USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Chicopee > Manual of the second Congregational Church, Chicopee, and catalogue of officers and members, Chicopee Falls, Mass. 1870 > Part 1
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MANUAL
OF THE
2nd econd
Congregational Church,
CHICOPEE,
AND
CATALOGUE OF OFFICERS AND MEMBERS,
CHICOPEE FALLS, MASS.
1870.
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO
CHICOPEE : GEO. V. WHEELOCK, PRINTER. 1870.
100JATAS
1822074
D CHICOPEE, MASS. SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
284418 .19
Manual of the Second Congregational church, Chicopee, and catalogue of officers and membere, Chicopee Falls, Mass., 1870. Chicopee, Thee- lock, 1870. 30p.
NL 37-4252 2545
MSOSSBI
HISTORICAL RECORD.
This Church was organized with thirty-three Members, July 3d, 1830, as the First Congregational Church in Chicopee Factory Village, Springfield, Mass.
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PASTORS.
Names.
*REV. SAMUEL NICHOLS,
July 3, 1830,
REV. DORUS CLARK,
Mar. 4, 1835,
REV. EBENEZER P. ROGERS,
REV. FREDERIC A. BARTON,
Sept. 13, 1843,
*REV. STEPHI. S. N. GREELEY, April 25, 1847, REV. WILLIAM WRIGHT,
Feb. 25, 1852,
*REY. RICHARD B. THURSTON, May 20, 1855, REV. FREDERIC ALVORD, July 21, 1858, REV. ROSWELL FOSTER, Oct. 13, 1863,
REV. JOSHUA T. TUCKER, April 8, 1868.
*Stated Supply.
DEACONS.
Names.
Chosen.
JUDAII CROSBY,
July 3, 1830,
OLIVER BOWE,
April 24, 1831,
JAMES K. FLETCHER,
June 5, 1831, Feb. 2, 1832,
ELISHA TORREY,
OLNEY ELDRIDGE,
JOSHUA COOK,
ELIAS CARTER, SAMUEL F. SCAMMON,
ANDREW HUBBARD,
GEO. S. TAYLOR,
RUSSELL S. FURNEY,
MINER KELLEY,
May 1, 1869.
Dismissed. Feb. 28, 1834.
Nov. 4, 1840. April 10, 1843. Nov. 2, 1846. July 20, 1851. July 5, 1854. May 3, 1858. April 1, 1861. June 26, 1867.
Retired. April 24, 1831. 1832.
1835. July-, 1839. Nov. 19, 1846. De'd Feb.25,'59.
Mar. 18, 1847.
May 20, 1835, July -, 1839, July 3, 1842, May 6, 1850, June 20, 1857, June 20, 1857. April 30, 1867.
Nov. 27, 1853. De'd Mar. 4,'67.
.
Installed.
Nov. 4, 1840,
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DOCTRINAL STATEMENT.
THE doctrinal basis, on which this Church was organ- ized, is expressed in the following articles.
While we deem it essential that all its members stand fast in the central truths of the Trinity in unity ; the De- ity, righteousness, and atonement of Christ ; and the work of the Holy Spirit, as necessary to regenerate the soul, to preserve it in holiness, and to prepare it to enter the heavenly kingdom ; we do not require an unqualified as- sent to all the articles herein contained as a condition of admission to this Church.
So far as is practicable, we desire uniformity of belief in all the doctrines of the Gospel, and that they should pass in daily review before the mind, and influence the heart and life ; that our graces may become more vigor- ous, active and fruitful, our conformity to the divine like- ness promoted, our joy and peace in Christ increased, and our fitness for the communion of the Church in heaven advanced.
We regard Divine Revelation as teaching-
I. 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 ;
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DOCTRINAL STATEMENT.
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 Fa- ther, the Son and the Holy Ghost; and that these three are one in essence, and equal in power and glory.
Deut. 6: 4 .- "Ilear, O Israel, The Lord our God is one Lord."
I. Cor. 8: 4 .- "There is none other God but one."
Gen. 1: 1 .- ''In the begining God created the heaven and the earth."
Heb. 3: 4 .- "He that built all things is God."
John 1: 3 .- "All things were made by Him; and without him was not anything made that was made."
