DECLARATION OF FAITH. I. OF THE SCRIPTURES. We believe the Holy Bible was written by men divine. ly inspired, and is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction; that it has God for its author, salvation for its end,2 and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter;3 that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us 4 and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the world, the true centre of Christian union,5 and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions should be tried.6 Places in the Bible where taught. 12 Tim. iii. 16, 17. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Also, 2 Pet. i. 21; 2 Sam. xxiii. 2; Acts i. 16; iii. 21; John x. 35; Luke xvi. 29-31; Ps. cxix. 111; Rom. iii. 1. 2. 2 2 Tim. iii. 15. the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation. Also, 1 Pet. i. 10-12; Acts xi. 14. Rom. i. 16; Mark xvi. 16; John v. 34–39. 3 Prov. xxx. 5, 6. Every word of God is pure. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. Also, John xvii. 17; Rev. xxii. 18, 19; Rom. iii. 4. the 4 Rom. ii. 12. As many as have sinned in the law, shall be judged by the law. John xii. 47, 48. If any man hear my words word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. Also. 1 Cor. iv. 3, 4; Luke x. 10-16; xii. 47, 48. Phil. iii. 16. same thing. 1 Pet. iv. 11. Let us walk by the same rule; let us mind the Also, Ephes. iv. 3-6; Phil. ii. 1, 2; 1 Cor. i. 10; 61 John iv. 1. Beloved, believe not every spirit, bat try the spirits whether they be of God. Isa. vii. 20. To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. 1 Thes. v. 21. Prove all things. 2 Cor. xiii. 5. Prove your own selves. Also, Acts xvii. 11; 1 John iv. 6; Jude 3d verse; Eph. vi. 17; Ps. cxix. 59, 60; Phil i. 9-11. II. OF THE TRUE GOD. That there is one, and only one, true and living God, whose name is JEHOVAH, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of Heaven and Earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness; worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love ;3 revealed under the personal and relative distinctions of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit;4 equal in every divine perfection,5 and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.6 Places in the Bible where taught. 1 Psalm 1xxxiii. 18. Thou whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the Most High over all the earth. Heb. iii. 4; Rom. i. 20; Jer. x. 10. 2 Exod. xv. 11. Who is like unto Thee, glorious in holiness? Isa. vi. 3; 1 Pet. i. 15, 16; Rev. iv. 6—8. 3 Mark xii. 30. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. Rev. iv. 11. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honor, and power for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Matt. x. 37; Jer. ii. 12, 13. 4 Matt. xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. John xv. 26. When the Comforter is come, whom I will send you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me. 1 Cor. xii. 4-6; 1 John v. 7. 5 John x. 30. I and my Father are one. Acts v. 3, 4; 1 Cor. iii. 10, 11. John v. 17; xiv. 23; 6 Eph. ii. 18. For through Him, (the Son,) we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 2 Cor. ii. 14. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Rev. i. 4, 5. III. OF THE FALL OF MAN. That man was created in a state of holiness, under the law of his Maker; but by voluntary transgression fell from that holy and happy state 2 in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners,3 not by constraint but choice,4 being by nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God, wholly given to the gratification of the world, of Satan, and of their own sinful passions, and therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin,5 with out defence or excuse.6 Places in the Bible where taught. 1 Gen. i. 27. God created man in his own image. Gen. i. 3 And God saw every thing that he had made, and behold, it was very good. Eccl. vii. 29; Acts xvii. 20; Gen. ii. 16. 2 Gen. iii. 6-24. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise; she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat; and gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat. Therefore the Lord God drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden, Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. Rom. v. 12. 3 Rom. v. 19. By one man's disobedience many were made sinners. John iii. 6; Ps. li. 5; Rom. v. 15-19; viii. 7. 4 Isa. liii. 6. We have turned, every one to his own way. Gen. vi. 12; Rom. iii. 9—18. 