USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > The articles of faith, and the covenant, of Park Street Church, Boston : with a list of the members (1859) > Part 4
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
Evans, Martha
Evans, Mary E.
Farley, Pamelia II.
Farnum, Sarah A.
Farnsworth, Mary R. Farrar, Martha B. Farrar, Sarah
Farwell, Emily A.
Fellows, Eunice C.
Gustin, Rebecca S.
Hadley, Hannah B.
Fisher, Josepha
Fisher, Mary G.
Fisher, Martha A. Flagg, Mary A.
Fletcher, Abigail
Harris, Jane Harris, Louisa M.
Hlewins, Anna Ilill, Miranda Hilton, Hannah
Fox, Clarissa Foxcroft, Harriet E.
Hodgdon, Hannah IL. Ilolland, Eliza
Holley, Eliza A.
Holmes, Adeline Holmes, Annie J.
51
Holmes, Elizabeth M.
Holmes, Fanny W.
Ilomer, Elizabeth B.
Kidder, Miriam
Kilham, Priscilla
Homer, Mary I.
Kimball, Anna B.
Homes, Isabella
Kimball, Annie B.
Hooper, Mary J.
Kimball, Annie E.
Hosmer, Hannah H.
Kimball, Frances Maria
Hovey, Elizabeth
Kittredge, Clarissa J.
Howard, Mary Ann
Knight, Mary
Hoxie, Mary E.
Knight, Mary Ann
Hoyt, Elizabeth B.
Knight, Sarah S. W.
Hubbard, Mary A.
Knowlton, Nancy S.
Knowlton, Sophia
Kwinkelenburg, N. F.
Hunting, Sarah E.
Hunting, Caroline A.
Ladd, May Gertrude
Lamprey, Eliza
Lamson, Mary S.
Lamson, Sarah
Lang, Sally W.
Latham, Abby Gertrude
Latham, Mary
Lawton, Il. Annie
Leather-, Jane
Leavens, Lucy Ann
Leavens, Sylvia
Lenvitt, Sarah
Leland, Mury F.
LeFavor, Abby
Lewis, Cordelia M.
Light, Elizabeth C.
Lincoln, Adeline
Lincoln, Chastine
Lincoln, Harriet N.
Lincoln, Sarah W.
Litchfield, Ambroscene G.
Litehtich, Mercy A.
Littlefield, Olivia
Lockwood, Mary J.
Lord, Annie G.
Lord, Julia M.
Lord, Mary M.
Loring, Mchitable
Lovett, Hannah
Lovett, Susan
Lull, Jane R.
Lyman, Margaret E.
March, Florinda J. Martin, Sarah Mayhew, Harriet B. Maynard, Nancy M.
Ingalls, Eliza Ingalls, Eliza Ann
Jaquith, Ellen C.
Jaquith, Harriet A.
Jellison, Martha
Jenkins, Abigail Jenkins, Mary Jenness, Almira Jewett, Hannah
Johnson, Caroline Johnson, Hannah S. Jones, Anna O. Jones, Elizabeth Jones, Elizabeth C. Jones, Lydia Jones, Maria
Jones, Mersylvia Jones, Sarah Jones, Susan E.
Jones, Susan K.
Jones, Susan W. Joslyn, Adeline Judkins, Hannah E. Judkins, Lucy A. Judkins, Mary G.
Keegan, Hannah Keith, Mary Kelly, Temperance B.
Kendall, Harriet L.
Kenneston, Margaret E.
Homer, Mary
Hulst, Margaret
Ilunt, Hannah
Huntress, Ellen M.
Huntress, Louisa
Huntress, Sarah G. Hurd, Martha C.
Hutchinson, Roxanna Hyde, Sarah B.
52
Maynard, Persis
Mayo, Henrietta L. Maxwell, Sarah F. MacAdam, Henrietta M'Adam, Marion
McAlvin, Lydia A.
M.Connaghy, Margaret
M'Mullen, Mary Jane
M Pherson, Calista B.
M'Pherson, Orfa B.
Pease, M. R.
Merriam, Matilda Mirick, Elizabeth
Millet, Abigail
Pierce, Lucinda
Miller, D. S.
