USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Cambridge > History of the First Church in Cambridge, in connection with the Shepard Congregational Society : with its confession of faithand the names of members > Part 2
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The decision of the Supreme Court in accordance with which this property was surrendered, determined only the civil rights of the Church, and did not affect its ecclesiastical position, by virtue of which it remains "The First Church in Cambridge."
The church fund, for the recovery of which this suit was brought, was originally constituted by the donation of fifty pounds, by a member of the church, and increased to the above-mentioned sum entirely by contributions of the church members at the Lord's Supper. A part of the church plate, above referred to, was given to the church, and the rest was purchased with its own funds.
It may be interesting to state, in this connection, that, while the church was suffering great inconvenience from the loss of its table furniture, the manuscript " Autobiography of THOMAS SHEPARD " was providentially obtained by Mr. Adams, and a sufficient number of copies were printed to defray the expense of a suitable communion-service, which is still in use. Thus, after a period of nearly two hundred years, the founder of the church was permitted to furnish it with the means of celebrating the ordinances of the gospel.
In September, 1831, the senior pastor, laboring under con- tinued and increasing debility, unable to perform stated, and
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THE FIRST CHURCH IN CAMBRIDGE.
seldom able to perform occasional service, asked the consent of the church to his retiring from the pastoral cares. The church consented to the request, and united with the pastor in calling a council, to sanction the procedure, if it should see fit. The council convened on the 26th of September, 1831, and after due deliberation, sanctioned the proposed dissolution of the pastoral connection between Dr. Holmes and the church. Their decision is thus declared in their Result : --
" A Letter from the senior pastor of the First Church in Cambridge, requesting a dissolution of the pastoral connec- tion that has subsisted between them for nearly forty years, on account of advanced age and infirmity, together with the reply of the church, consenting to such a dissolution, and uniting in the choice of a council for carrying it into effect, if they see proper, were laid before the council. Where- upon voted : That, in the opinion of this Council, the rea- sons assigned by the senior pastor for the dissolution of his pastoral relation, and the consent on the part of the church, are satisfactory ; and that the pastoral relation between the Rev. Dr. Holmes and the First Church in Cambridge, be, and accordingly it is, hereby dissolved.
"It is with mingled emotions of pain and satisfaction, that this Council have attended to the business for which they have been convened. While they deeply regret the occasion that has led to their result, in the bodily infirm- ities attending the advancing age of the venerated and be- loved senior pastor of the First Church in Cambridge, they are most happy in the reflection that the ministerial and Christian character of Dr. Holmes is unspotted ; that he has been enabled, by divine grace, to bear the peculiar trials to which he has been called in the course of his ministry, with exemplary wisdom, firmness, meekness, and patience ; and that, in the circumstances attending the dissolution of
.
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THE FIRST CHURCH IN CAMBRIDGE.
his pastoral connection, a spirit of union and harmony has been manifested by the respective parties so deeply inter- ested.
"It is unnecessary for this Council to add anything by way of testimonial and recommendation to a character so well known in this Commonwealth, in this country, and in Europe, as that of the late pastor of the First Church in Cambridge ; the long tried and highly esteemed friend of learning and religion. His works are his testimonial, and his praise is in all the churches."
Dr. Holmes preached his Farewell sermon on the 2d of October, 1831. He died in the exercise of strong faith, and- in the comforts of a hope full of immortality, on the 12th day of June, 1837, in the seventy-fourth year of his age.
Within three years after the dismission of Dr. Holmes, the church was called upon to part with its remaining pastor. On the 22d of February, 1834, the Rev. Mr. Adams having received an invitation from the Essex Street Church and Society, in Boston, to become their pastor, and believing it to be his duty to accept it, requested the church and society to unite with him in calling an ecclesiastical council to dis- solve his ministerial connection with them. This request was complied with, though with great reluctance, and a council was accordingly invited to assemble at Cambridge for this purpose. The council met on the 14th of March following; and after serious deliberation, unanimously dis- missed Mr. Adams, with a view to his acceptance of the call from Boston.
On the 30th of January, 1835, the church unanimously elected the Rev. JOHN ADAMS ALBRO their pastor, and the society concurred in the choice. Mr. Albro signified his acceptance of their call by letter, dated March 28th; and on the 15th of April following, he was regularly installed
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THE FIRST CHURCH IN CAMBRIDGE.
pastor of the church and society by an ecclesiastical council duly called for that purpose.