Mal. 3: 6 .- "For I am the Lord, I change not."
Deut. 32: 4 .- "A God of truth and wichout iniquity : just and right is he."
Col. 2: 3 -"In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."
John 10: 30 .- "I and my Father are One."
John 15: 26 .- "Even the Spirit of Truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall tes- tify of me."
Mat. 28: 19 .- "Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Futher, and of the son and of the Holy Ghost."
Ex. 34: 6 P's. 147 : 5 Rom. 16: 27. Lev. 19: 2. Eph, 2: 4. Job 11:7. Eph. 1: 11. Jam. 1: 7. John 1:34. Heb. 1:3. John 5: 23; 5: 18. 10:38. Hleb 1: 8. John 1: 1. Matt. 28: 20. 1. John 2: 22, 23. Acts 5: 3, 4. I Cor. 2: 10, 11. John. 16: 13; 14:26. Acts 15: 28. 11. Cor. 13: 14.
II. 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 doc- trinal belief and religious practice.
II. Tim. 3: 16 :- "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doc- trine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
II. Peter 1:21 -"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 "
Isa 8: 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."
Gal. 1: 11, 12. 1. Cor. 2: 13. Jer. 23: 28. Rom. 3: 2. Hleb. 1: 1. Rev. 1 : 1, 2. John 6: 68. Deut. 4: 2, Rev. 22: 18, 19.
III. 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.
Col. 1: 16 .- "For by Ilim 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 pow - ers; all things were created by Hun and for Him."
Acts 15: 18 .- "Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world." Deut 32: 4 -' He is the Rock, His work is perfect, for all his ways ure judgment: & God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he."
Matt. 22: 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."
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DOCTRINAL STATEMENT.
Prov. 16: 4. Ts. 43: 7. Rom. 11: 36. Rev. 22: 13. Job 31: 6. Ps. 139: 1. 4. Prov. 5: 21; 15:3. Jer. 17: 10. Dan. 4:35. Prov. 19: 21. Luke 22: 22. Acts 2: 23: 4: 27, 8. Phil. 2: 13. Is. 14: 24, 27. Gen. 45: 5, 7. Acts 17: 26. 1. Tim. 1 : 8. Rom. 7 : 12.
IV. 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 ar- ticle of forbidden fruit ; that in consequence of the aposta- cy, the heart of man in his natural state, is destitute of ho- liness, and in a state of positive disaffection with the law, character and government of God ; and that all men pre- vious to regeneration are dead in trespasses and sins.
Gen. 1: 27 .- "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."
Eph. 4: 24 .- "L'ut on the new man which, after God, is created in righteousness and true ho iness."
Gen. 3: 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 eat." Rom. 5: 17 .- "For if by one man's offenee death reigned by one."
Rom. 5: 12. - "Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin ; and so death passed upon all inen, for that i'll have sinned."
Eph. 2: 1 .- " And you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sing."
Feel. 7 :: 9. Gen. 6: 3. 11: 8:21. Job 14: 4; 15:14. P's. 14: 1.3; 73:8. 9; 51:5; 53:3. Isa. 1: 5, 6: 33:6. Jer. 2: 13; 3:5: 16: 12: 17:9; 18:12. Matt. 12: 34. Mark 7: 21, 22. John 3: 6, 9. Rom. 8: 5-8. Gal. 3: 19-21. Rom. i : 20, 32; 3:9; 19; 7: 18. Matt. 8: 22. II. Cor. 5: 14. Col. 2: 13. I. Peter 4: 3. I. Cor, 2: 14. Titus 3: 3-0.
V. 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 3: 16 .- "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that who - soever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life."
Acts 4: 12 .- "Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under Heaven given vmong men, whereby we must be saved." Eph. 2: 8 .- "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God." Rom. 3:24 .- "Being justified freely by llis grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."
Rom. 3:25. Matt. 20: 28; 26: 28. Is. 53: 5, 10. lleb. 9: 14, 28. I. John, 2: 2. John 10: 11, 15, 17. I. Cor. 15: 3. II. Cor. 5: 15; 8:9. Gal. 1 : 3, 4; 2: 20; 3: 13; 4: 4, 5. Eph. 1: 7; 5:2. I. Tim. 1: 15; 2: 6. Titis 2:14. Ileb. 2: 9; 9: 12, 14, 22; 10: 12, 14, 19, 20; 13: 12. Rev. 7 : 13, 14.
