USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Confession of faith, and covenant, also a brief history of Union Church, Essex Street > Part 3
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8. All persons admitted to the Church shall be required to sign our Confession of Faith.
9. The Church will observe the sacrament of the Lord's supper on the afternoon of the first Sabbath of every month. Ordinance of Baptism to Infants administered, also.
10. The Church meets on Friday evening for devotional exer- cises and religious conference, to promote their growth in Chris- tian knowledge and grace.
XII. Alterations. No alteration shall be made in the foregoing principles and rules unless at a regular meeting of the Church, it having been proposed at the next regular meeting previous, and by vote of three fourths of the members present.
MEMBERS OF UNION CHURCH.
N. B. Those marked with a star (*) deceased, obelisk (t) dismissed, (E) excommunicated. 'The names of Churches denote those from which the members were received; when no Church is named, the member was received by profession.
June 10, 1822.
Deacon Nathan Parker, Essex Street Church,
James Melledge,
66
Mr. Joseph Noyes, 66 66
* « Joseph Morton, 66 66
Marquis F. Joscelyn, 66
Marcus Howe, Halifax, Mass.
Mrs. Mary Ann Howe, Essex Street Church,
66 ·Eunice Joscelyn,
Catherine Thayer, 66
" 66
Miss Mary Ann B. Howe,
68 66 Martha Howe, 66 66 66
Mrs. Deborah A. Howe, Halifax, Mass.
June 18, 1822.
t Mr. Samuel Randall.
August 26, 1822.
t Deacon Josiah Vinton, Jr. Braintree,
t Mr. Andrew Bradshaw, Park Street, Deacon John Gulliver, Old South,
+ Mr. Aaron Woodman, Park Street, 3
26
Mr. John W. Rogers, Park Street, t Daniel Noyes, 66
Gilman Prichard, 66 66
John Stimson, Old South,
+ David Hale, Jr .. Park Street,
Ezra Haskell, Laura Hale, Park Street,
Mrs. Martha Rogers, Park Street,
Sarah P. Gulliver, Old South. September 25, 1822.
Mrs. Margaret Thaxter, Essex Street Church. Harriet Cheever,
March 26, 1823.
Rev. Samuel Green, Reading.
April 18, 1823.
Mr. George Rogers, 1st Pres. Chh. Newburyport. June 1, 1823.
t Mr. Thomas Miller, St. Johns, N. Sc.
66 Charles Scudder.
William Sewall. Samuel D. Vose.
George Vinton, 5th Pres. Chh. Philadelphia,
Nath'I S. Prentiss, 1st Chh. Roxbury, Mrs. Ann McLean, Federal Street Chh.
* Anna Bulley, Teignmouth, Eng.
+ Betsey S. Vinton.
+ Hannah Bradshaw, New South Chh.
t Eleanor Noyes, N. Bridgewater.
Mary Goodhue.
Miss Sarah Jaquith, Uxbridge.
Mrs. Sarah L. Sewall, Park Street Chh. *
* Elizabeth Harlow, sen'r. Park Street Chh. Miss Elizabeth Harlow, Park Street Chh.
Clarissa Harlow " (Mrs. Warren,)
" Catharine Melledge, St. Johns, N. F.
Mehitable Chadwick, Park Street Chh. August, 1823.
" Mr. Newman Greenough, Leavitt Nason,
* " William Chadwick,
Thomas Lamson, Branch Church, Salem,
* Mrs. Abigail Prentiss, New North Chh.
1
27
Miss Abigail Prentiss, Mrs. Nancy Nason, Miss Mary Roach,
¥ Mary Reed, Mary D. Brown, Wilmington, Elizabeth Bovey,
. 66 Mary Hartshorn,
+ Lydia Smith,
Mrs. Louisa Green, Reading, Elizabeth Noble,
Phebe Greenough, Mansfield, Ct.
Anna Lainson, Branch Chh. Salem.
66 Lucy David.
December 7, 1823.
t Mrs. Mary F. Knox,
Christiana Baker, Old South,
Rebecca Stevens, Bath, Me.
