USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Bristol > Manual for the use of the Congregational church in Bristol, N.H > Part 1
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.
...
Go 974.202 B77b 1823877
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
Go
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01095 9424
MANUAL
FOR THE USE OF THE
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
BRISTOL, N. H.
ADOPTED AND PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE CHURCH.
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CH.CASO
CONCORD: WILLIAM BUTTERFIELD, PRINTER, SANBORN'S BLOCK, . . . MAIN STREET. 1862.
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/manualforuseofco00cong
1823877
C
MANUAL
1º
OF THE
(2)
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHI
IN
BRISTOL, N. H.
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO
-
-
2 . +34212 1
BRISTOL, N.H. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
Manual for the use of the Congregational church in Bristol, N.H. Adopted and published by order of the church. Concord, Butterfield, 1862.
18p. "Catalogue of members [1826-1862;": p. [15]- 18.
SHELF GARC
NL 36-5595
CHURCH MANUAL.
The Church and Candidates for Membership.
A Christian Church is an association of professed Christians, united together for the worship of God and the celebration of religious ordinances, with the design of promoting their own growth in grace, and the interests of Christ's kingdom.
The members of this Church, having united to- gether for these purposes, cordially invite those dwelling among them, who hope they have "passed from death unto life," and who can accept the fol- lowing confession of faith as substantially in accord- ance with the word of God, to unite with them in this holy service and fellowship.
To such as may be enquiring whether they are proper subjects for church fellowship, the following queries are proposed as aids in that self-examination, to which we are called by the Apostle, " Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith ; prove your own selves."-2d Cor. xiii. 5.
I. Do I hate sin, heartily repent of it, and earn- estly desire to be free from it?
4
CHURCH MANUAL.
II. Sensible of my own sinfulness, do I look to Christ alone for salvation, trusting in his atoning sacrifice ?
III. Do I love holiness, and am I aspiring after likeness unto the character of Jesus Christ-making it my purpose and aim to do, and to be conformed to his will in all things ?
IV. Do I delight in secret prayer and communion with God ?
V. Do I love the word of God, long for the ordi- nances of his house, and take pleasure in social worship ?
VI. Do I love the people of God, being attached to them by reason of their relation to Christ, and according to the measure of his image which they bear ?
-
VII. Do I feel drawn towards the people of God with a desire to enter into covenant with them to be the Lord's ; and to cast in my lot with them, hoping thereby to be bound more strongly to a life of god- liness ? And is my love for Jesus such that I feel constrained to acknowledge him openly, and solemn- ly to bind myself to his service ?
VIII. Is it my deliberate purpose, whatever may be my circumstances, to consecrate myself-time, talents, property and services to him who laid down his life for me ?
IX. Do I approve of the modes of worship prac- ticed by this Church, and can I heartily accept its confession of faith, and feel that henceforth this is my religious home ?
:
-
L
1
5
UnUKUN MANUAL.
X. Feeble as I am, can I sincerely trust my Sav- ior for the sufficiency of his grace to fulfill these holy vows, saying in truth :-
" To this dear covenant of thy word, I set my worthless name ; I scal the engagement to my Lord, And make my humble claim ?"
All who are considering the question whether it may not be their privilege and duty to profess their faith in Christ, are requested to make known their feelings to the pastor.
ADDRESS.
You have now presented yourself before God and his people and the world, to make a solemn confes- sion of your religious faith, and give yourself in a holy covenant to God. You will attend to our
CONFESSION OF FAITH.
ARTICLE I. We believe in one only living and true God," the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.b and that it is the duty of all intelligent creatures to lovo and obey Ilim.c
(a) Deut. 6: 4. Isa. 44: 6. Ps. 90 : 2. 1 Thn. 1: 17. James 1:17.
(b) Mat. 28: 19. 2 Cor. 13: 14. 1 John 5 : 7. John 1 : 1, 14. Acts 5 : 3, 4.
