ADDITIONS

TO THE

CONFESSION OF 1689, BY THE PHILADELPHIA ASSOCIATION.

The following are the articles added by the Philadelphia Association, Sept. 15, 1742.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

OF THE SINGING OF PSALMS, ETC.

We believe that1 singing the praises of God is a holy ordinance of Christ, and not a part of natural religion, or a moral duty only; but that it is brought under divine institution, it being enjoined on the churches of Christ to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; and that the whole church in their public assemblies (as well as private Christians) ought to sing God's praises according to the best light they have received. Moreover, it was practised in the great representative church, by 3 our Lord Jesus Christ with his disciples, after he had instituted and celebrated the sacred ordinance of his holy supper, as a commemorative token of redeeming love.

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CHAPTER XXX V.

OF LAYING ON OF HANDS.

1. We believe that 4 laying on of hands, with prayer, upon baptized believers, as such, is an ordinance of Christ, and ought to be submitted unto by all such persons that are admitted to partake of the Lord's Supper, and that the end of this ordinance is not for the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, but for 5 a farther reception of the

1 Acts xvi. 25; Eph. v. 19; Col. iii. 16.

2 Heb. ii. 12; James v. 13.

3 Matt. xxvi. 30; Mark xiv. 26.

4 Heb. v. 12, vi. 1, 2; Acts viii. 17, 18, xix. 6.

5 Eph. i. 13, 14.

Holy Spirit of promise, or for the addition of the graces of the Spirit, and the influences thereof; to confirm, strengthen, and comfort them in Christ Jesus; it being ratified and established by the 1 extraordinary gifts of the Spirit in the primitive times, to abide in the church, as meeting together on the first day of the week was, 2 that being the day of worship, or Christian Sabbath, under the gospel; and as preaching the word was,3 and as baptism was, and prayer was, 5 and singing psalms, etc., was, so this laying on of hands was, for as the whole gospel was confirmed by signs and wonders, and divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost in general, so was every ordinance in like manner confirmed in particular.

1 Acts viii. 7, xix. 6.

2 Acts ii. 1.

3 Acts x. 44.

4 Matt. iii. 16.

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5 Acts iv. 31.

6 Acts xvi. 25. 26.

7 Acts viii xix.

8 Heb. ii. 3, 4.

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NOTE. -The Discipline adopted by the Philadelphia Association, to accom

pany this Confession of Faith, will be found on page 199.

III.

THE NEW HAMPSHIRE DECLARATION OF FAITH.

I. 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; that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us, and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the world, the true centre of Christian union,5 and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.6

II. OF THE TRUE GOD.

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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; inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love;o that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Fa

12 Tim. iii. 16, 17; 2 Peter i. 21; 2 Sam. xxiii. 2; Acts i. 16, iii. 21; John x. 35; Luke xvi. 29-31; Psalm cxix. 111; Rom. iii. 1, 2.

2 2 Tim. iii. 15; 1 Peter i. 10-12; Acts xi. 14; Rom. i. 16; Mark xvi. 16; John v. 38, 39.

3 Prov. xxx. 5, 6; John xvii. 17; Rev. xxii. 18, 19; Rom. iii. 4.

4 Rom. ii. 12; John xii. 47, 48; 1 Cor.

iv. 3, 4; Luke x. 10-16, xii. 47, 48.

-6; Phil. ii. 1, 2; 1 Cor. i. 10; 1 Peter iv. 11.

6 1 John iv. 1; Isa. viii. 20; 1 Thess. v. 21; 2 Cor. xiii. 5; Acts xvii. 11; 1 John iv. 6; Jude 3; Eph. vi. 17; Psalm cxix. 59, 60; Phil. i. 9—11.

7 John iv. 24; Psalm cxlvii. 5, lxxxiii. 18; Heb. iii. 4; Rom. i. 20; Jer. x. 10. 8 Ex. xv. 11; Isa. vi. 3; 1 Peter i. 15, 16; Rev. iv. 6—8.

