with us in the blessings of the gospel, and on our part en- gage to watch over you with Christian fidelity and tenderness, and seek your spiritual edifi- cation ; imploring of the great Head of the Church, that both you and we may be faith- ful to our Covenant, and glorify him with the holiness which becometh his house forever.
ADDRESS.
BELOVED IN THE LORD :
Let it never be forgotten, that you have here come under obligations from which you cannot escape ; you can never withdraw from the Covenant which has now been confirmed ; wherever you go, these vows will be with you ; they will follow you to the bar of God, and will abide upon you forever.
May the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work, to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ.
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless be- fore the presence of his glory with exceeding joy; to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.
1
13
Ecclesiastical Principles and Rules.
ADOPTED 1855.
1. A Church consists of a number of visi- ble saints, who unite and bind themselves, by a public profession of the Christian religion; and by a mutual covenant, to maintain reli- gious communion, in the worship and service of God, and the ordinances and discipline of the gospel.
2. Such a company of saints possesses all' the power which the Lord Jesus Christ has given to his church; and is warranted, inde- pendently of any other body, to exercise in- his name the authority, which he has given in the scriptures for the maintenance of the- peace, order, purity and happiness of his churches.
3. A church may exist, and has a right to; act, respecting all its interests and concerns, previously to the election and appointment of its standing officers.
4. It is the duty and privilege of a church to choose and appoint its own officers, who are bound, when they are regularly inducted to office, to act as servants of the church for
2
14
the promotion of its spiritual interests in the duties of their appointment.
5. The ordinary and permanent officers of a church are ministers and deacons; but in addition to these permanent officers, this church shall choose annually, by ballot, a Clerk, Treasurer and Committee of three, which Committee, with the permanent offi- cers, shall constitute an Executive Committee of this church.
6. It is the office and duty of a minister to preside in the church, to preach the gospel, to administer the ordinances, and to labor publicly and privately for the spiritual welfare of all the souls that are committed to his charge.
7. It is the office and duty of a deacon to perform any stated or occasional service, that is assigned by the church, and particularly to serve the church, at the administration of the Lord's Supper, and in the communication of their charity, to relieve the temporal necessi- ties of its needy members.
8. It shall be the duty of the Clerk to keep an accurate record of all the doings of the church.
9. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer, under the direction of the Executive Commit- tee, to take charge of and disburse the moneys of the church, and the beneficence of the con- gregation, and report annually.
10. It shall be the duty of the Executive Committee-First, to have the oversight of
15
the general subject of discipline-Second, to examine and propound candidates for admis- sion to the church-Third, to audit the Treasurer's account.
11. Candidates for admission to this church, after having been examined by the Executive Committee, at a regular church meeting, shall stand propounded for at least two weeks.
12. Persons received on profession shall present either a written or verbal statement of their christian experience.
13. Persons received by letter, as well as by profession, shall give a public assent to the Articles of Faith and Covenant.
14. A church is bound, by its covenant, and by the requirements and exhortations of the scriptures, to be attentive to the conduct and state of all its members, to maintain and manifest a spirit of christian affection and - sympathy, and to watch for the prevention of unchristian and disorderly conversation and behavior.
15. If any member of a church do any in- jury or give any offence to another member, it is his duty to go without delay to the one whom he has injured or offended, and make a christian acknowledgment and confession of his fault, and render satisfaction to his offend- ed or injured brother.
16. Whenever any member of a church is guilty of a scandalous offence, it is the duty of any other member, who has a knowledge of
16
the offence, to go directly to the offender, and proceed with him according to the instruc- tions of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the eight- centh chapter of Matthew's gospel.
17. When the private steps have been un - successfully taken, the complaint before the church, in a definite charge or charges with the names of the witnesses, shall in all cases be presented in writing, signed by the com- plainants.
18. No member shall be tried before the church for any offence, unless the specific charge or charges shall have been presented to him, in writing, with the names of the witnesses, at least two weeks before the day of trial.
19. A church ought to excommunicate every offending member who persists in his offence, or does not afford evidence of repent- ance and reformation, after dealing with him according to the scriptures.
20. An excommunicated person may not be restored but upon a public confession of his sin, a profession of repentance, and a re- formation of his conduct.
21. As psalmody is a very important part of religious worship, it is the duty of a church to take proper measures for the decent and devout performance of this service.