(c) Deut. 6 : 5. Ps. 18: 3. Isa. 6: 3. Mark 12: 30, 33.
ART. II. We believe that God createda and gov- erns all things ;b that known unto him are all his works from the beginning;e that without destroying the free moral agency or accountability of man he worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.ª
(a) John 1 : 3. Prov. 16: 4. Rom. 11 : 36. Col. 1 : 16.
(b) Ps. 45 : 6, 7. Deut. 32: 39. Dan. 4 : 34, 35, and 7 : 14.
(c) Acts 15 : 18. Isa. 46 : 9, 10.
(d) Prov. 16: 9, and 19 : 21. Acts 2: 23. Eph. 1 : 11. Acts 27: 22,31.
7
CHURCH MANUAL.
ART. III. We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament were given by inspiration of God," and are a perfect rule of faith and practice.b
(a) 2 Tim. 3: 16. 2 Peter 1 : 19-21. Heb. 1: 1. Isa. 8: 20. (b) Mat. 22: 29. Rom. 15: 4. Gal. 1 : 8, 9. Rev. 22 : 18, 19.
ART. IV. We believe that man was created holy ; that he fell from his holy state by disobeying God,b and that in consequence of the fall, mankind are by nature destitute of holiness, and unless they are born again cannot see the kingdom of God.d
(a) Gen. 1 : 26, 27. Eccl. 7 : 29.
(b) Gen. 2: 16, 17, and 3 : 6, 8, and 6 : 5. Rom. 5: 12. 1 Cor. 15:21;22.
(c) Rom. 8 : 7. Ps. 14. Jer. 17 : 9. Rom. 1 : 21-33.
(d) John 3 : 3, 5, 6, 7. John 1 : 12, 13. Titus 3 : 4-7. 2 Cor. 5: 17. 1 Peter 1 : 22, 23. 1 John, 2: 29. John 3: 36.
ART. V. We believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ ; that he was God dwelling in flesh ;" that he suffered and died, rose from the dead and as- cended to heaven ;b that by his sufferings and death he has made atonement for the sins of the world," and that upon condition of repentance and faith in him, pardon and eternal life are sincerely offered to all.ª
(a) John 1 : 1, 2, 3, 14. HIcb. 1: 2, 3, 8. Isa. 9: 6. Rev. 1 : 8. Rom. 9: 5. Hcb. 13: 8. HIeb. 2: 16. Rom. 8: 3. 1 Tim. 2 : 5. Phil. 2: 6-11.
(b) John 19: 30. Ifeb. 2: 9, 10. Acts 2: 23, 24. 1 Cor. 15 : 17. Eph. 4: 8-10. 1 Tim. 3: 16.
(c) Ileb. 2: 9. 2 Cor. 5: 14. 1 Tim. 2: 6, and 4: 10. Rom. 3: 25, 26. 1 Cor. 15 : 22. 1 John 2 : 2.
(d) Acts 10: 43. John 3: 15. Ezek. 18: 30, 31, 32. Mat. 11 : 28. Rev. 22 : 17. Isa. 55 : 1. Luke 24 : 46, 47. Mark 16 : 15, 16. ART. VI. We believe it to be the duty and priv-
8
CHURCH MANUAL.
ilege of Christians to make visible profession of Christianity,a receiving and applying the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper, as instituted by Christ, and practiced by the Apostles.
(a) Mat. 10: 32. Acts 2: 47. Luke 9: 26, and 22 : 19. Rom. 10:10-12.
(b) Mat. 28 : 19. Mark 16 : 16. Acts 2 : 38. Mat. 26 : 26, 27. 1 Cor. 11 : 23-28.
