USA > New York > New York City > The history of the Broadway tabernacle church, from its organization in 1840 to the close of 1900, including factors influencing its formation > Part 20
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FOREIGN MISSIONARIES.
Dr. Nahabed Abdalian, Dr. Charles L. Bliss, Dr. Burt N. Bridgman, Miss Caroline E. Bush, Mrs. Margaret Chandler, Dr. Luther Halsey Gulick, Rev. Sidney L. Gulick, Deacon Henry C. Hall, Mr. George Lawrence, Rev. William Edwin Locke, Rev. Theodore S. Pond, Rev. Barnabas Root, Dr. Ida Salmon Stapleton, Deacon Matthew Starr, Rev. James B. Thompson.
WORKERS IN CITY AND HOME MISSIONS.
William F. Barnard, Rev. Amzi Camp, Rev. Samuel Col- cord, Rev. Ephraem Menachem Epstein, Rev. Charles L. Hall, Mrs. Emma Calhoun Hall, Rev. George Jackson, Rev. Ed- ward Pratt, Rev. John A. Seymour.
OFFICERS OF MISSIONARY SOCIETIES.
Rev. Milton Badger, D.D.,* Secretary of the American Home Missionary Society; Rev. Walter M. Barrows, D.D., * Member of the society though not of the church.
204
THE SIXTIETH ANNIVERSARY
Secretary of the American Home Missionary Society; Rev. Charles P. Bush, D.D.,* District Secretary of the American Board; Norman A. Calkins, LL.D., Treasurer of the Congre- gational Union; Rev. A. H. Clapp, D.D., Secretary of the American Home Missionary Society and Treasurer of the Congregational Home Missionary Society; Rev. L. H. Cobb, D.D., Secretary of the Congregational Church Building So- ciety ; Rev. Edward W. Gilman, D.D., Secretary of the Ameri- can Bible Society ; General O. O. Howard, President of the Congregational Home Missionary Society; Miss Delia E. Emerson, Secretary of Woman's Bureau, American Missionary Association; Deacon Henry W. Hubbard, Treasurer of the American Missionary Association; Rev. Ray Palmer, D.D., Secretary of the Congregational Union; Rev. Absalom Peters, D.D., Secretary of the Home Missionary Society ; Miss Ellen C. Parsons, Editor for the Presbyterian Women's Boards; Rev. Henry A. Stimson, President of the Congregational Church Building Society ; Rev. William M. Taylor, D.D., President of the American Missionary Association and of the Congrega- tional Union; Mr. Langdon S. Ward, Treasurer of the American Board.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF BENEVOLENT BOARDS AND INSTITUTIONS.
Deacon Austin Abbott, Charles Abernethy, Mrs. Charles Abernethy, Rev. Samuel Colcord, Mrs. R. A. Dorman, George S. Edgell, William C. Gilman, Mrs. Hamilton S. Gordon, Mrs. Horace Green, A. S. Hatch, Deacon Samuel Holmes, General O. O. Howard, Mrs. Henry C. Houghton, Caleb C. Knevals, Deacon William C. Lambert, James T. Leavitt, Charles L. Mead, Francis A. Palmer, Thomas Ritter, Mrs. Marshall O. (Caroline D.) Roberts, Deacon William Henry Smith, Miss Lucy M. Spelman, Lucien C. Warner, John H. Washburn, William Ives Washburn.
A synopsis of the benevolences of the church is given be-
* Member of the society, though not of the church.
205
HISTORY OF THE BROADWAY TABERNACLE CHURCH
low. An itemized account of the first thirty years cannot be obtained.
BENEVOLENCES OF THE BROADWAY TABERNACLE CHURCH, 1840-1900.
American Board.
Home Missions.
American Mis- sionary As- sociation.
Church Building.
Church Ex- tension.
1846-1871.
1872-1880
$26,030.12
$18,767.25
$5,417.52
$2,398.49
1881-1890
33,405.02
67,416.44 50,760.82
$5,994.54 18,171.52 22,670.66
10,705.50
10,740.98
1891-1900.
43,187.17
10,490.04
14,393.32
Totals
$ 102,622.31
$136,944.51
$46,836.72
$26,613.06
$27,442.79
Education.
Bethany.
Deacons' Fund.
Hospitals.
Seamen.
1846-1871.