22. It is expedient for a church to obtain the judgment and advice of other churches, in important and difficult cases.
17
23. There shall be a church meeting held once in two months, at such regular time as the permanent officers shall select, for busi- ness, if any, and for devotional exercises. A special meeting may be called at any time by the Pastor, Deacons, or Clerk, by a notice at any public religious meeting, or by seasonably notifying each resident member of the church. All business meetings shall be opened by prayer ; and in the absence of the Pastor, the senior Deacon shall preside.
24. The Lord's Supper will be administer- ed once in two months.
25. The annual meeting of this church, for the choice of its temporary officers, shall be holden on the first Thursday of March.
.
2
18
NAMES OF MEMBERS.
The following persons were admitted at the dates under which their names are found.
Those marked (*) deceased. Thus (+) dismissed.
1794.
Aug 10. *Sela Braman. 1797. July 16. *Mary Carpenter. 1801.
May 6. .. ..
*Junia Leonard. Elizabeth Shaw.
" 16.
*Susanah Sumner.
66 Jacob Leonard.
Mille Leonard.
*Hannah Sumner. 4
1803.
Apr. 10.
Abigail Payson. 1805.
Aug. 25. *Mary Pratt.
.. .. *Anna Robinson. 1806.
Jan 12. *Olive Grover. 1808.
July 17.
Polly Pratt. 1810.
Dec. 16.
*Jerusha Painc. 1815. Dec. 17.
Esther White.
19
1816.
March 3.
Melatiah Everett. Nancy Everett. +Clarinda Hodges. *Samuel Forrest. Polly Comey. Leonora Winslow.
May 5. July 7. Sept. 1. 66
Isaac Winslow.
Ilannah White,
Polly Pettee.
Ruth Grover.
1817.
Jan. 5.
*Chloe Pettee. *Caty Everett.
Feb. 29.
*Sarah Morse. Naney Carpenter.
Sept. 4. .. ..
*John Morse, 2d. Charlotte Morse.
1820.
Jan. 2.
Mira Comey. 1823.
May 4.
Bethiah Leonard.
1826.
July 2. *Sally Plimpton. 1828.
Jan. 5. t Anna Carpenter.
*Sarah Morse.
July 6. *Harvey Pettee.
Sept. 7. *Rev Nathan Holman. 1829.
Oct. 3. *Mary Bullard. 1830.
Aug. Aug.
t Ephraim Grover. t Caroline Grover.
66
66
Abigail Belcher. Mary Sumner. James Carpenter. Eunice Comey.
20
Aug. Sept. 4.
Oct. 6.
.. ..
Dec. 15.
1831. Lois Brown. * Anna Paine. *Sophia Pettec. Fanny Grover. Susan Morse. Harriet Carpenter.
William P. Payson.
Rachel B. Shepard.
Elvira Shepard.
Eliza Shepard.
*Alvin Grover.
1832.
James Carpenter, 2d. Mariette Pettee. Silvanus Robinson.
*Jason Comey. *Lucinda Paine.
1834.
Oliver Comey. Willard Pettee. Hannah Kerr. Experience R. Sumner. 1835.
Betsey Carpenter. Edson Carpenter. 1836.
Levi R. Hewins. Emily Hewins.
Newell Morse.
Sally F. Morse.
66
Eliza Leonard.
Martha Comey.
May
Nov. Nov.
Daniel L. Hewins. Fanny Everett. 1837. t Alvah Phelps. +Mary J. Phelps. Leonard Morse.
July.
16
Nov. 2.
66 6 €
March 2.
March 6.
21
Dec. 25. .. ..
March 4
May 3. .. .. .. .. July 5.
..
66
+ Mary B. Leonard.
+ Rebecah Williams.
Pamelia Gerey.
Calvin Grover.
Tryphena Comey. Lydia Comey.
1841
Eliza M. Fales. Eliza Hersey. David Hersey. 1842.
*Hannah Billings. *Sarah Paine. Catherine Payson.
*Rowena Clarke.
+Elbridge H. Packard.
March 2. :
March 2. .. .. May 5.
Jacob Hersey. Polly Hersey. 1838. *Harriet HI. Dean.
1840.
Louisa Carpenter
+Rev. Daniel J. Poor.
+Susan F. Poor. Cordelia M. Grover. Emeline Dean.
