The Record of the First Presbyterian Church of Morristown, N.J. : v. 1-5 Jan. 1880-Dec. 1885, pt 1, Part 46

Author: First Presbyterian Church (Morristown, N.J.); Green, R. S. (Rufus Smith), 1848-1925
Publication date: 1976
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 826


USA > New Jersey > Morris County > Morristown > The Record of the First Presbyterian Church of Morristown, N.J. : v. 1-5 Jan. 1880-Dec. 1885, pt 1 > Part 46


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[*This is an error, The correct number is 599. It is an interesting fact that Mr. Barnes's figures are on record and show a mistake in addition. He makes " 1859" the sum of " 37 x 140 x 130 x 67 x 76 x 78 x 71." -EDITOR. ]


[tOf course, it is understood that reference is made to the rules in foran in 1824,-Epirou. ]


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According to the constitution of the Pres- byterian church, members dismissed are al ways considered under the watch, and sub- ject to the discipline of the church dismis- sing them, until they are actually received by the church to which they are dismissed. See Confession of Faith under the head of " Discipline," chap. x. sect. I.


In the same book, under the same head, ch. xi. sect. 2, there is the following rule :- No certificate of church membership shall be considered as valid testimony of the good standing of the bearer, if it be more than one year old, except when there has been no opportunity of presenting it to the church.


It is regarded as the duty of members re- moving from our bounds, to apply for a dis- mission and recommendation to some other church. Incalculable disorder in the church, and great evil to the person neglecting it, have arisen from a forgetfulness or disregard of this duty.


The resolution to build the present place of worship was passed June 5, 1788 ; and it was built and completed between the years 1789, and the 26th day of November, 1795.


PRESENT OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH AND CONGREGATION.


MINISTER. ALBERT BARNES. RULING ELDERS.


EZRA HALSEY, TIMOTHY TUCKER,


SAMUEL FREEMAN,


WILLIAM ENSLEE,


DAVID LINDSLY, GEORGE K. DRAKE,


HENRY VAIL. FREDERICK KING,


STEPHEN YOUNG, JONATHAN THOMPSON, PETER A. JOHNSON, JONATHAN OLIVER, LEWIS MIL.S.


DEACONS. SAMUEL, FREEMAN, DAVID LINDSLY. TRUSTEES.


EZEKIEL WHITEHEAD, President, STEPHEN A. PRUDDEN,


EDWARD CONDICT, CHARLES FORD, JOSEPH CUTLER, LOAMMI MOORE.


LOAMMI MOORE, Treasurer. MOSES CHERRY, Sexton,


THE FOLLOWING FORM OF COVENANT,*


IS USED AT THE ADMISSION OF MEMBERS TO THE COMMUNION OF THE CHURCH.


You have presented yourselves in this public manner before God, to dedicate your- selves to his service, and to be incorpo- rated with his visible people. You are about to profess supreme love to God ; sincere contrition for all your sins; and faith un- feigned in the Lord Jesus Christ. You are about to enter into a solemn covenant to re- ceive 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 considered the nature of these professions and engagements. The transaction is solemn, and will be attended with everlasting consequences. God and Holy Angels are witnesses. The eyes of the church and the world are, and will hereafter be upon you. Your vows will be recorded in Heaven, to be exhibited on your trial, at the last great day. Yet be not overwhelmed with these reflections. In the name of Christ you may come boldly to the God of grace ; and if you have sincere desires to be his, may venture thus unalterably to commit yourselves to Him, and trust in Him for strength to perform your vows.


Attend now to the PROFESSION AND COVENANT.


I. You believe that there is one I God only,2 infinite in being, 3 glory,4 and blessedness ;5 eternal,6 unchangeable,7 and Almighty ;8 most wise,9 most holy, to most just, ri most merciful and gracious, long suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth. 12


I Deut. vi. 4 : 2 I Cor. viii. 4 : 3 Job xi. 7, 8, 9 : 4 Acts vii. 2 : 5 I Tim. vi. 15 : 6 Ps. xc. 2 : 7 Mal. iii. 6-James i. 17 : 8 Rev. iv. 8 : 9 Rom. xvi. 27 : 10 Isa. VI. 3: 11 Deut. xxxii. 4 : 12 Exodus xxxiv. 6. -


II. You believe that there are three per- sons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost ; 1 and that these three are one, true, eternal God, the same in sub- stance, equal in power and glory.2


I Matth. iii. 16, 17 ; and xxviii. 19-II Cor. xiii. 14 : 2John x. 30-Acts iv. 4, 5. III. You believe that God governs the


[*It is not known when this covenant ceased to be used, Can any one inform us ?- EDITOR. ]


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universe ; I that he doeth according to his will in the army of Heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth ;2 that by his Provi- dence he upholds, directs, disposes, and gov- erns all creatures, actions, and things ; 3 and that he confers grace and mercy according to his good pleasure.4


I Ps. xciii. 1 : 2 Dan. iv. 35 : 3 Mark x 29; Matth. v. 26, 30 ; Isa. x. 5, 6, 7 ; Rom. ix. 17, 18, 21, 22 ; Jude 4 : 4 Eph. i. 5-11 ; II. Tim. i. 9; Rom. viii. 30 ; II Thess. ii. 13 ; John iii. 5.


IV. You believe that man is a free agent, responsible to God for all his actions, thoughts, and plans ; 1 that his sin, and in- disposition to obey the law of God, are no excuse for transgression ;2 that every man is bound to repent ; 3 and believe ;4 and that the Gospel is to be preached to all mankind. 5


1 Rom. xiv. 12; Il Cor. v. 10 ; 2 Matth. XXV. 14-30 : Josh. xxiv. 15 ; Ezekiel xviii. especially the 31st and 32d verses ; 3 Acts xviii. 30 : 4 Mark xvi. 16 : 5 Mark xvi. 15.


V. You believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are a revelation from God, and are all given by inspiration of God, to be a rule of faith and life.


VI. You believe that God created man in his own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness ;I that the first man sinned, 2 and that in consequence of his transgression all mankind are become sin- ners,3 and are, before generation, wholly des- titute of holiness, and wholly disposed to evil,4 and on account of sin are justly liable to all the miseries of this life, to the agonies of death, and to the pains of hell forever.5


I Gen. i. 26; Col. iii. 10; Eph. iv. 24 : 2 Gen. ill. 6 : 3 Rom. v. 12-19 : 4 Gen. viii. 21 Ps. xiv. lili. v. cxl. x. xxxvi. and Isaiah lix. compared with Rom. iii. 10 -- 17; John iii. I-7; Romans v. 12 : 5 Rom. vi. 23.


VII. You believe in the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ, I that he is truly and properly God ; that he assumed our nature ; 2 that as mediator God gave him up to die for the sins of mankind ; 3 that he suffered and died in the place of sinners, and thereby made atonement for transgression ;4 that it is only on account of his merits that men can be pronounced just before God ;5 that he rose from the dead, and ascended into Heaven, where he ever liveth to make inter- cession ;6 and that God can now be just, and yet the justifier of him that believeth.7


1 John i. 1-3; Heb. i. 10-12 ; Col. i. 15 -- 17; Rom. ix. 5; John xx. 28 ; Phil. ii. 5-8 ; John v. 21-23 ; 2 John i. 14: 3 John iii. 16 ; Isa. liii. : 4 I Cor. xv. 3 ; lleb. ix. 26; Rom. iii. 25; II Cor. v. 21 : 5 Rom. ili. 24; Titus iii. 5, 7 ; Eph. 1, 7 ; Phil. iii. 9 : 6 I Cor. xv .; Mark xvi. 19 ; Acts i. 9; Heb. vii. 25 : 7 Rom. iii. 26.


VIII. You believe in the personality and divinity of the Holy Ghost ; 1 that he renews and sanctifres the heart ;2 that he is given to the people of God to enlighten their minds, to guide them in the path of duty, to. comfort them in affliction, and to sustain them in dying.3


1 Acts v. 4, 5 ; Matth. xii. 31, 32 ; Eph. iv. 30 ; Acts vii. 51 ; I Cor. iii. 16; I Cor. ii. 9, II ; Heb. ix. 14; I Cor. xii. 11 ; II Cor. xiii. 14 : 2 John iii. 7, 8; I Cor. xi. 11 ; II Thess. ii. 13 : 3 John xv. 26; I Thess. i. 6 ; Rom. xiv. 17 ; Eph. iii. 14, 19 ; Luke xi. 9-13.


IX. You believe that the law of God is binding as a rule of life on all mankind ; I that a holy life is necessary to honour God, to evidence and adorn the Christian profes- sion, and to reap the rewards of Heaven ;2 and that those who are violators of that law will be excluded from his kingdom of right- eousnsss. 3


I Rom. vii. 12; James ii. 10, 11 ; I Tım. i. 9, 10 ; Ps. xix. 7 ; Matth. xxii. 37-40 : 2 Heb. xii. 14 ; I John iii. 3 ; Phil. iv. 8; I John iii. 7, 8; II John 6; Matth. vii. 16; 3 Exod. xxxiv. 7 ; Rev. xxi. 27 ; I Cor. vi. 9, 10.