March, 1824.
Mr. John Tappan, Federal Street Chh. .
+ John Harmon, Topsham, Me.
Richard Chamberlain,
" Jonathan C. Hannum,
Asa Day, Westford, N. Y.
David Pike, McDonough, N. Y. William Ropes, 2d Chh. Dorchester,
Mrs. Sarah Tappan, Old South Chh.
Jane Scudder, Rebecca A Brown,
Miss Elizabeth Chamberlain, New South Chh.
Mrs. Elizabeth Holland, " Sally Day, Westford, N. Y.
* Miss Anna Bulley,
t Eliza A. Vinton,
Ann Parker,
Patience Holbrook Lillie,
Mary Ann Codman, Mrs. Jerusha Pike, McDonough, N. Y. * « Martha Ropes, 2d Chh. Dorchester. * 1 June 6, 1824.
Mr. Nicholas Roach, 1 Gardner Tufts, Park Street Chh.
Hardy Ropes,
t Mrs. Amelia Gutterson, Gilmanton, N. H.
28
Miss Rachel Floyd, Chelsea,
t Mrs. Margaret 'Tufts, Park Street Chh. Miss Mary Ladd, 66 " (Mrs. Hardy Ropes,)
Mrs. Maria Dennie, Mrs. Abigail T. Vose,
Miss Lucy Haynes.
September, 1824.
Mr. Adam Knox, Hollis Street Chh.
Peleg Churchill, Lubec, Me.
Miss Anne Codman Butler,
Mrs. Lucy Churchill, Lubec, Me. Miss Elizabeth Codman,
E Lucy W. Herman,
+ Sophronia Kendall.
March, 1825.
+ Mr. Joseph Thayer, Petersburg, Va.
Mrs. Priscilla Goodrich, 3d Chh. Salem,
Hannah D. Kettell, Old South Chh.
Matilda Sewall, Kennebunk.
t Miss Lucy S. Turner, Salisbury, (Mrs. D. Hale, Jr.) Caroline Blood,
Mrs. Sarah Noyes,
Susan Thayer, Petersburg, Va.
t Miss Sarah Cannon,
Mrs. Sally C. Bridges, Hopkinton, Mass. Pamela Bigelow,
+ Lydia Towne, 3d Chh. Salem,
Eliza Mclellan, Old South Chh.
June, 1825.
Mr. William H. Beecher, 66 Zelotes Hosmer, + Hiram Bosworth, Lubec, Me.
Miss Lucy Stacy,
Mrs. Ann Loring, " Mary Hadley, 1st Chh. Charlestown, Frances Rupp,
Miss Catharine Cushing,
Mrs. Emily Haskell,
Elizabeth Cheever, Chelsea,
Miss Mary Boynton, t Mrs. Rebecca Abbot,
29
Mrs. Rebecca Beaman, 1st Chh. Boston, Betsey Hastings, Leicester.
September, 1825.
Mr. Jonathan Lane, Bedford,
1 Stephen Sewall,
" Jacob W. Reed, 2d Chh. Portland,
Mrs. Anna Maria Grafton,
* Miss Mary Downing, (Mrs. Ingersoll,) Mrs. Mary Hale,
Sally Hastings,
Miss Hannah Farrar, Park Street Chh.
Lorana P. Delano,
Mrs. Mary J. Gardner,
Hannah Dorr,
Ruhamah Lane, Bedford.
December, 1825.
Mr. Edmund Rogers,
David W. Hale,
" William Boynton, West Fairlee, Vt.
Josiah Richardson,
Mrs. Caroline F. Rogers, 1st Pres. Chh. Newburyport, Sarah Vose, Park Street Chh.
Miss Martha Barnes,
Mrs. Mary R. Sprague, Hingham,
" J. Mansfield;
Miss Elizabeth A. Pittee,
Mrs. Hannah Allen,
Miss Catharine Carr, (Mrs. McHugh,)
Mrs. Nancy French,
Mary Wesson, 1st Chh. Cambridge,
t " Ann Beard, Hollis, N. H.