Sept. 6 ..
May 2.
July 1.
June 30.
Sept. 1. .. .. Nov. 3. .. ..
Jan. 1. .. ..
tNancy Packard. 1843. +Mary E. Jones. *Hannah Boyden. Sandford Robinson. Calvin Forrest. Abigail Carpenter. + Louisa Merrifield. *Simon Pettee. Hannah Sumner. Manley Grover. + Martha R. Hitchcock. +Joseph Carroll, Jr.
22
May 5.
+Benjamin Mann. + Lydia E. C. Mann. William Kerr.
+David Balcom. +Nancy F. Merrifield.
66
+Elizabeth Knapp. Catherine E. Kerr. ¡Laura Merrifield.
June 29.
+Giles Randall.
Nov. 5.
+Mrs. Randall. Polly C. Forrest.
Pamelia P. Morse.
Mary Knapp.
Charlotte E. Balcom.
Asahel Dean.
1844.
Jan. 7.
¡IIenry M. Fales. +Esther P. P. Fales.
Sept. 7.
March 1.
May.
66
Rev William Barnes.
Eunice Barnes. Shephard C. Stanley.
Mary A. Stanley.
Nathaniel T. Shepherd.
66 July. -
Jan. 66
1845. Abijah C. Dean. +Sarah II. Hersey. 1846. Alden Bieknell. *Esther Bicknell. 1848.
+ Albert Keith. 1 Charlotte Keith.
Relief Shepherd. Sarah Payson. Celia E. Pettee. 1849. + Ann Richards. *Hepzibath Metcalf. Luey Dean.
23
March.
Sept. 10. .. ..
.. ..
Jan. 6. March 3. .. .. Nov. 3.
Jan. 5. .. .. May 4.
..
66 6:
Nov. 5. .. .. .. ..
Sarah R. Carpenter. Hannah Boyden. Mary Boyden. 1852.
Jan. 4.
Annette P. Hewins.
.
Anna P. Carpenter.
Eliza W. Leonard.
Joseph G. S. Hitchcock.
Ellen C. Hitchcock.
Sena Sumner.
Hannah N. Shaw.
Maria Knapp.
Sena Boyden.
Sarah II. Shepherd.
Almira L. Sumner.
Abby A. Marston.
Mary A. Wiley.
Frances M. Dunbar.
Sept. 4. .. ..
Erastus Grover. Caroline Grover. Joseph G. Pettee. ¡ Mary A. Carey. Mary E. Sweeting. 1850.
Mary K. Alden. Mary Bassett. Louisa Gray. ¡Laura A. Cowell. 1851.
Martha B. Skinner. *Elizabeth H. Morse. S. Almira Alden. / Susan Payson. Louisa E. Hewins. Charles N. Morse. Nancy II. Cogswell.
.. .. July 4.
6.
66 .
Sept. 5.
Juliette F. Sumner. 1853. Amos Johnson. Eunice B. Johnson.
24
July "
4 2. Sept. 3. ..
May 4. July 1. 66 66
66 66
Maria L. Fisher.
.. 6.
66
Elwin B. Leonard.
Lurana A. Leonard.
Albert Fisher, Jr.
66
Adelaide Fisher.
66 6.
Harriet L. Dean.
..
66
Hannah W. Carey.
Eliza G. Pettee,
Isabell Sawyer. Andrew J. Lancaster.
Daniels Carpenter.
Stephen L. Boyden.
Emeline Boyden.
Sanford E. Comey. Mary A. Comey.
66
66
.. ..
Nov. 2.
Jan. 5. .. ..
Sybel E. Leonard. Antoinette F'. Carpenter. Sarah E. Sullivan. 1856. Joseph Carroll. Lemira Carroll. Robert Kerr. Jane Kerr. Thomas II. Wood.
16 66
66
Elizabeth C. Wood.
66 66
66
1854. Daniel Howe. Sally Ilowe. Joseph E. Hayward. Rev. Edmund Y. Garrette. Francenia W. Garrette. 1855. ITuldah W. Pierce.
Joseph Jewett. Adeline Jewett.
Charles Fisher.
Lewis Leonard.
Sarah T. Carey.
66
Sept. 2. .. .. 66
66 66
66
Mary D. Carey.
Mary E. Hartshorn. Sarah E. Jewett. Mary Page.
7235 1
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.