Imágenes de página
PDF
ePub

painful regret, that they were not at liberty to insert from it those Hymns marked Original; they believed them worthy a place in any selection; but endeavoured to supply their place from sundry authors, who have spoken as well at they were able in the praise of our adorable Saviour."

Another edition being now wanted, and many persons expressing a wish to have the original hymns added to the collection, we desired permission of the reverend author to insert them, who with the greatest good will freely granted the request; and wishing to make this book agree in every respect with the last edition, we have printed them as an Appendix, with their titles, &c. as first written.

That the work as amended may meet the approbation, and aid the religious exercises of the believers in the universal salvation of all men through the atonement of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, is the sincere wish of THE PUBLISHERS.

Boston, May 1, 1808.

Select PortIONS OF SCRIPTURE, INTRODUCTORY

TO THE ARTICLES OF FAITH.

PSALM CXXXiii.

1. BEHOLD, how good and how pleasant for brethren to dwell together in unity.

2. Like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments :

3. As the dew of Hermon, that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, life for evermore.

Aaron, the Jewish high priest, stands as a type of the High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; who was anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows, which anointing descended on the people with whom he was to clothe himself, according to Isaiah xlix. 18. As I live, saith the Lord, thou shalt clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and binď them as a bride. This anointing of the great High Priest descending on his garment, causes them to smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made them glad.

O the condescension of the expression! shewing, that he expresses it as agreeable to Him, when his disciples in their conversation and conduct make manifest the favour of his knowledge in every place where they meet together, to which they are under the strongest obligation.

1st of JoHN, chap. i. ver. 1 to 7.

1. THAT which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled of the word of life.

2. (For the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life which was with the Father, and was manifested to us.)

3. That which we have seen and heard, declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us : and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

4. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

5.

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

6. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth :

7.

But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another; and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Chap. iv. ver. 18, to the end.

18. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear; because fear hath torment.

eth is not made perfect in love.

19.

He that fear

We love him, because he first loved us.

20. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar; for he that loveth not his brother, whom he hath seen, how can he love God, whom he hath not seen?

21. And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

ARTICLES OF FAITH,

AND

UNITING COMPACT;

Adopted by the Members of the UNIVERSAL CHURCH, in Boston, February, 1791.

WE, whose names are hereunto subscribed, being sensible of the unchangeable and universal love of GoD to mankind, exhibited in a Redeemer; and in humble thankfulness to Him, for disposing our hearts to unite together in the bonds of Christian love and fellowship; think it our duty, as tending to the good of society in general, and the improvement and edification of each other in particular, to form ourselves into a Church of CHRIST, which we conceive, consists of a number of believers, united together in the confession of the faith of the gospel.

The Articles of our faith having been seriously deliberated upon, and consented unto, we humbly conceive, are expressive of our belief in the lively oracles of God, and fully pointing out to us, our consequent obligations to adorn the doctrine of GoD our Saviour, in all things.

The ARTICLES OF FAITH are as follows:

WE believe the scriptures of the old and new Testaments to contain a revelation of the perfections and will of God, and the rule of faith and practice.

WE believe in one GoD, infinite in all his perfections, and that these perfections are all modifications of adorable, incomprehensible, and unchangeable Love, manifested to us in CHRIST JESUS.

WE believe that the SPIRIT of GOD will in due season so effectually teach all men, that the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord (whom to know is life eternal) as the waters cover the sea for it is written they shall be all taught of God.

We believe in the obligation of the moral precepts of the Scriptures as the rule of life; and we hold, that the love of GoD manifested to man in a Redeemer, is the best means of producing a holy, active, and useful life.

THEREFORE, receiving, acknowledging, and submitting ourselves unto JESUS CHRIST, as the Head of the Church; and receiving the Scriptures as our complete and perfect rule; we conceive it our duty, to meet together on the first day of the week,for the public worship of GOD, the breaking of bread, the reading of the Scriptures, and the preaching of the gospel of JESUS CHrist, which is glad tidings of great joy to all people; to instruct our children in the principles of the gospel, by bringing them up in an acquaintance with the Scriptures, as able to make them wise unto salvation, through faith in CHRIST JESUS and as the best means to inspire them with the love of virtue, and to promote in them good manners and habits of industry and sobriety.

:

WE will endeavour, as much as possible, to avoid going to law, by referring all matters tending thereto,

« AnteriorContinuar »