Article One: 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 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:21; 1 Sam. 23:2; Acts
1:16; 3:21; John 10:35; Luke 16:29-31; Psa. 119:11;
Rom. 3:1-2; 2 Tim. 3:15; 1 Pet. 1:10-12; Acts 11:14;
Rom. 1:16; Mark 16:16; John 5:38-39; Prov. 30:5-6;
John 17:17; Rev. 22:18-19; Rom. 3:4 Rom. 2:12; John
12:47-48; 1 Cor. 4:3-4; Luke 10:10-16; 12:47-48;
Phil. 3:16; Eph. 4:3-6; Phil. 2:1-2; 1 Cor. 1:10; 1
Pet. 4:11; 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
Article Two: 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 (1); inexpressibly glorious in
holiness (2), and worthy of all possible honor,
confidence, and love (3); that in the unity of the
Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Ghost (4); equal in every divine
perfection (5), and executing distinct and
harmonious offices in the great work of redemption
(6).
John 4:24; Psa. 147:5; 83:18; Heb. 3:4; Rom.
1:20; Jer. 10:10 Exod. 15:11; Isa. 6:3; 1 Pet.
1:15-16; Rev. 4:6-8 Mark 12:30; Rev. 4:11; Matt.
10:37; Jer. 2:12-13 Matt. 28:19; John 15:26; 1 Cor.
12:4-6; 1 John 5:7 John 10:30; 5:17; 14:23; 17:5,
10; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Cor. 2:10-11; Phil. 2:5-6 Eph.
2:18; 2 Cor. 13:14; Rev. 1:4-5; comp. 2, 7
Article Three: Of The Fall of Man
We believe that man was created in holiness, under
the law of his Maker (1); but by voluntary
transgression fell from that holy and happy state
(2); in consequence of which all mankind are now
sinners (3), not by constraint, but choice (4);
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 (5), without defense or excuse (6).
Gen. 1:27, 31; Eccl. 7:29; Acts 16:26; Gen. 2:16;
Gen. 3:6-24; Rom. 5:12; Rom. 5:19; John 3:6; Psa.
51:5; Rom. 5:15-19; 8:7; Isa. 53:6; Gen. 6:12; Rom.
3:9-18; Eph. 2:1-3; Rom. 1:18, 32; 2:1-16; Gal.
3:10; Matt. 20:15; Ezek. 18:19-20; Rom. 1:20; 3:19;
Gal. 3:22
Article Four: Of The Way of Salvation
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly
of grace (1); through the mediatorial offices of the
Son of God (2); who by the appointment of the
Father, freely took upon him our nature, yet without
sin (3); honored the divine law by his personal
obedience (4); and by his death made a full
atonement for our sins (5); that having risen from
the death, he is now enthroned in heaven (5) 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 (7).
Eph. 2:5; Matt. 18:11; 1 John 4:10; 1 Cor. 3:5-7;
Acts 15:11 John 3:16; 1:1-14; Heb. 4:14; 12:24;
Phil. 2:6-7; Heb. 2:9, 14; 2 Cor. 5:21 Isa. 42:21;
Phil. 2:8; Gal. 4:4-5; Rom. 3:21; Isa. 53:4-5; Matt.
20:28; Rom. 4:25; 3:21-26; 1 John 4:10; 2:2; 1 Cor.
15:1-3; Heb. 9:13-15; Heb. 1:8, 3; 8:1; Col. 3:1-4
Heb. 7:25; Col. 2:9; Heb. 2:18; 7:26; Psa. 89:19;
Psa. 14
Article Five: Of Justification
We believe that the great gospel blessing which
Christ (1) secures to such as believe in him is
Justification (2); that Justification includes the
pardon of sin (3), and the promise of eternal life
on principles of righteousness (4); 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 (5); by virtue of
which faith his perfect righteousness is freely
imputed to us of God (6; 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 (7).
John 1:16; Eph. 3:8 Acts 13:39; Isa. 3:11-12;
Rom. 8:1 Rom. 5:9; Zech. 13:1; Matt. 9:6; Acts 10:43
Rom. 5:17; Titus 3:5-6; 1 Pet. 3:7; 1 John 2:25;
Rom. 5:21 Rom. 4:4-5; 5:21; 6:28; Phil. 3:7-9 Rom.