March, 1826.
t Mr. John Putnam, Hardwick, Vt. t Benjamin Abbot,
Thomas C. Hale,
Samuel Southworth,
Miss Betsey Seavey,
Mary Ann Brannan,
Mrs. Mehitabel Blasland, Old South Chh.
Elizabeth Andrews, "
Betsey A. Savary, Kennebunk. *3
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO
30
June, 1826.
Mr. Stephen Fessenden,
66 William Trumbull,
William Haskell,
t " Charles W. Morse, Sutton, Miss Hannah Smith,
Sarah H. Hyde, Sarah A. Andrews,
* Mary Adams, Mary Jane Titcomb, Hannah S. Pittee, (Mrs. Daland,)
Mrs. Mary Horton, 1st Pres. Chh. Boston,
Caroline Fessenden,
* Betsey Hartshorn, 1st Pres. Chh. Boston,
Rebecca Stimson, Old South Chh.
" Harriet Brummett, 1st Pres. Chh. Boston.
1 .
September, 1826.
E Mr. Benjamin Harrington,
t Miss Eleanor Dickey,
+ Elizabeth Giles,
+ .“ Rosannah Gilpatrick,
Mary Cole,
Elizabeth Emily Simonds,
66 Elizabeth Frye.
December, 1826.
Mr. Edward Queston,
" Nathaniel W. Withington, f
t William Green,
Miss Sarah Brock,
t Mrs. Eliza Gill, Fitchburg,
Miss Lydia S. Bowers,
t Mrs. Elizabeth H. Ramsdell,
t Miss Abigail Lamson,
E Sarah Miller,
Mrs. Sarah R. Simpson, Miss Fanny Newhall
" Mary Tyler Ropes,
Rebecca Waldo Tappan,
" Ann Miller,
Hadassah Stevens,
Mrs. Nancy Dickinson, Park Street Chh. Miss Caroline Eliza Lunt.
31
March 2, 1827.
Mr. Hiram Bridges,
Charles J. Hastings,
+ Dixon L. Gill,
" Ebenezer Morse, Randolph,
Robert B. Hall,
David W. Fish,
+
" Josiah Waterman,
Mrs. Julia Bridges, Miss Sarah H. Morse,
" Mary Jane Hooper,
Mary Ann Gibson,
" Mary Melledge,
Mrs. Abigail Morton,
Hannah Waterman,
E Miss Mary Marston, Mrs. Charlotte W. Vinton, Old South Chh.
Lydia Morse, Randolph.
June 1, 1827.
Mr. Horatio N. Williams,
Ebenezer Fish,
" Aaron H. Safford,
William Blasland,
" Samuel Clough,
¥ . Willard Sears,
+ Cornelius Briggs,
" David Hale, Sen. 1st Chh. Portland,
Mrs. Waittee D. Blake,
Miss Caroline True, (Mrs. Jackson,)
-
Mrs. Mary Blasland,
Miss Susan Cushing,
" Mary Jewett,
Arethusa Underwood,
Tryphosa Cole,
Mary Ober,
Almira Smith, (Mrs. Joseph Brown,)
Mrs. Sarah Nichols, Branch Chh. Salem, Miss Ann C. Lepean,
" Sarah S. Day,
Mrs. Mary A. Onthank, Miss Mary Crease,
Mrs. Eliza Welch, Pennington, N. J.
Lydia Clough, Marblehead,
Mary Seymour,
Miss Eliza Seymour,
32
Mrs. Hannah Sears, Patterson, N. J. Lucretia Chapin.
September, 1827.
Mr. Joshua Morse,
William Otis, Leominster,
Josiah Hill, Henniker, N. H.
+
" Jer'h P. Tappan, 2d Cong. Chh. Newburyport,
David C. M. Rupp,
Benjamin L. Day,
William H. Gutterson,
Horatio A. Gates,
Miss Anna Saba Willard,
Eleanor Ames,
¥ Martha R. Prentiss,
Mrs. Rebecca Williams, .
