USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Plymouth > Articles of faith and government, and covenant, Congregational Church > Part 1
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Gc 974.202 P74p 1853273
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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00056 1032
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/articlesoffaithg00unse
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ARTICLES
OF
FAITH AND GOVERNMENT,
AND
COVENANT,
ADOPTED BY THE
Congregational Church,
IN
PLYMOUTH
1
1830.
F
CONCORD : PRINTED BY HOAG AND AT WOOD. ............. ......... MDCCCILI.
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MEMORANDA.
Charter of Plymouth was granted, July 15, 1763.
The first settlement began in August, 1763.
Rev. Nathan Ward received a call to settle, July 9, 1764.
The church was organized at Hollis, in 1765, before the ordination of Mr. Ward, which took place at Newburyport, July 10, 1765.
The town of Plymouth was incorporated in 1766.
There was a revival of religion in 1767, and about 20 were added to the Church within a year.
There was a revival in 1790.
The pastoral relation between the Rev. Na- than Ward and the Church, was dissolved, at his request, January 4, 1798.
Rev. Drury Fairbank was ordained, Jan. 8, 1800. He asked a dismission, Feb. 1, 1818, and, on the 18th day of March, 1818, was regularly dismissed by an Ecclesiastical Coun- cil.
The same year, (1818,) the Rev. Jonathan Ward was hired to supply the Desk, and con- tinued his watchful care over the Church and Society, till September, 20, 1829.
Rev. George Punchard was ordained, March 11, 1830.
This Church, with the exception of a few sabbaths, has been favored with the public ministration of the gospel, from its first organ- ization ; and additions have been made to it from time to time.
.
aSeCer
ARTICLES, &c.
I. WE believe that the Bible is the word of God, given by divine inspiration, and the only infallible rule of christian faith and practice.
II.
We believe there is only one living and true God(a), subsisting in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost(b).
(a) Deut. 6 : 4. (b) Matth. 28 : 19. 2 Cor. 13 : 14. III.
We believe that God maintains a righteous government over the universe, "working all things after the council of his own will."
Job, 14 : 5. Isaiah, 46 : 9-11. Jer. 10 : 13. Matth. 10: 29,30. Acts, 13: 48. Romans, 9 : 1-25. Eph. 1: 3,4. 2 Thess. 2 : 13. 2 Tim. 1 : 9. IV.
We believe that man has fallen from the state of perfection in which he was originally created(a) ; and that now, all men by nature are destitute of holiness and prone to sin(b) ; and that they must be born again or never en- ter the kingdom of God(c).
(a) Gen. 1: 26, 27. Ecc. 7: 29. (b) Ps. 14 : 2, 3. Ecc. 7: 20. 8 : 11. Rom. 3: 9. . (c) John, 1: 12, 13. 3:1-7. V.
We believe that regeneration is effected by the agency of the Holy Spirit.
John, 1 : 13. ; John,13: 5,6, 8. Gal. 4 : 29. VI.
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, who is God (a) and man(b), has, by his death, made an atonement for sin(c) ; and that all are invi- ted to come to Him and receive salvation free- ly ; (d) and that nothing but the sinful opposi-
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tion of the heart prevents man from complying with this gracious invitation(e).
(a) John, 1: 1-3. Acts 7: 59. Heb. 1 : 6, 8, 10. (b) Isaiah, 53 : 3. 1 Tim. 2: 5 .- 3: 16. (c) Is. 53: 1-9. Matth. 26 : 28. 1 Cor. 15: 3. (d) Matth. 11 : 28. John, 3 : 14, 15. 1 John, 2: 2. (e) John, 3: 19. 5: 40. VII.
We believe that God has covenanted to bring all the elect or chosen to his heavenly kingdom(a) ; but that none should expect to arrive there, except by a life of faith in Christ and obedience to his commands(b).
(a) Job, 17 : 9. Ps. 37: 28. Prov. 4 : 18. John, 5 : 21. 6: 37, 39, 40. 10: 26-29. Phil. 1: 6. (b) Matth. 7 : 21. 24: 13. James, 2 : 14-26. Rev. 2 : 10. VIII.
We believe there will be a general resur- rection (a) and a future judgment (b) when the righteous will be received to everlasting blessedness and the wicked consigned to end- less misery (c).
(a) Acts, 26: 8. 1 Cor. 15: 12-17. 2 Cor. 1: 9. Rev. 20 : 12, 13. (b) Ecc. 3 : 17. 12: 14. Acts 17:31. (c) Ps. 9 : 17. Matth. 13: 36-43. Matth. 25 : 31-46. Luke 16 : 19-21. Rom. 2 : 2-10.
ARTICLES OF GOVERNMENT AND PRACTICE. I.
We believe the Christian Sabbath to be a Di- vine Institution, & promise to regard it as such. II
We believe that Public Worship is of Di- vine appointment, and we promise not to for- sake the assembling ourselves together, as the manner of some is, so long as God shall give us suitable health and opportunity.
III.
We believe that God hath appointed the Ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Sup-
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per, to be observed by his Church to the end of the world.
IV.
We believe that adult believers, who have not been baptized, and the children of pro- fessing believers are the only proper subjects of baptism, and we promise to act in accord- ance with this belief.
V.
We promise to maintain daily secret devo- tion, and such of us as are heads of families, family worship .*
* By which is meant, reading a portion of God's word, morning and evening, and uniting with our families in prayer.
VI.