1872-1880
$3,805.44
$35,406.82
$18,955.29
$466.51
$4,627.77
1881-1890
5,495.78
84,588.63
15,697.74
11,496.79
4,548.96
1891-1900.
5,808.90
49,512.21
9,121.05
10,077.29
1,406.26
Totals
$15,110.12
.$169,507.66
$43,774.08
$22,040.59
$10,582.99
City Charities. Miscellaneous.
Totals.
1846-1871 ..
$350,000.00
Benevolences of the Church,
$1,090,293.61
1872-1880
$10,610.93
$13,307.61
161,487.85
1881-1890.
16,444.01
21,815.06
313,784.32
1891-1900
5,180.41
26,528.26
265,021.44
Individual Gifts (partial list),
1,008,925.00
Totals.
$32,235.35
$61,650.93
$1,090,293.61
Grand total, $2,099,218.61
THE GIFTS OF A FEW MEN.
Presbyterian Hospital
$2,000
Manhattan Church
2,500
Berea College
3,050
Yale Seminary
3,955
Young Women's Christian Association 4,555
Woman's Hospital
5,000
206
THE SIXTIETH ANNIVERSARY
Home for Aged Ministers' Families
$15,000
Stamford, Conn. 20,000
College in Ohio.
25,000
Young Men's Christian Association.
35,800
Eddytown, N. Y.
70,000
Western Colleges
100,000
Bedford, N. Y.
100,000
Boys' Club, Fall River, Mass
100,000
Oberlin College
132,065
New York City
150,000
Francis Asbury Palmer Fund
240,000
Total
$1,008,925
In the book exhibit were books and pamphlets by William F. Barnard, Clarence W. Bowen, Rev. L. H. Cobb, Rev. Sam- uel Colcord, Martin H. Early, Augustus Gaylord, President Daniel Coit Gilman, Sidney H. Gulick, David Hale, Rev. Charles L. Hall, Mrs. Henry Clay Hall, Professor A. D. F. Hamlin, Chester Holcombe, Dr. Henry C. Houghton, General O. O. Howard, Mrs. Holloway, Rev. Charles E. Jefferson, Lewis S. Judd, Miss Ellen C. Parsons, Dr. William H. Porter, Dr. George T. Stevens, Rev. H. A. Stimson, Dr. W. L. Stow- ell, Rev. William M. Taylor, Rev. Joseph P. Thompson, Dr. William H. Thomson, Miss Hetta L. H. Ward, Miss Susan Hayes Ward, Dr. Lucien C. Warner, John H. Washburn, Mrs. John H. Washburn, William Ives Washburn.
In the picture gallery the faces of the following men were to be seen, some of them in oil, some of them in crayon, some of them in steel engravings, and many of them in photo- graphs-of many of them there were pictures taken in dif- ferent periods in life:
PASTORS.
Rev. E. W. Andrews, Rev. J. P. Thompson, D.D., Rev. W. M. Taylor, D.D., Rev. H. A. Stimson, D.D., Rev. C. E. Jef- ferson, D.D.
207
HISTORY OF THE BROADWAY TABERNACLE CHURCH
DEACONS.
Henry Whittlesey, Samuel Holmes, Israel Minor, H. C. Hall, William H. Smith, W. G. Lambert, Dr. William H. Thomson, Austin Abbott, Samuel Pitts, Thomas W. Whitte- more, John H. Washburn, H. W. Hubbard, Dr. H. C. Hough- ton, Charles Whittemore, Augustus Gaylord, Dr. L. C. War- ner, Charles L. Mead, R. A. Dorman.
TRUSTEES.
Charles Abernethy, Nathaniel Fisher, Cornelius N. Bliss, M. C. D. Borden, Caleb B. Knevals, Levi M. Bates, Joel E. Fisher, Irving R. Fisher, William Ives Washburn, Charles Stewart Smith.
TREASURER.
CLERK.
William B. Holmes.
E. F. Browning.
MEMBERS OF CHURCH COMMITTEE.
Seth W. Benedict, General O. O. Howard, Rev. A. H. Clapp, D.D., William Allen, David Hale.
SEXTON.
F. S. Boyd.
To project and carry out an extensive and elaborate cele- bration requires much time and strength and labor, and the jubilee could never have been so successfully carried through had it not been for a host of willing and enthusiastic workers. The church owes a debt of gratitude not only to the mem- bers of the various committees, but also to many others, both men and women, who, though not members of a committee, carried out with alacrity and ability the plans which the com- mittee had suggested.