After a ministry in this church of thirty years, Dr. Albro, at his own urgent desire, was dismissed from this pastorate on the 15th of April, 1865. He continued to reside in the parsonage until December, 1866, when he died at the age of sixty-seven years, after a brief illness, in West Roxbury, where his last public service was performed. His ministry was full of usefulness, and under his care this church and society largely increased. He died amid the lamentations of the people he had served so long, and was buried from the sanctuary where he had ministered unto them in holy things. He left abounding works to praise him. His name and fame are abroad among the churches. His memory is fragrant and blessed.
In 1865, the Rev. ALEXANDER MCKENZIE was invited to the pastoral care of the church and society. For imperative reasons the invitation was declined; but upon its renewal, in the following year, it was accepted ; and he was installed on the 24th of January, 1867.
It is impossible now to ascertain the names and characters of all those who have held the office of Elder and of Deacon in this church, from its organization; but a list, as complete as it could be made, will be found in the Catalogue at the end of this book. At the time of its separation from the First Parish, and union with the Shepard Congregational Society, which may be regarded as an important epoch in its history, William Hilliard and James Munroe were its Deacons. Deacon Hilliard died April 27, 1836. Deacon Munroe died in 1848. Of each of these church officers it could be said, he was an honest and good man, "not double- tongued, not greedy of filthy lucre, holding the mystery of
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THE FIRST CHURCH IN CAMBRIDGE.
the faith in a pure conscience." They "used the office of deacon well, and purchased to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus."
On the 21st of April, 1837, Mr. Stephen T. Farwell was chosen Deacon, in the place of Mr. Hilliard; and on the 30th of the same month, he was solemnly set apart to the office by prayer, according to the ancient usage of the Congregational churches. Deacon Charles W. Homer was chosen to this office in 1848, and was duly installed on the 4th of January, 1849.
The number of Deacons was subsequently increased to four ; and, on the 2d of July, 1869, Mr. Charles Theodore Russell and Mr. George S. Saunders were solemnly set apart for the duties of the office. Mr. Russell retired from the office in 1871.
This church has occupied five houses of worship, and the sixth is nearly ready for dedication as this sketch closes.
We conclude this brief history of our ancient church in the words of Solomon : "Blessed be the Lord, that hath given rest unto his people, according to all that he prom- ised ; there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant. The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers; let him not leave us, nor forsake us; that he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers. And let the words wherewith we have made supplication before the Lord, be nigh unto the Lord day and night, that he maintain the cause of his people at all times, as the matter shall require; that all the people of the earth may know that the Lord is God, and that there is none else."
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CONFESSION OF FAITH.
That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
This CONFESSION is in substance, and for the most part in language, taken from the " Confession of Faith owned and consented unto by the Elders and Messen- gers of the Churches assembled at Boston, May 12, 1680 ;" which is the basis of the Confessions of all the Orthodox Congregational Churches in New England. It expresses the views of this Church upon matters of doctrine through its entire history.
CONFESSION OF FAITH.
OF THE BEING OF GOD.
THERE is one only living and true GOD,1 who is alone in and unto himself all-sufficient,2 the fountain of life and being, of whom and through whom are all things visible and invisible,8 to whom all intelligent creatures are bound to render supreme homage, love, and obedience.4
1 Deut. vi. 4. 2 Acts xvii. 24, 25. 3 Col. i. 16, 17. 4 Rev. v. 11-14.
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OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.
ALTHOUGH the light of nature, and the works of crea- tion and providence, do so far reveal the being and attributes of God, as to leave men inexcusable in their unbelief,1 yet it has pleased him to reveal himself, and to declare his will more fully and clearly, in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments,2 which were written by divine inspiration,8 and are given to mankind by God's authority,4 as a sufficient revelation of all things neces- sary to salvation,5 and the only perfect and infallible rule of faith and practice,6 by which all doctrines and com- mandments of men are to be tried, and all religious con- troversies are to be determined.7
1 Rom. i. 19, 20. 2 Heb. i. 1, 2; Gal. i. 11, 12. 3 2 Peter i. 21. 4 1 Thess. ii. 13. 5 2 Tim. iii. 16, 17. 6 Rev. xxii. 18, 19; Gal. i. 8. 7 Isaiah viii. 20.
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CONFESSION OF FAITH.
OF THE DIVINE ATTRIBUTES.
