USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > The confession of faith and form of covenant of the Old South Church, in Boston, Massachusetts, with lists of the founders, the pastors, the ruling elders and deacons, and the members > Part 1
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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00084 1640
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Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/confessionoffait00bost 0
THE
CONFESSION OF FAITH AND FORM OF COVENANT, OF
THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH, IN
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS,
WITH LISTS OF THE
FOUNDERS, THE PASTORS, THE RULING ELDERS AND DEACONS, AND THE MEMBERS.
" One is your Master, even CHRIST ; and all ye are brethren."
BOSTON: PRESS OF CROCKER AND BREWSTER, 47, Washington Street. 1855.
1820234
1:
D 28411 .0902
BOSTON. OLD SOUTH CHURCH. Cho confession of faith and form of covenant, of the Old South Church, in Boston, Massachusetts, with lists of the founders, the pastors, the rui- ing elders and deacons, and the members. Boetor Crocker and Brewster, 1855. 1190. 20cm.
Pages 109,-119 interleaved.
Gift' 64
ICN 64-2125
SHILY CARD
DESOS8I
28941 .0902
At a Meeting of the Brethren of the Old South Church, held at the Chapel, Oct. 10, 1554,
Voted, That a list of the Members of the Church, together with the Church Covenant, be printed.
Voted, That a committee of five persons be chosen to attend to this subject.
Voted, That this Committee consist of the Pastor, Deacons Cutler, Stoddard and Lathrop, and Brother Henry H. Jones.
Voted, That one thousand copies of the Covenant and list of Mem- bers be printed, and that each member of the Church be entitled to a copy ; also that each pew proprietor who is not a church member be furnished with a copy ; and that the Pastor furnish each candidate for membership with a copy previous to a public profession.
Heft '64 Mro Clayton Taylor: d
NOTICES
OF THE
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
THE THIRD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH in Boston, now usually styled THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH, Was formed at Charlestown, on the 12th and 16th of the third month, i. e. of May, 1669, O. S.
The Original Members were
William Davis,
Ilezekiah Usher,
John Hull,
Edward Raynsford, afterwards Ruling Elder,
Richard Trewsdale, Theophilus Frarye, afterwards Dea- con, Robert Walker, John Aldin,
Peter Bracket, afterwards Deacon, Benjamin Thurston,
Jacob Eliot, afterwards Deacon,
William Salter,
Peter Oliver,
John Morse,
Thomas. Brattle,
Josiah Belcher,
Edward Rawson,
Seth Perry,
Joshua Scottoe,
James Pemberton,
Benjamin Gibbs,
William Dawes,
Thomas Savage,
Joseph Davis,
Joseph Rocke,
Thomas Thatcher, afterwards chosen
Theodore Atkinson,
the first Pastor,*
John Wing,
Joseph Belknap.
* Mr. Thatcher had been Pastor of the Church in Weymouth, Mass., from which he had been dismissed, and had removed to Charlestown, and united with the First Church there, from which he was dismissed to be united with this Church at its formation.
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Get '64 Mw Clayton Gaylord
NOTICES
OF THE
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
THE THIRD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH in Boston, now usually styled THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH, WAS formed at Charlestown, on the 12th and 16th of the third month, i. e. of May, 1669, O. S.
The Original Members were
William Davis,
Richard Trewsdale,
Ilezekiah Usher,
John Hull,
Theophilus Frarye, afterwards Dea- con, Robert Walker,
Edward Raynsford, afterwards Ruling Elder,
John Aldin,
Peter Bracket, afterwards Deacon, Benjamin Thurston,
Jacob Eliot, afterwards Deacon,
William Salter,
Peter Oliver,
John Morse,
Thomas. Brattle,
Josiah Belcher,
Edward Rawson,
Seth Perry,
Joshua Scottoe,
James Pemberton,
Benjamin Gibbs,
William Dawes,
Thomas Savage,
Joseph Davis,
Joseph Rocke,
Thomas Thatcher, afterwards chosen
Theodore Atkinson,
the first Pastor,*
John Wing,
Joseph Belknap.
* Mr. Thatcher had been Pastor of the Church in Weymouth, Mass., from which he had been dismissed, and had removed to Charlestown, and united with the First Church there, from which he was dismissed to be united with this Church at its forination.
