truth,1 so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel;2 and that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance, and faith, and newness of life.3

VIII. 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; whereby, being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ,5 we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy;6 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. 7

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;8 that being perfectly consistent with the free agency of man, it comprehends all the means in connection with the end ;9 that it is a most glorious display of God's sovereign goodness, being infinitely free, wise, holy, and unchangeable; 10 that it utterly excludes boasting, and promotes humility, love, prayer, praise, trust in God, and active imitation of his free mercy; 11 that it encourages the use of means in the highest degree; 12 that it may be ascertained by its effects in all

1 John iii. 8, i. 13; James i. 16-18; 1 8 2 Tim. i. 8, 9; Eph. i. 3—14; 1 Peter Cor. i. 30; Phil. ii. 13. i. 1, 2; Rom. xi. 5, 6; John xv. 16; 1

2 1 Peter i. 22-25; 1 John v. 1; Eph. John iv. 19; Hosea xii. 9. iv. 20-24; Col. iii. 9-11.

3 Eph. v. 9; Rom. viii. 9; Gal. v. 16— 23; Eph. iii. 14-21; Matt. iii. 8—10, vii. 20; 1 John v. 4, 18.

4 Mark i. 15; Acts xi. 18; Eph. ii. 8; 1 John v. 1.

5 John xvi. 8; Acts ii. 37, 38, xvi. 30, 31.

6 Luke xviii. 13, xv. 18—21; Jas. iv.7— 10; 2 Cor. vii. 11; Rom. x. 12, 13; Ps. li. 7 Rom. x. 9-11; Acts iii. 22, 23; Heb. iv. 14; Psalm ii. 6; Heb. i. 8; viii. 25; 2 Tim. 1, 12.

92 Thess. ii. 13, 14; Acts xiii. 48; John x. 16; Matt. xx. 16; Acts xv. 14. 10 Exodus xxxiii. 18, 19; Matt. xx. 15; Eph. i. 11; Rom. ix. 23, 24; Jer. xxxi. 3; Rom. xi. 28, 29; James i. 17, 18; 2 Tim. i. 9; Rom. xi. 32-36.

11 1 Cor. iv. 7, i. 26—31; Rom. iii. 27, iv, 16; Col. iii. 12; 1 Cor. iii. 5–7, xv. 10; 1 Peter v. 10; Acts i. 24; 1 Thess. ii. 13; 1 Peter ii. 9; Luke xviii. 7; John xv. 16; Eph. i. 16; 1 Thess. ii. 12.

12 2 Tim. ii. 10; 1 Cor. ix. 22; Rom. viii. 28-30; John vi. 37–40; 2 Pet. i. 10.

who truly believe the gospel;1 that it is the foundation of Christian assurance; 2 and that to ascertain it with regard to ourselves demands and deserves the utmost diligence.

X. OF SANCTIFICATION

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4

We believe that sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of his holiness; that it is a progressive work;5 that it is begun in regeneration ; 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.”

XI. OF THE PERSEVERANCE OF SAINTS.

9

We believe that such only are real believers as endure unto the end; that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors; that a special providence watches over their welfare; 10 and they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.11

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; 12 that it is holy, just, and good; 13 and

1 Thess. i. 4-10.

John viii. 31; 1 John ii. 27, 28; iii.

2 Rom. viii. 28-30; Isa. xlii. 16; 9, v. 18. Rom. xi. 29.

3 2 Peter i. 10, 11; Phil. iii. 12; Heb. vi. 11.

4 1 Thess. iv. 3; 1 Thess. v. 23; 2 Cor. vii. 1; xiii. 9; Epis. i. 4.

5 Prov. iv. 18; 2 Cor. iii. 18; Heb. vi.

1; 2 Peter i. 5—8; Phil. iii. 12—16.

6 John ii 29; Rom. viii. 5; John iii.

6; Phil. i. 9-11; Eph. i. 13, 14.