GOD is a most pure and perfect spirit,1 self-existent,2 eternal,3 immutable,4 infinite and incomprehensible 5 in holiness,6 wisdom,7 benevolence,8 and power;9 the re- warder of them that diligently seek him; 10 long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth; 11 ready to forgive, and plenteous in mercy to all that call upon him ;12 most just and righteous in all his counsels, works, commands, and judgments.18
1 John iv. 24. 5 Job xi. 7-9.
9 Gen. xvii. 1.
12 Psalm lxxxvi. 5.
2 John v. 26.
6 Isaiah vi. 3.
10 Heb. xi. 6.
13 Psalm xxxiii. 4;
3 Psalm xc. 2.
7 Rom. xi. 33.
11 Exod. xxxiv.
Rom. vii. 12; Rev. xvi. 7.
4 James i. 17.
8 1 John iv. 8. 6, 7.
OF THE TRINITY.
IN the unity of the Godhead there are three persons of one substance, power, and eternity ; the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.1
1 Matt. xxviii. 19; John i. 1-3, 14; xv. 26; 2 Cor. xiii. 14.
OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE.
GOD upholds,1 directs, disposes, and governs all crea- tures and things, from the greatest to the least,2 by his most wise and holy providence,8 according to his infallible foreknowledge,4 and the free and immutable counsel of his own will,5 to the glory of his wisdom, power, justice, good- ness, and mercy.6
1 Hebrews i. 3. 2 Psalm cxxxv. 6; Matt. x. 29-31. 3 Prov. xv. 3; 2 Chron. xvi. 9. 4 Acts xv. 18. 5 Eph. i. 11. 6 Eph. iii. 10; Psalm cxlv. 7.
1
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CONFESSION OF FAITH.
OF THE CREATION AND FALL OF MAN.
GOD created the first parents of our race with rational and immortal souls,1 endued with knowledge, righteous- ness, and true holiness, after his own image,2 and gave them a holy law with the promise of life to them, and in them to their posterity, upon condition of perfect and personal obedience ; 3 but they voluntarily transgressing the divine command, in eating the forbidden fruit,4 fell from their state of original righteousness and communion with God,5 into a state of sin and death; 6 in consequence of which, they being the root, and the public representa- tives of all mankind," their whole posterity are by nature alienated from God,8 entirely unholy and corrupt,9 in- clined to all evil,10 under the condemnation of the divine law,11 and subject to death, temporal and eternal.12
1 Gen. ii. 7; Matt. x. 28. 6 Gen. iii. 17-19. 11 Gal. iii. 10; John iii. 18; Eph. ii. 3.
2 Gen. i. 26. 7 Acts xvii. 26.
3 Gen. ii. 16, 17; Rom. ii. 14, 15 ; x. 5.
8 Rom. viii. 7; Eph. iv. 18. 12 James i. 14, 15; 1 Cor.
9 Gen. vi. 5; Psalm li. 1; xv. 21, 22; Rom. vi.
4 Rom. ii. 15; Gen. iii. 6. Jer. xvii. 9. 23; Matt. xxv. 41.
5 Gen. iii. 7, 8 ; Rom. iii. 23. 10 Rom. iii. 10-12 ; vii. 19.
OF THE REDEEMER.
THE Son of God, the second person in the Trinity, in accordance with an eternal purpose of grace,1 freely un- dertook the work of redeeming and saving fallen men ; 2 and when the fullness of time was come,3 he took upon him man's nature,4 with all its essential properties and common infirmities,5 yet without sin,6 being born of the Virgin Mary, by the power of the Holy Ghost;7 was
1 Eph. iii. 9-12. 2 1 Tim. ii. 6. 3 Gal. iv. 4. 4 John i. 1, 14; Phil. ii. 7, 8. 5 Heb. ii. 17. 6 Heb. vii. 26; 1 Pet. ii. 22. 7 Luke i. 27, 31, 35.
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CONFESSION OF FAITH.
made under, and perfectly fulfilled, the divine Law given to men ; 1 suffered in soul and in body for our sins,2 the just for the unjust,8 and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross; 4 and having, by his per- fect obedience,5 sufferings,6 and sacrifice of himself,7 which he through the eternal Spirit once offered up to God,8 made a full and complete atonement for sin,9 and obtained eternal redemption for all that obey him,10 he rose from the dead,11 and ascended into heaven to the glory which he had with the Father before the world was,12 where he ever liveth to make intercession for us,18 and from whence he will come to judge both the living and the dead at the end of the world.14
1 Gal. iv. 4; Matt. v. 17. 6 Heb. ii. 10.
2 Matthew xxvi. 37, 38; 7 Heb. ix. 26.
12 Luke xxiv. 50,51; John xvii. 5.
xxvii. 46.