Pierce, Mary Ann
Miller, Martha L.
Perkins, Ellen M.
Morey, Caroline A. C.
Morey, Mary S.
Morgan, Hannah E.
Moors, Naamah
Morrison, Catharine
Morrison, Elizabeth M.
Morrison, Martha Morse, Amic R.
Morse, Sarah J.
Morse, Syrena
Morton, Sarah
Morton, Sarah E.
Moses, Julia C.
Munroe, Louisa S.
Munroe, Paulina T.
Munroe, Sophia
Mansey, Jessie
Muzzy, Anna
Nason, Hannah Neal, Sarah A.
Newcomb, Mary S.
Newcomb, Leila F.
Newhall, Sally
Newton, Mary A.
Nickerson, Jeannie
Nickerson, Martha T. Nutting, Lucy W. Nye, Mary E.
Odell, Sarah A. Odiorne, Christiana O'Harra, Eliza Oliver, Mary R. Orne, Caroline Osgood, Wealthy Ann
Palmer, Caroline
Palmer, Ellen E. Palmer, Lucena Park, Rebecca · Parker, Mary D.
Parker, Mary Elizabeth
Parker, Rebecca W.
Peach, E. S.
Peake, Mary
Pease, Emma H.
Peirce, Eliza T.
Peirce, Abby C.
Perkins, Emily A.
Pike, Mary N. G. Plimpton, Maria
Poole, Lydia F. Poole, Frances A.
l'orter, Abby
Porter, Mary
Powers, Sarah Anna
Pratt, Elizabeth II.
P'reble, Mary E.
Priest, Esther F.
Putnam, Eunice L.
Putnam, Sarah B.
Quincy, Abigail A. Quincy, Martha A.
Ray, Eliza V.
Ray, Mary L.
Rea, Sarah A. Reed, Elizabeth J.
Reed, Margaret
Rice, Lucy J. Rice, Rebecca Richards, E. Hibbard Richards, Hannah L.
Richardson, Anna R. Richardson, Louisa C.
Richardson, Mary Ann
Richardson, Rebecca W.
Robbins, Abigail Robbins, Maria Robinette, Mary Robinson, Hepsibeth M. Robinson, Sarah Ann Rogers, Sarah F. Ross, Abigail Russell, Mary S.
53
Rutledge, Harriet N. Rutledge, II. Victoria Ryan, Abby W.
Sabine, Martha
Sanderson, Abigail
Sanderson, Abby T.
Sanford, Deborah
Thompson, Sally
Sawyer, Harriet N.
Tileston, Martha D.
Sawyer, Susan E.
Tilton, Annie M.
Shepard, Hannah
Tilton, Mary
Sheple, Sarah L.
Tohman, Martha D.
Shorey, Elizabeth
Topping, Margaret
Silsby, Eleanor I1.
Torrey, Harriet
Simpson, Elizabeth D.
Small, Lydia A.
Smith, Ann
Smith, Annie
Smith, Delia T.
Smith, Elizabeth F.
Sinith, Eliza A.
Twitchell, Emeline
Smith, Elizabeth R.
Smith, Maria E.
Underhill, Annie E.
Smith, Martha A.
Smith, Mary A.
Vaughan, Abby S.
Smith, Sarah E.
Virgin, Hannah
Smith, Sally W.
Virgin, Mary H.
Smith, Vesuvin P.
Sowen, Mary
Spaulding, Elizabeth L.
Spaulding, Lydia
Warner, Ellen M.
Warren, Susan F.
Sprague, Caroline II.
Wason, Mary
Waterbury, Sophia L.
Weatherston, Mary A Webber, Susan
Wedge, Betsey
Weeks, Hannah
Wells, Mary W.
Wells, Nancy C.
West, Elizabeth A.
West, Phobe II.
Weston, Deborah
Whipple, Deborah
White, Abby O. White, Iliza
White, Ellen M.
Whitely, Elizabeth HI. Whitehouse, Susan E. Whitmarsh, Jane
Talbot, Agnes Talcott, Julia A. Taylor, Martha R. Taylor, Mary M.
Tedder, Jane T.
