hath the promise of a blessing from the word of God. Believe that worship not divinely commanded is in vain,* nor will answer the necessities and expectations of a christian, nd 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. Nadub and bihu paid dear for offering in divine worship that which the Lord commanded them not. It is an honour 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.

II. 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. Follow the example of the noble Bereans, search the scriptures, grow in grace and the knowledge of Christ, be not children in understanding, but

*Mat. xv. 9. tJohn iv. 22. Jer, vii. 22. Lev. .1, 2.1cts xvii. 10, 11. John v. 89. 2 Pet i. 18. Cor. xiv. 20.

men. Labour for a sound confirmed know edge of these points in the evidence of them See that they be deeply rooted in 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.f

IV. That having applied the rule of holy scrip ture 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 bought 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 enough that your faith and order be according to the word of God, but

*Eph. iv. 13. 14.. †2 Tim. iii. 7.

3. Jude 3.

Rev. iii. Cor. xv. 18. 1 Cor. xvi. 13.

Psal. lxxviii. 5, John xxiii. 23. John viii. 32. Heh. x. 13, Rev. iii. 1.

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,t all your life and conversation 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 the noble design of our fathers in coming to this land, may not be forgotten by us, nor by our children after us, even

*Tit. ii, 11, 12. Tim. iii. 15. Rev.

†Gal. vi. 16. Mic. vi. 8. †2 iii. 19. Rev. iii.

15. Rev. iii. 4. Hos. xii. 2,3. 4. **2 Tim. i. 5. Job. viii. 8.

2. Phil. ii.

¶Hos. xi.

the interest of religion which we can never ex change for a temporal interest without he foulest degeneracy, and most inexcusable defection.* To conclude the solemn rebukes of providence from time to time in a series of judgments, and in particular, the general drought in the summer past, together with the grievous disappointment of our military undertaking, the di8treases, sickness and mortality of our camp, cannot successfully be improved but by a self-humbling consideration of our ways, and a thorough repentance of all that is amiss.† So will the God of our fathers be our God, and he will be a wall of fire round about us, and the Glory in the midst of us in this present and all succeeding gener ations. AMEN.

*Exod. xv. 2, 17. Jer. ii. 21. †Isa. xxvi. 2 Gen xliii. 23. Zach. ii. 5,

A Confession of Faith.

CHAP. I.

Of the Holy Scriptures.

ALTHOUGH the light of nature, and the

works of creation and Providence, do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable; a yet they are not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of his will, which is necessary unto salvation : Therefore it pleased the Lord at -supdry times, and in divers manners, to reveal himself, and to declare that his will unto his Church, and afterwards, for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure est blishment and comfort of the Church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan and of the world, to commit the same wholly to writing; d which maketh the Holy Scripture to be most necessary; e those former ways of God's revealing his will unto his people, now ceased f

a Rom. ii. 14, 15. 1, 2, 3. Rom. i. 32. 31. Chap. ii. 13, 14.

Rom. i. 19, 20. Psal. xix. Chap. ii. 1. b I. Cor. i. c Heb. i. 1, 2. d Prov.

B