208
Sirtieth Anniversary Celebration of the
Broadway Tabernacle Church
heb. Charles E. Jefferson, Pastor
1840
1900
January 16 to Januarp 23 1901
Wednesday Evening
JANUARY 16, 1901
8 O'CLOCK IN THE CHAPEL
Reminiscences
THE PASTOR PRESIDING
The Old Tabernacle DEACON CHARLES WHITTEMORE
Memories of Early Times MR. WILLIAM B. HOLMES
The Early Pastors DEACON RICHARD A. DORMAN
The Old Struggles and Victories DEACON JOHN H. WASHBURN
The Old Friends
DEACON WILLIAM H. THOMSON
Friday Evening
JANUARY 18, 1901
8 O'CLOCK IN THE CHURCH PARLORS
Reception
THE PASTOR AND HIS WIFE, THE TRUSTEES AND THEIR WIVES, AND THE DEACONS AND THEIR WIVES WILL RECEIVE
Music by Orchestra
Remarks
REV. WILLIAM J. PECK, for Non-Resident Members MR. CHARLES STEWART SMITH, - for Former Members MR. JAMES TALCOTT,
REV. FRANK E. RAMSDELL, for the Churches in Manhattan
REV. J. B. McLEOD, for the Churches in Brooklyn
Refreshments
Sunday Morning
JANUARY 20, 1901
11 O'CLOCK IN THE AUDITORIUM
Public Worship
30
Organ Prelude
Doxology
Congregation Standing
Invocation
. REV. C. J. RYDER
Anthem "All Thy works praise Thee, O Lord " Hawley
Responsive Reading
REV. WASHINGTON CHOATE
Hymn
Congregation Standing
Scripture
.
REV. C. C. CREEGAN
Prayer
.
REV. J. B. CLARKE
Response
By the Choir
Offering
Anthem
"How Beautiful Upon the Mountains" Dayas
Historical Sermon
. By the Pastor
Hymn
.
Congregation Standing
Prayer and Benediction
. REV. A. F. BEARD
Organ Postlude
Sunday Afternoon JANUARY 20, 1901
3.30 O'CLOCK IN THE AUDITORIUM
Bible School Celebration Tabernacle and Bethany Schools Uniting
MR. HARRIS H. HAYDEN, SUPT., PRESIDING 1
Hymn "When Morning Gilds the Skies"
Scripture Reading
REV. N. M. PRATT
Hymn "Soldiers of the Cross"
Prayer
.
MR. R. A. DORMAN
Hymn "O God Accept Our Hearts this Day "
Historical Paper .
MRS. ANNIE FISHER STREBEIGH
Hymn "Forward ! Be Our Watchword"
Paper "Work with the Little People"
MRS. D. S. PILLSBURY
Solo
MRS. BESSIE CHITTENDEN RICHARDS
Address .
REV. F. B. RICHARDS
Hymn "Onward, Christian Soldiers"
Introductions and Messages
Hymn "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name"
Sunday Evening
JANUARY 20, 1901
7 O'CLOCK IN THE CHURCH PARLORS
D. D. S. C. C. meeting
MR. J. R. ELLENWOOD, PRES., PRESIDING
Hymn
Devotional Exercises
Greeting by the Pastor
REV. CHARLES E. JEFFERSON
"Our Society " from 1893=95
MR. C. L. THORNE
MISS MARIE S. POOLE
Soprano Solo
" In Heavenly Love Abiding" A. Lassen
MRS. W. J. FINCH
"Our Society " from 1896=97
MR. E. V. BLADEN
MRS. O. FLORENCE
Hymn
"Our Society" from 1898-1901
MR. W. J. FINCH
MR. J. R. ELLENWOOD
The Church and "Our Society "
DEACON H. W. HUBBARD
Prayer
REV. GEORGE A. GORDON
Mizpah
All Uniting
Sunday Evening JANUARY 20, 1901
8 O'CLOCK IN THE AUDITORIUM
Fellowship Meeting
THE PASTOR PRESIDING
Organ Prelude
Doxology
Invocation
REV. ARTHUR J. WYMAN
Hymn
Scripture REV. GEORGE A. GORDON
Prayer
·
REV. L. HENRY COBB
Anthem
"O Lord, Thou Art Great"
Coombs
Addresses REV. HENRY A. STIMSON
REV. MARVIN R. VINCENT REV. DAVID H. GREER REV. EDWARD JUDSON
REV. J. M. BUCKLEY
Hymn
Prayer and Benediction REV. GEORGE N. BOARDMAN
Tuesday Morning
JANUARY 22, 1901
10.30 O'CLOCK IN THE CHURCH PARLORS
Meeting of The Society for Women's Work
MRS. HAMILTON S. GORDON, PRES., PRESIDING
The Home Missionary Society MRS. WILLIAM S. SEAMANS
The Foreign Missionary Society
MISS ELIZABETH R. FISHER
The Helping Hand . MRS. HAMILTON S. GORDON
The Sewing School
MISS MARY S. JANES
The Kindergarten
·
. MRS. THOMAS A. FAIR
Letter from Miss Bush
READ BY MRS. EDWARD W. PEET
Tuesday Evening
JANUARY 22, 1901
8 O'CLOCK IN THE AUDITORIUM
Denominational Meeting
THE PASTOR PRESIDING
Organ Prelude
Doxology
Invocation
.
