USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Springfield > Manual and catalogue of the First Church of Christ, in Springfield, Mass. issued, Jan. 1866 > Part 1
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Gc 974.402 Sp8spf 1851581
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01105 4175
.
44-484
MANUAL AND CATALOGUE
OF
let
The First Church of Christ.
IN
SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.
-
ISSUED JANUARY, 1866.
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO
ALBANY : CHARLES VAN BENTHUYSEN'S STEAM PRINTING HOUSE, 407 BROADWAY. 1866.
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1851581
MANUAL
The first Church of Christ. OF
SPRINGHILLD,
NEWB RRY LIBRARY CHICAGO
.
3664
.
Historical Sketch.
SPRINGFIELD was settled by emigrants from Roxbury in the spring of 1636. The first church was probably organized during the next year, 1637, and Rev. GEORGE MOXON was the first Pastor. He had received Episcopal ordination in England, and was dismissed, at his own request, in 1652. His successor, Rev. PELATIAH GLOVER, of Dorchester, was settled in 1661, and continued in office till his death, at the age of fifty-five years, March 29, 1692. Rev. DANIEL BREWER, a native of Roxbury, and a graduate of Harvard College in 1687, was ordained Pastor of the church May 16, 1693, and continued in the ministry till his death Nov. 5, 1733. His age was 66, and the length of his ministry forty years. Rev. ROBERT BRECK, a native of Marlboro', graduated at Harvard in 1730, and was ordained and set over this church January 26, 1736. After a ministry of forty-eight years, he died April 23, 1784, aged seventy. Rev. BEZALEEL HOWARD, D. D., was born at Bridgewater in 1753, graduated at Harvard in 1781, was ordained Pastor of the church April 27, 1785. From ill health he resigned the active duties of the ministry in 1803, and was dismissed January 25, 1809. Hle lived honored and respected in his retirement, and died at the age of eighty-three, in December, 1836. Rev. SAMUEL OSGOOD, D. D., was born at Fryburg, Me., February 3, 1784. He graduated at Dartmouth College, 1805; read theology at Dorchester, and was licensed to preach 1806; studied theology at Princeton, N. J., and was ordained and installed over the church Jannary 25, 1809. In March, 1854, he resigned the active duties of the pastorate ; but continued actively employed in doing good, preaching in vacant pulpits, visiting the poor and destitute of the city, to the time of his death, December 8, 1862, in the seventy-ninth year of his age, and the fifty-fourth of his ministry. The present Pastor was ordained and installed November 15, 1854.
The history of this church is a noted instance of the permanence of the pastoral relation. From the time of its organization to the settlement of the present Pastor-a period of 217 years, the church has had but six Pastors, and has been without a settled Pastor at different times in all only twenty years. All of the six pastors ended their ministry with their service here. Of Mr. Moxox little is known after his return to England ; it is believed that he was never again in charge of a church. Three of the five remaining died in active service, and the average ministerial life to each was thirty-nine years.
( The Apostles' Creed-the Nicene Creed, and the old Creed and Cove- nant of this church are included in this Manual, for the information of the Members, and to show the substantial harmony of our Articles of Faith, with older and accepted formulas in the Christian Church.)
The Apostles' Creed.
[ Most probably composed of various Confessions of Faith used by the primitive church in baptismal services.]
I BELIEVE in God. the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth : and in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord ; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost ; born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried ; He descended into Hell (or into the place of departed spirits.) The third day He rose from the dead ; He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty ; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost ; the Holy Catholic Church; the Communion of Saints ; the Forgiveness of Sins; the Resurrection of the body, and the Life Everlasting. Amen.
The Airene Creed.
[ Adopted by the First General Council of the Christian Church, held at Nice, A. D. 325.]
I BELIEVE in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth. and of all things visible and invisible : and in one Lord Jesus Christ. the only begotten Son of God, Begotten of His Father before all worlds ; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, Being of one substance with the Father ; By whom all things were made ; Who for us men, and for our salvation came down from Heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried : and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures : and ascended into Heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father, and he shall come again with glory, to judge both the quick and the dead ; whose kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified ; who spake by the prophets. And I believe one Catholic and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins ; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Creed and Covenant.
[ Used by this Church from its organization 1637 till 1821.]