7 Phil. ii. 12, 13; Eph. iv. 11, 12; 1 Peter ii. 2; 2 Peter iii. 18; 2 Cor. xiii. 5; Luke xi. 35, ix. 23; Matt. xxvi. 41; Eph. vi. 18; iv. 30.

91 John ii. 19; thew xiii. 20, 21; xvii. 9.

John xiii. 18; MatJohn vi. 66-69; Job

10 Romans viii. 28; -33: Jer. xxxii. 40; xci. 11, 12.

Matthew vi. 30
Psalm cxxi. 3;

11 Phil. i. 6. ii. 12, 13; Jude 24, 25; Heb. i. 14; 2 Kings vi. 16; Heb. xiii. 5; 1 John iv. 4.

12 Rom. iii. 31; Matt. v. 17; Luke xvi. 17; Rom. iii. 20, iv. 15.

13 Rom. vii. 12, vii. 7, 14, 22; Gal. iii. 21; Psalm cxix.

that the inability which the Scriptures ascribe to fallen men to fulfil its precepts, arises entirely from their love of sin:1 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.2

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XIII. OF A GOSPEL CHURCH.

We believe that a visible church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed ;5 by his laws; and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by his word; that its only scriptural officers are bishops or pastors, and deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are defined in the epistles to Timothy and Titus.

XIV. OF BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S SUPPER.

We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer,9 into the name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost; 10 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; 11 that it is pre-requisite to the privileges of a church relation; and to the Lord's Supper,12 in which

1 Rom. viii. 7, 8; Josh. xxiv. 19; Jer. xiii. 23; John vi. 44, v. 44.

2 Rom. viii. 2, 4, x. 4; 1 Tim. i. 5; Heb. viii. 10; Jude 20, 21; Heb. xii. 14; Matt. xvi. 17, 18; 1 Cor. xii. 28.

3 1 Cor. i. 1-13; Matt. xviii. 17; Acts v. 11, viii. 1, xi. 31; 1 Cor. iv. 17, xiv. 28; 3 John 9; 1 Tim. iii. 5.

4 Acts ii. 41, 42; 2 Cor. viii. 5; Acts ii. 47; 1 Cor. v. 12, 43.

51 Cor. xi. 2; 2 Thess. iii. 6; Rom. xvi. 17-20; 1 Cor. xi. 23; Matt. xviii. 15-20; 1 Cor. v., vi. ; 2 Cor. ii. 7; 1 Cor. iv. 17.

6 Matthew xxviii. 20; John xiv. 15, xv. 12; 1 John iv. 21; John xiv. 21; 1

Thessalonians iv. 2; 2 John 6; Gal. vi. 2. All the Epistles.

7 Eph. iv. 7; 1 Cor. xiv. 12; Phil. i. 27; 1 Cor. xii., xiv.

8 Phil. i. 1; Acts xiv. 23, xv. 22; 1 Tim. iii.; Titus i.

9 Acts viii. 36-39; Matt. iii. 5, 6; John iii. 22, 23, iv. i. 2; Matt. xxviii. 19; Mark xvi. 16; Acts ii. 38, viii. 12, xvi 32-31, xviii. 8.

10 Matt. xxviii. 19; Acts x. 47, 48; Gal. iii. 27, 28.

11 Rom. vi. 4; Col. ii. 12; 1 Peter iii. 20, 21; Acts xxii. 16.

12 Acts ii. 41, 42; Matt. xxviii. 19, 20. Acts and Epistles.

the members of the church by the sacred use of bread and wine, are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ;1 preceded always by solemn self-examination.2

XV. OF THE CHRISTIAN SABBATH.

4

We believe that the first day of the week is the Lord's day, or Christian Sabbath;3 and is to be kept sacred to religious purposes, by abstaining from all secular labor and sinful recreations;5 by the devout observance of all the means of grace, both private and public; and by preparation for that rest that remaineth for the people of God.8

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XVI. OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT.