VI. That although the invitations of the Gospel are such, that whosoever will may come and take of the wa- ter of life freely ; yet the depravity of the human heart is such, that no man will come to Christ, except the Father,
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DOCTRINAL STATEMENT.
by the special and efficacious influences of his Spirit, draw him.
Rev. 22: 17 .- "And the Spirit and the Bride say come, and let him that heareth say come. and let hinr that is athirst, come, and whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely." See also, Is. 55: 1.
John 6: 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. 2: 13-"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good plea- sure."
Matt. 11 : 28, 29. . John 4: 10, 14; 6:35: 7:37. Heb 2:3.9. John 3: 19; 5:40; 6:44. 65. Ezek. 33: 11. Titus 3:5. James . 1: 18. Rom. 8: 30. Col. 2: 13. I. Peter ] : 23. II. Tim. 1:9. I. Cor. 6: 11. Ezek. 36: 26. John 1: 12, 13; 6:63.
VII. 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 mercy of God, through sanctification of the Spirit and be- lief of the truth.
Eph. 1: 4-"According as IIe hath chosen us in Ifim before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love."
Titus 3: 5 -"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His merey Ife saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost." II. Thes. 2: 18-"Because God hath trom the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth."
Eph. 1: 5, 11. Jer. 31 : 3. Acts 13: 48. Rom 8: 28-50. 83: 9:11; 11:5, 7, 28. Matt. 25: 34 I. Thes. 1: 4. II. Tim. 1: 9. I. Peter 1:2. HI, Peter ]: 10. Rom 3: 20, 28; Gal. 2: 16, 19; 3:10, 11; 5:4. Rom. 4: 13; 3: 23, 31, 32. Acts 13: 39.
VIII. That those who cordially embrace Christ, although they may be left to fall into sin, never wiH be left finally to fall away and perish ; but will be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
Ps. 37: 24-"Though he fall, he shall not be utterly east down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand."
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."
I. Cor. 1: 8-"Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ "
Jolin 6: 54-" Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day,"
John 10: 9 -- "I am the door: by me if any man enter in he shall be saved."
Rom. 8: 29, 30, 38, 39: John 4: 14, 6, 37; 10: 27 -- 29; 17: 11. 12, 15. 1. Peter 1: 5. Jude 24. Prov. 4: 18. I. Thes. 5: 9, 10, 24. II. Thes. 3: 3. I. Cor. 10: 13. Job 17: 9. John 6: 39, 40. Ileb. 10: 39. John 5:24. II. Tim. 4: 18. I. John 2: 19.
IX. That watchfulness over the life, holy meditation, a conscientious attendance upon public, family and secret worship, together with the steady practice of righteous- ness, truth, sincerity and charity towards man, and of
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DOCTRINAL STATEMENT.
sobriety, chastity and temperance towards ourselves, are the indispensable duties of every Christian.
Ps. 1: 2 -- "But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night."
Ileb. 10: 25 -. "Not forsaking the the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of somne is."
Jer. 10: 25 -- "Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the fami- lies that call not on thy nante,"
Matt. 6: 6 -- "But thou when thou pravest, 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. 22: 37- 39 -- "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. Thon shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."
Gal. 5: 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 "
John 20: 19- 19. Acts 1: 13, 14; 2: 1, 42; 20:7. I. Cor. 5:4; 14: 23. Jude 19. Josh. 24: 15. Gen. 18: 19. Micah 6: 8. Luke 6: 31. Rom 12: 17. Phil, 4: 8. Jam. 5: 4. Ps 31: 18. Prov. 6: 17. 12: 19. Rev. 21: 8. II. Cor. 1: 12. Luke 10: 27. I. Cor. 13. Matt. 5: 44. Luke 6: 27. Eph. 5: 18. Prov. 23: 21. Luke 21: 34. I. Cor. 6: 9, 10. Matt. 5: 28 Gal. 6: 19, 20, 21.
X. That there will be a general resurrection of the bodies both of the just and of the unjust ; that all man- kind must one day stand before the judgment seat of Christ, to receive a just and final sentence of retribution accord- ing 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 5: 28 -29 -- "Marvel not at this; for the hour is coming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear Ifis voice, and shall come forth: they that have done good. un- to the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, nuto the resurrection of dam- nation."
II. Thes. 1 : 7 -10 -"When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven. with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus. Chiist; who shall be punished with everlasting de- struction, 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 admited in all them that believe . . in that day.
Matt. 25: 34 -- "Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed ofmy Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." Matt. 25: 41 -- "Then shall lle say unto them on the left hand. Depart from me, ye ensed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his augels."
Matt. 25: 46 -- "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal."
Acts 17:31. Matt. 12: 36; 13: 49, 50; 16: 27. John 5:22, 27. Acts 10: 42. Rem. 2: 5-11; 14: 10 -- 12. Jnde 6. 14. 15. 11. Cor. 5: 10. II Peter 3: 7. Rev. 20: 12, 13; 22: 12. I. Thes. 4: 17. Ps, 11: 6: 145: 20, Prov. 10: 29. Isa. 3: 11; 50: 11. Matt. 3: 7, 12. Lnke 3: 7. 9. 17. John 17: 12. 1.uke 13: 23-28. Matt. 19: 24- 80, 40 -- 42, 47 -- 50; 25: 11. 12, 30 -- 46. John 8: 21 -- 24. Like 12: 10: 13:3. Acts 1: IT. Dan. 12: 2, 3. Matt. 8: 12; 19: 29. Luke 18: 29 30 John 3: 14 -- 16. Rom. 6: 23 11. Thn. 4: 8. I. Peter 1: 4. Mark 9: 43, 44. John 3: 36. Luke 16: 16. Rev. 14: 10, 11.
XI. That Christ has a visible Church in the world, into which none in the sight of God but real believers,
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DOCTRINAL STATEMENT.
and none in the sight of man but visible believers, have right of admission.
Acts 2: 47 -- "And the Lord added to the Church daily, such as should be saved."
II. Cor. 6: 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."
J'8. 50: 16 -- "But unto the the wicked God saith, what hath thou to do, to declare my stat- utes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth."
Matt. 16: 18; 18: 17. I. Cor. 1:2. II. Cor. 1:1. I. Thes, 1: 1-3. Acts 12: 5; 20: 28. I. Tim. 3: 15. Matt. 10: 32. 33. Rom. 10:9, 10. I. Tim, 6: 12.
XII. That the sacraments of the New Testament are baptism and the Lord's supper; that believers in reg- ular Church standing only can consistently partake of the Lord's supper, and that visible believers and their house- holds only can consistently be admitted to the ordinance of baptism.
I. Cor. 11: 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, ent; 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 supped, saying, This enp is the New Testament in my blood; this do ye, as often as ye drink it in remembrance of me.
For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death, till he come."
Matt, 28: 19 -- "Go ye and teach all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."
Luke 18: 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 2: 39 -- "For the promise is unto you, and to your children."
I. Cor. 7: 14 -. "For the nubelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbeliev- ing wife is sanctitied by the husband, else were your children unclean ; but now they. are holy."
Acts 16: 33 -- "And was baptized, he and all his. straightway."
Acts 16: 14, 15. I. Cor. 1: 16. Compare Gen. 17: 2 -- 12, Matt 19: 13, 14, with Rom. 4: 9, 17, Gal. 3: 7, 9, 17, 18, 19; 5: 1, 2
ADMISSION TO THE CHURCH.
--
[AFTER the names of candidates have been read, and while they are coming to the front of the pulpit, the min- ister shall say : }
Jesus saith, Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden ; and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me ; for I am meek and lowly in heart ; and ye shall find rest unto your souls ; for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. 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.
Dearly beloved-who have come hither to enter into covenant with Christ and his church-we trust that you realize the solemnity and blessedness of this confession of discipleship to him, and that He who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Christ.
CONFESSION OF FAITH.
We profess our belief in God, the Father Almighty, the Being of absolute perfection, the Creator, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe ; who so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son for its redemption :
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ADMISSION TO THE CHURCH.
