USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > The articles of faith and covenant of the First Church in Newton : with a list of its members > Part 1
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THE
ARTICLES OF FAITH
AND
COVENANT
OF THE
first Church in Newton,
WITH A
LIST OF ITS MEMBERS.
BOSTON: PRINTED BY STACY & RICHARDSON. No. 11 MILK STREET. 1859.
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
THE FIRST CHURCH IN NEWTON having voted to publish a new list of its members, and a revised form of its Confession of Faith and Covenant, it has been thought desirable to connect with it a brief sketch of its origin and history. God has given it a long experience of his goodness, and has favored it from time to time with "rain from Heaven and fruitful seasons."
It is matter of regret that so few mementos of its early pastors remain to it. It should carefully preserve what it has, that both present and future generations may " remember those who have spoken unto it the word of God," and follow their faith.
At the time of the formation of this Church, in 1664, Newton was a part of Cambridge, and bore the name of Cambridge Village. The original name of the whole district now occupied by Cambridge, Newton, and portions of other towns adjoining, was New Town. At the time of the founding of Har- vard College, in 1638, this name was changed to Cambridge. The part of the town which lay on the
4
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
south side of Charles river, and which is now New- ton and Brighton, was known by the Indian name Nonantum. Religious meetings began to be held on this side of the river, in 1654, from which time Nonantum was called Cambridge Village. It bore this name until 1679, when it was set off from Cam- bridge and organized as an independent town. It was then called New Cambridge, until 1691, when it resumed the original name, New Town, which was gradually altered to Newtown and Newton.
In 1656 the inhabitants of Cambridge Village had become so numerous as to form a distinct con- gregation for public worship. There was a hall in the house of Edward Jackson, which stood near the present dividing line between Newton and Brighton, in which their meetings may have been held.
Their first meeting-house was built in 1660, in the old burial place, on the spot now occupied by the monument erected to the first settlers of the town. In the year following they were released from pay- ing church rates to Cambridge. They were organ- ized as a distinct Church, July 20,* 1664, during
* All the dates previous to 1752, in this sketch, are understood to be given in Old Style. They may be reduced to New Style by dating ten days later any event which occurred in the 17th century, and by dating eleven days later any event in the 18th century. E. G. July 20, 1664, O. S., is July 30, 1664, N. S., and Nov. 3, 1714, O. S., is Nov. 14, 1714, N. S. The true anniversary of the forma- tion of this Church, is July 30, and not Aug. 1, as it has hitherto been written.
.
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HISTORICAL SKETCH.
the ministry of Mr. MITCHELL, the second pastor of the Shepard Church, in Cambridge, and were prop- erly a colony from that Church, though a consider- able number were from other neighboring churches. The congregation was composed of about thirty families, and the Church of about eighty members, forty male and forty female.
On the same day Mr. JOHN ELIOT, Jr., son of the celebrated " Apostle Eliot," was ordained as its pastor. He had taken his degree at Cambridge, in 1656, and began to preach in 1658. In Jackson's History of Newton, from which many of the facts here presented are gathered, it is said to be " proba- ble that he supplied the pulpit of the new meeting- house in the village, much of the time previous to his ordination." In the Dorchester Church records it is stated that " THOMAS WISWALL was dismissed from the Dorchester Church, June 5, 1664, for the beginning of a Church in Cambridge Village, where Mr. John Eliot doth preach."
From this it appears that he was preacher to the people of Cambridge Village for some time before his ordination. The pastors of the Dorchester and Roxbury Churches, Rev. RICHARD MATHER, and Rev. JOHN ELIOT, the father of the pastor elect, were present at the ordination. The young pastor,
1*
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HISTORICAL SKETCH.
then nearly twenty-eight years of age, had before him but a brief career. After a ministry of a little more than four years, he died October 11, 1668, aged thirty-two, and was buried within a few feet of the pulpit where he preached. He died greatly lamented, both by his own people and by the In- dians of Stoughton and Natick, to whom he often preached. Cotton Mather says of him, "He bore his father's name, and had his father's grace. He was a person of notable accomplishments, and a lively, zealous, acute preacher, not only to the En- glish at New Cambridge, but also to the Indians thereabout."
Dissensions arose in the church after the death of Mr. Eliot, and it was more than six years before another minister was settled. This was Mr. NEHE- MIAH HOBART, graduate of Harvard College, and son of the Rev. Mr. Hobart, of Hingham. He was ordained December 23, 1674. He had, however, preached to the people two and a half years before he was settled, during which time he succeeded in healing the dissensions and restoring harmony. Hence he was called "the repairer of breaches."