+ Harriet Eldridge, Christ Chh. Boston,
Mercy Gibson,
Rhoda Fuller, Dedham, 1st Chh.
Miss Mary Ann Wild, Mary Stimson,
Mrs. Mary Rice,
Mary Prichard,
Elizabeth Clark,
Abigail Hill, Henniker, N. H.
Miss Mary S. Parker, Winchester, N. H.
Hannah Cogswell.
November 30, 1827.
Mr. Worthington Hooker,
Miss Dorothy Gilman,
" Persis Winchester,
* " Rebecca Beaman,
" Eliza T. Harris,
Mrs. Eunice Rich, Welfleet,
Miss Sarah Whitwell,
Ann Binney,
Mrs. Mary Whidden, Marblehead,
" Nancy Nichols, (Mrs. Mason,)
February 29, 1828.
Rev. William Bascom, Ist Chh. Cambridge, Mr. Seth Rich,
Joshua Cheever,
Abner Shelly, Abington,
t Mrs. Lydia P. Tappan,
Catherine B. Bascom, 1st Chh. Cambridge,
33
Miss Catherine B. Bascom, " Mary M. Cheever, * Mrs. Eunice W. Lawrenson, " Elizabeth Guild,
t Miss Ann 'T'haxter,
Caroline C. Davis,
Elizabeth Godfrey,
Mary Holines,
Anna S. Gibson,
" Lucy Johnson,
" Susan Wright,
Martha Boynton,
Mrs. Louisa S. Hosmer, Stanstead, L. C.
" Nancy P. Dodge, Waltham,
Miss Eliza A. Robbins,
" Emily Vose, (Mrs. J. A. Joy,)
" Frances Ashman, (Mrs. Otis Packard,)
" Ednah Elwell, Rowley. May 30, 1828.
Mr. Abner Kingman, St. John's Chh. Providence,
+ William Park,
" Joshua Turner, Thetford, Vt.
Mrs. Lydia Kingman, Richmond st. Chh. Providence,
Miss Lucia Kingman,
Mrs. Phebe Turner, Thetford, Vt.
Miss Elizabeth Cleverly, Abington,
" Hannah J. Thayer, Hollis st. Chh.
Mrs. Sophia Simpson,
Miss Abigail Ann Curtis,
Mrs. Betsey White, Natick,
Miss Isabella Waldron, Washington, N. H.
Mrs. Fanny T. Holbrook, Taunton,
t " Dorcas Hancock.
September 5, 1828.
Mr. Philander Hall, Miss Lucinda Smith,
Lucy Richards,
" Louisa Maria Joy,
" Sarah Gould,
Susan M. Watson,
Sarah Bowles,
December 5, 1828.
Mr. Daniel S. Tarr,
William S. Alden,
" Richard P. Dana, Mrs. Sarah Haskell, Ist Chh. Gloucester,
Miss Louisa Warren,
" Clarissa Withington,
" Helen A. Hale,
34
Miss Margaret Wilson,
" Emily Jane Eastman,
" Ann Williams,
" Ednah Pike,
Mrs. Elizabeth Dillaway, 1st Chh. Dorchester,
Mary Main, Ist Chh. Charlestown.
December, 1828.
t Dr. Daniel T. Coit, Yale College,
Mr. Cyrus Joscelyn,
William Bartemus,
" Joseph Brown, Jr.' Westmoreland, N. H.
Miss Lucy Low,
" Saralı P. Hunt,
" Lucy Sellars,
Mrs. Elizabeth Hall.
June 5, 1829.
Mrs. Charlotte Farrington, 3d Chh. Sulem, Miss Temple E. Bascom,
" Elizabeth Boardman,
" Alice Randall,
" Dolly Randall,
Mrs. Abigail Lepean, West Chh. Boston, Delia Goodenow,
Miss Mary Laughton,
Elizabeth Amory,
Almira Chick, Wells, Me.
September 4, 1829.
