Direction for a Public Profession in the Church Assembly
The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/evans/N00060.0001.001
Project Note
This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.
This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.
Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.
Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
A DIRECTION FOR A PUBLICK PROFESSION in the CHURCH ASSEMBLY, after private Examination by the ELDERS .
Which Direction is taken out of the Scripture, and Points unto that Faith and Covenant contained in the Scripture.
Being the same for Substance which was propounded to, and agreed upon by the Church of Salem at their beginning, the sixth of the sixth Moneth, 1629.
In the Preface to the Declaration of the Faith owned and professed by the Congregational Churches in England .
The Genuine use of a Confession of Faith is, that under the same Form of Words they express the substance of the same common Salvation or unity of their Faith. Accordingly it is to be looked upon as a fit means, whereby to express that their Common Faith and Salvation, and not to be made use of as an imposition upon any.
WE Beseech you Brethren to know them that labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you and to esteem them very highly in love for their work sake and be at peace among yourselves,
1 Thess. 5.12, 13.
Obey them that have the rule over you and submit yourselves for they watch for your souls, as they that must give an account, that they may do it
〈…〉
and not with grief, for that is unprofitable for you,
Heb. 13.17.
Who is that wise and faithful steward, whom his Lord shall make Ruler over his household, to give them their portion of
〈◊〉
in due season,
Luk. 12.42.
One Faith, one Baptism,
Eph. 4.
•
.
The Common Faith,
Tit. 1.4.
The common Salvation,
Jude Ver. 3.
Christ Jesus the high priest of our Profession,
Heb. 3.1.
The profession of our Faith.
Heb 10.22.
One shall say I am the Lord's,
Isai. 44.5.
Hold fast the form of sound words.
2 Tim. 1.13.
The
〈◊〉
Knowledge, and of the truth,
Rom 2.20.
The form of Doctrine delivered unto you,
Rom. 6.17.
THE CONFESSION OF FAITH.
I do believe with my heart and confess with my mouth.
Concerning God.
THat there is but one only true God in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, each of them God, and all of them one and the some Infinite, Eternal God, most Wise, Holy, Just, Merciful and Blessed forever.
Concerning the Works of God.
THat this God is the Maker, Preserver, and Governor of all things according to the counsel of his own Will, and that God made man in his own Image, in Knowledge, Holiness and Righteousness.
Concerning the fall of Man.
THat Adam by transgressing the Command of God, fall from God and brought himself and his posterity into a state of Sin and death, under the Wrath and Curse of God, which I do believe to be my own condition by nature as well as any other.
Concerning Jesus Christ.
THat God sent his Son into the World, who for our sakes became man, that he might redeem and save us by his Obedience unto death, and that he arose from the dead, ascended unto Heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God, from whence he shall come to judge the World.
Concerning the Holy Ghost.
THat God the holy Ghost hath fully revealed the Doctrine of Christ and will of God in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, which are the Word of God the perfect perpetual and only Rule of our Faith and Obedience.
Concerning the Benefits we have by Christ.
THat the same Spirit by Working Faith in God's Elect, applieth unto them Christ with all his Benefits of Justification, and Sanctification, unto Salvation, in the use of those Ordinances which God hath appointed in his written words which therefore ought to be observed by us until the coming of Christ.
Concerning the Church of Christ.
THat all true Believers being united unto Christ as the Head, make up one Misticall Church which is the Body of Christ, the members whereof having fellowship with the Father Son and Holy-Ghost by Faith, and one with 〈…〉 love, do receive here upon 〈◊〉 forgiveness of 〈◊〉 with the life of grace, and at the Resurrection of the Body, they shall receive everlasting life. Amen.
THE COVENANT.
I do heart ••• take and avouch this one God who is made known to us in the Scripture by the Name of God the Father, and God the Son even Jesus Christ and God the Holy Ghost to be my God, according to the tenor of the Covenant of Grace; wherein he hath promised to be a God to the Faithful and their seed after them in their Generations, and taketh them to be his People and therefore unfeignedly repenting of all my sins, I do give up myself wholly unto this God to believe in love, serve & Obey him sincerely and faithfully according to his written word, against all the temptations of the Devil, the World, and my own flesh and this unto the death.
I do also consent to be a Member of this particular Church, promising to continue steadfastly in fellowship with it, in the public Worship of God, to submit to the Order Discipline and Government of Christ in it, and to the Ministerial teaching guidance and oversight of the Elders of it, and to the brotherly watch of Fellow Members: and all this according to God's Word, and by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ enabling me thereunto, AMEN .
Questions to be Answered at the Baptizing of Children, or the substance to be expressed by the Parents.
Quest. Do you present and give up this child, or these children, unto God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, 〈…〉 in the F •• th, and Engaged in the Covenant of God professed by this Church?
Quest. Do you sollemnly Promise in the 〈◊〉 of God, that by the 〈…〉 , you will 〈◊〉 your Covenant duty toward 〈…〉 , soe as to bring them upon the Nurture and 〈◊〉 of the Lord, teaching and commanding them to keep the way of God, that they may be able ( 〈…〉 grace of Christ) to make a personal profession of their Faith and to own the Covenant of God themselves in due time.