Dr. Homer accounts for the long delay of his ordination, on the ground of his connection with the college as a fellow and tutor.
.7
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
Soon after the settlement of Mr. Hobart, the meeting-house was repaired and enlarged. Thus improved, it continued to serve the congregation until the year 1698, when a new meeting-house was erected "on the westerly side of Dedham road," opposite the burial place, and very near the spot where Mr. Colby's house now stands. From a record made nineteen years after this, we learn that the old meeting-house (the first) was still standing.
Mr. Hobart died Aug. 25, 1712, in the 64th year of his age, having preached in the town a little more than forty years. The length of his ordained min- istry was thirty-seven years and eight months. His epitaph in Latin, is translated by Dr. Homer as follows : -
" In this tomb are deposited the remains of the reverend and very learned teacher of divinity, Ne- hemiah Hobart, an estimable fellow of Harvard College, a highly faithful and watchful pastor of the Church of Newton, for forty years. His singular gravity, humility, piety, and learning, rendered him the object of deep veneration and ardent esteem to men of science and religion."
After the death of Mr. Hobart, the Church was a little more than two years without a minister, when Mr. JOHN COTTON, graduate of Harvard, great
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HISTORICAL SKETCH.
grandson of the celebrated Rev. John Cotton, of Boston, was ordained, Nov. 3, 1714.
Measures soon began to be taken for the building of a third meeting-house, to occupy a position more central to the parish. The site of the present meet- ing-house was chosen, a house erected and ready for use upon Sabbath, Nov. 5, 1721, when the first meeting was held in it, and a discourse preached by Mr. Cotton, from 1st Kings, 6: 11, 12, 13.
The second house was sold and removed to Waltham.
Two revivals occurred during Mr. Cotton's minis- try ; one in 1727-8-9, when fifty were added to the church, in the space of four months; one in 1740-1-2, when one hundred and four were added to the church, in the space of ten months. This was in the time of the great awakening which was felt throughout New England, in the time of Ed- wards and Whitefield.
A few years after this, Nov. 8, 1748, Whitefield preached in this town " before crowded and attentive audiences." Twenty-two years after, he preached here again, Sept. 20, 1770, in the time of Mr. Meriam. It is not known that his visits to Newton produced any very powerful impression.
Mr. Cotton died May 17, 1757, in the 64th year
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HISTORICAL SKETCH.
of his age, after a ministry of forty-two and a half years. The following is a part of Dr. Homer's translation of his epitaph : -
" Here lies the mortal part of the Rev. and truly venerable John Cotton, lately the very faithful, prudent and skilful pastor of the Church of Newton. He was eminent for the faculty of praying and preaching, was respected for his piety, and held in high and universal esteem for his pure and attractive virtues. His loss is especially deplored by his flock, to whom, even dead, he ceases not to preach."
Before the close of the year in which Mr. Cotton died, Mr. JONAS MERIAM, a graduate of Harvard, was chosen to be his successor. He was ordained March 22, 1758, and was the fourth and last min- ister that was settled by the whole town.
In 1770 Mr. Meriam's house was burned, and · with it the church records, by which much of the early history of this ancient church was irrecover- ably lost.
Mr. Meriam died Aug. 13, 1780, at the age of fifty, having preached in Newton twenty-two years and four months. His remains were conveyed to a tomb belonging to the family of Mrs. Meriam, of Boston. There is, however, in the burying ground an inscription to his memory, prepared by Dr.
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HISTORICAL SKETCH.
Homer, and placed upon the same stone which commemorates Mr. Hobart. It describes him as " learned, mild, benevolent, and an example of patience."
The space of a year and six months intervened between the ministry of Mr. Meriam and that of Mr. Homer. During this interval, in Oct. 1781, twenty-five members of this Church, twelve male and thirteen female, were dismissed to form the West Parish Church.
The following year, February 13, 1782, Mr. JONATHAN HOMER, native of Boston, graduate of Harvard, was ordained as successor to Mr. Meriam.
A new meeting-house (the fourth) was dedicated, Thursday, Nov. 21, 1805. The third house had been occupied eighty-four years.
A powerful revival occurred during the ministry of Dr. Homer, in 1827, in which year seventy-two persons were added to the Church by profession, many of them heads of families.
