THE SCRIPTURES

The Scriptures of the old and new Testament were given by inspiration of God, and are the only sufficient, certain and authoritative rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience.

GOD

There is but one God, the Maker, Preserver, and Ruler of all things, having in and of Himself all perfections, and being infinite in them all; and to Him all creatures owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience.

TRINITY

God is revealed to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, each with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.

PROVIDENCE

God from eternity decrees or permits all things that come to pass, and perpetually upholds, directs and governs all creatures and all events; yet so as not in any wise to the author or approver of sin, nor to destroy the free will and responsibility of intelligent creatures.

ELECTION

Election is God's eternal choice of some persons unto everlasting life - not because of foreseen merit in them, but of His mere mercy in Christ - in consequence of which choice they are called, justified, and glorified.

THE FALL OF MAN

God originally created man in His own image, and free from sin; but through the temptation of Satan, he transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original holiness and righteousness; where by his posterity inherit nature corrupt and wholly opposed to God and His law, are under condemnation, as soon as they are capable of moral action, become actual transgressors.

THE MEDIATOR

Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the divinely appointed Mediator between God and man. Having taken upon Himself human nature, yet without sin, He perfectly fulfilled the law, suffered and died upon the cross for the salvation of sinners. He was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended to His Father, at whose right hand He ever lives to make intercession for his people. He is the only Mediator, the Prophet, Priest and King of the church, and Sovereign of the universe.

REGENERATION

Regeneration is a change of heart, wrought by the Holy Spirit, who quickens the dead in trespasses and sins, enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the Word of God, and renewing their whole nature, so that they love and practice holiness. It is a work of God's free and special grace alone.

REPENTANCE

Repentance is an evangelical grace, wherein a person being, by the Holy Spirit, made sensible of the manifold of evil of his sin, humbles himself for it, with Godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self-abhorrence, with a purpose and endeavor to walk with God so as to please Him in all things.

FAITH

Saving faith is the belief, on God's authority, of whatsoever is revealed in His word concerning Christ; accepting and resting upon Him alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life. It is wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit, and is accompanied by all other saving graces, and leads to a life of holiness.

JUSTIFICATION

Justification is God's gracious and full acquittal of sinners, who believe in Christ, from all sin, through satisfaction that Christ has made; not for anything wrought in them or done by them; but on account of obedience and satisfaction of Christ, they receiving and resting on Him and His righteousness by faith.

SANCTIFICATION

Those who have been regenerated are also sanctified, by God's word and Spirit dwelling in them. This sanctification is progressive through the supply of divine strength, which all saints seek to obtain pressing after a heavenly life in cordial obedience to all Christ's commands.

PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS

Those whom God has accepted in the beloved, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never totally not finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere to the end; and though they may fall, through neglect and temptation, into sin, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, bring reproach on the church, and temporal judgements on themselves, yet they shall be renewed again unto repentance, and being kept by the power of God through faith and salvation.

THE CHURCH

The Lord Jesus is the head of the church, which is composed of all His true disciples, and in Him is invested supremely all power for its government. According to His commandment, Christians are to associate themselves into particular societies of churches; and to each of these churches He has given needful authority for administering that order, discipline, and worship which He has appointed. The regular officers of a church are pastors, i.e. bishops or elders, and deacons.

BAPTISM

Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus, obligatory upon every believer, wherein he is immersed in water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, representative of remission of sins, and of his giving himself to God, to live and walk in newness of life. It is prerequisite to church fellowship and to participation in the Lord's Supper.

THE LORD'S SUPPER

The Lord's Supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ, to be administered with the elements of bread and the fruit of the vine, and to be observed by His churches till the end of the world. It is in no sense a sacrament, but is designed to commemorate His death, to confirm the faith and other graces of Christians, and to be a bond, pledge, and renewal of their communion with Him, and of their church fellowship.

THE LORD'S DAY

The Lord's Day is a Christian institution for regular observance, and should be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private, resting from world employments and amusements; works of necessity and mercy only excepted.

LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE

God alone is Lord of the conscience; and he has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men, which are in anything contrary to His word, or not contained in it. Civil magistrates being ordained of God, subjection in all lawful things commanded by them ought to be yielded by us in the Lord, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

THE RESURRECTION

The bodies of men after death return to dust, but their spirts return immediately to God - the believers to rest with Him; the unbelievers, to be reserved under darkness to judgment. When Christ returns, the bodies of all the dead will be raised.

THE JUDGEMENT

God has appointed a day, wherein He will judge the world by Jesus Christ, when everyone shall according to his deeds; believers will receive everlasting life; the unbelievers shall go away into everlasting punishment.