5:19; 3:24-26; 4:23-25; 1 John 2:12 Rom. 5:1-3, 11;
1 Cor. 1:30-31; Matt. 6:33; 1 Tim. 4:8
Article Six: Of The Freeness of Salvation
We believe that the blessings of salvation are made
free to all by the gospel (1); that it is the
immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial,
penitent, and obedient faith (2); and that nothing
prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on
earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary
rejection of the gospel (3); which rejection
involves him in an aggravated condemnation (4).
Isa. 55:1; Rev. 22:17; Luke 14:17 Rom. 16:26;
Mark 1:15; Rom. 1:15-17 John 5:40; Matt. 23:37; Rom.
9:32; Prov. 1:24; Acts 13:46 John 3:19; Matt. 11:20;
Luke 19:27; 2 Thess. 1:8
Article Seven: Of Grace in Regeneration
We believe that, in order to be saved, sinners must
be regenerated, or born again (1); that regeneration
consists in giving a holy disposition to the mind
(2); that it is effected in a manner above our
comprehension by the power of the Holy Spirit, in
connection with divine truth (3), so as to secure
our voluntary obedience to the gospel (4); and that
its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of
repentance, and faith, and newness of life (5).
John 3:3, 6-7; 1 Cor. 1:14; Rev. 8:7-9; 21:27 2
Cor. 5:17; Ezek. 36:26; Deut. 30:6; Rom. 2:28-29;
5:5; 1 John 4:7 John 3:8; 1:13; James 1:16-18; 1
Cor. 1:30; Phil. 2:13 1 Pet. 1:22-25; 1 John 5:1;
Eph. 4:20-24; Col. 3:9-11 Eph. 5:9; Rom. 8:9; Gal.
5:16-23; Eph. 3:14-21; Matt. 3:8-10; 7:20; 1 John
5:4, 18
Article Eight: 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 (1); whereby
being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger, and
helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ
(2), we turn to God with unfeigned contrition,
confession, and supplication for mercy (3); 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 (4).
Mark 1:15; Acts 11:18; Eph. 2:8; 1 John 5:1 John
16:8; Acts 2:37-38; 16:30-31 Luke 18:13; 15:18-21;
James 4:7-10; 2 Cor. 7:11; Rom.10:12-13; Psa. 51
Rom. 10:9-11; Acts 3:22-23: Heb. 4:14; Psa. 2:6;
Heb. 1:8; 8:25; 2 Tim. 1:12
Article Nine: Of God's Purpose and Grace
We believe that Election is the eternal purpose of
God, according to which he graciously regenerates,
sanctifies, and saves sinners (1); that being
perfectly consistent with the free agency of man, it
comprehends all the means in connection with the end
(2); that it is a most glorious display of God's
sovereign goodness, being infinitely free, wise,
holy, and unchangeable (3); that it utterly excludes
boasting, and promotes humility, love, prayer,
praise, trust in God, and active imitation of his
free mercy (4); that it encourages the use of means
in the highest degree (5); that it may be
ascertained by its effects in all who truly believe
the gospel (6); that it is the foundation of
Christian assurance (7); and that to ascertain it
with regard to ourselves demands and deserves the
utmost diligence (8).
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; 2 Thess.
2:13-14; Acts 13:48; John 10:16; Matt. 20:16; Acts
15:14 Exod. 33:18-19; Matt. 20:15; Eph. 1:11; Rom.
9:23-24: Jer. 31:3; Rom. 11:28-29; James 1:17-18; 2
Tim. 1:9; Rom. 11:32-36; 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; 2 Tim.
2:10; 1 Cor. 9:22; Rom. 8:28-30; John 6:37-40; 2
Pet. 1:10; 1 Thess. 1:4-10; Rom. 8:28-30; Isa.
42:16; Rom. 11:29 2 Pet. 1:10-11; Phil. 3:12; Heb.