Mr. Marvel Chapin, late 1st Pres. Chh. Boston,
Mrs. Susannah Chapin, 66
Miss Mary N. Chapin,
Mrs. Sarah Gates, Berlin,
Miss Irene Marchant,
" Submit Stokell,
" Elvira M. C. Degen.
December 4, 1829.
Mr. John Stoddard, Miss Zoe Berteau,
Eliza Ann Randall,
Mrs. Martha W. Morse, Marlboro'.
Miss Maria C. Ray, Dunbarton, N. H: March 5, 1830.
Mr. Fordice Carter, Reuben Hunting, Miss Sarah Alcock, " Ann Kitchen, Mrs. Elizabeth Mann, Portsmouth, N. H.
35
Miss Eliza D. Hall,
" Caroline Newman, West Chh: Boston,
Susan Edes, Pembroke, N. H.
Phebe Barrett.
June 5, 1830.
Mr. Henry B. Mclellan, Miss Julia Dix,
" Sally Smith,
Mrs. Eliza Braddish,
" Mary C. Shields, Prot. Episcopal Chh:
Miss Rebecca Trask,
" Euphemia Kitchen,
Fanny Brown, Keene, N. H.
1822069
---
Table of Members.
ADMISSIONS. By Letter. By Profes.
REMOVALS. Deaths. Dismission. Excomm.
No. on 31st of Dec. of each year.
7
YEAR.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
Total.
Male.
Female.
Malè.
Female.
Male.
Female.
Total.
Male.
Female.
Total.
1822.
18
11
29
18
11
29
1823.
6
18
6
12
42
30
41
71
1824.
S
10
4
15
37
1
2
3
42
64
108
1825.
6
20
5
22
53
4
4
8
48
102
150
1826.
2
9
11
28
50
1
1
2
60
138
198
1827.
5
12
19
42
78
2
3
10
8
1
24
72
180
252
1828.
4
14
7
33
58
3
4
9
1
17
79
214
293
1829.
3
8
3
17
31
1
5
5
5
1
17
78
229
307
1830.
3
3
11
17
3
3
2
1
9
78
237
315
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| 52|105[58|180[395||5 |16 | 26| 29 | 1 | 3 | 80|| |
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2 911
CONFESSION OF FAITH. AND
COVENANT,
ALSO
HISTORY A BRIEF
UNION CHURCH, ESSEX STREET,
BOSTON
PRINTED FOR THE USE OF THE MEMBERS.
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO
BOSTON: WELL-SPRING PRESS,-WRIGHT & HASTY, PRINTERS. No. 3 Water Street, Boston. 1852.
CONFESSION OF FAITH,
AND
COVENANT, ·
ALSO
À BRIEF HISTORY 5,
OF
UNION CHURCH, ESSEX STREET,
BOSTON.
PRINTED FOR THE USE OF THE MEMBERS. THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO
BOSTON: WELL.SPRING PRESS,-WRIGHT & HASTY, PRINTERS, No. 3 Water Street, Boston. 1852.
BRIEF HISTORY OF UNION CHURCH.
A CHURCH of Christ was gathered in Boylston Hall in January, 1819, under the pastoral care of Rev. James Sabine. Soon after, several of its members, in connec- tion with other individuals, erected a meeting-house in Essex Street, which was dedicated to the worship of God in December of the same year. About two years after- wards, some difficulties arising, the church on the 6th of March, 1822, voted to return with their Pastor to Boylston Hall. A minority of the church, however, continued to worship in the meeting-house, and on the 28th of the same month requested a regular dismission from Essex Street church. This being granted, they were organized as a separate church, on the 10th of June following, by an Ecclesiastical council.