8 Heb. ix. 14. 13 Rom. viii. 34 ; Heb. vii.
3 1 Peter iii. 18.
9 Rom. iii. 25, 26; v. 11. 25.
4 Phil. ii. 8. 10 Heb. v. 9. 14 Acts i. 11; Rom. xiv. 9,
5 Rom. v. 19. 11 1 Cor. xv. 4. 10 ; Matt. xxv. 31-46.
OF THE HOLY GHOST.
THE Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son,1 is the only author of regeneration,2 sanctification,3 and new spiritual life and obedience in man;4 and with- out his gracious and effectual work in the soul, no sinner can ever enter into the kingdom of God.5
1 .John xiv. 26. 2 John i. 12, 13; iii. 5. 3 Rom. xv. 16; 2 Thess. ii. 13. 4 Rom. viii. 2; 1 Peter i. 2. 5 Ezek. xxxvi. 26, 27; John vi. 37, 44 ; iii. 5, 6.
OF ELECTION.
GOD, from eternity, according to his immutable pur- pose, and the most wise and holy counsel of his own
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CONFESSION OF FAITH.
will,1 hath chosen in Christ a great number of the fallen race of Adam unto everlasting life and glory,2 to the praise of his free and sovereign grace.3
1 Eph. i. 4, 11; 2 Tim. i. 9. 2 Eph. i. 5, 11; 2 Thess. ii. 13; John xv. 19; Rom. vi. 23. 3 Eph. i. 6, 12; Phil. i. 11; 1 Peter ii. 9, 10.
OF EFFECTUAL CALLING, JUSTIFICATION, ADOP- TION, SANCTIFICATION, PERSEVERANCE.
ALL those whom God hath chosen unto eternal life, he effectually calls,1 by his Word and Spirit,2 out of that state of sin and death in which they are by nature, to a state of grace and salvation by Jesus Christ ; 8 enlight- ening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand divine things,4 inclining them to that which is good,5 and effectually drawing them to Christ,6 yet so, that they come most freely, being made willing by his grace.7
1 Matt. ix. 13; Rom. viii. 28, 30. 2 2 Thess. ii. 13, 14. 3 2 Tim. i. 9, 10; Eph. ii. 1-8. 4 Acts xxvi. 18. 5 Phil. ii. 13; Ezek. xi. 19, 20. 6 John vi. 37- 45. 7 Psalm cx. 3. 1
He justifies them freely,1 by pardoning their sins,2 and accepting them as righteous ; 3 not on account of any works of righteousness done by them,4 but solely for Christ's sake, through faith in his blood.5
1 Rom. iii. 24. 2 2 Cor. v. 19, 21; Heb. viii. 12. 3 Rom. v. 19. 4 Titus iii. 5, 7; Rom. iv. 6. 5 Rom. iii. 20-26; Eph. ii. 8.
He grants unto them the grace of adoption,1 by which they are taken into the number, and enjoy the privileges of God's children,2 receive the spirit of adoption whereby they are enabled to cry, Abba, Father; the Spirit itself bearing witness that they are the children of God,3 are
1 Eph. i. 5. 2 Rom. viii. 17. 3 Rom. viii. 15, 16.
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CONFESSION OF FAITH.
sealed to the day of redemption,1 and inherit the prom- ises as heirs of salvation.2
1 Eph. iv. 30. f
2 Heb. vi. 12; 1 Peter i. 4.
He sanctifies them by his Word and Spirit, dwelling in them ;1 destroying the dominion of sin,2 creating a clean heart, and renewing a right spirit within them,8 working in them all that which is well pleasing in his sight,4 and strengthening them to the practice of true holiness, with- out which no man shall see the Lord.5
1 Eph. v. 26; 2 Thess. ii. 13. 2 Rom. vi. 6-14. 3 Col. iii. 10; Psalm li. 10. 4 Heb. xiii. 21. 5 Col. i. 11; Heb. xii. 14.
Finally, though they often grieve his Holy Spirit by their sins,1 he does not permit them to fall totally and finally from the state of grace; but keeps them by his power, through faith, unto eternal salvation.2
1 Eph. iv. 30; Isaiah lxiv. 7, 9. 2 Phil. i. 6; John x. 28, 29; xvii. 11-24 ; 1 Peter, i. 3-7.
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OF GOOD WORKS.
