Transcribed from the [1814?] R. Thomas edition ,
THE NATURE
OF A
GOSPEL CHURCH:
ACONFESSION OF EVANGELICAL
PRINCIPLES:
AND
THEMEMBERS’ COVENANT.
Intended forthe Use of
The Church of Christ.
By J. CHURCH,
Minister of the Gospel, ObeliskChapel.
EXODUS xxv, 40. Lookthat thou make all things according to the Pattern shewed thee inthe Mount.
JUDE. Contend earnestly for theFaith once delivered to the Saints.
1 COR. i, 10. That ye beperfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the samejudgment.
Southwark:
Printed by R. THOMAS, Red Lion Street, Borough.
p. 3THE NATURE OF
A GOSPEL CHURCH, &c.
Eph. V. 23. Christ is the Head of the Church.
Acts vii, 28. This is he thatwas in the Church in the Wilderness.
Rev. ii, 27. All the Churchesshall know I am he.
Eph. iii, 21. To Him be gloryin the Church.
To the congregationalChurches of Jesus Christ, particularly that one over whichthe Holy Ghost hath made me an Overseer: Grace be to youall. Amen.—I thought it necessary to writeto you on some Subjects which are very interesting, and to giveyou in sundry articles, the particulars of the Faith we profess,as believers in our most adorable Redeemer; with a few agreementswhich claim the conformity of all those who have given themselvesup to the Lord, to walk in all well pleasing to him. I hawendeavored to keep close to the sacred pages, which are the grandstandard of Faith and Practice, and as many as walk accordingthis rule, peace be on them, and on the whole Israel of God.
p. 4The firstSubject I wish my brethren well instructed in is the Church of God. It must be allowed that the everblessed God, for the purposes of glorifying his grace, hathchosen a number of persons in Christ—that he gave them toChrist—that the Redeemer accepted them, and delighted inthem as his Bride—and though he foreknew their fall inAdam, yet he covenanted with the Father to be their Surety,Righteousness, and Mediator—to deliver them from the handsof their enemies by his precious sacrifice, and in due time tocall them by his holy Spirit, to the knowledge of himself; topreserve them in himself till called, and maintain them in thewilderness of th