YOU PROFESSING your serious belief of the Christian religion, as it is contained in the Sacred Scriptures, do now seriously and very solemnly give up yourself to God, in our Lord Jesus Christ. resolving, with His help, to conform your life to the rules of His Holy religion so long as you live : and repenting of all things wherein you have transgressed, you give yourself to the Lord Jehovah, who is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and receive Him as your God and Portion.
You give yourself to the Lord Jesus Christ, and rely upon Him as the Head of His people, in the covenant of grace, and as your prophet, priest and king forever.
You give yourself to this Church of His, engaging with His help, in the Communion thereof to attend upon all the ordinances of the Gospel, so long as your opportunity to be thereby edified shall here be continued to you.
Baptismal Covenant.
DEARLY BELOVED. Believing that the Covenant God made with Abraham, for himself and his posterity, in respect to all spiritual gifts and blessings, has been continued in this Dispensation and fully ratified by Jesus Christ, the Messenger of the Covenant, to all His believing people, and recognising in the seal of Baptism, divinely appointed, the spiritual truth that our Saviour Christ, who commanded it to be administered, will, by the power of His Holy Spirit, effectually work in the hearts of His elect, in time convenient, all that is meant and signified by the same.
You now present this child to the Lord in this public way to be His forever, and you do solemnly promise to instruct him in the principles of the Gospel : to maintain before Him a life of prayer and godliness, and to endeavor in all Christian fidelity, to bring him up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord-thus by the Divine blessing fitting him for the communion and fellowship of saints in the Church on Earth and in Heaven.
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Infant Baptism.
THE Scriptures on which we rest for authority in Infant Baptism, are the following :
Ist. The Covenant God made with Abraham included blessings for the posterity of Believers :- (len. 17 : 7, " And I will establish my Covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee, in their generations for an everlasting Covenant : to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee."
And when the Apostle Peter preached, he urged repentance and baptism on this ground : " For the promise is unto you and to your children." No one denies that Jewish children were included with their parents in this covenant.
2d. This Covenant, God made with Abraham, was not abolished with the Jewish ritual. For Ron. 15 : 8, "Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the Fathers." Galatians 3 : 17, " And this I say, That the covenant that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the Law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul that it should make the promise of some effect." Gal. 3 : 29, " If ve be Christ's then ye be Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."
3d. The Covenant with its ancient seal of circumcision had a spiritual meaning. As it was renewed to the church in Christ, the same import attends its meaning under the seal of baptism.
Colossians 2d, 11, 12, " In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, buried with him in baptism . wherein ye also are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead."
4th. Our Lord recognized this rite in his ministry. The disciples kept back the little children from him, Mark 10 : 14, " But when Jesus saw it he was much displeased, and said unto them, 'Suffer the little children to come unto ine, and forbid them not, for of such is the Kingdom of God.'"
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FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST.
5th. One-third of the baptisms mentioned in the New Testament were household baptisms. Speaking of Lydia, who believed, the record Acts 16 : 15 says, " She was baptised, and her household." Again in the 33d verse, when the jailer believed, " he was baptised, he and all his straightway." 1 Cor. 1 : 16, Paul says, " And I baptised also the household of Stephanus."
6th. We practice this rite because the Scriptures declare the faith of one of the parents sufficient to authorize the seal of the covenant. 1 Cor. 7 : 14, " For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband ; else were your children unclean, but now are they holy." This was spoken to a Christian Church, and the simple meaning of it is : that if the faith of one parent was not under the promise, then the children would be out of the covenant, but now they are under it, and entitled to its seal.
2
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Articles of Faith and Covenant,
ADOPTED BY THE FIRST CHURCH IN SPRINGFIELD, January 5, 1821.
ARTICLE I.
WE believe that there is but one God, the Creator, Preserver and Moral Governor of the universe ; a being of infinite power, knowledge. wisdom, justice, goodness and truth : the self-existent. independent and immutable fountain of good ; that the mode of divine existence is such as lays a foundation for a distinction into three persons- the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, and that these three are one in essence, and equal in power and glory.
1 Cor. viii : 4-" There is none other God but one."
John i : 3-"All things were made by him ; and without him was not any thing made that was made,"
Mal. iii : 6-" For I am the Lord, I change not."
