USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Shrewsbury > Church hand-book: for the Congregational Church in Shrewsbury, Mass. > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
20
righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. This is the true God and eternal life. Whose are the Father's, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came; who is over all, God blessed forever. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end- ing, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee. For by him were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers ; all things were created by him, and for him; and he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he commandeth us to preach unto the people and to testify that it is he, which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. That all men should honor the Son even as they honor the Father. And again when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world he saith, and let all the angels of God worship him. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing and honor and glory and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Ghost ? Thou hast not lied unto man, but unto God. Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Which . were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. All scripture is given by inspiration of God. Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you ? What ! know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you ? Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth. For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same
21
hour what ye ought to say. And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him. For the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. Whither shall I go from thy Spirit ? The Spirit of God hath made me. By his Spirit he garnished the Heavens. Deut. 6: 4. Isa. 45: 5. Jer. 10 : 10. Jno. 4 : 24. Jer. 23 : 24. Deut. 33 : 27. Mal. 3 : 6. Ex. 3 : 14. Acts 15 : 18. Dan. 2: 20. Rev. 19 : 6. Isa. 6 : 3. Ps. 119 : 137. Ex. 34 : 6. [1 Jn. 5 : 7.] Matt. 28 : 19. 2 Cor. 13 : 14. Phil. 2: 6. Isa. 9 : 6. Jn. 1: 1. Jn. 10 : 30. Jn. 20 : 28. Heb. 1 : 8. 1 Jn. 5 : 20. Rom. 9 : 5. Rev. 1: 8. Heb. 13: 8. Matt. 18 : 20. Jn. 21 : 17. Col. 1 : 16, 17. Acts 10 : 42. Jn. 5 : 23. Heb. 1 : 6. Rev. 5: 13. Acts 7: 59. Acts 5 : 3, 4. John 3: 5. 1: 13. 2 Tim. 3: 16. 2 Pet. 1 : 21. 1 Cor. 3 : 16. 1 Cor. 6 : 19. Jn. 16 : 13. Luke 12: 12. Luke 3: 22. 1 Cor. 2: 10. Ps. 139 : 7. Job 26 : 13. 33 : 4.
3. We believe that God made all things by the word of his power ; and as the Providential and Moral Gov- ernor of the world, controls all events, according to his eternal purpose and wisdom; and in such a way as to subserve his own glory and the highest good of the universe ; yet in perfect consistency with the free, moral agency of his intelligent creatures.
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. For every house is builded by some man : but he that built all things is God. By the word of the Lord were the heavens made : and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. Thou, even thou, art Lord alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all ; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing ? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. The Lord hath prepared his throne in
22
the heavens ; and his kingdom ruleth over all. The eyes of all wait upon thee ; and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every liv- ing thing. The lot is cast into the lap ; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain. For of a truth. against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered to- gether, for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determin- ed before to be done. And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation. In whom also we have obtained an inheri- tance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. I form the light, and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil. I the Lord do all these things. The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. Remem- ber the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else ; I am God, and there is none like me ; declaring the end. from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure : calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country : yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass : I have purposed it, I will also do it. The Lord hath made all things for himself, yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee : the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain. All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord ; and thy saints shall bless thee. All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served, that were
23
on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell : but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. A man's heart deviseth his way; but the Lord directeth his steps. O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself. Gen. 1: 1. Heb. 3 : 4. Ps. 33: 6. Neh. 9: 6. Matt. 10: 29, 30. Ps. 103 : 19. 145 : 15, 16. Prov. 16 : 33. Jer. 10: 23. Acts 2: 23. 4 : 27, 28. 17: 26. Eph. 1 : 11. Isa. 45 : 7. Ps. 33 : 11. Isa. 46 : 9, 10, 11. Prov. 16 : 4. Ps. 76: 10. 145 : 10. 86 : 9. Josh. 24 : 15. Prov. 16 : 9. Hos. 13 : 9.
4. We believe that our first parents were originally holy and by voluntary transgression became sinners, and that, in consequence of their apostacy, all their posterity are, in their natural and unregenerate state, wholly and positively sinful, and by the law of God justly condemned to eternal death.
And God said, let us make man in our image, after our like- ness. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him. Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright ; but they have sought out many inventions. 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. By the offense of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation. By one man's disobedience, many were made sinners. 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 continually. For I know that in me, (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God : for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then, they that are in the flesh cannot please God. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it ? And you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins. But I know you that ye have not the love of God in you. As it is
24
written, there is none righteous, no not one. For as many as are of the works of the law, are under the curse ; for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniqui- ty of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son ; the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. Gen. 1 : 26, 27. Eccl. 7 : 29. Rom. 5 : 12, 18, 19. Gen. 6 : 5. Rom. 7 : 18. 8 : 7, 8. Jer. 17 : 9. Eph. 2 : 1. John 5 : 42. Rom. 3: 10. Gal. 3: 10. Ezek. 18 : 20.