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These females are also to be regarded as among the founders of the Church. Their names are, therefore, here inserted, from the book of " Admissions."
Margaret Thatcher, Elizabeth Gibbs,
Mary Norton,
Hanna Frarye,
Mary Salter,
Judith Hull,
Mary Savage, Ranis Belcher,
Elizabeth Raynsford,
Sara Pemberton,
Elizabeth Thurston,
Sara Walker,
Mary Tappan,
Elizabeth Alden,
Elizabeth Rocke,
Sara Oliver,
Mary Eliot,
Mary Bracket,
Susanna Dawes,
Joanna Mason,
Alice Harper,
Rachel Rawson,
Sara Bodman.
The names of the several Pastors, and the dates of their ordina- tion or installation, and of their decease or dismission, are as follows :-
Thomas Thatcher, inst'd Feb. 16, 1670, deceased Oct. 15, 1678. Æ 59 Samuel Willard, do. April 10, 1673, do. Sept. 12, 1707. “ 67 Ebenezer Pemberton, ord'd Aug. 28, 1700, do. Feb. 13, 1717. " 45 Joseph Sewall, D. D., do. Sept. 16, 1713, do. June 27, 1769. " 80
Thomas Prince, do Oct 1, 1718, do Oct. 22, 1758. “ 72
Alexander Cumming, inst'd Feb. 25, 1761,
do.
Aug. 25, 1763. " 36
Samuel Blair, do. Nov. 26, 1766, dismissed Oct. 10, 1769. John Bacon, do. Sept. 25, 1771, do. Feb. 8, 1775.
John Hunt, ord'd Sept. 25, 1771, deceased Dec. 30, 1775. " 31 Joseph Eckley, D D., do. Oct. 27, 1779, do. April 30, 1811. “ 61 Joshua Huntington, do May 18, 1809, do. Sept. 11, 1819. " 33 Benj. B. Wisner, D. D. do. Feb. 21, 1821, dismissed Nov. 12, 1832, hav- ing been chosen one of the Secretaries of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. Ile died Feb. 9, 1835, aged 40. Samuel II. Stearns, ord'd April 16, 1834, dismissed March 8, 1536. George W. Blagden, inst'd Sept. 25, 1836.
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The following persons have sustained the office of Ruling Elder or of Deacon of this Church.
[This list, from the manner in which the early records were kept, cannot be relied on as being perfect and entire.]
Edward Raynsford, Ruling Elder .*
Peter Bracket, Deacon.
Jacob Eliot, do
Theophilus Frarye, ord'd Deacon,t Nov. 8, 1655.
Nathaniel Williams, elect'd Deacon, Oct. 15, 1693.
James Hill, do. Nov. 24, 1693.
Daniel Henchman, do.
deceased in 1761
Jonathan Simpson, do.
Aug. 7, 1733, do. 1763
Thomas Hubbard, do. April 9, 1739, resigned Jan. 23, 1764
Samuel Sewall, do. Sept. 16, 1763, deceased Jan. 19, 1771
David Jeffries, do. Sept. 16, 1763, do. Sept. 1786
William Phillips, do. Feb. 27, 1764, resigned Nov. 1793
Jonathan Mason, do. Aug. 20, 1770, deceased May 5, 1798
Thomas Dawes,
do. Oct. 20, 1756,
do. Jan. 2, 1509
Samuel Salisbury, do.
March 24, 1794, do. May 2, 1818
William Phillips, Jr.
do.
March 24, 1794,
do. May 26, 1527
* Most of the churches of New England, for some time after the settle- ment of the country, had, besides a pastor, and a teacher, and two or more deacons, a ruling elder, or ruling elders, whose " business," says the author of Ratio Discipline, "it was to assist the pastor in visiting the distressed, instructing the ignorant, reducing the erroneous, comforting the afflicted, re- buking the unruly, discovering the state of the whole flock, exercising the discipline of the gospel upon offenders, and promoting the desirable growth of the church."
The name of but one Ruling Elder is mentioned in the Records of the Old South Church. This does not prove, however, that none others were ever chosen. There is no mention in the Records of any deacons having been chosen till Nov. 1685.
t In the early periods of the New England churches, the deacons were ordained with prayer, and the laying on of the hands of the pastor.