Soon after, application having been made for assist- ance, by this infant Church, to the Old South and Park Street Churches, and the interests of evangelical religion seeming to require that aid should be afforded, several members, after serious deliberation, consented to a sepa- ration from their beloved Pastors and brethren, and were `united with this Church, on the 26th August, 1822 :-
1
4
on which occasion, to mark the transaction and for the purpose of a distinct designation, the name of Union' Church was adopted. At the same time, Deacon Nathan Parker, by whose pecuniary aid, chiefly, the meeting- house in Essex Street had been erected, conveyed by deed the house and the land upon which it is built, to a board of Trustees, for the use of Union Church ; to be occupied for the worship of the one living and true God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. While these measures were in progress, a very liberal subscription was made by the brethren of Old South, and Park Street Churches, to enable the Church to call and support a Pastor.
On the 12th Nov. 1822, the Church unanimously made choice of the Rev. Samuel Green, of Reading, to become their Pastor; who signified his acceptance, by letter, February 8th, 1823, and was installed March 26th fol- lowing.
In 1831 his health began to fail and he was unable afterwards to preach. In 1833 he deemed it his duty to ask a dismission from his people, which was reluc- tantly granted, and his pastoral connection was formally dissolved on 26th March, 1834, just eleven years after his installation. He died on the 20th November follow- ing. "He was a good man, full of the Holy Ghost and of faith : and much people was added unto the Lord."
The Rev. Nehemiah Adams of Cambridge, having been with great unanimity, invited to succeed him in the' pastoral office, he was installed, by the same council which dismissed Rev. Mr. Green, March 26, 1834.
During the years 1823 and 1824, the Evangelical Con- gregational Churches in this city were favored with the special effusions of the Holy Spirit, which resulted in
5
very considerable accessions of members to the respective churches, in which this church liberally participated. As an expression of gratitude to God and to extend the means of evangelical instruction in the city, many mem- bers of Old South, Park Street, and Union Churches, in Jan. 1825, united in the erection of a new house* of worship in Hanover Street: and on the 18th of July following, Hanover Church, composed of members dis- missed from the above Churches, was organized, to occupy the house when completed. To this object, Union Church furnished six members.
Another season of revival followed in 1826 and 1827; and as the fruit of these seasons of spiritual prosperity, during the year 1827, two new houses of worship were erected in the same manner as before ; and also two new Evangelical Churches, Pine Street and Salem, were or- ganized at the same time, September 2, 1827, composed principally, of members dismissed with cordial affection from Old South, Park Street, Union, and Hanover Churches. On this occasion this Church parted with seventeen members.
In 1S31 and 1832, revivals of religion were general and powerful, and were followed by large accessions to the Churches. The orderly and Christian walk of most of those who were then united to this church, bears wit- ness to the excellent effects of such seasons.
The subject of sacred music has engaged, to some ex tent, the attention of the church. They consider it the duty of all, possessing the requisite natural talents, to
* Burnt Feb. 1, 1830, and rebuilt in Bowdoin Street, 1832. 1*
6
cultivate them, and to unite in the music of the sanc- tuary.
On the subject of the use of Ardent Spirit,-the Church unanimously resolved, on the 28th of March, 1827,-" That we will not use ardent spirit ourselves, nor permit its use in our families, except for medical purposes."
By vote of the Church, one-third of the collections at the communion seasons, after supplying the Table, is appropriated to constitute a fund for charitable purposes under the direction of the officers of the Church ; and. " the other two-thirds, for the use of the poor of the Church.
In 1837, the " Pew proprietors as such" were incor- porated into the " Essex Street Congregational Society." And by virtue of certain articles of agreement between it and the Church the trust deed has been surrendered, and the fee of the house vested in the Society, and the fol- lowing rights and privileges secured by covenant to the church :-
1. Whenever the Pulpit shall be without a settled Pastor, or by his sickness or absence, be vacant, the church shall direct the supply, the expense of which to be paid by the society.
2. Whenever a Pastor is to be chosen, the church shall have the exclusive right to nominate the same, and propose the person to the society for its concurrence. The salary to be determined by the society.
3. The meeting-house may, at any time, be freely used by the church, but the society will not grant the use of the same to any persons, for other than religious uses, unless such use be expressly authorized by a vote
7
of two-thirds of the male members of said church and society present at a joint meeting, duly notified for that purpose.