ART. VII. We believe in the future existence of the soul ;" that there will be a resurrection both of the righteous and the wicked,' a day of final judg- ment, and that the wicked will go away into ever- lasting punishment, and the righteous into life cter- nal.c
(a) John S: 51. John 11: 25, 26. Luke 20: 38. Phil. 1 : 23. Luke 23 : 43. Luke 16 : 19-31. Jude 5, 7. 2 Cor. 5 : 10.
(b) John 5: 29. Acts 24 : 15. 1 Cor. 15th chap.
(c) Acts 17 : 31. Rom. 14 : 10, 12. Jude 6. Rev. 20 . 11-13. Ps. 9 : 17. 2 Tim. 4 : 8. Mat. 25 : 34 -- 46.
Do you thus professedly believe ?
( The rite of Baptism is here administered.)
9
CHURCH MANUAL.
You will now attend to the
COVENANT.
You do now in the presence of God and man, avouch the Lord Jehovah, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, to be your God, the supreme object of your affection, and your chosen portion forever.
You acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ as your only Savior and final Judge, and the Holy Spirit as your Sanctifier, Comforter and Guide.
You humbly and cheerfully devote yourself to God, in the everlasting covenant of grace, conse- crating all your powers and faculties to his service and glory, and you promise that, through the as- sistance of his Spirit and grace, you will cleave to him as your chief good ; that you will give diligent attention to his word and ordinances, and to the ob- servance of the Sabbath; that you will seek the honor of his name and the interest of his kingdom, and that, henceforth, denying all ungodliness and worldly lust, you will live soberly, righteously and godly in the world.
You do now cordially join yourself to this as a Church of Christ, engaging to submit to its disci- pline, so far as conformable to the rules of the Gos- pel ; and solemnly covenanting to strive, as much . as in you lies, for its Gospel peace, edification and purity ; and to walk with its members in love,
10
CHURCH MANUAL.
faithfulness, circumspection, meekness and sobriety. Thus you Covenant, Promise and Engage.
(In token of their cordial fellowship, the Church will here rise.)
We do now receive you into our communion, and promise to watch over you with Christian affection and tenderness, ever treating you in love as a mem- ber of the body of Christ, who is head over all things to the Church.
This we do, imploring the Great Shepherd of Is- rael, our Lord and Redeemer, that both we and you may have wisdom and grace, to be faithful in his covenant, and to glorify him with the holiness which becometh his house forever. Amen. .
1.
ADDRESS.
And now beloved in the Lord, let it be impressed on your minds that you have come under solemn obligations, from which you can never escape. Wherever you go these vows will be upon you. They will go with you through life, they will follow you to the bar of God; 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 yourself, and henceforth must be the servant of God. Hereafter the eyes of the world will be upon you ; and as you conduct yourself, 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 otherwise, it will be an occasion of grief and reproach. "But, be- loved, we are persuaded better things of you; and things which accompany salvation, though we thus speak." May the Lord guide and preserve 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.
12
CHURCH MANUAL.
To Members of other Churches residing among us.
It is the pleasure of this Church to welcome to this field of labor all who love our Lord Jesus Christ, and to extend to them the hand of fellowship as they come to dwell with us.
)
We wish to have members of sister Churches feel at home among us, make themselves known to us, and enjoy with us our Christian privileges. If they have a Letter of Introduction from their Pastor in their former place of residence, it is hoped they will at once present it.
If they expect to remain here a year or more, they are invited to present a Letter of Dismission and Recommendation, from the Church to which they belong, at their carliest convenience.
To Members who are expecting to be Absent.
It is recommended to those who are expecting to leave us for a time, and go away among strangers, that they apply to the Pastor for a Letter of Intro- duction, which is not to be used, however, for ad- mission to another church. If their residence in another place is to be permanent, or for a year or more, it is desirable that they should take with them, or apply carly for, a Letter of Dismission and Re- commendation to the Church in the place where they are to reside.
₹
-
ORGANIZATION AND PASTORS.
This Church was organized Nov. 15, 1826, by the direction and assistance of Rev. JONATHAN WARD, Rev. ANDREW RANKIN, Rev. SAMUEL ARNOLD.