Temple, Emma A. Tenney, Betsey B. Thayer, Lillie A. Thomas, Emma E. W.
Thomas, Martha
Thompson, Rebecca
Simonds, Sarah W.
Towle, Julia
Townsend, Mary
Townson, Eliza
Trask, Martha Parsons
Turner, Abigail
Turner, Maria
Turner, Sarah J.
Smith, Elizabeth K.
Twitchell, Lucia A.
Vose, Sarahı
Wainwright, Ann E. C.
Waldron, Mary Wallis
Spofford, Lucy Sprague, Adeline
Sprague, Lydia Ellen
Staniels, Ruth B. E.
Stetson, Ellen ( Missionary)
Stevens, Sarah II. Stockbridge, Adeline
Stockbridge, Caroline A. Stone, Lydia Stone, Matilda F.
Studley, Laura A.
Sutton, Alice E.
Sutton, Hannah Maria Sutton, Margaret A.
54
Whitney, Elizabeth J. Whitney, Lizzie Whittemore, Eliza Wiggin, Ann
Wier, Eunice Willard, Martha A.
Wilder, Philena
Wildes, Laura
Woods, Betsey
Wildes, Sophia
Wilkins, Rose B.
Willeut, Jane M.
Worcester, Emeline
Williams, Catharine II.
Williams, Elizabeth
Williams, Elizabeth
Willis, Julia D.
Willis, Susan D. Wilson, Mary K.
Winn, Mary A.
Winslow, Phebe
Witham, Sarah B. Wood, Frances H.
Woods, Delia F.
Woods, Nancy
Yerxa, Mary Ann Young, Julia E. N.
SUMMARY.
The whole number of persons who have been received into the Church is 1,952 ; - 832 by recommendation ; 1,120 by pro- fession ; 675 males ; 1,277 females : 235 are dead ; 811 have been dismissed to other Churches ; 37 excommunicated, and 2 con- nection dissolved. The present number ( February 27, 1859) is 817, of whom 283 are males, and 561 females.
The admissions at different periods are as follows : -
At the organization, . 26
Before Dr. Griffin's settlement, . 18 .
During Dr. Griffin's ministry (3 years 9 months), 03
In the interval (2 years 4 month .), 44
During Mr. Dwight's ministry (8 year, 6 months), . 321
In the interval (5 months ). 20
During Mr. Beecher's ministry (3 years 10 months), 173
In the interval (2 years), . 39
During Mr. Lindley's ministry (2 years 10 months), 99
In the interval ( 1 year 6 months), . . 10
During Mr. Aiken's ministry ( 11 years 4 months), 125
In the interval (6 months), . 3
Since Mr. Stone's settlement (10 years), 681
1,952
BOSTON, February 27, 1869.
THE
ARTICLES OF FAITH,
AND THE
COVENANT,
OF
PARK STREET CHURCH,
BOSTON:
WITH A
LIST OF THE MEMBERS. :
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CH .. AVO
BOSTON: ROCKWELL & ROLLINS, PRINTERS, 1867.
HISTORICAL SKETCH
OF
PARK STREET CHURCH.
EARLY in the year 1808, a little band of brethren of the Old South Church in this city, moved by the low estate of religion about them, the long absence of revivals, and the prevalence of doctrinal errors, formed themselves into a Society for mutual religious improvement. In the summer of the same year, en- couraged and strengthened by the labors of the Rev. Dr. Kollock, of Savannah, Georgia, then on a visit to Boston, they conceived the thought of building a new house of worship and forming a new Church and Society on Evangelical principles. Having received from Dr. Kollock an assurance that if they should carry their purpose into execution, he would become their pastor, a subscription was immediately opened for the erection of a place for public worship. In a short time, through great exertions and sacrifices, they had $40,000 pledged for their work, and on the evening of February 6, 1809, a meeting of the sub- scribers was held to take the necessary steps in form- ing the new organization. A committee was ap- pointed to draw up' ARTICLES OF FAITH, and a CHURCH COVENANT ; to fix upon a lot of land ; and to procure the plan of a building.
