USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Dedham > Articles of faith and covenant adopted by the First Church in Dedham, March 8, 1821, with a list of the members > Part 4
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ARTICLE V.
Men are responsible and immortal. 'The law of God is perfect, and his government just and good. The present world is a state of probation, and the eternal world is a state of retribution.
Every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Rom. 14. 12. Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. Mat. 12. 36. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat : but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not cat of it : for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Gen. 2. 16, 17.
I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Ja- cob. God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. Mat. 92. 32. 'The spirit shall return unto God who gave it. Eccles, 12. 7. And fear not them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul : but rath- or fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Mat. 10. 28.
The law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good. Rom. 7. 12. The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul : the judg- ments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. Ps. 19. 7, 9.
And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty ; just and true are thy ways, thou king of saints. Rev. 15. S. We must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, that every man may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. II Cor. 5. 10.
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ARTICLE VI.
Adam, our progenitor, was created in the moral image of God, and constituted the representative of his posterity.
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image ; in the image of God created he him ; male and female created he them. Gen. 1. 26, 27. Put on the new man which is renewed in know- ledge after the image of him that created him. Col. 3. 10. Put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Eph. 4.24. Lo, this only have I found, that God made man upright ; bui they have sought ont many inventions. Fccles. 7. 59. 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. For as by one man's dis- obedience many were made sinners ; so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Rom. 5. 12, 19.
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ARTICLE VII.
In consequence of the apostasy of Adam, his natural descendants in their succeeding generations are destitute of holiness ; and. unless they are renewed by the Holy Spirit, possess the carnal mind which is enmity against God.
And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil contin- ually. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth. Gen. 6. 5 -- 7. For the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth. Gen. 8. 21. The heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live. Eccles. 9. 3. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt; they have done abominable works; there is none that doeth good. The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any that did understand and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are altogether become filthy ; there is none that doeth good. no, not one. Ps. 14. 1-3. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked : who can know it? Jer. 17. 9. All have sinned. Rom. 5. 12. Among whom we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of our flesh and of the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. Eph. 2. 3. What then? are we better than they ? No, in no wise : for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin ; as it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one : there is none that un- derstandeth, there is none that sceketh after God. They are all gone out of" the way, they are together become unprofitable ; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre ; with their tongues they have used deceit ; the poison of asps is under their lips ; whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness ; their feet are swift to shed blood : destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace have they not known : there is no fear of God before their eyes. Rom. 3. 9-18. For to be carnally minded is death ; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace ; because the carnal mind is emnity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh can not please God. Rom.3. 6-8.
ARTICLE VIII.
The Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Word, assumed the nature of man and by his med- iation and death on the cross made atone- ment for the sins of the world.
In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was made flesh and Awelt among us. Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of
The world. John 1. 1, 14, 99. Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men ; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Phil. 2. 6-8. Forasmuch then, as the children are partalters of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels ; but he took on him the seed of Abra- ham. Heb. 2. 14, 16, And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness : God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of an- gels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. I Tim. 3. 16. Every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God. 1 John 4. 3. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. I Tim. 1. 15. Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day ; and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached among all nations. Luke 24. 46, 47. For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Mat. 26. 28. Without shedding of blood is no remis- sion. Heb. 9. 22. Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's : For this he did. once when he offered up himself. Heb. 7. 27. And if any man sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous : And he is the propitiation for our sins ; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. I John 2. 2. Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers ; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb> without blemish and without spot : who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world. I Pet. 1. 13-20. While we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Rom. 5. 8. Thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation. Rev. 5. 9.
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ARTICLE IX.
Pardon is offered to sinners on condition of repentance and faith ; but they reject the gospel of grace and refuse to come to Christ.
Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Rev. 22. 17. Look unto me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth. Isai. 45. 22. Repent and turn yourselves from all your transgressions ; so iniquity shall. not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed ; and make you a new heart and a new spirit : for why will ye die, O house of Israel? Ezek. 18. 30, 31. As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked ; but that the wicked turn from his way and live : turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways, for why will ye die? Ezek. 33. 11. Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved ; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mark 16. 15, 16. Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out. John 6. 37. Ye will not come to me that ye might have life. John 5. 40. Come, for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. Luke 11. 17.
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ARTICLE X.
In eternal and sovereign love God purpos- ed to reclaim and save multitudes of our sinful race, who were given to Christ as his peculiar people and redeemed by his blood, and who from age to age are effectually call- ed by the Holy Spirit out of every kindred and people and nation: While all others persist in sin and become vessels of wrath, filted to destruction.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath. Nessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ ; accord- ing 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 : having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace. Eph. 1. 3 -- 5. But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brett - ren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you 10 salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. Il Thess. 2. 13. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him. John 6. 44. And as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. Acts 13. 48. For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of him that calleth, -Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he wi lhe hardeneth. Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor and another unto dishonor? Rom. 9.11, 18, 21. A great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations and kindreds and people and tongues, stood before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes and palms in their hands ; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the theone and unto the Lamb. Rev. 7. 9, 10. A. new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord God, be it known unto you. Ezek. 30. 96, 32.
I am the good shepherd : the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheer. Ye are not of my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them ; and they follow me, and I give unto them eternal life. John 10. 11, 27. Fath- er, I will that they whom thou hast given me be with me where I am ; that they may behold my glory. John 17. 94.
When he is come, he will reprove the world of sin. John 16. 8. Yo «fif-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost. Acts 7. 51. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power. Ps. 110. 3.
For God hath not appointed us to wrath. I Thess. 5. 9. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be repro- bates? Il Cor. 13. 5. What if God willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction ? Rom. 9. 29.
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ARTICLE XI.
They, in whom a work of grace is begun, are kept from final apostasy, and made to persevere in holy obedience to the end of life.
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. Phil. 1. 6. The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more un- to the perfect day. Prov. 4. 19. The righteous shall hold on his way ; and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger. Job. 17. 9. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake of sleep, we should live together with him. I Thess. 5. 9. Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ : who are kept by the power of God through faith uuito salvation. I Pct. 1. 9, 5. Unto him that is able to keep you from falling. and to present you fultless before the pres- ence of his glory with exceeding joy-Jude 24. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For it, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son ; much more being reconciled. we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have received the atonement. Rom. 5. 9-11. We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first-born among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified ; and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? Ile that spared not his own Son, but delivered hin up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things ? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect: It is God that justifieth : Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor pow- ers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom. 8. 23-39.
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ARTICLE XII.
Any number of believers, duly associated, constitute a church of Christ, whose special ordinances are baptism and the Lord's sup- per. Adult believers and their children are proper subjects of baptism, and all who are truly penitent for sin and vitally united to Christ in faith and love are proper candi- dates for the Lord's supper.
And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church : but if ha neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Mat. 18. 17, And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. Acts 2. 47. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church. Acts 8. 3. Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword. Acts 12. 1. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches. Acts 15. 41. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Rev. 2. 7.
Go ve therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Mat. 28. 19.
And he took bread and gave thanks and brake it and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you : this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper. saying, This cup is the new tes- tament in my blood which is shed for you. Luke 22. 19, 20. When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to cat the Lord's supper, For I have received of the Lord that which I also delivered unto you, 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 supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in iny blood: this do ye as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. I Cor. 11. 20, 23-26.
And the eunuch said, See here is water; What doth hinder me to be baptized. And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. Acts 8 36. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized ; and the same day there were added to them about 3000 souls. Acts 2. 41. And was baptized, he and all his, straightway. Acts 16. 33. She was baptized and her household. Acts 16. 15. And I baptized also the house- hold of Stephanas. I Cor. 1. 16.
Whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. Ent let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. For he that rateth and drinketh unworthily, cateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. I Cor. 11. 27-29. Be ye net unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hatha righteousness with unrighteousness ? and what communion hath light with darkness? and what concord hath Christ with Beliel ? or what part hath
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he that believeth with an infidel? and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols ? for ye are the temple of the living God: as God hatit said, I will dwell in them and walk in them ; and I will be their God and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, and touch not the unclean thing ; and I will receive you and be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Il Cor. 6. 14-18.
ARTICLE NIIL
There will be a resurrection of the dead. both just and unjust.
Marvel not at this : for the hour is coming, in the which all that are ix 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. John 5. 28. 99. Why should it be thought u thing incredible with you that God should raise the dead? Acts $6. 8. 1 have hope towards God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. Acts 24. 15. Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection ; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works. and of faith towards God, of the doctrine of baptisms. and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. Heb. 6. 1,2. They that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to ever- lasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Dan. 12. 2 .-- { Cor. 15. 12 -- 57.
ARTICLE AIS.
At the end of the world. there will be a general judgment, when the Lord Jesus Christ will assemble all intelligent creatures together and make retributions just and final: the righteous will be received to heaven and the wicked banished to hell.
We must all appear before the judgment sest of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done. whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord. we persuade men. Il Cor. 5. 10. He hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained. Acts 17. 31. For as the Father rai-oth up the dead and onickeneth them : sven so the Soa quickeneth whom he will. For the Father judgeth no
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man ; but hath conpitted all jedzment unto the son, that all men should honour the Son, even as they bonoer the Father. John 5. 91-23. Whoso- ever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. Mark 8. 38. So shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend and them which do iniquity ; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire : there shall be wail- ing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Mat. 13. 40 -- 43.
The angels which kept not their first estate but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Dehold, the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints, to execute judgment upon all and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. Jude 6, 15. For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to bell and delivered them into chains of darkness to be reserved unto judgment ;--- the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temp- tations and to reserve the unjast unto the day of judgment to be punished. Il Pet. 2. 4, 9.
God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil. Eccles. 12. 14. We are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth, against them which com- mit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest ihem which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the rienes of his goodness and forbearance and long suffering ; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance ? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God ; who will render to every man according to his deeds : to them who, by patient continuance in well-doing, seek for glory and honor and immor- tality, eternal life ; but unto them that are contentious and do not obey the truth bat obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and au- guish upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first and also of the gentile ; but glory, honour and peace to every man that worketh good fo the Jew first and also to the gentile : for there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law, shall also perish without law ; and as many as have siumed in the law shall be judged by the law, in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ. Ron. 2. 2-12, 16. Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense trib- ulation to them that trouble yon ; and to you who are troubled, rest with God, 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 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. Il Thess. 1. 6 -- 10.
Father, I will that they whom thou hast given me be with me where I am. John 17.24. So shall we ever be with the Lord. I Thess. 4. 17.
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Heb. 10. 91. 'The fearful and unbelieving and the abominable and murderers and whore- mongers and sorcerers and idolaters and all Hars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Rev. 21. 8. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God : and the books wore opened ; and another book was opened, which is the book of life : and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Rev. 20, 12, 15. When the Son of man shall come in his glory and all the holy angels
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with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of bis glory : And before him shall be gathered all nations ; and he shall separate them one from another, even as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, yo blessed of my Father, in- herit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world .--- For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat : I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink : I was a stranger, and ye took me in : Naked, and ye clothed me : I was sick, and ye visited me : I was in prison, and je came unto ine. 'Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thure an hungered, and fed thee ? or thirsty, and gave thee drink ? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in ? or naked, and clothed thee ? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee ? And the King shall answer, and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels : For 1 was an hungered, and ye gave no meat : I was thirsty, and ve gave me ro drink : I was a stranger, and ye took me not in : naked. and ye clothed ine not : sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also an- swer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst. or a. stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee ?-- Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ve did it not to one of the least of these. ye did ir not to me. And there shall go away into everlasting punishment, bot tin righteous into His eternal .--- Mat. 95. 31 -- 40.
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