Rev. SAMUEL ARNOLD was stated supply until 1828.
Rev. JOB CUSHMAN was stated supply from 1828- 1832.
Rev. JOHN S. WINTER was stated supply from 1832-1837.
Rev. JOHN WELLMAN was stated supply from 1837-1841.
Rev. JOEL WRIGHT was stated supply from 1841- 1842.
Rev. DANIEL O. MORTON was installed Pastor of the Church in 1842, which office he held until his death in 1852.
Rev. JOSEPH GARLAND was stated supply from 1852-1858.
Rev. JOHN CLARK was stated supply from 1858- 1859.
Rev. WILLIAM SPAULDING was stated supply from 1859-1861.
Rev. C. F. ABBOTT was stated supply from 1861-
DEACONS.
JOHN GUTTERSON, elected 1826. PETER WELLS, JOHN S. BRYANT, elected 1833. LUTHER WINCHESTER, elected 1837. CHESTER STONE, GARDNER BOWERS, elected 1842. SAMUEL DANFORTH, A. B. SANBORN, B. L. BOARD- MAN, Deacons of other Churches who have acted as Deacons of this Church.
1823877
CATALOGUE OF MEMBERS.
EXPLANATIONS. * Deceased while members. d Dismissed to other Churches. e Excommunicated. a Absent. Names of members are given as they were when they united with the Church.
Members at time of Or- ganisation, 1826.
d John Gutterson.
d Samuel Smith.
d Mary Bradley.
* Susanna Sawyer.
d Sally Lewis.
* Dorethy Bowers.
Mary Sawyer.
* Relief Sawyer.
* Mary Bartlett.
d Miriam Little.
Received in 1826.
* Sarah Hall. * Sally Minot.
Received in 1827. Judith Ayer. * Precilla Smith. d Alsa G. Bowers. d Sarah Lewis. d Mo dy C. Sawyer.
* John T. Sanborn. d Philip Webster.
d William L. Chase.
d Cyrus R. Bowers.
d Lucy J. D. Webster.
* Sarah H. Smith.
1828. d Salmon II. Morrill. d Ruth Webster.
d Sally Emmerson.
d Nathaniel G. Upham. * John Little.
1831. Abagail Greenough.
* Ichabod C. Bartlett.
e Stephen Bohonnon. Jane Bartlett.
¿ Sarah S. Martin.
d Eliza W. Lewis.
d Rebecca W. Swetland.
d Sally Chase.
L
16
CHURCH MANUAL.
* Phebe Sleeper. Anna Bartlett.
d Louisa R. Greenough. Reuben Emmons. Betsy Emmons. Richard Sawyer.
* Peter Wells.
* Hannah Wells. Deborah Wells.
* Sarah C. Wells.
d Benjamin F. Weeks.
e John S. Bryant.
d Hammah B. Bryant. Jonathan Merrill. Anna S. Merrill.
a Betsy G. Ayer.
1832. Almira Cavis.
d Nathan Moore.
d Sally Moore.
d Rebecca W. Taylor.
1833.
d Mary Merrill.
d Elizabeth Winter.
d Mayo G. Smith.
d Jane G. Smith.
d Jacob S. Eaton.
* Harriet Eaton.
1836.
d Jeremiah Sawyer.
d Hepzibah Sawyer.
d Harvey Ingals.
d Luther Winchester.
d Mrs. L. Winchester.
d Benjamin Rowe. *
*
d
1839.
e Jeremiah Prescott. Lucinda Prescott.
Morey.
d Mrs. - =
d Nancy Moss. a
*
* Sarah B. Sawyer.
d Relief Whittemore. d
Susan Merrill.
d
d Mrs. Hannah Robey.
*
1841.
Robert Smith.
Hannah S. Smith.
