Articles of Faith, adopted March 9th, 1849

Article First.

We, as a Church, believe that Jehovah, the true and eternal God, who made, supports and governs the world, is perfect in natural and moral excellence; and that he exists in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, who possess the same nature, and are equal in every divine perfection.

Article Second.

We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament were written by holy men, as they were moved by the Holy Ghost; and are the only infallible rule of doctrine and duty.

Article Third.

We believe that God made man upright, after his own image in righteousness and true holiness; that our first parents fell from this estate by eating the forbidden fruit; that in consequence of this, all their posterity are by nature in a fallen, depraved state.

Article Fourth.

We believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, in his infinite condescension and love took upon him our human nature; that by his obedience and death he had made an ample atonement for the sins of the whole world; and that now it is consistent with the justice, honor and authority of the divine law and goernment, to pardon and save all who truly repent and believe on Christ.

Article Fifth.

We believe that all men are free and accountable agents; that the invitations of the Gospel are addresssed indiscriminately to all; and that all who perish under its light, are guilty of rejecting its offers of eternal life.

Article Sixth.

We believe in the sinfulness of the natural heart, and in the necessity of regeneration by the special agency and almighty power of the Holy Spirit.

Article Seventh.

We believe that those who are finally saved, will owe their salvation to the mere sovereign mercy of God in Christ Jesus, through repentance and faith in him, and not to any works of righteousness which they have done.

Article Eighth.

We believe that a conscientious discharge of the various duties which we owe to God, and to our fellow-man and to ourselves, as enjoined in the Gospel, are not only constantly binding on every Christian, but affords to himself and to the world, the only decisive evidence of his interest in the Redeemer.

Article Ninth.

We believe that worship in the sanctuary, in the family and in the closet, is of divine appointment: and that the sanctification of the weekly Sabbath is perpetually binding.

Article Tenth.

We believe that Christ has a visible Church on the earth; that is sacraments are baptism and the Lord's Supper; and that the proper subjects of baptism are visisble believers and their children.

Article Eleventh.

We believe in a general resurection and final judgment - when Christ shall summon all mankind to stand before his bar, and doom the wicked to endless punishment and receive the righteous to everlasting happiness and glory.

Such are the doctrines believed by the Church. Do you cordially assent to them?

Covenant.

In the presence of God and this assembly, you do now, seriously, deliberately, and forever, give up yourselves in faith, and love, and holy obedience, to God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; accepting the Lord Jehovah to be your God; Jesus Christ to be your Prophet, Priest and King; and the Holy Ghost to be your Sanctifier, Comforter and Guide. Although sensible of your weakness and guilt, and of your liability to error and sin, still you do sincerely desire, and by the aid of divine grace, do promise to receive in love the pure doctrines of the Gospel, to walk in the statutes and ordinances of the Lord blameless, and to do honor to your high and holy vocation, by a life of piety towards God and benevolence towards your fellow-men. Your do also cordially join yourselves to this Church of Christ; engaging to submit to its discipline, so far as conformable to to the rules of the Gospel; and solemnly covenanting, as much as in you lies, to promote its peace, edification and purity; and to walk with its members in Christain love, faithfulness, circumspection, sobriety and meeknesss. This, you promise and engage to do, with humble trust in the grace of God, and with an affecting belief that your vows are recorded on high and will be reviewed in the day of final judgment. Thus you promise and engage. We, then, as a Church, do cordially receive you into our fellowship and communion; and give thanks to God, who we trust has inclined your heart to fear his name. We promise to treat you with Christian affection; to watch over you with tenderness; and to offer our prayers to the Great Head of the Church, to enable you to fulfil the solemn covenant which you have now made.

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you; the Lord life up his countenance upon you and give you peace."

"Now unto Him , who is able to establish and keep you from falling and to present you faultlesss before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen."