I. Of the Scriptures
We believe that the
Bible was written by men divinely inspired , and is a perfect treasure
of heavenly instruction; {2 Tim 2:16,17} that it has God for it’s
author, salvation for it’s end {2 Tim .3:15}, and truth without any
mixture of error for it’s matter;{ Prov. 30 :5&6} that it reveals
the principles by which God will judge us;{ Rom. 2:12}{ John 12 :
47,48} and therefore is and shall remain to the end of the world,
the true center of Christian union {Phil. 3:16} and the supreme standard
by which all human conduct ,creeds and opinions should be tried.
{John 4: 1}{ Isa. 8: 20}
II.
Of the True God
We believe that there
is one, and only one living and true God, an infinite ,intelligent,
Spirit whose name is
JEHOVAH, the maker and supreme ruler of heaven and earth ; {John
4: 24}{ Psa. 147:5 }{Psa.83:18} {Heb. 3:4 }{Rom. 1:20 }{Jer. 10:10
} inexpressibly glorious in holiness,{Exo.15:11} and worthy of all
possible honor, confidence and
love; { Mark 12:30}{ Rev. 4:11} that in the unity of the Godhead there
are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,{ Matt.
28:19}{John 15:16} equal in every divine perfection { John 10:30}
and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of
redemption. { Eph.2:18}{ 2 Cor. 13:14}
III. Of the Fall
of Man
We believe that man
was created in holiness, under he law of his Maker,{Gen. 1:27, 31}{Eccl.
7:29} but by voluntary transgression fell from that holy and happy
state,{Gen. 3:6-24}{Rom.5:12} in consequence of which all mankind
are now sinners{ Rom.5:19}{John 3:6}{ Psa. 51:5 }not by constraint
but choice;{ Isa.53:6}{Gen.6:12}{ Rom.3;9-18}being by nature utterly
void of that holiness required by the law of God, positively inclined
to evil; and therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin,{
Eph. 2:13}{Rom. 1:18,31}{Rom. 2:1-16} without defense or excuse.
{ Ezek.18:19.20}{Rom.1:20 }{.Rom.3:19}
IV. Of the Way
of Salvation
We believe that the
salvation of sinner is wholly of grace ,{ Eph.2:5}
{1 John 4:10} through
the mediatorial offices of the Son of God; {John 3:16}{1John :1-14},who
by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon Himself our nature,
yet without sin, {Phil. 2:6,7}{Heb.2:9,14} honored the divine law
by His personal obedience;{Isa.42:21}{Phil. 2:8} and by His death
made a full atonement for our sins;{ Isa.53:4,5{Matt. 20:28}{Rom
4:25},that having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven;{Heb.1:3-8}{Col.3:14}
and united in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with
divine perfections, He is every way qualified to be a suitable, a
compassionate ,and an all—sufficient Saviour. { Heb.7:25,26{Col.
2:9}{Heb.2:18}
V. Of Justification
We believe that the
great gospel blessing which Christ{ John1:16,Eph.3:8 } secures to
such as believes in Him is justification;{Acts 13:39}{Rom 8:1} that
justification includes the pardon of sin,{Rom.5:9} and the promise
of eternal life on principles of righteousness, {Rom 5:17}{Titus
3: 5 ,6} that it is bestowed ,not in consideration of any works of
righteousness which we have done ,but solely through faith in the
Redeemer’s blood. {Rom.4:4,5 }by virtue of which
faith His perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us of God,{Rom.5:19}{Rom.3:24,-28}
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.{ Rom.5:1-3}{Matt. 6:33}
VI. Of the Freeness
of Salvation
We believe that the
blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel of Christ.{
Isa 55:1}{ Rev 22:17} That it is the immediate duty by all to accept
them by a cordial penitent and obedient faith,{Rom.16:26} {Mark 1:15}{Rom.1:15-17}
And that nothing
prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth, but his own
inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel of Christ,{John
5:40}{ Rom.9:32} which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation.{
John 3:19}{ Matt.11:20 }
VII. Of Grace
in Regeneration
We believe that in
order to be saved ,sinners must be regenerated ,or born again.{John
3:3,6,7}, that regeneration consists in giving a holy disposition
to the mind,{2 Cor.5:17}{Ezek.36:26}{Rom. 2:28,29} that it is effected
in a manner above our comprehension by the power of the Holy Spirit
in connection with divine truth,{John 3:8 }{John1:13}{James 1:16-18}
so as to secure our voluntary obedience to
the gospel of Christ,{1 Pet. 1;22-25,}{1 John 5:1}{Eph.4:20 –24},