. ALTHOUGH we cannot merit pardon of sin, or eternal life by any works of our own,1 it is our duty to live a godly, righteous, and sober life, according to the will of God;2 and by good works, done in obedience to the divine law,8 and by the grace of Christ working in us,4 we are to show the genuineness of our faith,5 manifest our thankfulness,6 strengthen our assurance,7 adorn our profession of the gospel,8 and glorify God,9 whose work-
1 Rom. iii. 20; Eph. ii. 8, 9. 2 Titus ii. 12; Rom. xii. 1, 2. 3 Micah vi. 8; Rom. vii. 12. 4 John xv. 5, 6. 5 James ii. 18, 22. 6 1 Peter ii. 9. 7 John ii. 3, 5; 2 Peter i. 5-10. 8 Titus ii. 5-10. 9 Matt. v. 16; John xv. 8.
1
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CONFESSION OF FAITH.
manship we are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto,1 that, having our fruit unto holiness, we may have the end eter- nal life.2 €
1 Eph. ii. 10.
2 Rom. vi. 22.
OF REPENTANCE AND FAITH.
IN the gospel, pardon and eternal life are freely offered to sinners, upon condition of repentance towards God,1 and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ;2 and without these evangelical graces no man can be saved.3
1 Isaiah Iv. 7; Luke xxiv. 47. 2 Acts xvi. 31; John i. 12. 3 Acts xvii. 30 ; John iii. 36.
OF THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD.
THE ministry of the word being the divinely appointed means whereby, ordinarily, sinners are turned from dark- ness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God,1 all persons are required and encouraged to attend upon this ordinance,2 with dependence upon the influence of the Holy Ghost, without which no means are sufficient for their conversion ; 3 and all hope of salvation in voluntary neglect of it is presumptuous and vain.4
1 Luke xxiv. 47; Rom. x. 14-17. 2 Isaiah lv. 3; Acts x. 22; xiii. 7, 44. 3 John xiv. 26; Acts i. 2, 8; 1 Thess. i. 5, 6. 4 Heb. x. 25; xii. 25.
OF THE CHURCH.
GOD has a visible church upon earth;1 which is rep- resented in the Scriptures as a holy, spiritual kingdom,2
1 1 Tim. iii. 15; Acts xx. 28. C
2 1 Peter ii. 9; Eph. v. 26, 27.
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CONFESSION OF FAITH.
established upon the foundation of the apostles' and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner- stone, in whom the whole is joined together ;1 embracing as its members and subjects all the peculiar covenant people of God throughout the world;2 and built up by Divine grace from age to age, as a habitation of God through the Spirit.8
1 Col. i. 18; Eph. ii. 19-21. 2 Gen. xvii. 7; 1 Cor. xii. 12, 13; Acts ii. 39 ; Gal. iii. 9, 14. 3 Eph. ii. 21, 22; Rev. xxi. 3.
OF THE SACRAMENTS.
THE Lord Jesus Christ has instituted two sacraments, as holy signs and seals of the covenant of grace,1 of the same spiritual signification as the corresponding sacra- ments of the Old Testament,2 to be observed in the church until the end of the world,8 namely, Baptism and the Lord's Supper ; 4 the design of which is to represent Christ and his benefits, to confirm our interest in him, and solemnly to engage us to the service of God accord- ing to his word.5
1 Gen. xvii. 7; Rom. iv. 11. 2 1 Cor. x. 1-4; v. 7, 8. 3 Matt. xxviii. 19, 20 ; 1 Cor. xi. 26. 4 Matt. xxviii. 19; 1 Cor. xi. 23. 5 1 Cor. x. 16; xi. 25, 26; Gal. iii. 27; Rom. vi. 3, 4.
OF BAPTISM.