X. You believe that at the end of the world the Lord Jesus Christ will return with the glory of his Father and with the holy angels ;1 that there will be a resurrection of the dead, and a final judgment pronounced on all mankind.2


I Acts i, 11 ; Matth. xvi. 27 : 2 I Cor. xv. : John v. 28 ; Matt. xxv. 31-56.


XI. You believe that the righteous shall be everlastingly rewarded in Heaven, and the wicked everlastingly punished in hell. I I Matth. xxv. 46.


\ Here the candidates bow assent.]


In this public manner you do hereby con- fess and bewail the original and total depra- vity of your nature ; the past enmity of your hearts against God; the unbelief which has led you to reject a Saviour ; and the manifold transgressions of your lives ; all which sins


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you do condemn, and in your purpose for- ever renounce.


And now in the presence of God, his holy angels, and this assembly, you do solemnly avouch the Lord JEHOVAH to be your God and portion, and the object of your supreme delight ; the Lord Jesus Christ to be your Saviour from sin and death --- your Prophet to instruct you, your Priest to atone and in- tercede for you ; and your king to rule, and protect, and enrich you : and the Holy Ghost to be your Sanctifier, Comforter, and Guide. · To this God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost you do now, without reserve, give yourself away, in a covenant never to be revoked, to be his willing servants for ever ; to observe all his commandments and ordinances in the sanctuary, in the family, and in the closet. You do also bind yourselves by covenant to this church, to watch over us in the Lord, to seek our peace and edification, and to submit to the government and discipline of Christ, as here administered.


This you profess and engage. | Here again the candidates bow assent.]


The candidates are then addressed by the minister in the following, or in a similar manner :


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 fellow- ship 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 with us. Should you have occasion to remove, it will be your duty to seek, and ours to grant, a recommendation to some other church; for hereafter you cannot withdraw from the watch, and com- munion with the Saints without a breach of covenant.


And now, beloved in the Lord, let it be impressed on your minds that you have en- tered into solemn relations, which you can never renounce, and from which you can never escape. Wherever you are, these vows will remain. They will follow you to the bar of God ; and in whatever world you may be fixed, they will abide on you to all eternity. You can never be again as you have been. You have unalterably com-1


mitted yourselves, and henceforth you must be the servants of the Lord.


Hereafter the eye of the world will be upon you ; and as you conduct yourselves, so will religion be honoured or disgraced. If you walk worthy of your profession, you will be a credit and comfort to us ; but if otherwise, you will be a grief of heart, and vexation ; and if there is a wo pronounced on him who offends one of Christ's little ones, wo, wo, 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 support and guide you through this transitory life, and after this warfare is accomplished, receive you and us, to that blessed church, where our love shall be for ever perfect, and our joy for ever full. A frequent and devout perusal of the above FORM OF ADMISSION TO THE CHURCH, is recommended to all our Communicants ; es- pecially to read it with meditation and prayer. as a preparatory exercise before every Com- munion.


(To be continued.)


A writer of the tenth century says that the opinion of some "unlearned priests" was that leap year had been caused by Joshua, when he made the sun stand still !


The history of the churches in Morristown must be full of interest. THE RECORD hopes to be able to present those histories in its pages. Will not the pastors of the various congregatious aid in this good work ?


In the present day bishops form only about one-fourteenth of the numbers of the House of Lords in England. In the eigh- teenth century they composed about one- eighth, but in the twelfth they formed six- sevenths of the entire House. The reason of this is to be found in the fact that in olden times education was confined to the clergy.


A poem entitled "On the Creation and Paradyce Lost," was written in English metre before Milton was born. Its author was Sir Richard Maitland. It was first pub- lished by Ramsay in 1724. It is quite prob- able, therefore, that John Milton never saw this production. Certainly, no one who reads Maitland's poem will charge Milton with plagiarism.


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THE RECORD


FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, MORRISTOWN, N. J. " THIS SHALL BE WRITTEN FOR THE GENERATION TO COME."-Psalms 102 : 18.


VOLUME III.


NOVEMBER, 1883. NUMBER II


[Printed with the Approval of the Session. ]


THE RECORD


Will be published monthly at Morristown, N. J. Terms $1.00 per annum, in advance.


Subscriptions may be made at the book- stores of Messrs. Runyon and Emmell, or to Messrs. James R. Voorhees and William D. Johnson, or by letter addressed to the


EDITOR OF THE RECORD,


Morristown, N. J.