and that it’s proper evidence appears in the fruit of repentance
,and faith, and newness of life.{ Eph.5:9}{ Rom.8:9}{ Gal.5:16-23,}{Eph.3:14-21}
VIII. Of Repentance
and Faith
We believe that repentance
and faith are sacred duties and also inseparable graces wrought in
our souls in regeneration {Mark1:15}{Acts 11:18}{Eph.2:8}{1John 5:1}
whereby being deeply convinced of our
guilt, danger, and helplessness ,and of the way of salvation by Christ
,{ John 16:8}{Acts 2;37,38}{ Acts 16:30,31} we turn to God with unfeigned
contrition, confession, and supplication
for mercy: { Luke 18: 13}{James 4:7-10 }At the same time heartily
receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as our Prophet, Priest, and King
and relying on Him alone as the only and all sufficient Savior.{Rom10:9-13}{Acts
3:22,23}{Heb. 1:8}
IX. Of God’s Purpose
of Grace
We believe that election
is the eternal purpose of God, according to which He graciously regenerates,
sanctifies, and saves sinners .{2 Tim.1:8,9,Eph.1:3-14,Rom.11:5,6}that
being perfectly consistent with the free agency of man, it comprehends
all the means in connection with the end;{2 Thes. 2:13,14,Acts13:48,John10:16}
that it is a most glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness, being
infinitely free, wise ,holy and unchangeable,{Exo.33:18,19,Matt.20:15,Eph.1:11,Rom.9:23,24,Rom.1128-36}that
it utterly excludes boasting and promotes humility,love,prayer,praise,trust
in God and active imitation of His free mercy,{1 Cor.4:7,1 Cor.1:26-31,Col.3:12,}
that it encourages the use of means in the highest degree,{2 Tim.2:10,1
Cor.9:2,Rom.8:28-30,John6:37-40}that it may be ascertained by it’s
effects in all who truly believe the gospel of Christ;{1Thes.1:4-10}
that it is the foundation of Christian assurance;{Rom.8:28-31,Rom11:29}and
that to ascertain it with regard to ourselves demands and deserves
the utmost diligence.{2 Pet.1:10,11,Phil.3:12
X. Of Sanctification
We believe that sanctification
is the process by which , according to the will of God, we are made
partakers of His holiness,{1Thes.4:3,5:23, 2 Cor.7:1}that it is a
progressive work;{Prov.4:18,2 Pet. 1:5-8, Phil.3:12-16] that it is
begun in regeneration, John 2:29,Rom8:5,Phil.1:9-11} and that it
is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power
of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter, in the continual use
of the appointed means-especially, the Word of God, self examination
,self denial, watchfulness and prayer.{Phil.2:12,13,Eph.4:11,12,1
Pet. 2:2}
XI. Of the Perseverance
of Saints
We believe that such
only are real believers as endure unto the end, John 8:31,1 John
2:27,28,John 3:9} that their persevering attachment to Christ is
the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professions;{1
John 2:19,Matt.13:20,21} that a special providence watches over their
welfare;{Rom.8:28,Matt.6:30-33} and that they are kept by the power
of God through faith unto salvation.{ Phil. 1:6,Phil.2:12,13,Jude
24,25}
XII. Of the Harmony
of the Law and the Gospel
We believe that the
law of God is the eternal and unchangeable rule of His moral government;{
Rom.3:31,Matt.5:17,Luke 16:17} that it is holy, just and good;{Rom.7:12,14,33,
Gal.3:21} and that the inability which the Scriptures ascribe to
fallen men to fulfill it’s precepts, arises entirely from their love
of sin;{ Rom.8:7,8,Jer.13:23} to deliver from which, and to restore
them through a Mediator to unfeigned obedience, to the holy law,
is one great end of the Gospel of Christ, and of the means of grace
connected with the establishment of the visible church.{ Rom. 8:2,4,
Rom 10:4 ,Jude 20,21, Matt. 16: 17,18}
XIII. Of a Gospel
Church
We believe that a
visible church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers
;{1 Cor.1:1-13,Matt.18:17,acts 5:11, Acts 8:1} associated by covenant
in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel of Christ {Acts 2:14-42,47,2
Cor. 8:5,1 Cor. 5:12,13} observing the ordinances of Christ;{ 1 Cor.11:2,
1 Cor.11:23,2 Thes. 3:6, Rom.16: 17-20, governed by His laws;{Matt.
28:20, John 14:15,21, 1 John 4:21} and exercising the gifts, rights
and privileges invested in them by His Word;{Eph.4:7, 1Cor. 14:12,
Phil.1 :27} that it’s only scriptural officers are bishops {or pastors}
and deacons;{ Phil.1:1, Acts 14:23, 1Tim.3} whose qualifications
,claims and duties are defined in the Epistles of Timothy and Titus.