6:11
Article Ten: Of Sanctification
We believe that Sanctification is the process by
which, according to the will of God, we are made
partakers of his holiness (1); that it is a
progressive work (2); that it is begun in
regeneration (3); 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 (4).
1 Thess. 4:3; 5:23; 2 Cor. 7:1; 13:9; Eph. 1:4;
Prov. 4:18; 2 Cor. 3:18; Heb. 6:1; 2 Pet. 1:5-8;
Phil. 3:12-16; John 2:29; Rom. 8:5; John 3:6; Phil.
1:9-11; Eph. 1:13-14 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
Article Eleven: Of the Perseverance of Saints
We believe that such only are real believers as
endure unto the end (1); that their persevering
attachment to Christ is the grand mark which
distinguishes them from superficial professors (2);
that a special Providence watches over their welfare
(3); and they are kept by the power of God through
faith unto salvation (4).
John 8:31; 1 John 2:27-28; 3:9; 5:18 1 John 2:19;
John 13:18; Matt. 13:20-21; John 6:66-69; Job 17:9
Rom. 8:28; Matt. 6:30-33; Jer. 32:40; Psa. 121:3;
91:11-12 Phil. 1:6; 2:12-13; Jude 24-25; Heb. 1:14;
2 Kings 6:16; Heb. 13:5; 1 John 4:4
Article Twelve: 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 (1); that
it is holy, just, and good (2); and that the
inability which the Scriptures ascribe to fallen men
to fulfill its precepts arises entirely from their
love of sin (3); 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 (4).
Rom. 3:31; Matt. 5:17; Luke 16:17; Rom. 3:20;
4:15 Rom. 7:12, 7, 14, 22; Gal. 3:21; Psa. 119 Rom.
8:7-8; Josh. 24:19; Jer. 13:23; John 6:44; 5:44 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. 12:28
Article Thirteen: Of a Gospel Church
We believe that a visible Church of Christ is a
congregation of baptized believers (1), associated
by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the
gospel (2); observing the ordinances of Christ (3);
governed by his laws (4), and exercising the gifts,
rights, and privileges invested in them by his Word
(5); that its only scriptural officers are Bishops,
or Pastors, and Deacons (6), whose qualifications,
claims, and duties are defined in the Epistles to
Timothy and Titus.
1 Cor. 1:1-13; Matt. 18:17; Acts 5:11; 8:1;
11:31; 1 Cor. 4:17; 14:23; 3 John 9; 1 Tim. 3:5 Acts
2:41-42; 2 Cor. 8:5; Acts 2:47; 1 Cor. 5:12-13 1
Cor. 11:2; 2 Thess. 3:6; Rom. 16:17-20; 1 Cor.
11:23; Matt. 18:15-20; 1 Cor 5:6; 2 Cor. 2:7; 1 Cor.
4:17 Matt. 28:20; John 14:15; 15:12; 1 John 4:21;
John 14:21; 1 Thess. 4.2; 2 John 6; Gal. 6:2; all
the Epistles Eph. 4:7; 1 Cor. 14:12; Phil. 1:27; 1
Cor. 12:14 Phil. 1:1; Acts 14:23; 15:22; 1 Tim. 3;
Titus 1
Article Fourteen: Of Baptism And The Lord's
Supper
We believe that Christian Baptism is the immersion
in water of a believer (1), into the name of the
Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost (2); 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 (3); that it is prerequisite to the privileges
of a Church relation; and to the Lord's Supper (4),
in which the members of the Church, by the sacred
use of bread and wine, are to commemorate together
the dying love of Christ (5); preceded always by
solemn self-examination (6).
Acts 8:36-39; Matt. 3:5-6; John 3:22-23; 4:1-2;
Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 8:12; 16:32-34;
18:8 Matt. 28:19; Acts 10:47-48; Gal. 3:27-28 Rom.
6:4; Col. 2:12; 1 Pet. 3:20-21; Acts 22:16 Acts
2:41-42; Matt. 28:19-20; Acts and Epistles 1 Cor.