The members of this Church agree to ab- stain entirely from the use of ardent spirits, except as a medicine, in case of bodily infir- mity.
VII.
All light and foolish talking and jesting, and all evil-speaking, are condemned in the word of God, and we promise carefully and watchfully to avoid these sins,
VIII.
No member of this Church shall bring a complaint against another, before the church, until the private steps to convince and reclaim him have been taken. Matth. 18 : 15-17.
IX.
The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper shall be attended, (extraordinaries excepted,) the first Sabbath in every other month, beginning with July.
X.
Candidates for admission to this Church
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shall stand propounded, (extraordinaries ex- cepted,) two Sabbaths previous to admittance. XI.
There shall be a Committee of three, chos- en to examine any individuals who may wish to unite with this Church previous to their coming before the whole Church, and to pro- pose to the Church those only who are thought fit subjects for its communion.
XII.
An excommunicated person shall not be res- tored but upon a public confession of his sin, and a profession of repentance and reformation. XIII.
There shall be a. regular Church meeting once in two months, time to be specified by the pastor, as circumstances may require.
XIV.
As members of this Church, we promise to watch over each other with care and tender- ness, and to admonish, reprove, and discipline those who trespass.
XV.
Every candidate for admission to this Church, after being examined and accepted by the Church, shall, before admission, sub- scribe to the foregoing articles.
COVENANT.
You do now, in the presence of Almighty GOD, his holy Angels and this Assembly, sol- emnly dedicate yourselves to GoD the FATHER, as your chief good ; to the SON of Gop, as your Mediator and Head ; and to the HOLY SPIRIT, as your Sanctifier, Comforter, and Guide. To this ONE GOD, FATHER, SON, and
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HOLY GHOST, you do heartily give up your- selves in an everlasting Covenant, to love and serve Him. Having subscribed the Articles of Faith and Government, adopted by this Church, you promise to walk with us in con- formity to them, in submission to all the orders of the Gospel, and in attendance on all its or- dinances, and that, by the assistance of the Divine Spirit, you will adorn your profession by a holy and blameless life. This you sev- erally profess and engage ? In consequence of these professions and engagements, We* af- fectionately receive you as members of this Church, and, in the name of CHRIST, declare you entitled to all its visible priviliges. And now, beloved in the LORD, let it be impressed on your minds that you have entered into sol- emn 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 ; and, in whatever world you are fixed, will abide upon you to eternity. 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 vexa- tion :- and if there be a woe pronounced upon him who offends one of CHRIST's little ones, woe, woe to the person who offends a whole Church. But, beloved, we are persuaded bet- ter things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. May the LORD preserve and guide you till death, and at last receive you and us to that blessed world where our love and joy shall be forever per- fect. Amen.
* The Church will rise.
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MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH, 1830.
Punchard George Aiken Anna Bartlett Eben'r, jr. Bartlett Martha Baker Amos Baker Lydia B. Bailey John
Cummings Jona. Cummings Ruth
Cummings Hannah
Cummings Sally Cummings Mahala Cass Benjamin Cass Nancy
Cass Belinda
Church Lydia C.
Chandler Mary
Dearborn Joseph Dearborn Edward Dearborn Julia A. Dearborn Scphro. Emerson Eliza
Emerson Maria Emerson Amy
Emerson Sarah
Emerson Lucy
Emerson Daniel Edmands Benjamin Farnum Elizabeth Flanders Abigail Flanders Susan Furgerson Sarah Farrand Caroline
George David
George Leonard
George Moses Georgre Sarah
George Susanna George Ruth George Mary
Goodhue Polly Grant Mary
Green William Green Harriot K. Hazletine James Hazletine David
M'Queston Alvah Morrison James
Morrison Miriam Morrison Hannah Morrison Sarah Morrison Miriam J. Morrison Betsey Miller James
Miller Miriam Merrill Enoch
Merrill Jacob
Merrill David Merrill Mehitable Merrill Betsey Melvin Polly
Morse Mehitable Marsh Aurelia Noyes Crisp B. Noyes Benjamin
Noyes Harriot
Noyes Mary
Norris Samuel S. Norris Ann M.
Piper Elbridge G. Punchard William- ine Ramsay Thomas Ramsay Abigail Robie Fred. W. A. Robbins Asa . Robbins Rebekah Russell Moore Russell Betsey Russell Win. W.
Russell Moses
Hull Nathaniel Russell Lucy Reed Joseph Rogers Betsey Rogers Polly Sauborn Abraham Sanborn Hannah Sanborn Clarissa Sterns Judith Shattuck Rebekah Hobart Abigail Huntoon Celia Hobart Vashti Hobart Peter Hull Zilpha Johnson Lydia Ladd Thankful Lowd Mary M'Queston Judith Stafford George L. M'Queston Abigail Stafford Joseph C.
Stafford Lydia Stafford Laura Thurlo Sarah Thompson Eliza- beth
Thompson Mar- tha L.
Willoughby John Willoughby Jonas Willoughby Abuer Willoughby Wm. Willoughby Prud. Willoughby Hephz. Worcester Hannah Wheeler Hannah Wheeler Marv
Webster Eliphalet Webster David C. Webster Lydia Webster Elizabeth Webster Caroline Webster Sarah Ward John Ward Moses Ward Enoch Ward Mary Ward Mary
Ward Mary
Ward Polly Ward Polly Ward Deborah
Ward Lydia Ward Abigail Ward Prudence Il.
D28447702
MAY 75
N. MANCHESTER, INDIANA
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