The Articles of Faith and the Church Covenant were adopted February 23, 1809. On the 27th of the same month, the Council to organize the Church met at the house of William Thurston, on Beacon Hill. The churches represented were, -
4
The Church in Charlestown, Rev. Dr. MORSE. The Church in Cambridge, Rev. Dr. HOLMES. The Church in Dorchester, Rev. Mr. CODMAN.
The exercises of the occasion were as follows : - Prayer by Rev. Dr. Morse ; the reading of the 4th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, and discourse by Rev. Dr. Morse from Psalm exviii. 25. The Articles of Faith and Government were read by the scribe, and signed, in the presence of the Council, by nine brethren and twelve sisters. They were then declared duly organized, and Rev. Mr. Codman pre- sented to them the fellowship of the Churches. The same evening, before the Council dissolved, five mem- bers were added by profession to the new fraternity.
A call was immediately extended to Rev. Dr. Kol- lock to become their Pastor, and to Rev. Dr. Griffin, then professor eleet at Andover, to officiate once on each Sabbath. Dr. Griffin at onee accepted the invi- tation, though he did not commence his public labors with them till the completion of their house.
The corner-stone of the church edifice was laid on the 1st of May, 1809, with the following inscrip- tion, -
JESUS CHRIST THE CHIEF CORNER-STONE : IN WHOM
ALL THE BUILDING FITLY FRAMED TOGETHER GROWETH UNTO AN HOLY TEMPLE IN THE LORD. Tis CHuren FORMED FEBRUARY 27THI, AND THIS FOUNDATION LAID MAY IST, 1809.
5
The ceremonies were conducted by Rev. Drs. Morse and Holmes. In September, Dr. Kollock declined their call, so great was the opposition to his removing from Savannah. Dr. Griffin was then in- vited to become their pastor, but declined. Many other calls were given and declined. In the mean . time the house of worship was completed at a cost of over $70,000, and dedicated January 10, 1810. The sermon was preached by Dr. Griffin from 2 Chroni- cles vi. 18.
The call to Dr. Griffin was renewed February 1, 1811, and accepted, and on the 31st of July he was installed. Dr. Griffin's ministry continued three years and nine months. He was succeeded by Rev. Sereno E. Dwight, who was ordained September 3, 1817, and dismissed April 10, 1826, after a ministry . of eight years and five months. Rev. Edward Beecher was ordained as pastor in December of the same year, and exercised his ministry three years and ten months. After an interval of two years, Rev. Joel II. Linsley was installed December 5, 1832, and remained in office two years and ten months. After eighteen months, Rev. Silas Aiken was installed March 22, 1837, and dismissed July 12, 1848. Rev. Andrew L. Stone was installed January 25, 1849, and dismissed January 25, 1866. The accessions to the Church from time to time, with the duration of the pastoral office in each case, are indicated in the table at the close of the list of members.
.
From the beginning, 1,952 members have sub- scribed the covenant of this Church, of whom 853 are now with us, 255 so far as our records show, have fallen asleep, and more than 800 have gone out from us to serve the cause of Christ in other walks of Christian labor.
6
The first general and powerful revival of religion in the history of this Church occurred in 1823, and added to its membership about 90 converts. An- other outpouring of the Spirit followed in 1826-7, which resulted in the addition to the Church of 100 members. In 1831-2, the Church was again largely blessed and increased. In the three years commenc- ing with 1840, a powerful work of grace was enjoyed, which brought to the Church an accession of 250 members.