11:26; Matt. 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20
1 Cor. 11:28; 5:1, 8; 10:3-32; 11:17-32; John
6:26-71
Article Fifteen: Of The Christian Sabbath
We believe that the first day of the week is the
Lord's Day, or Christian Sabbath (1); and is to be
kept sacred to religious purposes (2),
by abstaining from all secular labor and sinful
recreations (3); by the devout observance of all the
means of grace, both private (4) and public (5); and
by preparation for that rest that remaineth for the
people of God (6).
Acts 20:7; Gen. 2:3; Col. 2:16-17; Mark 2:27;
John 20:19; 1 Cor. 16:1- 2 Exod. 20:8; Rev. 1:10;
Psa. 118:24; Isa. 58:13-14; 56:2-8;Psa. 119:15 Heb.
10:24-25; Acts 11:26; 13:44; Lev. 19:30; Exod. 46:3;
Luke 4:16; Acts 17:2, 3; Psa. 26:8; 87:3 ; Heb.
4:3-11
Article Sixteen: Of Civil Government
We believe that civil government is of divine
appointment, for the interests and good order of
human society (1); and that magistrates are to be
prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed (2);
except only in things opposed to the will of our
Lord Jesus Christ (3) who is the only Lord of the
conscience, and the Prince of the kings of the earth
(4).
Rom. 13:1-7; Deut. 16:18; 1 Sam. 23:3; Exod.
18:23; Jer.30:21 Matt. 22:21; Titus 3:1; 1 Pet.
2:13; 1 Tim. 2:1-8 Acts 5:29; Matt. 10:28; Dan.
3:15-18; 6:7-10; Acts 4:18-20 Matt. 23:10; Rom.
14:4; Rev. 19:16; Psa. 72:11; Psa. 2; Rom. 14:9-13
Article Seventeen: Of the Righteous and the
Wicked
We believe that there is a radical and essential
difference between the righteous and the wicked (1);
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 (2);
while all such as continue in impenitence and
unbelief are in his sight wicked, and under the
curse (3); and this distinction holds among men both
in and after death (4).
Mal. 3:18; Prov. 12:26; Isa. 5:20; Gen. 18:23;
Jer. 15:19;Acts 10:34- 35; Rom. 6:16 Rom. 1:17; 7:6;
1 John 2:29; 3:7; Rom. 6:18, 22; 1 Cor. 11:32; Prov.
11:31; 1 Pet. 4:17-18 1 John 5:19; Gal. 3:10; John
3:36; Isa. 57:21; Psa. 10:4; Isa 55:6-7 Prov. 14:32;
Luke 16:25; John 8:21-24; Prov. 10:24; Luke 12:4-5;
9:23- 26; John 12:25-26; Eccl. 3:17; Matt. 7:13-14
Article Eighteen: Of the World to Come
We believe that the end of the world is approaching
(1); that at the last day Christ will descend from
heaven (2), and raise the dead from the grave to
final retribution (3); that a solemn separation will
then take place (4); that the wicked will be
adjudged to endless punishment, and the righteous to
endless joy (5); and that this judgment will fix
forever the final state of men in heaven or hell, on
principles of righteousness (6).
1 Pet. 4:7; 1 Cor. 7:29-31; Heb. 1:10-12; Matt.
24:35; 1 John 2:17; Matt. 28:20; 13:39-40; 2 Pet.
3:3-13; Acts 1:11; Rev. 1:7; Heb. 9:28; Acts 3:21; 1
Thess. 4:13-18;5:1-11 Acts 24:15; 1 Cor. 15:12-59;
Luke 14:14; Dan. 12:2; John 5:28-29; 6:40; 11:25-26;
2 Tim. 1:10; Acts 10:42; Matt. 13:49, 37-43;
24:30-31; 25:31-33 Matt. 25:35-41; Rev. 22:11; 1
Cor. 6:9-10; Mark 9:43-48; 2 Pet. 2:9; Jude 7; Phil.
3:19; Rom. 6:32; 2 Cor. 5:10-11; John 4:36; 2 Cor.
4:18; Rom. 3:5-6; 2 Thess. 1:6-12; Heb. 6:1-2; 1
Cor. 4:5; Acts 17:31; Rom. 2:2-16; Rev. 20:11-12; 1
John 2:28; 4:17