From the year 1824, and onward, Dr. Homer was for many years engaged in an unwearied and enthusiastic study of the principal English transla- tions of the Bible. His aim was to improve the text of the common version. This he critically compared with the text of Tyndale, Coverdale,
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HISTORICAL SKETCH.
Rogers, the Cranmer Bible, the Genevan Bible, the Bishops' Bible, and with the Hebrew and Greek originals. It was his intention to publish a history of the English versions of the Bible from that of Wycliffe to that of 1611. He was eminently quali- fied for such an undertaking. The late Prof. B. B. Edwards, of Andover, speaks (Bib. Repos. Oct. 1835) of the " long and indefatigable attention " which Dr. Homer had given to this subject, and adds, "he is more intimately acquainted with it than any other individual in the country."
The pastoral relation between Dr. Homer and this Church, was dissolved April 17, 1839, after having existed fifty-seven years and two months. He lived after this a little more than four years, receiving an annual stipend from the church and society, and occasionally performing some ministerial labor. He died Aug. 11, 1843, aged 84, having been an or- dained minister sixty-one years and a half. The following is the inscription upon his monument : -
" Erected by his congregation as a grateful tribute to the many virtues of a devoted pastor, who watched over them with tender interest, Christian diligence, and parental affection, more than sixty years."
During the last eleven years and a half, nearly, of Dr. Homer's active ministry, the Rev. JAMES
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HISTORICAL SKETCH.
BATES was associated with him as colleague pastor. Mr. Bates was ordained November 14, 1827, and continued his labors until April 17, 1839; his pas- toral relation and that of Dr. Homer being dissolved on the same day.
Under their united ministry an extensive revival was enjoyed, in the years 1831-2. There were received into the Church, in 1832, sixty-five by profession and eleven by letter.
More than a year of the time between the dismis- sion of Mr. Bates and the installation of his successor, the pulpit was supplied by the Rev. S. S. SMITH.
Rev. WILLIAM BUSHNELL was installed May 24, 1842, and resigned December 13, 1846. During his ministry the Church sent out its second colony, June 18, 1845, to form the Eliot Church, at Newton Corner. Ten males and twenty females were dismissed for this purpose.
After the resignation of Mr. Bushnell, the Church remained without a pastor one year, within which time a new meeting-house (the fifth) was completed and dedicated. It stands in the position of the two preceding structures, on the spot which has now been a place of worship one hundred and thirty- eight years. It was dedicated March 24, 1847, and has been in use twelve years.
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HISTORICAL SKETCH.
Mr. D. L. FURBER was ordained Dec. 1, 1847, and is the present pastor.
The meeting-house was enlarged and a new vestry built in the latter part of the year 1854.
It will be seen that this Church has had an organ- ized existence of nearly one hundred and ninety-five years. It has had eight pastors. The intervals of time in which it has been without a minister amount to only about twelve years. Nearly the same length of time it had two associated ministers. So that the aggre- gate term of ministerial labor which it has enjoyed would about cover the whole period of its history.
All the pastors but one received here their ordi- nation, and this was the place of their first labors in a settled ministry. The first five finished their labors here, died here, and with the exception of Mr. Meriam, already mentioned, were buried here. " Their sepulchres are with us unto this day; " all of them not far from the spot where the first meeting-house stood.
CHURCH EDIFICES.
No. 1, built in 1660, used as a place of worship 38 years.
No. 2, " 1698,
23
No. 3, " 1721,
84 66
No. 4, " 1805, =
42
No. 5, " " 1847.
2
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HISTORICAL SKETCH.
PASTORS.
Rev. JOHN ELIOT, Jr., ord. July 20, 1664, died Oet. 11, 1668.
Rev. NEHEMIAH HOBART, " Dec. 23, 1674, “ Aug. 25, 1712.
Rev. JOHN COTTON, Nov. 3, 1714, " May 17, 1757.
Rev. JONAS MERIAM, Mar. 22, 1758, “ Aug. 13, 1780.
Rev. JONA. HOMER, D. D., " Feb. 13, 1782, “ Aug. 11, 1843.
Rev. JAS. BATES, (Coll'gue.)" Nov. 14, 1827, res'd Apr. 17, 1839. Rev. WM. BUSHNELL, installed May 24. 1842, " Dec. 13, 1846. Rev. DANIEL L. FURBER, ordained December 1, 1847.