The connection of this Church with the movements of modern Christian benevolence is worthy of being held in grateful remembrance. The cause of Foreign Missions has been especially dear to it. The Ameri- can Board, since its organization in 1810, has con- tinued to receive the contributions of this Church. Some of the most efficient officers and members of the Board have been furnished by this Church. The Foreign Mission Society of Boston was formed in 1811, in the house of a member of this Church. The first foreign mission press furnished to the Board was projected by a member of this Church, and one fourth of its cost was given here. Since the forma- tion of the American Board, about 180 of its mission- aries have received in this house their parting instruc- tions and farewell salutations. Here, on the 15th of October, 1819, a little band of seventeen were formed into a Mission Church to evangelize the Sandwich Islands, and the success of the enterprise is the brightest page of modern missions. For nearly fifty years there has existed in this Church a society of ladies to assist in clothing indigent pious young men while pursuing their studies for the ministry. The value of these contributions forms an aggregate of
7
more than $10,000. In 1826 a movement was set on foot by a member of this Church, who devoted his life to the work, to improve our system of prison dis- cipline, and ameliorate the condition of the convicts of the land. In the same year an idea was suggested and discussed at the house of one of the members of this Church, which led soon after to the formation in the city of New York of the American Home Mis- sionary Society. The agency exerted by this Church in establishing in its present form the Monthly Con- cert of Prayer for the conversion of the world, in commending to general observance the ammal con- cert of prayer for the Colleges of the land, in pro- moting the organization of the American Temperance Society, and the American Education Society, are matters in its history worthy of grateful commemora- tion. In view of such a record the Church may well exclaim, " Ebenezer," -" Ilithierto hath the Lord helped us."
PASTORS.
Rev. EDWARD D. GRIFFIN, Inst. July 31, 1811, dismissed April 17, 1815. Rev. SERENO E. DWIGHT, ord. Sept. 3, 1817, dismissed April 10, 1526. Rev. EDWARD BEECHER; ord. Dec. 27, 1826, dismissed Oct. 28, 1830. Rev. JOEL, HI. LINSLEY, inst. Dec. 5, 1:32, dismissed Sept. 28, 18235. Rev. SILAS AIKEN, Installed March 22, 1837, dismissed July 12, 1948. Rev. ANDREW L. STONE, Installed Jan. 25, 1849, dismissed Jan. 25, 1866.
DEACONS.
JOHN E. TYLER, chosen December 8, 1809, died January 26, 1521. JOSIAH BUMSTEAD, chosen December 6, 1509, died Sept. 2, 1859. JEREMIAH EVARTS, chosen May 4, 1819, died May 10, 1531. JOHN C. PROCTOR, chosen May 4, Isla, resigned August 24, 1827. HENRY UIL.L., chosen March 2, 1523, resigned April 21, 1837. NATHANIEL, WILLIS, chosen September 19, 1527, resigned Sept. 3, 1847. NATHANIEL DANA, chosen May 14, 1825, resigned February 5, 1817.
8
DANIEL SAFFORD, chosen June 14, 1837, resigned May 27, 1842.
EDWIN LAMSON, chosen July 12, 1542.
GEORGE RUSSELL, chosen March 10, 1847, died March, 1:37.
HENRY HOYT, chosen April 28, 1847.
EZRA FARNSWORTH, chosen December 14, 1653.
TYLER BATCHELLE, chosen September 17, 1857, died October 8, 1802. JACOB FULLARTON, Jr., chosen October 13, 1837.
CHARLES C. LITCHFIELD, chosen October 13, 1-57.
RULES AND REGULATIONS.
1. The weekly prayer-meetings of the Church shall be held on Friday evenings ; and every such meeting shall be considered a regular Church meeting for the transaction of business.
2. The annual meeting of the Church for devotional exercises shall be held on the last Friday evening of February, except when that interferes with the pre- paratory lecture, in which case it shall be on the fol- lowing Friday evening.
3. The annual business meeting of the Church shall be on the last Monday evening of February.
4. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper shall be ob- served once in two months, namely, on the first Sab- bath of January, March, May, July, September, and November, after the public services of the afternoon.
5. The preparatory lecture shall be on the preced- ing Friday evening.
6. The Examining Committee shall satisfy them- selves of the proper qualifications of all candidates coming either with or without certificates.
7. Persons approved by the Committee shall be announced to the Church on Friday evening three weeks before the preparatory lecture, at which time all certificates shall be read.
9
8. They who are to be received from the world shall be propounded before the congregation on the second Sabbath preceding the Sacrament.
9. On the evening of the preparatory lecture the Church shall be led to a vote on the question of re- ceiving the candidates, on condition that they shall afterwards subscribe the articles of the Church, and if they have not brought certificates, give their public assent to the covenant. The vote shall be taken on each case separately.
