The
This Confession was drawn
up by John Newton Brown, D.
Declaration of Faith
1.
Of
the Scriptures We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men divinely
inspired, and is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction (1); 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 center of Christian union (5), and the supreme standard by which all human
conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried (6).
2.
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 (7); inexpressibly glorious in holiness (8), and worthy
of all possible honor, confidence, and love (9); that in the unity of the
Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost (10);
equal in every divine perfection (11), and executing distinct and harmonious
offices in the great work of redemption (12).
3.
Of
the Fall of Man We believe that man was created in holiness, under the law of
his Maker (13); but by voluntary transgression fell from that holy and happy
state (14); in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners (15), not by
constraint, but choice (16); 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 (17), without defense or excuse (18).
4. Of the Way of Salvation We believe
that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace (19), through the mediatorial
offices of the Son of God (20); who by the appointment of the Father, freely
took upon him our nature, yet without sin (21); honored the divine law by his
personal obedience (22), and by his death made a full atonement for our sins
(23); that having risen from the death, he is now enthroned in heaven (24); and
uniting 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 (25).
5.
Of
Justification We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ (26)
secures to such as believe in him is Justification (27); that Justification
includes the pardon of sin (28), and the promise of eternal life on principles
of righteousness (29); 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 (30); by virtue of which faith his perfect righteousness is freely
imputed to us of God (31); 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 (32).
6. Of the Freeness of Salvation We
believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel
(33); that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial,
penitent, and obedient faith (34); and that nothing prevents the salvation of
the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary
rejection of the gospel (35); which rejection involves him in an aggravated
condemnation (36).
7.
Of
Grace in Regeneration We believe that, in order to be saved, sinners must be
regenerated, or born again (37); that regeneration consists in giving a holy
disposition to the mind (38); that it is effected in a manner above our
comprehension by the power of the Holy Spirit, in connection with divine truth
(39), so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel (40); and that its
proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance, and faith, and
newness of life (41).
8. Of Repentance and Faith We believe
that Repentance and Faith are sacred duties, and also inseparable graces,
wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God (42); whereby being deeply
convinced of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and of the way of salvation
by Christ (43), we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and
supplication for mercy (44); 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 Saviour (45).
9. f 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 (46); that being perfectly
consistent with the free agency of man, it comprehends all the means in
connection with the end (47); that it is a most glorious display of God's
sovereign goodness, being infinitely free, wise, holy, and unchangeable (48);
that it utterly excludes boasting, and promotes humility, love, prayer, praise,
trust in God, and active imitation of his free mercy (49); that it encourages
the use of means in the highest degree (50); that it may be ascertained by its
effects in all who truly believe the gospel (51); that it is the foundation of
Christian assurance (52); and that to ascertain it with regard to ourselves
demands and deserves the utmost diligence (53).
10. Of Sanctification We believe that
Sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are
made partakers of his holiness (54); that it is a progressive work (55); that
it is begun in regeneration (56); 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 (57).
11. Of the Perseverance of Saints We
believe that such only are real believers as endure unto the end (58); that
their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes
them from superficial professors (59); that a special Providence watches over
their welfare (60); and they are kept by the power of God through faith unto
salvation (61).
12. 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 (62); that it is holy, just, and good (63); and that the
inability which the Scriptures ascribe to fallen men to fulfill its precepts arises
entirely from their love of sin (64); to deliver them from which, and to
restore them through a Mediator to unfeigned obedience to the holy Law, is one
great end of the Gospel, and of the means of grace connected with the
establishment of the visible Church (65).
13. Of a Gospel Church We believe that a
visible Church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers (66),
associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel (67);
observing the ordinances of Christ (68); governed by his laws (69), and
exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by his Word (70);
that its only scriptural officers are Bishops, or Pastors, and Deacons (71),
whose qualifications, claims, and duties are defined in the Epistles to Timothy
and Titus.
14. Of Baptism and the Lord's Supper We
believe that Christian Baptism is the immersion in water of a believer (72),
into the name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost (73); to show forth, in a
solemn and beautiful emblem, our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen
Saviour, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life
(74); that it is prerequisite to the privileges of a Church relation; and to
the Lord's Supper (75), in which the members of the Church, by the sacred use
of bread and wine, are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ (76);
preceded always by solemn self- examination (77).
15. Of the Christian Sabbath We believe
that the first day of the week is the Lord's Day, or Christian Sabbath (78);
and is to be kept sacred to religious purposes (79), by abstaining from all
secular labor and sinful recreations (80); by the devout observance of all the
means of grace, both private (81) and public (82); and by preparation for that
rest that remaineth for the people of God (83).
16. Of Civil Government We believe that
civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of
human society (84); and that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously
honored and obeyed (85); except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord
Jesus Christ (86) who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the Prince of the
kings of the earth (87).
17. Of the Righteous and the Wicked We
believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous
and the wicked (88); that such only as through faith are justified in the name
of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous
in his esteem (89); while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are
in his sight wicked, and under the curse (90); and this distinction holds among
men both in and after death (91). 18. Of the World to Come We believe that the
end of the world is approaching (92); that at the last day Christ will descend
from heaven (93), and raise the dead from the grave to final retribution (94);
that a solemn separation will then take place (95); that the wicked will be
adjudged to endless punishment, and the righteous to endless joy (96); and that
this judgment will fix forever the final state of men in heaven or hell, on principles
of righteousness (97).