Deut. xxxii : 4-" A God of truth and without iniquity ; just and right is he."
Col. ii : 3-" In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." 1 John v : 7-" There are Three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost ; and these three are one."
John x : 30-" I and my Father are one."
John xv : 26-" Even the Spirit of Truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me."
Matt. xxviii : 19-" Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."
ARTICLE II.
We believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testament were given by inspiration of God ; that they are profitable for doctrine, for correction, for reproof, and for instruction in righteousness, and that they are our only rule of doctrinal belief and religious practice.
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FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST.
II Tim. iii : 16-" All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."
II Pet. i : 21-" For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man ; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
Isaiah viii : 20-" To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them."
ARTICLE III.
We believe that God has made all things for himself ; that known unto him are all his works from the beginning ; and that he governs all things according to the counsel of his own will : that the divine law and the principles and administration of the divine government are perfectly holy, just and good ; and that all rational beings are bound to approve of them as such.
Cor. i : 16-" For by him were all things created that are in Heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions, or principalities or powers ; all things were created by him and for him."
Acts xv : 18-" Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world."
Deut. xxxii : 4-" He is the Rock, his work is perfect for all his ways are judgment : a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he."
Mat. xxii : 37-" Jesus said unto him, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind."
ARTICLE IV.
We believe that God at first created man in his own image, in a state of rectitude and holiness, and that he fell from that state by transgressing the divine command in the article of forbidden fruit ; that in consequence of the apostacy, the heart of man in his natural state. is destitute of holiness, and in a state of positive disaffection with the law, character and government of God ; and that all men previous to regeneration are dead in trespasses and sins.
Gen. i : 27-" So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him : male and female created he them."
Cor. iii : 10-" Put on the new man which, after God, is created in righteousness and true holiness."
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FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST.
Gen. iii : 6-" And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did cat."
Rom. v : 17-" For if by one man's offence death reigned by one."
Rom. v : 12-" Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin ; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned."
Ep. ii : 1-" And you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins."
ARTICLE V.
We believe that Christ, the Son of God, has by his obedience, sufferings and death made atonement for sin : that he is the only Redeemer of sinners ; and that all who are saved will be altogether indebted to the grace and mercy of God for their salvation.
John iii : 16-" For God so loved the world that hegave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life."
Acts iv : 12-Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
Ep. ii : 8-" For by grace are ye saved through faith ; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God."
Rom. iii : 24-" Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."
ARTICLE VI.
We believe that although the invitations of the Gospel are such, that whosoever will, may come and take of the waters of life freely, yet the depravity of the human heart is such, that no man will come to Christ, except the Father, by the special and efficacious influences of his spirit draw him.
Rev. xxii : 17-" And the Spirit and the Bride say come, and let him that heareth say, come, and let him that is athirst, come, and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." See also, Is. lv : 1.
John vi : 44-"No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me, draw him ; and I will raise him up at the last day."
Phil. ii : 13-" For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."
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FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST.
ARTICLE VII.
We believe that those who embrace the Gospel were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, that they should be holy, and without blame before him in love ; and that they are saved, not by works of righteousness which they have done, but according to the distinguishing merey of God, through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth.
Eph. i : 4 -- " According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love."
Tit. iii : 5-" Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost."
II Thes. ii : 13-" Because God hath from the beginning chosen yon to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth."
ARTICLE VIII.
We believe that those who cordially embrace Christ, although they may be left to fall into sin, never will be left finally to fall away and perish : but will be kept by the power of God through faith, unto salvation.
Ps. xxxvii : 24-"Though he fall he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord unholdleth him with his hand."
Phil. i : 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." I Cor. i : 8-" Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ."
John vi : 54-" Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life ; and I will raise him up at the last day."
Jer. xxxii : 40-"And I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me."
ARTICLE IX.
We believe that watchfulness over the life, holy meditation, a conscientious attendance upon public, family and secret worship, together with the steady practice of righteousnes, truth, sincerity and charity towards man, and of sobriety, chastity and temperance towards ourselves, arc the indispensable duties of every Christian.
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FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST.
Ps. i : 2-" But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night."
Heb. x : 25-" Not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together as the manner of some is."
