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Confessions Of Faith

Discussion in 'Baptist History' started by tyndale1946, Mar 17, 2003.

  1. tyndale1946

    tyndale1946 Well-Known Member
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    Primitive Baptist Creeds of Faith
    ...ye should earnestly contend for the faith
    which was once delivered unto the saints - Jude 3

    Primitive Baptists claim the scriptures as their sole rule of faith and practice, and therefore, are not bound to creeds of faith. However, churches and associations among Primitive Baptists have summarized their interpretation of scriptures in various Articles of Faith. These differ in wording but not in substance.
    Primitive Baptists claim primary descent from certain Baptist churches in Wales and in the Midlands of England. The views of these Baptists are summarized in the 1655 Midland Confession of Faith. The Particular Baptists of London are also part of Primitive Baptist heritage. Their most important confessions of faith were the London Confessions of 1644 and 1689. The 1644 confession better represents Primitive Baptists views than the one of 1689.

    You brethren can find the Articles Of Faith from different states and confession at this website... http://www.pb.org/creeds.html

    What are the various confessions that have been handed down through the Baptist line besides these?... Brother Glen The Primitive Baptist [​IMG]
     
  2. rsr

    rsr <b> 7,000 posts club</b>
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    Bro. Glen, the Reformed Reader has a good selection of creeds and confessions at this location:

    BAPTIST CONFESSIONS

    In addition to the confessions you listed, I'm particularly interested in the Smyth and Helwys confessions, along with the 1660 Standard Confession of the General Baptists.

    Among the American confessions, the Philadelphia Confession (1742) draws heavily from the Second London Confession but has some unique features, such as this:

    It also lists laying on of hands as an ordinance and it treats "singing the praises of God" as an ordinance (Ch. 23).

    The confession, like the Second London, is strictly regulative in worship principles.

    The New Hampshire Confession, less predestinarian than the Philadelphia Confession and formed the basis for the Baptist Faith and Message, which even today maintains much of the New Hampshire wording.

    [ March 17, 2003, 01:40 PM: Message edited by: rsr ]
     
  3. Frogman

    Frogman <img src="http://www.churches.net/churches/fubc/Fr

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    Thanks for the link rsr.

    Here is one linking to the confession of the church John Gill pastored, the particulars are given at the site:

    http://www.pbministries.org/books/gill/Sermons&Tracts/sermon_56.htm

    I was looking for the 1729 Goatyard Confession also by Gill and I think the Park street church which later called C.H. Spurgeon.

    God Bless.
    Bro. Dallas [​IMG]
     
  4. rsr

    rsr <b> 7,000 posts club</b>
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    Bro. Dallas, did you find the Goat Yard Declaration? It's here:

    GOAT YARD DECLARATION

    Was the Park Street confession before Spurgeon's time? If not, was it the one Spurgeon prepared shortly after taking the pulpit at New Park Street Chapel?

    A PURITAN CONFESSION OF FAITH
     
  5. Frogman

    Frogman <img src="http://www.churches.net/churches/fubc/Fr

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    Thanks again rsr for providing that link. From all appearances, as far as I can tell the two links, the one you have provided lead to the same document, just different fonts.

    I do have a question concerning the following statement as found in the confession:

    XII. We also believe, That singing of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs vocally, (Matthew 26:30; Acts 16:25; 1 Cor. 14:15, 26; Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16) is an ordinance of the Gospel, to be performed by believers; but that as to time, place, and manner, every one ought to be left to their (James 5:13) liberty in using it.

    Is there any who would agree today that singing is an ordinance of the church? I don't believe this is; just wondering if any do.

    I am unsure about the location and name of the church that received the 'goatyard confession' While Gill did pastor the Park Street Chapel, the articles locate the church for your link
    , mine says 'carter lane' whether these are the same locations or not, I do not know.

    God Bless.
    Bro. dallas
     
  6. Frogman

    Frogman <img src="http://www.churches.net/churches/fubc/Fr

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  7. rsr

    rsr <b> 7,000 posts club</b>
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    The Philadelphia Confession also treated singing as an ordinance.

    Gill only pastored one church, so far as I know.

    PORTRAIT OF JOHN GILL
     
  8. Frogman

    Frogman <img src="http://www.churches.net/churches/fubc/Fr

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    Thanks,
    So it was a matter of name changes only.

    God Bless.
    Bro. Dallas
     
  9. Frogman

    Frogman <img src="http://www.churches.net/churches/fubc/Fr

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    Waldensian Confessions of Faith
    1120
    To learn more about the Waldenses read their history by J.A. Wylie.
    1. We believe and firmly maintain all that is contained in the twelve articles of the symbol, commonly called the apostles' creed, and we regard as heretical whatever is inconsistent with the said twelve articles.

    2. We believe that there is one God - the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

    3. We acknowledge for sacred canonical scriptures the books of the Holy Bible. (Here follows the title of each, exactly conformable to our received canon, but which it is deemed, on that account, quite unnecessary to particularize.)

    4. The books above-mentioned teach us: That there is one GOD, almighty, unbounded in wisdom, and infinite in goodness, and who, in His goodness, has made all things. For He created Adam after His own image and likeness. But through the enmity of the Devil, and his own disobedience, Adam fell, sin entered into the world, and we became transgressors in and by Adam.

    5. That Christ had been promised to the fathers who received the law, to the end that, knowing their sin by the law, and their unrighteousness and insufficiency, they might desire the coming of Christ to make satisfaction for their sins, and to accomplish the law by Himself.