DEACONS.
THOMAS WISWALL, Ruling Elder, chosen 1664, died 1683, age -
JOIN JACKSON, Sen., 11 1664, 1674, “
SAMUEL HYDE, Sen.,
1664, 1689, “ 79
ISAAC WILLIAMS,
1707, 66 69
JAMES TROWBRIDGE,
1717, 64
81
EDWARD JACKSON, Jr.,
1707,
1727, = 75
THOMAS OLIVER,
1707, 1715, 70
RICHARD WARD,
1739,
73
JOHN STAPLES,
1740,
82
WILLIAM TROWBRIDGE,
1744, 60
EBENEZER STONE,
1754, 92
JOHN STONE,
1769,
76
JOHN CLARK,
66 1773, = -
EPHRAIM WARD,
1772,
69
THOMAS GREENWOOD,
1774, 78
JOHN WOODWARD,
1801, 76
DAVID STONE,
1802, “ 74
JONAS STONE,
1804, “ 82
EBENEZER WOODWARD,
1806, 49
SAMUEL MURDOCK,
= 1814,
62
JEREMIAH WISWALL, chosen Sept. 21, 1798,
1836, 76
EBENEZER WHITE, June 11, 1815,
1853, = 87
ELIJAH F. WOODWARD, June 11, 1815,
= 1846, 60
WILLIAM JACKSON, Feb. 15, 1828,
1855, “ 71
LUTHER PAUL,
Aug. 24, 1845,
ASA COOK, June 10, 1846,
Eeclesiastical Principles and Rules.
1. THIS CHURCH claims the right of self gov- ernment, and holds itself amenable to no other ecclesiastical body, except by its own consent, in accordance with the established usage of Congrega- tional churches.
2. This Church will extend to other evangelical churches and receive from them that fellowship, advice, and assistance which the laws of Christ require.
3. The stated officers of the Church shall be the Pastor or Pastors of the Church, and Deacons. There shall also be a Standing Committee, Clerk, and Treasurer.
4. The Standing Committee shall consist of the Pastor, Deacons, and three other members of the Church.
5. It shall be the duty of the Standing Com- mittee to examine all candidates for admission to the
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PRINCIPLES AND RULES.
Church, and to present to the Church the names of such as they approve, at the same time giving some account of their examination, or reading a written statement of personal religious history and expe- rience prepared by the candidates.
6. The approved candidates may be received by vote of the Church, on the condition of their signing its articles of Faith and Covenant, and giving a public assent to the same at the time of their admis- sion. They shall stand publicly propounded two weeks.
7. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to take charge of all monies belonging to the Church, and of all collections for religious and charitable objects, and make a written report of the same at the an- nual meeting.
8. It shall be the duty of the Clerk to record the doings of the Church at its business meetings, to record the names of the children baptized, with the date thereof; and at the annual meeting present a written report on the state of the Church, and its history during the previous year, including an ac- count of members received, dismissed, deceased, and absent.
PRINCIPLES AND RULES. 17
9. The annual meeting of the Church shall be held on the last Thursday evening in December.
10. The Clerk, Treasurer, Standing Committee, and Superintendent of Sabbath School, shall be chosen by ballot at the annual meeting. Their term of office shall extend from the first of January to the last day of December, or until a new election, in case of any failure to elect at the annual meeting.
11. All meetings for business shall be opened with prayer.
12. A monthly Church meeting for religious conference and prayer, shall be held on the third Thursday evening preceding the preparatory lecture, and at the corresponding time in the months in which the lecture does not occur. At this meeting the Church may act on the reception or dismission of members, and any suitable business may be transacted.
13. The ordinance of the Lord's Supper shall be celebrated on the afternoon of the first Sabbath in January, and of every second month following. The preparatory lecture will be held on the Friday previous.
2*
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PRINCIPLES AND RULES.
14. The Standing Committee shall meet on the second Tuesday evening of each month, for the examination of candidates, and the transaction of any other appropriate business.
15. This Church regards it an important part of Church duty to aid in sending the Gospel through the world, and believes it to be the duty of every church member to contribute, from time to time, as the Lord has prospered him, for the support of the religious charities of the day.
16. It is the duty of church members to attend such stated meetings as are appointed by vote of the Church, unless providentially prevented.
17. Any member having cause of complaint against another, should immediately seek to have it removed in a Christian manner, according to the directions in Matthew 18: 15, 16.