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Josiah Salisbury, elected Deacon, May 8, 1817, deceased Feb. 10, 1826
Edward Phillips, do. May 8, 1817, do. Nov. 4, 1826
Pliny Cutler, do. April 29, 1826.
Thomas Vose, do. April 29, 1826, do. Oct. 3, 1810
Samuel T. Armstrong, do. May 18, 1829,
do. March 26, 1850
Charles Stoddard, do.
Dec. 31, 1840.
Oliver Dimon, do. Feb. 16, 1847, resigned Dec. 16, 1850
Loring Lathrop,
do.
March 24, 1851.
Henry H. Jones,
do. Dec. 12, 1551. .
RULES
OF
THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
MARCH 27, 1826. Voted, That hereafter the fol- lowing shall be the method of proceeding in rela- tion to applications for admission to this church on dismission and recommendation from other churches, viz : The applicants shall be conversed with by the pastor, for the purpose of ascertaining whether they approve of the covenant, and are disposed to conform to the faith and government of this church, and their letters of dismission and recommendation shall be examined and approved by the committee already appointed for that pur- pose, agreeably to a vote of this church passed January 1, 1816. If the pastor and the committee are satisfied with the results of their examinations, the names of the applicants shall be mentioned, as applying for admission to this church on dis- mission and recommendation from other churches, at the same times at which persons applying for
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admission on profession are propounded. At the expiration of a fortnight from the time of their ap- plication being thus mentioned before the congre- gation, if no objection to their admission has, in the mean time, been stated to the pastor, their tes- timonials shall be read to the church and the vote taken upon their application, immediately before the usual proceedings in relation to the admission of those who are to be received on profession.
Voted, That in conformity with the spirit of a resolution adopted by this church January 1, 1816, it be a standing rule of this church, that members, who shall absent themselves from the communion of this church and associate in attendance on di- vine ordinances with other churches, be expected to apply for a dismission from this church, in or- der to their regular admission to the churches with which they statedly worship and commune, within two years, from the time of their thus ceasing regularly to commune with this church, or sooner if convenient ; and that when members of this church so worshipping and communing statedly with other churches, shall not apply for dismission till after the expiration of two years from the time of their ceasing regularly to attend on Christian ordinances with this church, they be required to accompany their application for a dis- mission and recommendation with a certificate, from the pastor, and when there is no pastor, from one of the other officers of the church with which they have been in the habit of communing and
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to which they wish to be recommended, testifying · to their correct deportment since they have wor- shipped and communed with said church.
Voted, That members of other churches who shall statedly attend worship and communion with this church, be expected and desired to ob- tain a dismission and recommendation from the churches of which they are members to this church, within two years, or sooner if convenient, from the time of beginning thus regularly to at- tend Christian ordinances with this church.
MARCH 1, 1827. Voted, That the names of per- sons whom the pastor intends, from time to time, to be propounded to the church, be mentioned to the brethren and sisters of the church at a meet- * ing, before the time of their being publicly pro- pounded from the pulpit on the Sabbath.
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EXTRACTS
FROM
Rev. Dr. Wisner's Historical Sermons.
Of Candidates for Admission.
Persons who are seeking admission to this church, after repeated conversations with the pas- tor respecting their evidences of regeneration and views of Christian doctrine and duty,-by which he has become satisfied that there is, from these sources, no valid objection to their admission,- are to be examined by a standing committee of five members beside the minister. If their exami- nation is satisfactory to the committee, and if, upon inquiry, nothing is discovered unfavorable to their character, they are propounded, one fortnight before the church, and one fortnight more before the whole congregation. Then, if no valid objec- tion has been made to their admission, they pre- sent themselves before the whole church, and the pastor gives a statement of the results of the sev-
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cral conversations had with them; and the breth- ren, if satisfied, vote to receive them ; and they, publicly and solemnly, take upon them God's holy covenant.
Of Calling a Minister.
