orable the General Assembly, convened by delegation at Saybrook, September 9th, 1708, unanimously agreed, that the Confession of Faith, owned and consented unto by the Elders and Messengers of the Churches assembled at Boston, in New England, May 12th, 1680, being the second session of that Synod, be recommended to the Honorable General Assembly of this Colony at their next session, for their public testimony thereto, as the faith of the Churches of this Colony; which Confession, together with the Heads of Union, and Articles for the Administration of Church Government, herewith emitted, were presented unto, and approved and established by the said General Assembly, at New Haven, on the 14th of October, 1708. This Confession of Faith, we offer as our firm persuasion, well and fully grounded upon the Holy Scripture, and commend the same unto all, and particularly to the people of our Colony, to be examined, accepted, and constantly maintained. We do not assume to ourselves, that any thing be taken upon trust from us, but commend to our people these following counsels : 1. That you be immovably and unchangeably agreed in the only sufficient, and invariable rule of religion which is the Holy Scripture, the fixed Canon* uncapable of addition or diminution. You ought to account nothing * Isa. 8:20. ancient, that will not stand by this rule,* nor any thing new that will. Do not hold yourselves bound to unscriptural rites in religion, wherein custom itself doth many times misguide. Believe it to be the honor of religion to resign and captivate our wisdom and faith to Divine revelation.† II. That you be determined by this Rule in the whole of religion. That your faith be right and Divine, the Word of God must be the foundation of it, and the authority of the Word the reason of it. You may believe the most important articles of Faith with no more than a human faith: And this is evermore the cause, when the principle Faith is resolved into, is any other than the Holy Scripture. For an orthodox Christian to resolve his faith into education, instruction, and the persuasion of others, is not a higher reason, than a Papist, Mahometan, or Pagan can produce for his religion, Pay also unto God the worship, that will bear the trial of and receive establishment by this rule. Have always in readiness a Divine warrant for all the worship you perform to God. Believe that worship is accepted, and that only, which is directed unto and commanded, and hath the promise of a blessing from the Word of God. Believe that worship not divinely commanded is in vain, nor will answer the neces Rev. 21:18, 19. † Jer. 6: 16; Matt. 19: 8, or 44: 17. sities and expectations of a Christian, and is a worshipping you know not what.* Believe in all divine worship, it is not enough that this or that act of worship is not forbidden in the Word of God; if it be not commanded, and you perform it, you may fear that you will be found guilty and exposed to divine displeasure.† Nadab and Abihu paid dear for offering in divine worship that which the Lord commanded them not. It is an honor done unto Christ, when you account that only decent, orderly, and convenient in his house, which depends upon the institution and appointment of himself, who is the only Head and Lawgiver of his church. III. That you be well-grounded in the firm truths of religion. We have willingly taken pains to add the Holy Scriptures, whereon every point of faith contained in this Confession doth depend, and is borne up by, and commend the same to your diligent perusal, that you be established in the truth, and your faith rest upon its proper basis, the Word of God.t Follow the example of the noble Bereans, search the Scriptures, grow in grace and the knowledge of Christ, be not children in understanding, but men. Labor for a sound, confirmed knowledge of these points in the evidence of them. See that they be deeply rooted in * John, 4:22; Jer. 1: 22. + Lev. 10:1, 2. Acts, 17: 10, 11; John, 5: 39; 2 Pet. 3; 18; 1 Cor. 14:20. your minds and hearts, that so you be not an easy prey to such as lie in wait to deceive.* For the want hereof to be condoled is the unhappiness of many, ever learning, and never coming to the knowledge of the truth.† IV. That having applied the rule of Holy Scripture to all the Articles of this Confession, and found the same upon trial, the unchangeable and eternal truths of God,‡ you remember and hold them fast, contend earnestly for them as the faith once delivered to the saints. Value them as your great charter, the instrument of your salvation, the evidence of your not failing of the grace of God, and receiving a crown that fadeth not away. Maintain them, and every of them, all your days, with undaunted resolution against all opposition, whatever the event be, and the same transmit safe and pure to posterity: Having brought the truth on no hand sell it. Believe the truth will make you free: Faithful is he that hath promised: So shall none take away your crown. Finally Do not think it is enough that your faith and order be according to the Word of God, but live accordingly.** It is not enough to believe well, you run yourself into the greatest hazard unless you be careful to live well, and that this be,ft all your life and conversation * Eph. 4: 13, 14. † 2 Tim. 3: 7. Rev. 3:3; Jude, 3, 1 Cor. 15: 18: 1 Cor. 16:13; Psal. 78: 5. John, 23:23; John, 8: 32; Heb. 10: 13; Rev. 3: 11. **Tit. 2: 11, 12. tt Gal. 1: 16; Mic. 6: 8. must be agreeable to the rule of God's Word. This is the rule of a Christian conversation and practical reformation. Rest not in the form of godliness, denying the power of it. Stir up an holy zeal, strengthen the things that remain that are ready to die. Be not carried away with the corruptions, temptations, and evil examples of the times, but be blameless and without rebuke, the sons of God in a froward generation, they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy. Remember ye our brethren in this colony, that we are a part of that body, for which the providence of God hath wrought wonders, and are obliged by and accountable for all the mercies dispensed from the beginning of our fathers' settling this country until now. There he spake with us. That the practical piety and serious religion of our progenitors is exemplary and for our imitation, and will reflect confounding shame on us, if we prove degenerate. The Lord grant that thy noble design of our fathers in coming to this land, may not be forgotten by us, nor by our children after us, even the interest of religion, which we can never exchange for a temporal interest without the foulest degeneracy, and most inexcusable defection.** To conclude, the soleinn rebukes of Providence, from * 2 Tim. 3: 15; + Rev. 3: 4. Hosea, 12: 4. Rev. 3: 19; Rev. 3:2; Phil. 2: 15. **Exod. 15: 2, 17; 2 Tim. 1:5; Job. 8:8. Jer. 2: 21. |