18. The following are the offences which are subject to the censure of the Church, viz. : immoral conduct, breach of express covenant vows, neglect of acknowledged religious or relative duties, and avowed disbelief of the Articles of Faith to which the mem- bers have assented.
19
PRINCIPLES AND RULES.
19. The censures inflicted on offenders, are private reproof, public admonition, or excommunica- tion, according to the aggravation of the offence.
20. Members of this Church removing their place of worship, shall obtain a dismission from this and a recommendation to the Church with which they worship, within one year from the time of such change, unless reasonable excuse be rendered for their neglect.
21. When any member of a sister church shall statedly worship and commune with this Church for more than one year without removing his relation to us, it shall be the duty of the Clerk to notify the Church of which he is a member, of that fact.
22. It shall be the duty of the Standing Com- mittee, together with the Superintendent of the Sabbath School, to attend to the condition of the Sunday School Library, and to select, recommend and purchase library books and question books, from time to time, as may be necessary for the use of the school.
FORM OF ADMISSION.
ADDRESS.
BELOVED FRIENDS : -
You have now presented yourselves before GOD and this assembly, to make a solemn profession of your faith, and to enter into an everlasting Covenant with GOD and his people. We trust you have well considered the nature of the engagements into which you are about to enter, and that you are prepared by divine grace to give yourselves away as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to GOD through JESUS CHRIST.
You will now attend to the Confession of Faith.
CONFESSION OF FAITH.
ARTICLE I.
WE believe that there is one GOD, the Creator and Preserver of the Universe, infinite in all natural and moral perfections.
Isa. 44: 6, 1. c. 45: 5. Mark 12: 29. 1 Cor. 8: 4, 1. c .- Gen. 1: 1, 27. Neh. 9: 6. Ps. 33: 6, 9. Ps. 102: 25. 148: 5. Rev. 4 : 11 .- Neh. 9: 6. Ps. 36: 6. 1. c. Heb.
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FORM OF ADMISSION.
1: 3 .- Ps. 90: 2. Rom. 1: 20. 1 Tim. 6: 16. Rev. 1 : 4. Ps. 33: 11. Mal. 3: 6. Heb. 13: 8. Jas. 1 : 17 .- Gen. 17: 1. Jer. 32: 17. Rev. 1 : 8. 19: 6 .- Ps. 147: 5. Prov. 15: 3. Rom. 11: 33, 34. Col. 2: 3 .- Ps. 145: 17. Isa. 6 : 3 - Deut. 32: 4. Ps. 92: 15. Ps. 119: 137. Rev. 15 : 3 .- Ps. 33: 5. Ps. 119 : 68. - Ex. 34 : 6. Ps. 145: 8. Eph. 2 : 4 .- Num. 23: 19. Ps. 146: 6.
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ARTICLE II.
That the Scriptures of the Old and New Testa- ments were given by inspiration of GOD, and are the only sufficient rule of religious faith and practice.
Jno. 14 : 26. 1 Cor. 2: 13. Gal. 1: 11, 12. 2 Tim. 3: 16. 2 Peter, 1: 25 .- Gal. 1 : 8. 2 Peter, 1 : 19.
ARTICLE III.
That GOD is revealed in the Scriptures as the FATHER, the SON, and the HOLY GHOST, and that these three are one, and in all the attributes of Godhead equal.
Matt. 28: 19. 2 Cor. 13: 14. - Jno. 10: 30, 33. 14: 9. (C. Jno. 1: 13. 3: 5.) Aets 5: 3, 4. 1 Cor. 8 : 4, 1. e .- Phil. 2: 6. Jno. 5: 18 .- Isa. 9: 6. Jno. 1 : 1. 20 : 28. Rom. 9: 5. Heb. 1 : 8. 1 Jno. 5 : 20. (C. Isa. 6 : 3, 5, 10. Jno.
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FORM OF ADMISSION.
12 : 40, 41.) - Jno. 1 : 3. 2 : 24, 25. 21: 17. (C. Rev. 2: 23. Jer. 17: 10.) Acts 1 : 24. Col. 1 : 16, 17. Heb. 1 : 3, 10.
Rev. 1 : 8. Matt. 18 : 20. 28: 20. - Jno. 5: 23. 20: 28. Acts 7: 59, 60. Rom. 10: 9-14. 2 Cor. 12: 8, 9. Phil. 2 : 10, 11. Heb. 1 : 6. Rev. 5: 11-14.