Entered at the Post Office at Morristown. N. J., as second class matter.


[Continued from page 80] MR. BARNES'S MANUAL.


FORM USED AT THE BAPTISM OF CHILDREN.


Children, one or both of whose parents are members of the church, only, are by a rule of the church to be baptized. It is re- garded as the duty of parents to present them for baptism at as early an age as may be practicable.


The time for administering this ordinance to children is on the Friday previous to the Communion, before the Sermon. They are expected, therefore, to be present at the commencement of the service.


The Book of Discipline of the Church directs that a record be kept of the names of all who are baptized. A scrip of paper, therefore, containing the name of the child, and the names of both the parents, is indispen- sably necessary. When the time of the birth of the child is also communicated, it will be faithfully preserved on the records of the church.


Children are regarded as members of the church by right of their birth. The ordi- nance of baptism is not, therefore, strictly an initiating ordinance; but a public recogni-


tion of their relation to the Church. It is also the duty of parents, as well as an ex- pression of pious feeling, to dedicate them thus to the Lord.


As members of the church they should be brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. They are subject to the watch and counsel of those set over them in the church. They are to be taught that it is their privilege, as well as their duty, early to devote themselves personally to his pur- pose. See " Directory for Worship," ch. ix. $1.


When baptism is administered, the par- ents are addressed in the following or similar words :


Baptism was instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ, the Great Head of the Church, to be a seal of the Covenant of Grace. The water in this ordinance implies guilt and pollution, and the necessity of the gracious operation of the Divine Spirit to cleanse us from sin. It represents to us regeneration, and sanctification by the Spirit of God. It is the public sign of admission to the privileges of the Church of God. But you are not to imagine that any external rite will cleanse from sin. A deeper, far deeper work, than can be accomplished by the use of any external ordinances, is re- quisite, to prepare the souls of these child- ren for the Kingdom of Heaven.


The authority for administering this rite to children is based on the conduct of Christ and his Apostles, and on the privileges granted to the ancient people of God. In the time of our Saviour, the Jews regarded it as an inestimable privilege, to devote their offspring to the God who gave them, in the rite, which had been appointed to their fathers. That rite had been directed by the authority of God. There is no intimation in the New Testament of any purpose to de-


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prive them of this privilege, in the new economy. If there had been any such de- sign of exclusion-any such material change in the mode of administering the mercies of God to his church-it is fair to suppose that our Saviour would have been at pains to have satisfied the Jews of the intention. If it had been the design of the Founder of our Religion to abridge the privileges of those who should embrace his religion-of cut- ting off by one fell sweep all children from the communion of the faithful, and of over- turning an economy that had been sanc- tioned by God, and endeared by long ob- servance, they had a right to expect that there would have been some formal reason given of a proceeding so remarkable, and of an act that interfered so much with what they deemed their dearest rights, and the appropriate expression of parental feeling.


So far from it, however, there is not the most distant intimation in the New Testa- ment, of any design of excluding children from a public dedication to God, or of exclud- ing parents from devoting them to him. On those who deny the right to such a dedica- tion, it is incumbent to allege the proof of any such purpose.


.


The contrary of any such design, is fairly gathered from the New Testament. Our Saviour encouraged parents to bring their children to him. He reproved those who would have prevented such a purpose, and who would have maintained that they were to be excluded from a public presentation to him. He said, " of such is the Kingdom of Ileaven."


The Apostles acted as the Saviour did. They baptized households-that is, families -without any intimation that they were all adults-a thing that in itself is so impro- bable, that if it had been the case, we might have expected a formal statement of the fact. No allusion is made, however, to any such unusual state of things-nothing to lead us to believe that these families differ- ed from others-or in others words, no in- timation that there were no children in them. When men speak of households, with- out any qualifying or limiting expressions, we are to suppose that they do not differ essentially from other households. Such we may fairly suppose the households men- tioned in the New Testament to have been


-that is, until the contrary is shown, we have a right to suppose that children and servants were baptized.


It is an indubitable fact, moreover, that very early in the Christian church the prac- tice was universal. The first mention of the subject implied that it was common .* Such an early universal practice could have had no other origin than the practice of the Apostles.


You have a right. therefore, to offer these children to God in this ordinance. It is a proper expression of pious parental feeling. It is suitable to invoke the blessing of your and their Great Father on them, in the be- ginning of their years, and to commit them thus early to his guidance. Their souls are immortal. They have commenced an exis-, tence which can never end. None but God, can befriend them in the temptations and trials before them ; and it is right, therefore, to seek for them the guidance of his hand.