. REV. WILLIAM T. WILLIAMS
Hymn
Scripture
.
. REV. WILLIAM H. KEPHART
Prayer
.
.
.
REV. F. B. MAKEPEACE
Anthem
Address "The Congregationalism of Yesterday" REV. AMORY H. BRADFORD
Address "The Congregationalism of To-day"
GENERAL O. O. HOWARD
Address "The Congregationalism of To-morrow"
Hymn
REV. JOSIAH STRONG
Prayer and Benediction
.
REV. HENRY M. BROWN
Wednesday Evening
JANUARY 23, 1901
RECEPTION AT 6 O'CLOCK, DINNER SERVED AT 6.30 O'CLOCK IN THE CHURCH PARLORS
Church Banquet
THE PASTOR PRESIDING
After-Dinner Speeches
The Tabernacle of the Past
HON. CORNELIUS N. BLISS MR. HENRY W. HUBBARD
DR. LUCIEN C. WARNER DR. HENRY C. HOUGHTON MR. WILLIAM IVES WASHBURN
The Tabernacle of the Future
MR. IRVING GAYLORD MR. HARRIS H. HAYDEN MR. THOMAS S. HOPE SIMPSON COL. WILLIAM G. BATES PROF. A. D. F. HAMLIN
NOTE :- Owing to the limited accommodations of the Church Parlors only present members of the Tabernacle can be admitted to the banquet.
Church Crhibit
On Monday and Tuesday
JANUARY 21ST AND 22D
FROM 10 A.M. TO 10 P.M.
T HERE will be in the Church Parlors an Exhibit of historical charts, showing the benevolences of the Tabernacle, books written and published by members of the Church, and also photographs, en- gravings and paintings of the Pastors and Trustees and Deacons who have served the Church within the last sixty years. To this exhibit the general public is cordially invited.
Committees
General Committee PASTOR, CHAIRMAN
CORNELIUS N. BLISS IRVING R. FISHER
WILLIAM IVES WASHBURN
DR. LUCIEN C. WARNER
DR. WILLIAM H. THOMSON GEORGE L. LEONARD
MRS. HAMILTON S. GORDON MRS. DR. E. W. PEET
MISS ELLEN C. PARSONS
Church History
GEORGE L. LEONARD WILLIAM J. WHITTEMORE
MISS ELLEN C. PARSONS CHARLES E. WHITTEMORE
Bible School Celebration
HARRIS H. HAYDEN WM. H. RATH MISS ELLEN C. PARSONS
Invitations DR. WILLIAM L. STOWELL
Church Exhibit
MR. LEONARD
MRS. HAMILTON S. GORDON MRS. E. W. PEET MISS ELLEN C. PARSONS
Finance HAMILTON S. GORDON DR. LUCIEN C. WARNER NATHANIEL C. FISHER
Music HARRIS H. HAYDEN MISS LILLIE P. BLISS
Decoration
MISS ANNIE C. BENEDICT
MRS. R. C. COOK
MRS. ROBERT L. MAITLAND MISS LUCY M. SPELLMAN
Reception
DR. EDWARD D. FISHER
DR. FRANK B. CARPENTER
DR. A. L. NORTHROP MISS ISABEL M. TAYLOR MARTIN H. EARLY
ROBERT L. MAITLAND
MR. AND MRS. W. R. WHEELER
Banquet
DR. E. W. PEET REV. SAMUEL COLCORD
MANLEY A. RAYMOND
MRS. R. A. DORMAN MRS. WILLIAM H. THOMSON MISS ANNA C. MELLICK
Carriages
DR. CHAS. E. BRUCE GEORGE B. BATES
Press THOMAS A. FAIR
Printing W. R. FEARN
Ushers
CHARLES E. WHITTEMORE
It is a great responsibility for a church of Jesus Christ to have had the privilege of the ministry of two such men as Joseph P. Thompson and William M. Taylor. Will the life of this church and congregation be such as privileges like these demand ? T. S. H.