10. On the Sacramental Sabbath, before the ad- ministration of the ordinance, the covenant shall be read in the presence of the congregation to those who are to be received from the world, to which they shall signify their assent. At the same time the minister shall declare publicly that A, B, and C have been re- ceived by certificate from other churches, naming the churches particularly.
11. A general invitation shall be given from the pulpit previous to the Sacrament, to all members of evangelieal churches present, in regular standing and full communion, to partake of the ordinance.
12. All members, absenting themselves from the worship and communion of this Church for one year or more, shall satisfy the Committee in respect to their reasons for so doing, or apply for a letter to some other church.
13. All requests for letters of dismission and rec- ommendation shall be read at the Church meeting on Friday evening, and referred to the Examining Com- mittee, and on the next succeeding Friday evening shall be acted on by the Church. Such letters shall be considered valid one year only from their date.
14. The chairmen of committees on collections shall
10
present in each case written reports of the sums col- lected, which shall be placed on the files of the Church.
15. The Clerk of the Church shall present a report, at the annual devotional meeting of the Church, of the amount of collections for benevolent purposes during the year.
16. Members of other churches, having communed with this Church for the space of one year, will be required at the expiration of that time to apply for admission, or assign to the pastor a satisfactory rea- son for not doing so.
17. Every candidate for the pastoral office in this Church shall be required, prior to his installation, to subscribe to the Articles of Faith adopted. by the Church, and as soon thereafter as convenient become a member of the Church.
The following table presents a list of the benevo- lent causes to which the Church regularly contributes, and the time of their annual presentation.
JANUARY, . . Foreign Missions.
FEBRUARY . . Education Society.
MARCH, . American and Foreign Christian Union.
APRIL,
City Missions.
MAY, . Bible Society. .
JUNE, . Western College Society.
JULY, . Sabbath Schools.
SEPTEMBER, Seamen's Friend Society.
OCTOBER, . Home Missions.
NOVEMBER, Tract Society.
DECEMBER, Church Charities.
ARTICLES OF FAITH AND GOVERNMENT.
Adopted February 23, 1809.
WE, the Subscribers, having agreed to unite in the establishment of a new Con- gregational Church in Boston, by the name of Park Street Church, think it proper to make a declaration of that Faith which is the bond of our ecclesiastical union, and which we shall expect to find in all those who shall hereafter participate in our religious privileges and communion.
First. We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the Word of GOD, and the only perfect rule of Chris- tian faith and practice.
Second. We profess our decided attach- ment to that system of the Christian relig- ion which is distinguishingly denominated Evangelical; more particularly to those doctrines, which, in a proper sense, are styled the Doctrines of Grace, namely:
11
PHE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICA. .
12
" That there is one and but one living, and true Gon, subsisting in three persons, the FATHER, the Sox, and the HOLY GHOST; and that these Three are the one Gon, the same in substance, equal in power and glory; that Gop from all eternity, accord- ing to the counsel of His own will, and for His own glory, foreordained whatsoever comes to pass; that Gop in His most holy, wise, and powerful providence preserves and governs all his creatures and all their actions; that by the Fall, all mankind lost communion with Gon, are under His wrath and curse, and liable to all the miseries of this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell forever; that Gop, out of His mere good pleasure, and from all eternity elected some to everlasting life, entered into a covenant of grace, to deliver them from a state of sin and misery, and introduce them into a state of salvation by a Redeemer; that this Redeemer is the Lord JESUS CHRIST, the eternal Son of Go, who be- came man, and continues to be Gop and man in two distinct natures and one person forever; that the effectual calling of sinners is the work of God's Spirit; that their justification is only for the sake of
13
CHRIST's righteousness by faith." And though we deem no man or body of men infallible, yet we believe that those divines that were eminently distinguished in the time of the Reformation possessed the spirit, and maintained in great purity the peculiar doctrines, of our holy religion; and that these doctrines are, in general, clearly and happily expressed in the West- minster Assembly's Shorter Catechism, .and in the Confession of Faith owned and consented unto by the Elders and Messen- gers of the Churches, assembled at Boston (N. E.), May 12th, A. D. 1680.