Gardner Bowers. * Sarah Bowers.
d
1842.
d Chester Stone.
d Mrs. Chester Stone.
d
d Susan Stonc.
a Caroline B. Whipple. Sophia W. Smith.
* Jonah Tirrell.
d A. B. Sanborn.
d Sarah Sanborn. Timothy Myrick.
* Mrs. Sarah Myrick. Polly Sanborn.
d
* Eliza Fyfield. Sally Taylor.
* Molly Myrick.
d David B. Mason. d
Martha P. Bartlett. d
* Lydia Gurdy.
d Betsy Rowe.
17
CHURCH MANUAL.
* John Gordon.
* Elvira Gordon.
d Noah Mason.
d Martha Mason. R. G. Lewis. Sally S. Lewis.
d Eliza Fifield.
a Anna A. Powell.
* Martha T. Bartlett.
d George O. Henry. Lorinda Sanborn.
d Catherine Forsaith.
* Betsy Sleeper.
d Lucretia P. Morton.
1843.
* Elizabeth P. Gilmore. Martha W. Wells.
d Sarah Sanborn. John Morris Merrill.
d Ann Maria Sawyer.
d Mary Jane Ackerman. Samuel Heath.
* Margaret F. Heath. Iliram Heath. Minerva F. Heath. Levi Bartlett. Susan Hoyt. Calvin Cass. Almira R. Cass.
d George W. Potter.
d Abagail P. Potter. Luke Sumner.
* Sally Sumner. d Jeremiah Martin. d Ruth Martin. d A. H. Wisc.
d Elceta F. Morton. Daniel Cass. Lydia Cass.
1844. Nancy Virgin. Mary Jane Sargent.
e Susan IL. Kidder. Franklin Cass. Jane Cass.
* Samuel Danforth. Mehitable Danforth. Lydia Tilton.
a Emily Sleeper.
1845.
* Abagail E. Davis. d Theodore N. Patterson.
d Nancy Patterson.
1847. d Lucy J. Fuller. William Green. Harriet K. Green.
1848.
* John Prescott.
1851. Harriet Maria Cavis.
Ebenezer G. Shaw. Mary A. Shaw.
* Inther B. Whittemore. Harriet E. Whittemore.
1852.
d Martha Morton.
18
CHURCH MANUAL.
1853. d Mrs. E. P. Eaton.
1854.
Emeline Patten. d Geo. P. Danforth.
d Mary HI. W. Danforth. Mary B. Wells.
1855.
d Newton Gage.
d Olivia A. Gage.
d Rufus S. Lewis. Emeline HI. Chase. Hannah Heath.
d Mary F. Ilill. Harriet Green. Thankful Gage.
d Augustus M. Brainard. a Mrs. Parley Bassett.
Alpheus F. Brainard. Hiram W. Favor.
d Elvira O. Tirrill.
d Mary Green. Frederick HI. Bartlett.
1856.
Helen Mar Smith.
a Lydia A. Colby. Mrs. Luey A. Kendall.
1857.
* B. L. Boardman. Susan M. P. Boardman. Lizzie C. C. Boardman.
Mary L. Boardman. Martha E. Boardman. a Geo. S. McAllister. a Mrs. M. A. McAllister.
d Charles P. Mathews.
1859. Ann P. Bartlett.
Sarah E. Lewis. John F. Vose.
Mrs. Emma J. Vose.
Mrs. IL. B. Spaulding.
1860.
* Mrs. Eva N. Sumner.
Mrs. Gilman Sanborn.
1861.
Frederick Bartlett.
Henry Wells.
Ellen A. Sawyer.
1862.
Joel C. Adams.
Mrs. Sarah A. Adams.
Mrs. L. H. Crockett.
Mrs. E. C. Jewell.
John C. Jewell.
Alia A. Briggs.
Mrs. Martha M. Taylor.
Laura B. Ellsworth.
Annie Douglas Green.
D 284212 1
7259 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.