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was in the beginning with God and was God; who became man and suffered to take away the sin of the world; in whom alone we have redemption, being justified freely through faith in his blood : who rose from the dead, and ascended on high, and sitteth at the right hand of the Fa- ther as Mediator and Intercessor for men ; whence he shall come to judge the world in righteousness :
And in the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, by whose inspi- ration the Scriptures were given; through whom we are renewed and sanctified from a life of sin to a life of holi- ness ; who with the Father and the Son, together one God, is supremely to be loved and served, and alone to be adored :
And in One Church on earth and in heaven ; and in one Baptism for the remission of sins ; and in one Communion of the body and the blood of Christ ; and we look for the Resurrection of the dead and the Life immortal : AMEN.
This you confess as your Christian belief ?
BAPTISM.
[To those baptized in childhood.]
You, who in childhood were given to God in holy bap- tism, do now accept that act of parental faith and love as your own act of consecration to the service of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the sign of your present faith in him ?
[Others to be now baptized will present themselves.]
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ADMISSION TO THE CHURCH.
THE COVENANT.
You now, in the presence of God and man, do avow the Lord Jehovah to be your God. You acknowledge .the Father to be your Father, the Son to be your Saviour, the Holy Spirit to be your Sanctifier and Guide. You take God's word to be the rule of your life ; and renouncing the dominion of this world, so far as it is opposed in pleasures or pursuits to the spirit of Christ, you consecrate both body and soul unto the service of God, promising by his help to keep your consecration faithfully unto the end.
You (each) do covenant with this Church to join in its ordinances and public worship ; to submit to its rules and discipline ; to strive for its purity and peace; to maintain (family and) secret prayer; and to honor, as God shall give you aid, your Christian vocation, by a life of piety towards God, and of beneficence and charity towards your fellow men.
[Members of the Church will rise.]
We then, the members of this Church of Christ, do joyfully receive you into our Communion, and promise to watch over you with Christian sympathy and love. We pledge you our prayers and our fellowship as members with us of the spiritual body of Christ. This we do, im- ploring of the Shepherd of Israel, our Lord and Redeemer, that both you and we may have grace to be faithful in his covenant, and to glorify him with the holiness which be- cometh his house forever.
" Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy ; to the only wise God our Say- iour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. AMEN."
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ADMISSION TO THE CHURCHI.
RECEPTION OF MEMBERS FROM OTHER CHURCHES.
On the Communion Sabbath, immediately after the ad- mission of those who are received upon profession of faith, or, if there are none thus admitted, at the time which would be appropriated to that service, the names of those whose letters have been accepted are read, and, rising in their places, they are addressed as follows :
CHRISTIAN FRIENDS-You have already in a former connection, avowed your faith in the cardinal doctrines of the Gospel of Christ, and professed before the world your union with the great Head of the Church. Having closed your special relation to other organizations, and presented to us letters which we accredit as an honorable dismission from them, you are about to assume similar obligations, and enter into like engagements with us.
You do therefore accept the confession of faith, and adopt the covenant of this Church. You promise to sus- tain and submit to its fraternal discipline; to promote its order, piety and prosperity ; to co-operate with its mem-" bers in the maintenance of its ordinances ; and endeavor to fulfill the duties which may be incumbent on you in our communion, walking in all things worthy of your high calling.
In behalf of this Church, I therefore, welcome you to its fellowship, and declare you entitled to all its privileges. We invite you to share its burdens with us, and make our cause your own ; and in so doing assure you of our cordial confidence and sympathy. May we partake to- gether of the present joys and the future rewards of faith- fulness ; and may the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, that great Shepherd
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BAPTISM OF CHILDREN.
of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting cove- nant, 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; to whom be glory, forever and ever. AMEN.
BAPTISM OF CHILDREN.
[The child being presented for baptism, after prayer the minister reads the]
BAPTISMAL COVENANT.
BELOVED IN THE LORD :
Presenting this child for Baptism, you profess your faith in the Covenant made by God with Abraham, rati- fied by Christ, and perpetuated under the Christian dis- pensation.
You believe that it includes not only the people of God but also their offspring, and that its seal is, therefore, to be applied to both.
Having, as you trust, accepted it for yourself, and desiring its blessings for your child, you claim this ordi- nance in his behalf.
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BAPTISM OF CHILDREN.
You thus publicly dedicate him to the service of God, and relying upon divine grace, solemnly engage to bring him up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
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