Appendix
A
A Plan of Union Between Presbyterians and Congregationalists in the New Settlements, Adopted in 1801.
The report of the Committee appointed to consider and digest a plan of government for the churches in the new settlements was taken up and considered; and, after mature deliberation on the same, approved as follows :
Regulations adopted by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America and by the General Association of the State of Con- necticut (provided said Association agree to them) with a view to pre- vent alienation and promote union and harmony in those new settlements which are composed of inhabitants from these bodies.
First .- It is strictly enjoined on all their missionaries to the new settlements to endeavor, by all proper means, to promote mutual for- bearance and accommodation between those inhabitants of the new settlements who hold the Presbyterian and those who hold the Congre- gational form of church government.
Second .- If in the new settlements any church of the Congregational order shall settle a minister of the Presbyterian order, that church may, if they choose, still conduct their discipline according to Congregational principles, settling their difficulties among themselves, or by a council mutually agreed upon for that purpose. But if any difficulty shall exist between the minister and the church, or any member of it, it shall be referred to the Presbytery to which the minister shall belong, provided both parties agree to it: if not, to a council consisting of an equal number of Presbyterians and Congregationalists agreed upon by both parties. ,
Third .- If a Presbyterian church shall settle a minister of Congre- gational principles, that church may still conduct their discipline accord- ing to Presbyterian principles, excepting that if a difficulty arise between him and his church, or any member of it, the cause shall be tried by the Association to which the said minister shall belong, provided both parties
223
HISTORY OF THE BROADWAY TABERNACLE CHURCH
agree to it; otherwise by a council, one-half Congregationalists, and the other half Presbyterians, mutually agreed upon by the parties.
Fourth .- If any congregation consist partly of those who hold the Congregational form of discipline, and partly of those who hold the Presbyterian form, we recommend to both parties that this be no ob- struction to their uniting in one church and settling a minister, and that in this case the church choose a standing Committee from the com- municants of said church, whose business it shall be to call to account every member of the church who shall conduct himself inconsistently with the laws of Christianity, and to give judgment on such conduct, and if the person condemned by their judgment be a Presbyterian he shall have liberty to appeal to the Presbytery, if a Congregationalist he shall have liberty to appeal to the body of the male communicants of the church; in the former case the determination of the Presbytery shall be final, unless the church consent to a further appeal to the Synod, or to the General Assembly, and, in the latter case, if the party condemned shall wish for a trial by a mutual council, the cause shall be referred to such Council. And, provided the said standing Committee of any church shall depute one of themselves to attend the Presbytery, he may have the same right to sit and act in the Presbytery as a ruling elder of the Presbyterian Church .- From the Assembly's Digest.
B Broadway Tabernacle Church .- Principles and Rules Adopted March 13, 1836.
We whose names are hereto subscribed agree to form ourselves into the Sixth Free Church by the name of the Broadway Tabernacle, and to adopt, in the government and discipline of the same, the following principles :
I. We hold that the Lord Jesus Christ is supreme head and lawgiver of the Church.
2. That the Bible is the supreme and only binding code of laws for the government of the Church, and that in all matters of government and discipline the Church is bound to follow gospel rules.
3. That each congregation of Christians, meeting in one place and united by a solemn covenant, is a complete Church, having no superior but the Lord Jesus Christ, subject to no authority but his, and from him deriving the right to choose its own pastor and church officers and to discipline its own members.
4. That between churches so constituted, as also between all ministers, there is a perfect equality; but that mutual friendship and communion' should subsist between them, leading them to seek each other's counsel and advice or rebuke, whenever needed.