Jer. x : 25-" Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not and upon the families that call not on Thy name."
Matt. vi : 6-" But thou when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door pray to thy Father, which is in secret ; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."
Matt. xxii : 37-39-" Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."
Gal. v : 22-24-" But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts."
ARTICLE X.
We believe that there will be a general resurrection of the bodies both of the just and of the unjust ; that all mankind must one day stand before the judgment seat of Christ, to receive a just and final sentence of retribution according to the deeds done in the body ; and that at the day of judgment, the state of all will be unalterably fixed ; and that the punishment of the wicked, and the happiness of the righteous will be endless. -
John v : 26-28-" Marvel not at this ; for the hour is coming in 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."
II Thes. i : 7-10-" When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven, with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ ; who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power ; when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe, in that day."
Matt. xxv : 34-" Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."
Matt. xxv : 41-" Then shall he say unto them on the left hand, depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared far the devil and his angels."
ARTICLE XI.
We believe that Christ has a visible Church in the world, into which none in the sight of God, but real believers, and
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FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST.
none in the sight of man but visible believers have right of admission.
Acts ii : 47-" And the Lord added to the Church daily, such as should be saved."
II Cor. vi : 17-" Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing ; and I will receive you."
Ps. 1 : 16-" But unto the wicked God saith what hast thou to do, to declare my statutes, or that should'st take my covenant in thy mouth."
ARTICLE XII.
We believe that the sacraments of the New Testament are baptism and the Lord's Supper ; that believers in regular Church standing only ean consistently partake of the Lord's Supper, and that visible believers and their households only, can consistently be admitted to the ordinance of baptism.
I Cor. xi : 23-26-"That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread ; and when he had given thanks he brake it and said, Take, eat ; this is my body which is broken for you ; this do in remembrance of me.
" After the same manner also he took the cup when he had snpped, saying, this cup is the New Testament of my blood ; this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
" For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink of this cup, ye do show the Lord's death, till he come."
Acts viii : 36-37-" What doth hinder me to be baptized ? And Philip said, if thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said : I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." Luke xviii : 16-" But Jesus called them unto him and said, suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God."
Acts ii : 39-" For the promise is unto you, and to your children."
I Cor. vii : 14-" For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; else were your children unclean ; but now are they holy."
Acts xvi : 33-" And was baptised, he and all his straightway."
form of Covenant.
You do now in the presence of God and man, avouch the Lord Jehovah, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, to be your GOD, the supreme object of your affections, and your chosen portion forever. You cordially acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ in all his mediatorial offices, Prophet, Priest and King, as your only Saviour and final Judge; and the Holy Spirit as your Sanctifier, Comforter and Guide. You humbly and cheerfully devote yourself to God, in the everlasting covenant of grace. You consecrate all your powers and faculties to his service and glory ; and you promise to take the scriptures as the rule of your life and conversation ; and that through the assistance of his spirit and grace you will cleave to him as your chief good; that you will give diligent attention to his word and ordinances, to family and secret prayer, and to the observance of his Sabbath; that you will seek the honor of his name and the interest of his kingdom ; and that henceforth denying all ungodliness, and every worldly lust, you will live soberly, righteously, and godly, in the world.
You do now cordially join yourself to this as a Church of Christ, engaging to submit to its discipline, so far as conformable to the rules of the gospel, and solemnly covenanting to strive, as much as in you lies, for its gospel peace, edification and purity ; and to walk with its members in christian love, faithfulness, circumspection, meckness and sobriety; and abandoning the sinful pleasures and amusements of the world, to prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God .- Thus you covenant, promise and engage.
( All the members of the Church here rise.)
We do now receive you into our communion, and promise to watch over you with christian affection and tenderness, ever treating you in love as a member of the body of Christ, who is head over all things to the church. This we do, imploring of the Great Shepherd of Israel, our Lord and Redeemer, that both you and we may have wisdom and grace to be faithful in his covenant, and to glorify him with the holiness which becomes his house forever. Amen.
Reception of Members from other Churches.
ON the Communion Sabbath, immediately after the admission of those who profess their faith-(or if none are thus admitted) before the communion service, the names of those whose letters have been accepted, shall be read, together with the names of Churches recommending them, and rising in their places they receive the following address :
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