18. Of the World to Come We believe that
the end of the world is approaching; that at the last day Christ will descend
from heaven, and raise the dead from the grave to final retribution; that a
solemn separation will then take place; that the wicked will be adjudged to
endless punishment, and the righteous to endless joy; and that this judgment
will fix forever the final state of men in heaven or hell, or principles of
righteousness.
1. 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet.
1:21; 1 Sam. 23:2; Acts
2. 2 Tim. 3:15; 1 Pet.
1:10-12; Acts
3. Prov. 30:5-6; John
17:17; Rev. 22:18-19;
4. Rom.
5. Phil. 3:16; Eph. 4:3-6;
Phil. 2:1-2; 1 Cor. 1:10; 1 Pet. 4:11
6. 1 John 4:1; Isa. 8:20; 1
Thess. 5:21; 2 Cor. 8:5; Acts 17:11; 1 John 4:6; Jude 3:5; Eph. 6:17; Psa.
119:59-60; Phil. 1:9-11
7. John 4:24; Psa. 147:5;
83:18; Heb. 3:4; Rom.
8. Exod. 15:11; Isa. 6:3; 1
Pet. 1:15-16; Rev. 4:6-8
9. Mark
10. Matt. 28:19; John
15:26; 1 Cor. 12:4-6; 1 John 5:7
11. John 10:30; 5:17;
14:23; 17:5, 10; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Cor. 2:10-11; Phil. 2:5-6
12. Eph. 2:18; 2 Cor.
13:14; Rev. 1:4-5; comp. 2, 7
13. Gen. 1:27, 31; Eccl.
7:29; Acts 16:26; Gen. 2:16
14. Gen. 3:6-24;
15. Rom. 5:19; John 3:6;
Psa. 51:5; Rom. 5:15-19; 8:7
16. Isa. 53:6; Gen. 6:12;
17. Eph. 2:1-3; Rom.
18. Ezek.
19. Eph. 2:5; Matt. 18:11;
1 John 4:10; 1 Cor. 3:5-7; Acts 15:11
20. John 3:16; 1:1-14; Heb.
21. Phil. 2:6-7; Heb. 2:9,
14; 2 Cor. 5:21
22. Isa. 42:21; Phil. 2:8;
Gal. 4:4-5; Rom.
23. Isa. 53:4-5; Matt.
24. Heb. 1:8, 3; 8:1; Col.
3:1-4
25. Heb. 7:25; Col. 2:9;
Heb.
26. John 1:16; Eph. 3:8
27. Acts 13:39; Isa. 3:11-12;
Rom. 8:1
28. Rom. 5:9; Zech. 13:1;
Matt. 9:6; Acts 10:43
29. Rom.
30. Rom. 4:4-5;
31. Rom.
32. Rom. 5:1-3, 11; 1 Cor.
1:30-31; Matt. 6:33; 1 Tim. 4:8
33. Isa. 55:1; Rev. 22:17;
Luke 14:17
34. Rom.
35. John 5:40; Matt.
36. John 3:19; Matt. 11:20;
Luke 19:27; 2 Thess. 1:8
37. John 3:3, 6-7; 1 Cor.
1:14; Rev. 8:7-9;
38. 2 Cor. 5:17; Ezek.
36:26; Deut. 30:6; Rom. 2:28-29; 5:5; 1 John 4:7
39. John 3:8;
40. 1 Pet. 1:22-25; 1 John
5:1; Eph. 4:20-24; Col. 3:9-11
41. Eph. 5:9;
42. Mark
43. John 16:8; Acts
2:37-38;
44. Luke
45. Rom. 10:9-11; Acts
3:22-23: Heb. 4:14; Psa. 2:6; Heb. 1:8;
46. 2 Tim. 1:8-9; Eph.
1:3-14; 1 Pet. 1:1-2; Rom. 11:5-6; John 15:15; 1 John 4:19; Hos. 12:9
47. 2 Thess. 2:13-14; Acts
13:48; John 10:16; Matt. 20:16; Acts 15:14
48. Exod. 33:18-19; Matt.
20:15; Eph.
49. 1 Cor. 4:7; 1:26-31;
Rom. 3:27; 4:16; Col. 3:12; 1 Cor. 3:5-7; 15:10; 1 Pet. 5:10; Acts 1:24; 1
Thess. 2:13; 1 Pet. 2:9; Luke 18:7; John 15:16; Eph. 1:16; 1 Thess. 2:12
50. 2 Tim. 2:10; 1 Cor.
51. 1 Thess. 1:4-10
52. Rom. 8:28-30; Isa.
42:16; Rom.
53. 2 Pet. 1:10-11; Phil.
3:12; Heb. 6:11
54. 1 Thess. 4:3;
55. Prov. 4:18; 2 Cor.
3:18; Heb. 6:1; 2 Pet. 1:5-8; Phil. 3:12-16
56. John 2:29;
57. Phil. 2:12-13; Eph.
4:11-12; 1 Pet. 2:2; 2 Pet. 3:18; 2 Cor. 13:5; Luke 11:35; 9:23; Matt. 26:41;
Eph. 6:18; 4:30
58. John 8:31; 1 John
59. 1 John 2:19; John
13:18; Matt. 13:20-21; John 6:66-69; Job 17:9
60. Rom.
61. Phil. 1:6;
62. Rom.
63. Rom.
64. Rom. 8:7-8; Josh.
24:19; Jer. 13:23; John 6:44; 5:4465. Rom. 8:2, 4; 10:4; 1 Tim. 1:5; Heb. 8:10;
Jude 20-21; Heb. 12:14; Matt. 16:17-18; 1 Cor. 12:2866. 1 Cor. 1:1-13; Matt.
18:17; Acts 5:11; 8:1;