5. We believe that Jesus Christ, as God manifest in the flesh by his sufferings and death, has made the only adequate atonement for sin ; so that now, God can be just, and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus, and that upon condition of repentance for sin and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, forgiveness and life everlast- ing are sincerely and freely offered to all.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. 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. For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. God was manifest in the flesh. The Jews answered him saying, For a good work we stone thee not, but for blas- phemy, and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life ; no man cometh unto the Father but by me. Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that . Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from
25
the dead the third day. And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations. For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. And he is the propitiation for our sins ; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. While we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness, for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God, to declare, I say, at this time, his righteousness, that he might be just, and the justi- fier of him which believeth in Jesus. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us ; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree. From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, Repent : for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. I tell you, Nay ; but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Repent ye, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have ever- lasting life. And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. John. 1: 14. Phil. 2 : 6, 7. Col. 2: 9. 1 Tim. 3: 16. John 10 : 33. 14 : 6. Acts 4 : 12. 1 Tim. 1: 15. Luke 24 : 46, 47. Matt. 26 : 28. 1 Jn. 2 : 2. Rom. 5 : 8. Rev. 5 : 9. Rom. 3 : 25, 26. Gal. 3 : 13. Matt. 4: 17. Luke 13 : 3. Acts 3 : 19. Jn. 3: 16. Acts 16: 31. Rom. 10: 4.
1
6. We believe that God did from the beginning choose unto life all who will finally be saved ; that all such are renewed by the special influences of the Holy Spirit, in believing the truth ; and being justified freely
3
26
by his grace, will all be kept by his mighty power through faith unto eternal life.
But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. Moreover, whom he did pre- destinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified ; and whom he justified, them he also glorified. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, 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. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will; in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and re- newing of the Holy Ghost. 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 an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 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. Jesus answered, Verily,
27
verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me : and I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all ; and none is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me. But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. 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. 2 Thess. 2: 13. Rom. 8 : 30, 38, 39. Eph. 1: 4. 2 Tim. 1: 9. Eph. 1: 5, 11. Tit. 3 : 5. Ezek. 36 : 26, 27. John 1 : 12, 13. John 6 : 44. 3: 5. 10: 27, 28, 29. 1 Pet. 1:5. Jer. 32 : 40. Prov. 4: 18. Phil. 1: 6.
7. We believe that a Church is an association of Christians professing their faith in Christ and obedience to him, and joined in covenant for Christian fellowship and communion in the ordinances of the gospel ; and invested with power to choose its own officers, to admit members and to exercise government and discipline according to the rules of the gospel.
Unto the church of God, which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free ; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called
28
in one hope of your calling ; one Lord, one faith, one bap- tism. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office ; so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom ; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is ; but exhorting one another ; and so much the more as ye see the day approaching. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized; and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellow- ship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And they continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul. Then had the churches rest throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria, and were edi- fied ; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. Neither be ye called masters, for one is your Master, even Christ. And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all. And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. Take heed, therefore, unto yourselves, and to all the flock over the which the. Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God,
1
29
which he hath purchased with his own blood. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets ; and some, evangelists ; and some, pastors and teachers ; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone; if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church ; but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man, and a publican. Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 1 Cor. 1 : 2. 12 : 13. Eph. 4 : 4, 5. Rom. 12 : 4, 5. Col. 3: 16. Heb. 10: 25. Acts 2: 41, 42, 46, 47. 4: 32. 9: 31. 11: 26. Matt. 23: 10. Eph. 1: 22, 23. Acts 14: 23. 20: 17, 28. Eph. 4 : 11, 12. Matt. 18 : 15, 16, 17. 2 Thess. 3: 6, 15. 1 Cor. 5 : 9, 4, 5.
8. We believe that Baptism, as the seal of the cove- nant, and the Lord's Supper as commemorative of Christ's death, are the ordinances which are appointed to be observed in the church to the end of the world.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. And as they were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat, this is 3*
30
my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized, and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee, in their generations, for an everlasting covenant ; to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant, therefore, thou and thy seed after thee, in their generations. This is my covenant, which ye shall keep between me and you, and thy seed after thee ; every man child among you shall be circumcised. And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin ; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you. And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations ; he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed. And he re- ceived the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith, which he had, yet being uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised, that righteousness might be imputed unto them also. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace, to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. For the promise is unto you and to your children. Their children also shall be as aforetime. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbeliev- ing wife is sanctified by the husband ; else were your children unclean, but now they are holy. 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. And when she was baptized and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye
31
have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and abide there. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes ; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. And I baptized also the household of Stephanus. For I have received of the Lord that which also I 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 man- ner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood ; this do ye as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. Matt. 28: 19. 26 : 26-30. Acts 2: 41. Gen. 17: 7, 9, 10, 11, 12. Rom. 4 : 11, 16. Acts 2 : 39. Jer. 30 : 20. 1 Cor. 7 : 14. Luke 18: 16. Acts 16: 15, 33. 1 Cor. 1: 16. 11: 23-26.
9. We believe that at the end of time, the Lord Jesus Christ will descend from heaven, to raise the dead and judge the world in righteousness ; that pro- bation will then be ended ; that the wicked will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God ; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump ; (for the trumpet shall sound ;) and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. Because he hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. For we shall all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ. Whatsoever thy hand
32
findeth to do, do it with thy might ; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave, whither thou goest. But the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to ever- lasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away ; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God : and the books were 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 the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them : and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life, was cast into the lake of fire. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye bless- ed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 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. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment : but the righteous into life eternal. 1 Thess. 4: 16. 1 Cor. 15 : 52. Acts 17: 31. Rom. 14: 10. Eccl. 9 : 10. 2 Pet. 3 : 7. Dan. 12: 2. Rev. 20 : 11-15. Matt. 25 : 34, 41, 46.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.