BAPTISM is a sacrament of the New Testament, or- dained by Christ,1 to be unto the person baptized a sign and seal of the covenant of grace; 2 of his solemn admis- sion into the visible church;8 of the work of the Holy Spirit in renewing and sanctifying the heart; 4 and of his
1 Matt. xxviii. 19. 2 Rom. iv. 11. 3 1 Cor. xii. 13. 4 Titus iii. 5; Acts ii. 38.
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CONFESSION OF FAITH.
obligation to walk in newness of life.1 The proper sub- jects of the ordinance are professing believers and their households ; 2 and it is rightly administered by sprinkling or pouring water upon the person, in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.3
1 Rom. vi. 3, 4. 2 Mark xvi. 15, 16; Gen. xvii. 7, 9; Acts ii. 38, 39 ; xvi. 14, 15, 33; 1 Cor. vii. 14; Mark x. 13, 14; Luke xviii. 15. 3 Acts x. 47; viii. 36; Matt. xxviii. 19; Heb. ix. 19; x. 22; Numb. viii. 7; Isaiah lii. 15; Ezek. xxxvi. 25 ; Zech. xii. 10; Isaiah xliv. 3; Joel ii. 28, 29.
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OF THE LORD'S SUPPER.
THE Lord's Supper, consisting of bread and wine set apart from a common to a holy use by prayer,1 was in- stituted by the Lord Jesus Christ,2 as the sacrament of his body and blood, to show forth perpetually the sacri- fice of himself in his death; 4 to seal to believers the benefits of his atonement ; 5 to promote the spiritual nour- ishment and growth of all who worthily receive it; 6 to be a bond of their communion with Christ and with each other, as members of his spiritual body;7 and is to be administered to all who make a credible profession of evangelical faith, and maintain a blameless walk and con- versation according to the Word of God.8
1 Matt. xxvi. 26, 27. 2 1 Cor. xi. 23-26. 3 1 Cor. x. 16, 17, 21. 4 1 Cor. xi. 24-27. 5 2 Cor. i. 21, 22. 6 Eph. iv. 15, 16 ; ii. 21. 7 1 Cor. x. 16, 17, 21; xii. 13. 8 1 Cor. v. 6-8; xi. 27, 29; 2 Cor. vi. 14-16 ; 2 Thess. iii. 6, 14, 15.
OF THE CHRISTIAN SABBATH.
GOD has appointed one day in seven as a Sabbath to be kept holy unto him;1 which, from the beginning 1 Exodus xx. 8-11; Isaiah lvi. 2, 4, 6.
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CONFESSION OF FAITH.
of the world to the resurrection of Christ, was the last day of the week,1 and from the resurrection of Christ was changed into the first day of the week,2 called in Scrip- ture the Lord's day,3 and is to be continued to the end of the world as the Christian Sabbath.4
1 Gen. ii. 3. 2 1 Cor. xvi. 1, 2; Acts xx. 7. 8 Rev. i. 10. 4 Exod. xx. 8, 10 ; Matt. v. 17, 18.
OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP.
RELIGIOUS worship, in the mode prescribed in the Scriptures,1 is to be rendered unto God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and to him alone,2 in the public and sol- emn assemblies of the saints on the Sabbath,3 in secret,4 and in private families daily ; 5 with understanding,6 faith,7 love,8 reverence, and godly fear ; 9 through the mediation of Christ, our only redeemer and intercessor.10
1 Deut. xii. 32; Matt. xv. 9. 2 Matt. iv. 10; John v. 23; Col. ii. 18. 3 Isaiah Ivi. 7; Heb. x. 25; Acts ii. 42. 4 Matt. vi. 6; Eph. vi. 18. 5 Matt. vi. 11. 6 Psalm xlvii. 7. 7 James i. 6; Mark xi. 24. 8 Rev. ii. 4. 9 Heb. xii. 28. 10 John xiv. 6; 1 Tim. ii. 5.
OF THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS.
ALL the visible covenant people of God, being united to Jesus Christ their common head by faith,1 and to each other by holy love,2 are bound to maintain com- munion and fellowship in the worship and ordinances of God's house ; 8 in the performance of such spiritual ser- vices as tend to their mutual edification; 4 and in reliev- ing each others' necessities according to their ability and opportunity.5
1 1 John i. 3; Eph. iii. 16, 17. 2 Phil. ii. 1, 2; Eph. iv. 15, 16. 3 Heb. x. 24, 25 ; Acts ii. 42, 46. 4 Rom. xiv. 19; 1 Thess. v. 11. 5 1 John iii. 17; Acts xi. 29, 30 ; Gal. vi. 10.
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CONFESSION OF FAITH.
OF THE STATE OF MAN AFTER DEATH.
AT death the bodies of men return to dust from which they were originally taken,1 but their souls, which are im- mortal,2 immediately return to God who gave them;3 the righteous being received into heaven, where they behold the face of God in glory, waiting for the redemption of their bodies,4 and the finally impenitent reserved in dark- ness unto the judgment to be punished.5
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