This church and congregation have always con- sidered themselves entitled TO KNOW DEFINITELY, AND HAVE TAKEN SUITABLE MEASURES TO ASCER- TAIN, THE RELIGIOUS SENTIMENTS OF THOSE WHOM THEY CALLED TO BE THEIR MINISTERS. For this purpose, they have not only, in all cases, before giving a minister a call, heard him preach some time on probation, expecting him, while doing so, to exhibit plainly and fully his doctrinal views ; but they have required his express assent to the system of doctrine usually denominated evangeli- cal. The pastor elect having signified his accept- ance of the call, attends a meeting of the church, where.his testimonials are exhibited, and he de- clares his consent to the "Confession of Faith owned and consented unto by the Elders and Messengers of the churches convened at Boston in 1680;" after which he is received a member of the church. These proceedings of the church are then reported to the society, and directed to be recorded in their minutes, as a necessary prelimi- nary to their concurring with the church in ar- rangements for the ordination.
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How necessary and wise are these precautions, will be at once realized by every one who duly considers how vitally the religious sentiments and character of a people depend on those of their ministers. A revival of sound doctrine and prac- tice may emanate from the people; but corrup- tions in either always begin with, and are chiefly accomplished by, the ministry. Always, there- fore, insist upon knowing, definitely and fully, the doctrinal sentiments of those whom you think of settling over you, and upon having satisfactory evidence of their real piety, and of their love and devotedness to the appropriate duties of their sacred office. It is your right ; and it is the very life of the church, and of the society as a religious association.
THE CONFESSION OF FAITH
THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH,
IS THAT
" Owned and consented unto by the Elders and Messengers of the Churches assembled at Boston, May 12, 1680," of which all its pastors, since that time, have been required to signify their approba- tion, previously to their admission to the church in preparation for their ordination or installation ; and a profession of belief in the fundamental doc- trines of which, is received from candidates, and announced to the brethren, by the pastor, previous to admission to membership.
THE PREFACE.
The Lord Jesus Christ witnessed a good con- fession, at the time when he said, to this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth ; and he taketh notice of it, to the praise and high com-
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mendation of the church in Pergamos, that they held fast his name, and had not denied his faith. Nor are they worthy of the name of Christians, who, though the Lord by his providence call them publicly to own the truth they have professed, shall nevertheless refuse to declare what they be- lieve, as to those great and fundamental principles in the doctrine of Christ, the knowledge whereof is necessary unto salvation. We find how ready the Apostle was to make a confession of his faith ; though for that hope's sake he was accused and put in chains. And the Martyrs of Jesus, who have laid down their lives in bearing witness to the truth, against the infidelity, idolatry, heresy, apostacy of the world, when Pagan, Arian, or overspread with Popish darkness: having their feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, were free and forward in their testimony, confessing the truth, yea, sealing it with their blood. With the heart man believeth unto right- eousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation, Rom. x. 10. Nor is there a greater evidence of being in a state of salvation, than such a confession, if made in times or places where men are exposed to utmost sufferings upon that account, 1 John iv. 15. And if confession of faith be, in some cases, of such importance and necessity, as hath been expressed ; it must needs be in itself, a work pleasing in the sight of God, for his servants to declare unto the world, what those principles of truth are, which they have re-
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ceived and are, by the help of Christ, purposed to live and die in the stedfast profession of. Some of the Lord's worthies have been of renown among his people in this respect; especially Træneus and Athanasius of old, and of latter times Beza, all whose (not to mention others) confessions, with the advantage which the church of God hath re- ceived thereby, are famously known.
And it must needs tend much to the honor of the dear and blessed name of the Lord Jesus, in case many churches do join together in their testimony. How signally the Lord hath owned the confession of the four general Synods or Councils for the suppression of the heresies of those times, needs not to be said, since no man can be ignorant thereof, that hath made it his concern to be ac- quainted with things of this nature. The confes- sion of the Bohemians, of the Waldenses, and of the reformed protestant churches abroad, (which also to shew what harmony in respect of doctrine there is among all sincere professors of the truth, have been published in one volume) all these have been of singular use, not only to those that lived in the ages when these declarations were emitted, but unto posterity, yea, unto this day.
