Article 1: Concerning God and Christ.
We believe that the Lord our God is one Lord, — that we all have one Father; one God hath created us, — and hath made of one blood all nations of men, to dwell on all the face of the earth; — that though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there are gods many and lords many,) yet to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him, (for God hath made him both Lord and Christ,) for there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. Deut. 6:4; Mark 12:29; Mal. 2:10; Acts 2:36 and 27:26; 1 Cor. 8:5,6; 1 Tim 2:5,6.
Article 2: Concerning the character of God.
We believe the Lord our God is Almighty, and of great power, — that His understanding (or wisdom) is infinite, — that He is love itself, — good unto all, and His tender mercies over all His works, — that He loves all the things that are, and abhors nothing that His hands have made, for He never would have created any thing to have hated it, — that He is a just God and a Savior, — Who will have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth, and Who works all things after the counsel of His own will, — that in Him mercy and truth are met together, righteousness and peace have embraced each other. Gen. 27:1; Ps. 147:5; Ps. 85:10; Ps. 145:9; Isa. 45:21; 1 Tim. 2:4; Eph. 1:11; 1 John 4:8,16.
Article 3: Concerning the mission and mediation of Christ.
We believe God sent His Son to be the Savior of the World, — that to this end, (as He loved both His Son and the World,) He gave all things into His hand, even power over all flesh, that He might give eternal life to as many as the Father hath given Him, and that all that the Father gave Him shall so come to Him as not to be cast out, — that, as He tasted death for every man, and is a propitiation for the sins of the whole world, He shall see of the travail of His soul and be satisfied, — that as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive, — that, having brought life and immortality to light by the Gospel, He shall continue to reign until death, the last enemy, is destroyed, and all things are subdued unto Him; till every knee shall bow and every tongue confess Him Lord, to the glory of God the Father, — and, that then He will deliver up the reconciled kingdom to the Father, that God may be all in all. 1 John 2:2; 4:14; John 3:35; 6:37; 17:2; Heb. 2:9; Isa. 53:11; 1 Cor. 15:22,24-28; 2 Tim. 1:10; Phil. 2:10,11.
Article 4: Concerning the Motive to Obedience &c.
We believe it is our duty to love God, because He first loved us, — that, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another, — that the goodness of God leads to repentance, — that the grace of God, that bringeth salvation to all men, hath appeared, teaching us, that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, and that those who believe in God ought to be careful to maintain good works; for these things are good and profitable unto men. 1 John 4:11,19; Rom. 2:4; Titus 2:11,12; 3:8.
Article 5: Concerning the reward of obedience.
We believe, that great peace have they who love God’s law, and nothing shall offend them, — they are like trees planted by the rivers of water, that bring forth their fruit in season; their leaf, also, shall not wither; and, whatsoever they do shall prosper, — that wisdom’s ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace, — that she is a tree of life to them that lay hold of her, and happy is every one that retains her, — that Christ’s yoke is easy and His burden is light, and all who come to Him find rest to their souls, — that, thought God is the Savior of all men, He is especially so of the believer, — and, that whoso looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues therein, and is not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. Ps. 1:3, and 119:166; Prov.3:17, 18; Matt 11:28-30; Heb. 3:3; 1 Tim. 4:10; James 1:25.
Article 6: Concerning punishment for disobedience.
We believe the way of the transgressor is hard, — that the wicked are like the troubled sea when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt, for there is no peace, says our God, to the wicked, — that he that doeth wrong, shall receive for the wrong which he hath done, and there is no respect of persons, — that God will render to every man according to his deeds, — tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile. Prov. 13:15; Isa. 57:20,21; Matt. 14:27; Rom. 2:6,9; Col 3:25.
Article 7: Concerning the limitation and remedial design of punishment.
We believe the Lord will not cast off forever; but, though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies, — that he will not contend forever, not be always wroth, lest the spirit should fail before him, and the souls he has made, — that, although he may apparently forsake his children for a small moment, yet with great mercies will he gather them, — in a little wrath, he may hide his face from them for a small moment, but with everlasting kindness will he have mercy on them, and heal them, — that whom he loveth he chasteneth, (and he loveth and chasteneth all,) for their profit, that they may be partakers of his holiness, and be enabled afterwards to say, “before I was afflicted I went astray, but now have I kept thy word.” Lam. 3:31-32; Isa. 54:7-8, and 57:16-18; Heb. 12:7-11; Psa. 89:30-35, and 119:67.
Article 8: Concerning the Scriptures, the doctrines they teach, and the duties they enjoin.
We believe, that all Scripture, given by inspiration of God, is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and instruction in righteousness, — that the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, — that God hath spoken of the restitution of all things by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began, — that the word, gone out of His mouth in righteousness, shall not return void, but shall accomplish that which He pleases, insomuch, that every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall swear, saying, In the Lord have I righteousness and strength. From the Scriptures, (which we take as the rule and guide of our faith and practice,) we are taught, that the whole duty of man is, to fear God and keep His commandments; to deal justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God; to do good to all men as we have opportunity; and that pure religion and undefiled before God and The Father, is this; to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and keep ourselves uncorrupted from the world. 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21; Acts 3:21; Isa. 14:23,24; 55:11; Micah 6:8; Eccl. 12:13; Gal. 6:10; James 1:27.