We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society;9 and that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed; 10 except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ," who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the Prince of the kings of the earth.12

XVII. OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED.

We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; 13 that such only as through faith are

11 Cor. xi. 26; Matt. xxvi. 26—29; Mark xiv. 22-25; Luke xxii. 14—20.

2 1 Corinthians xi. 28; 1 Corinthians v. 1, 8; x. 3—32; xi. 17—32; John vi. 26-71.

3 Acts xx. 7; Gen. ii. 3; Col. ii. 16, 17; Mark ii. 27; John xx. 19; 1 Cor. xvi. 1, 2. 4 Ex. xx. 8; Rev. i. 10; Ps cxvii. 24. 5 Isa. lviii. 13, 14, lvi. 2-8. 6 Ps. cxviii. 15.

7 Heb. x. 24, 25; Acts xi. 26; Acts xiii. 44; Lev. xix. 30; Ex. xlvi. 3; Luke iv. 16; Acts xvii. 2, 3; Psalm xxvi. 8; lxxxvii. 3.

8 Heb. iv 3-11.

9 Rom. xiii. 1-7; Deut. xvi. 18; 2 Sam. xxiii. 3; Exodus xviii. 23; Jer. XXX. 21.

10 Matt. xxii. 21; Titus iii. 1; 1 Peter ii. 13; 1 Tim. ii. 1–8.

11 Acts v. 29; Matt. x. 28; Dan. iii. 15-18; vi. 7-10; Acts iv. 18-20.

12 Matt. xxiii. 10; Rom. xiv. 4; Rev. xix. 16; Ps. lxxii. 11; Ps. ii.; Rom. xiv. 9-13.

13 Mal. iii. 18; Prov. xii. 26; Isa. v. 20; Gen. xviii. 23; Jer. xv. 19; Acts x. 34, 35; Rom. vi. 16.

justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in his esteem;1 while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in his sight wicked, and under the curse;2 and this distinction holds among men both in and after death.3

XVIII. OF THE WORLD TO COME.

We believe that the end of this world is approaching; that at the last day, Christ will descend from heaven,5 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, on principles of righteousness.9

1 Rom. i. 17; Rom. vii. 6; 1 John ii. 29, iii. 7; Rom. vi. 18, 22; 1 Cor. xi. 32; Prov. xi. 31; 1 Peter iv. 17, 18.

2 1 John v. 19; Gal. iii. 10; John iii. 36; Isa. lvii. 21; Ps. x. 4; Isa. lv. 6, 7.

3 Prov. xiv. 32; Luke xvi. 25; John viii. 21–24; Prov. x. 24; Luke xii. 4, 5; ix. 23-26; John xii. 25, 26; Eccl. iii. 17; Matt. vii. 13, 14.

4 1 Peter iv. 7; 1 Cor. vii. 29–31; Heb. i. 10-12; Matt. xxiv. 35; 1 John ii. 17; Matt. xxviii. 20; xiii. 39, 40; 2 Peter iii. 3-13.

5 Acts i. 11; Rev. i. 7; Heb. ix. 28; Acts iii. 21; 1 Thes. iv. 13-18, v. 1—11.

6 Acts xxiv. 15; 1 Cor. xv. 12-59; Luke xiv. 14; Dan. xii. 2; John v. 28, 29, vi. 40; xi. 25, 26; 2 Tim. i. 10; Acts x. 42.

7 Matt. xiii. 49, xiii. 37-43; xxiv. 30, 31; xxv. 31-33.

8 Matt. xxv. 35-41; Rev. xxii. 11; 1 Cor. vi. 9, 10; Mark ix. 43-48; 2 Pet. ii. 9; Jude.7; Phi. iii. 19; Rom. vi. 22; 2 Cor. v. 10, 11; John iv. 36; 2 Cor. iv. 18.

9 Rom. iii. 5, 6; 2 Thess. i. 6-12; Heb. vi. 1, 2; 1 Cor. iv. 5; Acts xvii. 31; Rom. ii. 2-16; Rev. xx. 11, 12; 1 John ii. 28; iv. 17; 2 Peter iii. 11, 12.