PASTORS.
Rev. Samuel Green, installed March 23, 1823 ; dismissed March 26, 1834.
Rev. Nehemiah Adams, installed March 26, 1834.
DEACONS.
Nathan Parker, elected December 11, 1822 ; died August, 1830.
James Melledge, elected December 11, 1822 ; died January 29, 1844.
Josiah Vinton, Jr., elected December 25, 1822 : dismissed to Brain- tree, December 4, 1829.
John Gulliver, elected Sept. 23, 1825; ordained November 25, 1825; dismissed to Free Church July 10, 1835.
Charles Scudder, elected February 25, 1831 ; ordained May 27, 1831.
Gilman Pritchard, elected February 25, 1831; ordained May 27, 1831 ; died February 8, 1833.
George Rogers, elected August 7, 1835 ; ordained September 4, 1835.
Thomas Adams, elected February 8, 1839 ; ordained April, 1839 ; dis- missed May 27, 1842.
Geo. W. Thayer, elected April 14, 1843.
Geo. D. Dutton, elected May 12, 1848.
.
3
CONFESSION OF FAITH.
(ACCOMPANIED BY SCRIPTURE PROOFS.
-
N. B. Candidates for admission to the Church, affix their names in the Church Book to these Articles, and also to the Covenant.
ARTICLE I.
We believe there is one, and but one, God, the Creator, preserver, and Governor of the Universe; a Being self- existent, independent and immutable ; infinite in pow- er, knowledge, wisdom, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.
The Being and Perfections of God.
I am the Lord, and there is none else ; there is no God besides me. The Lord is the true God, he is the living God. God is a spirit. And God said unto Moses, I Am that I Am. The eternal God is thy ref- uge. I am the Lord, I change not. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. The Lord God omnipotent reigneth. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Thou art good and doest good. To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. Righteous art thou, O Lord ! and upright are thy judgments. The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion. Thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth. Is. 45: 5. Jer. 10: 10. Jn. 4: 24. Ex. 3: 14. Dt. 33: 37. Mal. 3: 6. Jer. 23: 24. Acts 15: 18. Rev. 19: 6. Eph. 4: 6. Ps. 119: 68. Rom. 16: 27. Is. 6: 3. Ps. 119: 137. Ps. 145: 8. Is. 25: 1.
ARTICLE II.
We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God ; that they contain a complete and harmonious system of truth ; and . that they are a perfect rule of doctrinal belief and relig- ious practice.
9
Inspiration of Scripture.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man ; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Which things also we speak not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures .. To the law and to the testimony ; . if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book : and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophe- cy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. 2 Tim. 3: 16. 2 Pet. 1: 21. 1 Cor. 2: 13. Gal. 1: 11, 12. Matt. 22: 29. Is. 8: 20. Gal. 1:8. Rev. 22: 18, 19.
ARTICLE III.
We believe that God is revealed in the Scriptures as. the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost ; and that these: three are one, and equal in all divine attributes.
The Sacred Trinity.
Go ye therefore, and teach all 'nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. The Lord (the Holy Ghost) direct your hearts. into the love of God, (the Father) and into the patient waiting for. Christ. Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. And God said, Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness. Matt. 28: 19. 2 Cor. 13: 14. 2 Thess. 3: 5. 1 Pet. 1: 2. Gen. 1: 26.
Christ is God.
Who, (Christ) being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God. For unto us a child (Christ) is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. In the beginning was the Word, (Christ) and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. I and my Fa- ther are one. And Thomas answered, and said unto him, (Christ) my Lord and my God. But unto the Son he (the Father) saith, Thy Throne, O God, is forever and ever ; a sceptre of righteousness is the. sceptre of thy kingdom. This (Christ) is the true God and eternal life ..
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Whose are the Fathers 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 ending, saith the Lord, ( Christ) which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. Jesus Christ, the same yes- terday, 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 (Christ) 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 commanded 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 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, (Christ) forever. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Phil. 2: 6. Is. 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: 39.
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