They are committed to your care. On your conduct will depend much of their use- fulness and respectability on earth. But they are doomed to an eternity of being ; and on you also will, in a most tremendously responsible degree, depend their destiny beyond the grave. Be prepared, then, to resign their spirits into the hands of God who gave them, when he shall call for them.


If it shall please God to spare your lives, and the lives of your children, until they come to years capable of receiving instruc- tion, it will be your duty to teach them, or to cause them to be taught, to read God's Holy Word; to instruct them in the prin- ciples of the true religion-the history of man-the creation and fall-the law of God -the economy of the ancient society of be- lievers-the promises of a Saviour-his ad- vent, life, instructions, sufferings, death, re- surrection, and ascension-to teach them the necessity of the new birth, and a holy life-to remind them that they must die, and that after death will be the judgment, and to endeavour to direct their thoughts as the great, supreme object of their living, to the tremendous scenes of the eternal world-to pray with them, and for them ; to set an example of pietv before them ; to


*In the third centry. See Milner, Ch. Hist, Vol, I. p. 320 ;


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govern your temper, and speak the truth ; to exercise a wholesome discipline, and to endeavour to show by your life the com- parative worthlessness of wealth, and fashion, and amusement, and adorning, and the transcendant excellence and value of the things of religion ; and to endeavour, by all the means in your power, and by all attainable aid, and direction from heaven, to train them up for a world of holiness. These duties, or whatever else you are con- vinced or shall be convinced, from the word of God, are binding on you as Chris- tian parents, you do promise and covenant, in the presence of God and this church, that as God shall give you strength, you will endeavour faithfully to perform .- (Here the parents bow assent.)


It is reccommended to those who have offered children to God in baptism, frequently, and with careful self-examination, to persue the preceeding Form. The hopes of the church rest in the rising generation. These hopes can be expected to be realized only in the faith- ful discharge of duty on the part of parents.


CHURCH NOTICES.


I. The seasons of SACRAMENTAL COM- MUNION occur in this church only in the months of March, June, September, and December, on the first Sabbath in each month.


2. A lecture, preparatory to the solemnity. is attended in the church, on the Friday pre- vious to the Communion, in the afternoon, at half past two o'clock in December and March, and at half past three in June and September. The baptism of the children and servants of believers is administered in the commencement of the services.


3. A church meeting-that is, of the communicants alone, is held, by a resolution of the Session, in the months of January, April, July, and October, on Thursday af- ternoon, in the Session House, at such times in the month as the pastor may ap- point. The object of this meeting is mutual prayer, exhortation, and praise. It is de- signed to promote Christian acquaintance ; to make firm the bands of Christian fellow- ship ; and to present the united wants of the church, as such, before the Throne of Grace. At this meeting, which, hom its nature, is one of special interest, and which has in other churches been followed with a


special blessing, it is peculiarly desirable that every member should be present.


4. The session of the church meet re- gularly on the first Tuesday of every month, at the house of the pastor, for united pray- er, and consultation on the state of religion in their own hearts, and in the church.


Their other meetings are held in the Ses- sion House, agreeably to notice given pre- viously from the pulpit. Their ordinary time of meeting is on Thursday afternoon, in the week but one next preceding each communion. Before the Session, at a regu- lar meeting, must application be made in person for union to the church. The appli- cant is examined on his knowledge of re- ligion, and personal piety, and his wishes in coming to the communion, and on his pur- poses of life; and if approved, is publicly propounded for admission to the commun- ion of the church ; and, if there are no valid objections offered, on the day of the next communion, publicly admitted as a member of the church in full and equal fel- lowship. The meetings of the session are properly public ; and any person has the right of access to accompany any applicant, propose any business, enter any complaint, or claim any redress which may properly relate to the jurisdiction of the session.


5. It is proper that individuals should seek and cultivate acquaintance with the elders. They are appointed to guard the interests of the church, and to promote the welfare of religion. Persons thoughtful, or anxious about their condition, will al- ways be welcome to the attentions and counsel of any of the elders, or of the pas- tor.


6. It is proper for persons who are sick, to send for any of the elders or the pastor to visit them at their own houses. (James v. 14)-Is any sick among you? let him CALL for the Elders of the church. It is at no time considered as any interruption of the appropiate business of the pastor to be invited to visit the sick in any part of the congregation. On the contrary, such in- vitations will be thankfully received, and promptly attended to. It is regarded as a privilege to be admitted as a friend and comforter, to the room of the sick, and the bed-side of the dying.




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