ARTICLE IV.
That GOD governs all things according to his sovereign and eternal purpose, yet in such a manner as not to impair the freedom of man or his accounta- bility for all his actions.
Isa. 46: 10. Dan. 4: 35. Matt. 11: 25, 26. Rom. 9 : 15. Eph. 1: 11. 1 Tim. 6: 15 - Ps. 110: 3. Prov. 1: 29, 30. Isa. 44: 28. 55: 7. Ezek. 33: 11. Acts 2: 23. 4: 25-28. 27: 24, 31. (C. Job 17 : 9. Ezek. 33: 13.) (C. Phil. 1 : 6. Heb. 4 : 11.) (C. 1 Peter 1 : 5. Matt. 24 : 13.) (C. 1 Cor. 10 : 12. 10 : 13.) Jno. 6 : 37. Phil. 2: 12, 13. 2 Pet. 1: 10.
ARTICLE V.
That our first parents fell from the state of lioli- ness in which they were created, by transgressing the divine command; and that in consequence of their apostacy, all their descendants are by nature
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FORM OF ADMISSION.
alienated from GOD, and while left to themselves, do invariably choose a life of sin.
(C. Gen. 2: 16, 17. 3: 6.) (C. Gen. 5: 3. Job 14: 4. Jno. 3: 6. Rom. 7 : 18. 8: 7, 8.) Rom. 5: 12, 19. Eph. 2: 1, 3 .- Gen. 6: 5. 8: 21. Prov. 1 : 29, 30. Jer. 17: 9. Jno. 3: 19. 5: 40. Rom. 3: 9-12, 23. 1 Jno. 5: 19.
ARTICLE VI.
That the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who is GOD and man, has by his obedience, sufferings and death, made an atonement for sin, which is adequate to the salvation of all men, but is effectual in the salvation of only those who accept its provisions, by repent- ance of sin and faith in CHRIST.
Jno. 1 : 1, 14. Rom. 9 : 5. Phil. 2: 6, 7. 1 Tim. 2 : 5. 3: 16. Heb. 2: 16 .- Matt. 26 : 39, 42. Jno. 10: 18. Kom. 5: 19. Phil. 2: 8. Heb. 5: 8. 10: 7, 10 - Isa. 53 : 5, 6. Matt. 20: 28. 26: 28. Rom. 3: 25. 4 : 25. 5: 8. 1 Cor. 15 : 3. 2 Cor. 5 : 21. Gal. 3: 13. Eph. 1: 7. 5: 2. Col. 1:14. Heb. 1 : 3. 1 Peter 2: 24. 3: 18. 1 Jno. 4: 10. Rev. 1 : 5. 5: 9. 7: 14 .- Jno. 1: 29. 3: 17. 6: 51. 2 Cor. 5: 14, 19. 1 Tim. 2: 6. Heb. 2: 9. 2 Peter 2: 1. 1 Jno. 2: 2 .- Isa. 45 : 22. Mark 16: 15. Rev. 22 : 17 .- Mark 16 : 16. Jno. 3: 16, 18. Acts 3: 19. 10: 43. 16: 31. 1 Tim. 4: 10.
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FORM OF ADMISSION.
ARTICLE VII.
That it is the office of the HOLY SPIRIT to con- vince of sin, and to renew and sanctify the heart ; and that without his gracious and effectual work, no sinner can be saved.
(C. Jno. 16 : 8. Acts 2 : 37.) John 3: 5, 6. Titus 3 : 5. (C. 2 Cor. 5: 17. Gal. 5: 22, 23.) (C. Rom. 8: 14. John 1 : 13.) - 1 Cor. 6 : 11. 2 Thess. 2: 13. 1 Peter 1 : 2. - Rom. 8 : 9. John 3: 3, 7.
ARTICLE VIII.
That justification is an act of GOD's free grace, wherein he pardons the penitent sinner, and receives him into divine favor, not on account of any works of righteousness done by him, but only for CHRIST'S sake, through faith in his blood.
Rom. 3: 24-26. 5: 18. - Luke 24: 46, 47. Acts 13: 38. Rom. 5 : 9. Eph. 1 : 7. 1 John 1 : 7, 1. c. - Rom. 5: 19. 2 Cor. 5: 21. Eph. 2: 13. - Acts 10: 43. 13:39. Rom. 3 : 20-22, 28. 10: 4. Gal. 2: 16. 3: 11.
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