Third. In regard to our ecclesiastical government and discipline, with our sister churches in this Commonwealth we adopt the Congregational form, as contained in the Platform of Church Discipline, gathered out of the Word of God, and agreed upon by the Elders and Messengers of the Churches, assembled in the Synod at Cam- bridge (N. E.), A. D. 1648.
Fourth. In order to admission to mem- bership in this Church, it is understood that every Candidate shall be previously examined, and give credible evidence of a ground of the comfortable hope of a par-
2
14
sonal condition of grace, through the reno- vation of the soul, by the special influences of the HOLY SPIRIT, implying repentance for sin and faith in JESUS CHRIST the Redeemer.
Finally. We hereby covenant and en- gage, as fellow Christians of one faith, and partakers of the same hope and joy, to give up ourselves unto the Lord, for the observing the ordinances of CHRIST to- gether in the same society, and to unite together into one body for the public worship of GOD, and the mutual edification one of another in the fellowship of the Lord Jesus; exhorting, reproving, comfort- ing, and watching over each other, for mutual edification; - looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great Gon, even our Saviour JESUS CHRIST, who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people zealous of good works.
FORM OF ADMISSION.
ADDRESS.
You have presented yourselves in this public manner before Gop, to dedicate yourselves to His service, and to incorpo- rate yourselves with His visible people. You are about to profess supreme love to Him, sincere contrition for all your sins, and faith unfeigned in the Lord JESUS CHRIST: to enter into a solemn covenant to receive the FATHER, SON, and HOLY GHOST, as they are offered in the Gospel, and to walk in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. We trust you have well considered the nature of these professions and engagements. The transaction is solemn, and will be attended with eternal consequences. GOD and holy angels are witnesses. Your vows will be recorded in heaven, to be exhibited
15
16
on your trial at the Last Day. Yet be not overwhelmed. In the name of CHRIST you may come boldly to the God of grace, and provided only you have sincere desires to be Ilis, may venture thus unalterably to commit yourselves, and trust in Him for strength to perform your vows.
Attend now to the
COVENANT.
In the presence of GOD, His holy angels, and this assembly, you do now solemnly dedicate yourselves to Gon the FATHER as your chief good; to the Son of God as your Mediator and Head, humbly relying on Him as your Prophet, Priest, and King; and to the HOLY SPIRIT as your Sanctifier, Comforter, and Guide. To this one GOD, FATHER, SON, and HOLY GHOST, you do heartily give up yourselves in an everlast- ing covenant to love and obey Him.
Having subscribed the Articles of Faith and Government adopted by this Church, you promise to walk with us in conformity to them, in submission to all the orders of the Gospel, and in attendance on all its ordinances, and that, by the aid of the
17
Divine Spirit, you will adorn your pro- fession by a holy and blameless life.
This, you severally profess and engage.
[If the candidate have not been baptized, the Ordinance of Baptism is to be here administered.] ·
In consequence of these professions and promises, we affectionately receive you as members of this Church, and in the name . of CHRIST declare you entitled to all its visible privileges. We welcome you to this fellowship with us in the blessings of the Gospel, and on our part engage to watch over you, and seek your edification, as long as you shall continue among us. Should you have occasion to remove, it will be your duty to seek, and ours to grant, a recommendation to another church ; for hereafter you can never withdraw from the watch and communion of the saints, without a breach of covenant.
And now, beloved in the Lord, let it be impressed on your minds, that you have entered into solemn circumstances from which you can never escape. Wherever you go, these vows will be upon you. They will follow you to the bar of GOD,
2*
18
and in whatever world you may be fixed, will abide upon you to eternity. You can never again be as you have been. You have unalterably committed yourselves, and henceforth you must be the servants of GOD. Hereafter the eyes of the world will be upon you; and as you demean yourselves, so religion will be honored or · disgraced. If you walk worthy of your profession, you will be a credit and a comfort to us; but if it be otherwise, you will be to us a grief of heart and a vex- ation. And if there is a woe pronounced on him who offends one of CHRIST's little ones, woe, woe to the person who offends a whole Church! " But beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak." May the Lord guide and pre- serve you till death, and at last receive you and us to that blessed world where our love and joy shall be forever perfect. AMEN.
£
D 28441.0965
- -
7235 1
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.