    6. That at the time appointed of the Father, Christ was born - a time when iniquity everywhere abounded, to make it manifest that it was not for the sake of any good in ourselves, for all were sinners, but that He, who is true, might display His grace and mercy towards us.

    7. That Christ is our life, and truth, and peace, and righteousness - our shepherd and advocate, our sacrifice and priest, who died for the salvation of all who should believe, and rose again for their justification.

    8. And we also firmly believe, that there is no other mediator, or advocate with God the Father, but Jesus Christ. And as to the Virgin Mary, she was holy, humble, and full of grace; and this we also believe concerning all other saints, namely, that they are waiting in heaven for the resurrection of their bodies at the day of judgment.

    9. We also believe, that, after this life, there are but two places - one for those that are saved, the other for the damned, which [two] we call paradise and hell, wholly denying that imaginary purgatory of Antichrist, invented in opposition to the truth.

    10. Moreover, we have ever regarded all the inventions of men [in the affairs of religion] as an unspeakable abomination before God; such as the festival days and vigils of saints, and what is called holy-water, the abstaining from

    11. We hold in abhorrence all human inventions, as proceeding from Antichrist, which produce distress (Alluding probably to the voluntary penances and mortification imposed by the Catholics on themselves), and are prejudicial to the liberty of the mind.

    12 We consider the Sacraments as signs of holy things, or as the visible emblems of invisible blessings. We regard it as proper and even necessary that believers use these symbols or visible forms when it can be done. Notwithstanding which, we maintain that believers may be saved without these signs, when they have neither place nor opportunity of observing them.

    13. We acknowledge no sacraments [as of divine appointment] but baptism and the Lord's supper.

    14. We honour the secular powers, with subjection, obedience, promptitude, and payment.


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    Waldenses Confession of 1544
    1. We believe that there is but one God, who is a Spirit - the Creator of all things - the Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in us all; who is to be worshipped in spirit and in truth - upon whom we are continually dependent, and to whom we ascribe praise for our life, food, raiment, health, sickness, prosperity, and adversity. We love him as the source of all goodness; and reverence him as that sublime being, who searches the reins and trieth the hearts of the children of men.

    2. We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son and image of the Father - that in Him all the fullness of the Godhead dwells, and that by Him alone we know the Father. He is our Mediator and advocate; nor is there any other name given under heaven by which we can be saved. In His name alone we call upon the Father, using no other prayers than those contained in the Holy Scriptures, or such as are in substance agreeable thereunto.

    3. We believe in the Holy Spirit as the Comforter, proceeding from the Father, and from the Son; by whose inspiration we are taught to pray; being by Him renewed in the spirit of our minds; who creates us anew unto good works, and from whom we receive the knowledge of the truth.

    4. We believe that there is one holy church, comprising the whole assembly of the elect and faithful, that have existed from the beginning of the world, or that shall be to the end thereof. Of this church the Lord Jesus Christ is the head - it is governed by His word and guided by the Holy Spirit. In the church it behooves all Christians to have fellowship. For her He [Christ] prays incessantly, and His prayer for it is most acceptable to God, without which indeed their could be no salvation.

    5. We hold that the ministers of the church ought to be unblameable both in life and doctrine; and if found otherwise, that they ought to be deposed from their office, and others substituted in their stead; and that no person ought to presume to take that honour unto himself but he who is called of God as was Aaron - that the duties of such are to feed the flock of God, not for filthy lucre's sake, or as having dominion over God's heritage, but as being examples to the flock, in word, in conversation, in charity, in faith, and in chastity.

    6. We acknowledge, that kings, princes, and governors, are the appointed and established ministers of God, whom we are bound to obey [in all lawful and civil concerns]. For they bear the sword for the defence of the innocent, and the punishment of evil doers; for which reason we are bound to honour and pay them tribute. From this power and authority, no man can exempt himself as is manifest from the example of the Lord Jesus Christ, who voluntarily paid tribute, not taking upon himself any jurisdiction of temporal power.

    7. We believe that in the ordinance of baptism the water is the visible and external sign, which represents to as that which, by virtue of God's invisible operation, is within us - namely, the renovation of our minds, and the mortification of our members through [the faith of] Jesus Christ. And by this ordinance we are received into the holy congregation of God's people, previously professing and declaring our faith and change of life.

    8. We hold that the Lord's supper is a commemoration of, and thanksgiving for, the benefits which we have received by His sufferings and death - and that it is to be received in faith and love - examining ourselves, that so we may eat of that bread and drink of that cup, as it is written in the Holy Scriptures.

    9. We maintain that marriage was instituted of God. That it is holy and honourable, and ought to be forbidded to none, provided there be no obstacle from the divine word.

    10. We contend, that all those in whom the fear of God dwells, will thereby be led to please him, and to abound in the good works [of the gospel] which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them - which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, sobriety, and the other good works enforced in the Holy Scriptures.

    11. On the other hand, we confess that we consider it to be our duty to beware of false teachers, whose object is to divert the minds of men from the true worship of God, and to lead them to place their confidence in the creature, as well as to depart from the good works of the gospel, and to regard the inventions of men.

    12. We take the Old and the New Testament for the rule of our life, and we agree with the general confession of faith contained in [what is usually termed] the apostles' creed.


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    Bro. Dallas Eaton [​IMG]
     
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