224
APPENDIX
5. That such church, being made by the Lord Jesus Christ the sole depository of all ecclesiastical power, ecclesiastical bodies, distinct from the church, by whatever name they may be called, are only advisory, and have no right to reverse or annul the decisions of a particular church.
6. That the ministry is of divine origin, intended for the sanctification of believers, for the conversion of sinners, and the reproof of the wicked, and to continue to the end of the world.
7. That deacons were appointed in the primitive church for the as- sistance of the ministry and the care of the temporal concerns of the church.
8. That every individual church should be supplied with pastors and deacons according to the pattern of the primitive church.
9. That the choice of pastors and deacons should be made by the whole church, and that they should be set apart to the office by prayer and the laying on of hands.
IO. That the admission of members to the communion should be the act of the church at large, and that the Lord Jesus Christ has laid upon the church the duty of watching over its own members and of admin- istering discipline as an important exercise of Christian graces and a means of sanctification.
II. That in all cases of offence, either against individual members or the church at large, discipline should proceed upon the rule laid down in the 18th chapter of Matthew, verses 16-18.
RULES.
In conformity to these principles we adopt the following rules for the government and discipline of this church:
I. All elections shall be made by the major vote of members of the church in good and regular standing.
2. The pastoral relation between this church and its minister shall be constituted and dissolved in the mode usually adopted in Congregational churches.
3. The number of deacons determined by church to be chosen an- nually, public notice given two weeks previously. Vacancies to be filled by public meeting, one week's notice.
4. The minister and deacons shall together constitute a session. Dea- cons counsel as to spiritual interests, attend and sustain meetings of enquiry, instruction, conference, prayer; visit sick and attend to all temporalities of the church. They appoint treasurer and clerk from their own body. Treasurer keep account of receipts and disbursements and report monthly to session, quarterly to church. Clerk keep a record of all meetings of the session and church, and to give and sign the cer- tificates of church membership and dismissions.
5. Pastor preside in meetings of church and session, and have cast- ing vote.
6. Examination of all candidates for admission to church in open
225
HISTORY OF THE BROADWAY TABERNACLE CHURCH
meeting, and unanimous vote of members present, male and female, requisite for admission of any member.
7. No member admitted without oral or written relation of religious experience.
8. Candidates propounded one week previous to admission.
9. In cases of discipline the church may refer the duty of collecting evidence and preparing case to the session. The decision of majority of members, male and female, final. Counsel of other churches may be sought, but the power of censure rests in the church.
10. Pastor may convene, by public notice, session or church. If a majority of church or session desire a meeting, it shall be duty of pastor or, in his absence, of session to call such a meeting.
II. All meetings open and close with prayer.
12. Annual meeting, first Monday in June.
The Evangelist, March 19, 1836.
C Articles of Christian Faith and Church Government Adopted by the Members of the Broad- way Tabernacle Church.
We, the subscribers, having agreed to unite in the establishment of a new Congregational Church in New York, by the name of The Broad- way Tabernacle 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 Christian faith and practice.
Second .- We profess our decided attachment to that system of the Christian religion which is distinguishingly denominated Evangelical; more particularly to those doctrines which, in a proper sense, are styled the Doctrines of Grace, viz .: "That there is one, and but one, living and true God, subsisting in three persons, the FATHER, the SON, and the HOLY GHOST; and that these Three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory; that God from all eternity, according to the counsel of His own will, and for His own glory, foreordained whatso- ever comes to pass; that God, 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 God, 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 God out of His mere good pleasure, from all eternity elected some to everlasting life, entered into
226
APPENDIX
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 Re- deemer is the LORD JESUS CHRIST, the eternal Son of God, who became man, and continues to be God 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 Christ's righteous- ness by faith." And we hereby covenant and engage, as fellow Christians of one faith, and partakers of the same hope and joy, to give up our- selves unto the Lord, for the observance of the ordinances of Christ together in the same society, and to unite together in one body for the public worship of God and the mutual edification one of another in the fellowship of the Lord Jesus; exhorting, reproving, comforting, and watching over each other, for mutual edification; looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God, 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 TO THE CHURCH.
You have presented yourselves in this public manner before God to dedicate yourselves to His service and to incorporate 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 engage- ments. 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 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 His, may venture thus unalterably to commit yourselves, and trust in Him for strength to perform your vows.
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