9 Mark xii. 30; Rev. iv. 11; Matt. x.

5 Philippians iii. 16; Ephesians iv. 3 37; Jer. ii. 12, 13.

ther, the Son, and the Holy Ghost;1 equal in every divine perfection,2 and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.3

III. OF THE FALL OF MAN.

We believe that man was created in holiness, under the law of his Maker; but by voluntary transgression fell from that holy and happy state;5 in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint but choice ;7 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, without defence or excuse.9

IV. OF THE WAY OF SALVATION.

We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; 10 through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God; 11 who by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon him our nature, yet without sin ; 12 honored the divine law by his personal obedience,13 and by his death made a full atonement for our sins; 14 that having risen from the dead, he is now enthroned in heaven ;15 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.16

1 Mat. xxviii. 19; John xv. 26; 1 Cor. xii. 4-6; 1 John v. 7.

2 John x. 30; John v. 17; xiv. 23, xvii. 5, 10; Acts v. 3, 4; 1 Cor. ii. 10, 11; Phil. ii. 5, 6.

3 Eph. ii. 18; 2 Cor. xiii. 14; Rev. i. 4, 5. Compare ii. 7.

4 Gen. i. 27; Gen. i. 31; Eccl. vii. 29; Acts xv. 26; Gen. ii. 16.

5 Gen. iii. 6-24; Rom. v. 12.

6 Rom. v. 19; John iii. 6; Psalm li. 5; Rom. v. 15-19; viii. 7.

7 Isa. liii. 6; Gen. vi. 12; Rom. iii. 9 -18.

8 Eph. ii. 1-3; Rom. i. 18; Rom. i. 32, ii. 1-16; Galatians iii. 10; Matthew xx. 15.

9 Ezek. xviii. 19, 20; Rom. i. 20; Rom. iii. 19; Gal. iii. 22.

10 Eph. ii. 5; Matt. xviii. 11; 1 John iv. 10; 1 Cor. iii. 5—7; Acts xv. 11. 11 John iii. 16; John i. 1-14; Heb. iv. 14, xii. 24.

12 Phil. ii. 6, 7; Heb. ii. 9, ii. 14; 2 Cor. v. 21.

13 Isa. xlii. 21; Phil. ii. 8; Gal. iv. 4, 5; Rom. iii. 21.

14 Isa. liii. 4, 5; Matt. xx. 28; Rom. iv. 25, iii. 21–26; 1 John iv. 10, ii. 2; 1 Cor. xv. 1-3; Heb. ix. 13-15.

15 Heb. i. 8; Heb. i 3, viii. 1; Col. iii. 1-4.

16 Heb. vii. 25; Col. ii. 9; Heb. ii. 18; Heb. vii. 26; Psalm lxxxix. 19; Ps. xlv.

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V. OF JUSTIFICATION.

We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ1 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; 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; 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

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VI. OF THE FREENESS OF SALVATION.

We believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent, and obedient faith;9 and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth, but his own determined depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel; 10 which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation.11

VII. OF GRACE IN REGENERATION.

We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated, or born again; 12 that regeneration consists in giving a holy disposition to the mind; 13 that it is effected in a manner above our comprehension by the power of the Holy Spirit, in connection with divine

1 John i. 16; Eph. iii. 8.

2 Acts xiii. 39; Isa. iii. 11, 12; Rom. viii. 1.

3 Rom. v. 9; Zech. xiii. 1; Matt. ix. 6: Acts x. 43.

4 Rom. v. 17; Titus iii. 5, 6; 1 Peter iii. 7; 1 John ii. 25; Rom. v. 21.

5 Rom. iv. 4, 5, v. 21, vi. 23; Phil. iii. 7-9.

6 Rom. v. 19; Rom. iii. 24-26; iv. 23 -25; 1 John ii. 12.

7 Rom. v. 1, 2, v. 3, v. 11; 1 Cor. i. 30, 31; Matt. vi. 33; 1 Tim. iv. 8.

8 Isaiah Iv. 1; Rev. xxii. 17; Luke xiv. 17.

9 Rom. xvi. 26; Mark i. 15; Rom. i. 15-17.

10 John v. 40; Matt. xxiii. 37; Rom. ix. 32; Prov. i. 24; Acts xiii. 46.

11 John iii. 19; Matt. xi. 20; Luke xix. 27; 2 Thess. i. 8.

12 John iii. 3, iii. 6, 7; 1 Cor. i. 14; Rev. viii. 7-9, xxi. 27.

13 2 Cor. v. 17; Ezek. xxxvi. 26; Deut. xxx. 6; Rom. ii. 28, 29, v. 5; 1 John iv. 7.

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