5 Eph. ii. 1-3. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past, in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath even as others. Rom. i. 18. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness. Rom. i. 32; Gal. iii. 10; Matt. xxv. 41; Rev. xx. 15. 6 Ezek. xviii. 19, 20. Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquities of the father? The soul that sinneth it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. Rom. i. 20. So that they are without excuse. Rom. iii. 19. That every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Gal. iii. 22. IV. THE WAY OF SALVATION. That the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace;1 through the Mediatorial Offices of the Son of God, who took upon him our nature, yet without sin;3 honored the law by his personal obedience,4 and made atonement for our sins by his death;5 being risen from the dead he is now enthroned in heaven;6 and uniting in his wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfections, is every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate, and an all-sufficient Saviour.7 Places in the Bible where taught. 1 Eph. ii. 5. By grace ye are saved. Matt. xviii. 11; 1 John iv. 10; 1 Cor. iii. 5-7; Acts xv. 11. 2 John iii. 16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John i. 1-14; Heb. iv. 14; xii. 24. 3 Phil. ii. 6, 7. Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. Heb. ii. 9; ii. 14; 2 Cor. viii. 9. 4 Isa. xlii. 21. The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honorable. Phii. ii. 8; Gal. iv. 4, 5; Rom. iii. 21. 5 Isa. liii. 4. He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Matt. xx. 28; Rom. iv. 25; iii. 21-26; 1John iv. 10; ii. 2; 1 Cor. xv. 1-3; Heb. ix. 13-15. 6 Heb. i. 8. Unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever. Heb. i. 3; viii. 3; Col. iii. 1—4. 7 Heb. vii. 25. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Col. ii. 9. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Heb. ii. 18. In that he himself hath suffered, being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted. Heb. vii. 26; Ps. lxxxix. 19; Ps. xlv. V. OF JUSTIFICATION. That the great Gospel blessing which Christ of his fulness,1 bestows on such as believe in Him is Justification;2 that Justification consists in the pardon of sin3 and the promise of eternal life, on principles of righteousness;4 that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done,5 but solely through His own redemption and righteousness;6 that it brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God, and secures every other blessing needful for time and eternity.7 Places in the Bible where taught. 1 John i. 16. Of his fulness have we all received. Eph. iii. 8. 2 Acts xiii. 39. By him all that believe are justified from all 11; Rom. viii. 1. things. Isa. liii. Rom. v. 9. Being justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. Zech. xiii. 1; Matt. ix. 6; Acts x. 43. 4 Rom. v. 17. They which receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. Tit iii. 5, 6; 1 Pet. iii. 7; 1 John ii. 25; Rom. v. 21. 5 Rom. iv. 4, 5. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Rom. v. 21; vi. 23; Phil. iii. 7—9. 6 Rom. v. 19. By the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Rom. iii. 24-26; 1 John ii. 12. 7 Rom. v. 1, 2. Being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Rom. v. 3. We glory in tribulations also. Rom. 5. 11. We also joy in God. 1 Cor. i. 30; Mat. vi. 36; 1 Tim. iv. 8. VI. OF THE FREENESS OF SALVATION. That the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial and obedient faith;2 and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth, except his own voluntary refusal to submit to the Lord Jesus Christ;3 which refusal will subject him to an aggravated condemnation.4 Places in the Bible where taught. 1 Rev. xxii. 17. Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Isa. lv. 1; Luke xiv. 17. 2 Rom. xvi. 25, 26. The Gospel according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith. Mark i. 15; Rom. i. 15, 17. 3 John v. 40. Ye will not come unto me, that ye might have life. Matt. xxiii. 37; Rom. ix. 32; Prov. i. 24; Acts xiii. 46. 4 John iii. 19. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. Matt. xi. 20; Luke xix. 27; 2 Thess. i. 8. VII. OF GRACE IN REGENERATION. That in order to be saved, we must be regenerated or born again; that regeneration consists in giving a holy disposition to the mind and is effected in a manner above our comprehension or calculation,3 by the power of the 1* |