XIV. Of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
We believe that Christian
baptism is the immersion in water of a believer;{ Acts: 36-39,Matt
3: 5,6, John 3: 22,23,} in the name of the Father, and Son and Holy
spirit;{Matt.28:29,Acts:10:47,48} to show forth in a solemn and beautiful
emblem our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior with
it’s effect with our death to sin and resurrection to a new life;{
Rom.6:4, Col.2:12} that it is a prerequisite to the privilege of
a church relation; and to the Lord’s Supper ;{ Acts 2:41,42,Matt.
28:19,20} in which the members of the church by the sacred use of
bread and wine, are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ{
1 Cor. 11:26, Matt. 26: 26-29} preceded always by solemn self-examination.
{1 Cor. 11:28, 1Cor. 5: 1,8}
XV. Of the Lord’s
Day
We believe that the
first day of the week is the Lord’s Day ;{Acts 20:7,Col.2:16,17,John
20;19,1 Cor.16:1,2} and is to be kept sacred to religious purposes;
{Exo.20:8, Rev.1:10, Psa.118:24}, by abstaining from all secular
labor and sinful recreations;{Isa. 58:13,14, Isa. 56:2-8} by the
devout observance of all the means of grace both private,{Psa.118:15}
and public.{Heb.10:24,Acta 11:26,Acts 13:44} and by preparation for
the rest that remaineth
for the people of God. {Heb.4:3-11
XVI. Of Civil
Government
We believe that civil
government is of divine appointment, for the interest and good order
of human society; { Rom.13:1-7,Deut.16:18, 2 Sam.23:3} and that magistrates
are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed; {Matt.22:21,
Titus 3:1,1 Pet. 2:13,1 Tim.2:1– 8} ,except only to things opposed
to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ.{ Acts 5:29,Matt.10:28, Dan
3:15-18,Dan.6 :7-10,}who is only lord of the conscience, and the
prince of the kings of the earth.{Matt.23:10, Rom.14:4, Rev 19:16,Psa.72:11
XVII. Of the Righteous
and the Wicked
We believe that there
is an essential difference between the righteous and the wicked;{
Mal. 3:18,Prov.12;26,Rom.6:16},that such only as through faith are
justified in the name of Lord Jesus and sanctified by the Spirit
of our God ,are truly righteous in His esteem; {Rom.1:17,Rom.7:6,Rom.6:18-22,1
John 2;29,1John 3:7} while all such as continue in impenitence and
unbelief are in His sight wicked and under the curse;{1 John 5:19,
Gal.3:10 ,John 3:36} and this distinction holds among men both in
and after death.{Prov. 14:32,Prov. 10:24,Luke 16:25,John 8:21-24
XVIII. Of the
World to Come
We believe that the
end of the world is approaching,{ 1 Pet.4:7,1 Cor.7:29-31,Heb.1:10-12,Matt.24:35,}
that in the last days
Christ will appear in the heavens Acts 1:1, Rev.1:7,Heb.9:28, 1 Thes.4:13-18,
1 Thes.5:1-11}that at His coming the dead saints will be raised from
their graves, and the living believers caught up with them to meet
the Lord in the air.{1 Thes. 4:16-17, 1 Cor.15:51-53}that the saints
will be judged for rewards according to their works,{2 Cor. 5:10,1
Cor. 3:11-15} that Christ will descend to the earth with His saints,
personally and bodily,{ Jude 14:,Zec.14:4,Acts 1:11,} that Christ
will reign over the earth in peace for one thousand years {Isa.2:1-4,Isa.65:18-25,Rev.20:1-4}that
at the end of the thousand years the wicked dead shall be raised
and forever consigned to the “lake of fire” {Rev.20:5,Rev.11:15}
that the righteous shall enter into eternal joy with the Lord{Rev.7:15-17,Rev.22:1-7}that
these judgments will fix forever the final state of men in heaven
or hell, on principles of righteousness.{Rom.3:5-6,Thes.1:6-12,Heb.6:1-2,Rom.2:2-16}
|
