June 29th, 1869
We, whose names are annexed [on file at church], being regular members of Baptist Churches in good standing and desirous of maintaining the worship and ordinances of the Gospel as we believe they are taught in the Scriptures, have united together and entered into covenant as an independent Baptist church and desirous to be so recognized. Adopting the following as an abstract of our faith:
Article 1st
We believe there is only one living and true God: The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. These three are one who created, preserves and governs all things according to the council of His will.
Article 2nd
The scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God containing His revealed Will and the only rule of Faith and Practice.
Article 3rd
Man was created in a holy and happy condition, but by transgression fell, became depraved as he was the covenant head of his posterity. They are born in sin, being destitute of His holiness, possessing enmity at heart against God, until born of the Spirit.
Article 4th
Jesus Christ was eternal with the Father and in fullness of time was manifested in the flesh in which He suffered and died as an atonement for sin and thus fulfilled the law, and is the only Savior, Prophet, Priest, and King appointed Heir of all things and judge of the quick and dead.
Article 5th
We believe in election according to the foreknowledge of God, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.
Article 6th
That those who are united to Christ by a living faith have the full and free forgiveness of sins, which favor is bestowed not on account of any works which they have done, but on account of the merits of Christ arising from His sufferings and death.
Article 7th
All who are born of the Spirit and justified by the imputed righteousness of Christ, will persevere unto the end being kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
Article 8th
That visible churches are to be formed of believers in Christ who give evidence of a change of heart, wrought by the Spirit of God and baptized by a legal administrator. Christian baptism is immersion of the whole body in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost to show a solemn and beautiful emblem of our faith in a crucified, buried, and arisen savior, and is a prerequisite to church membership, but has no connection with the great work of regeneration.
Article 9th
The Lord’s Supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ showing his death and consists in the reception of bread and wine, to be observed by those who have been baptized and have become members of the gospel church.
Article 10th
God appointed preaching of the gospel for the edification of the church and the advancement of His kingdom in the world, therefore it is our duty to contribute to its support as providence gives ability.
Article 11th
The government of the church is not vested in the hands of any man or number of men, distinct from the body, but is conducted by the church herself.
Article 12th
The Sabbath is to be kept holy by attending to the worship of God in public and private, abstaining from unnecessary visiting, trifling, conversation, labor, except so much as may be directed to works of necessity and mercy.
Article 13th
When time shall be no more, the Son of Man will come to judge the world in Righteousness, the bodies of all men will be raised from the dead, and brought to judgment when the righteous will be rewarded with eternal life and the wicked sentenced to eternal misery