There have been some who have reflected upon these New-English churches, for our defect in this matter, as if our principles were unknown; where- as it is well known, that as to matters of doctrine, we agree with other reformed churches : nor was it that, but what concerns worship and discipline,
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that caused our fathers to come into this wilder- ness, while it was a land not sown, that so they might have liberty to practise accordingly. And it is a ground of holy rejoicing before the Lord, that now there is no advantage left for those that may be disaffected towards us, to object any thing of that nature against us. For it hath pleased the only wise God so to dispose in his providence, as that the elders and messengers of the churches in the colony of the Massachusetts in New-England, did, by the call and encouragement of the honored General Court, meet together September 10, 1679. This Synod, at their second session, which was May 12, 1680, consulted and considered of a con- fession of faith. That which was consented unto by the elders and messengers of the congrega- tional churches in England, who met at the Sa- voy, being for the most part, some small variations excepted, the same with that which was agreed upon first by the Assembly at Westminster, and was approved of by the Synod at Cambridge in New-England, anno 1648, as also by a general Assembly in Scotland, was twice publicly read, examined and approved of: that little variation which we have made from the one, in compliance with the other, may be seen by those who please to compare them. But we have, for the main, chosen to express ourselves in the words of those reverend Assemblies, that so we might not only with one heart, but with one mouth glorify God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
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As to what concerns church-government, we re- fer to the Platform of discipline agreed upon by the messengers of these churches anno 1648, and solemnly owned and confirmed by the late Synod.
What hours of temptation may overtake these churches, is not for us to say. Only the Lord doth many times so order things, that when his people have made a good confession, they shall be put upon the trial one way or other, to see whether they have (or who among them hath not) been sincere in what they have done. The Lord grant that the loins of our minds may be so girt about with truth, that we may be able to with- stand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
CHAP. I.
Of the Holy Scripture.
Although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence, do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom and power of God, as to leave men unexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and of his will, which is necessary unto salvation : therefore it pleased the Lord at sundry times, and in divers manners to reveal himself, and to declare that his will unto his church; and afterwards for the better preserv- ing and propagating of the truth, and for the
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more sure establishment and comfort of the church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan and of the world, to commit the same wholly to writing : which maketh the Holy Scrip- ture to be most necessary ; those former ways of God's revealing his will unto his people being now ceased.
II. Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the word of God written, are now contained all the books of the Old and New Testament, which are these :
Of the Old Testament.
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuter- onomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Eccle- siastes, the Song of Songs, Isaiah, Jeremiah, La- mentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zeph- aniah, Haggai, Zachariah, Malachi.
Of the New Testament.
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, the Acts of the Apostles, Paul's Epistle to the Romans, 1 Corin- thians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Phi- lippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 'T'hessalo- lians, 1 to Timothy, 2 to Timothy, to Titus, to Philemon, the Epistle to the Hebrews, the Epistle
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of James, the first and second Epistles of Peter, the first, second, and third Epistles of John, the Epistle of Jude, the Revelation.
All which are given by the inspiration of God to be the rule of faith and life.
III. The books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of divine inspiration, are no part of the canon of the scripture ; and therefore are of no authority in the church of God, nor to be any otherwise approved or made use of, than other human writings.
IV. The authority of the holy scripture, for which it ought to be believed and obeyed, depend- eth not upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God, who is truth itself, the au- thor thereof; and therefore it is to be received, because it is the word of God.
V. We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the church, to an high and reverend esteem of the holp scripture. And the heavenli- ness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole, which is to give all glory to God, the full discovery it makes of the only way of man's salvation, the many other incom- parable excellencies, and the entire perfection thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence itself to be the word of God; yet not- withstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth and divine authority there- of, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit,
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bearing witness by and with the word in our hearts.
VI. The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man's salva- tion, faith and life, is either expressly set down in scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from scripture ; unto which noth- ing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the spirit, or traditions of men. Nevertheless we acknowledge the inward illumi- nation of the spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are re- vealed in the word : and that there are some cir- cumstances concerning the worship of God and government of the church, common to human ac- tions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature, and christian prudence, according to the general rules of the word, which are always to be observed.
VII. All things in scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all : yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed and observed for salvation, are so clearly pro- pounded and opened in some place of scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them.
VIII. The Old Testament in Hebrew, which was the native language of the people of God of old; and the New Testament in Greek, which at the time of writing of it was most generally known
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to the nations, being immediately inspired by God, and by his singular care and providence kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentical ; so as in all controversies of religion, the church is finally to appeal unto them. But because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God, who have right unto and interest in the scriptures, and are commanded in the fear of God to read and search them ; therefore they are to be translated into the vulgar language of every nation unto which they come, that the word of God dwelling plentifully in all, that may worship him in an ac- ceptable manner, and through patience and com- fort of the scriptures may have hope.
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