The New Hampshire Baptist Confession. A.D. 1833

(The New Hampshire Confession.)

[This Confession was drawn up by the Rev. John Newton Brown, D.D., of New Hampshire (b. 1803, d. 1868), about 1833, and has been adopted by the New Hampshire Convention, and widely accepted by Baptists, especially in the Northern and Western States, as a clear and concise statement of their faith, in harmony with the doctrines of older confessions, but expressed in milder form. The text is taken from the Baptist Church Manual, published by the American Baptist Publication Society, Philadelphia.}

Declaration of Faith.

I. OF THE SCRIPTURES.

We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired, and is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction;²⁰⁶² that it has God for its author, salvation for its end,²⁰⁶³ and truth without any mixture of error for its matter;²⁰⁶⁴ that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us;²⁰⁶⁵ and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the world, the true centre of Christian union,²⁰⁶⁶ and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.²⁰⁶⁷

II. OF THE TRUE GOD.

We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, whose name is Jehovah, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth;²⁰⁶⁸ inexpressibly glorious in holiness,²⁰⁶⁹ and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love;²⁰⁷⁰ that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost;²⁰⁷¹ equal in every divine perfection,²⁰⁷² and executing distinct and harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.²⁰⁷³

III. OF THE FALL OF MAN.

We believe that man was created in holiness, under the law of his Maker;²⁰⁷⁴ but by voluntary transgression fell from that holy and happy state;²⁰⁷⁵ in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners,²⁰⁷⁶ not by constraint, but choice;²⁰⁷⁷ being by nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God, positively inclined to evil; and therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin,²⁰⁷⁸ without defense or excuse.²⁰⁷⁹

IV. OF THE WAY OF SALVATION.

We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace,²⁰⁸⁰ through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God;²⁰⁸¹ who by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon him our nature, yet without sin;²⁰⁸² honored the divine law by his personal obedience,²⁰⁸³ and by his death made a full atonement for our sins;²⁰⁸⁴ that having risen from the dead, he is now enthroned in heaven;²⁰⁸⁵ and uniting in his wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfections, he is every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate, and an all-sufficient Saviour.²⁰⁸⁶

V. OF JUSTIFICATION.

We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ²⁰⁸⁷ secures to such as believe in him is Justification;²⁰⁸⁸ that Justification includes the pardon of sin,²⁰⁸⁹ and the promise of eternal life on principles of righteousness;²⁰⁹⁰ that it is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer's blood;²⁰⁹¹ by virtue of which faith his perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us of God;²⁰⁹² that it brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God, and secures every other blessing needful for time and eternity.²⁰⁹³

VI. OF THE FREENESS OF SALVATION.

We believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel;²⁰⁹⁴ that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent, and obedient faith;²⁰⁹⁵ and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel;²⁰⁹⁶ which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation.²⁰⁹⁷

VII. OF GRACE IN REGENERATION.

We believe that, in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated, or born again;²⁰⁹⁸ that regeneration consists in giving a holy disposition to the mind;²⁰⁹⁹ that it is effected in a manner above our comprehension by the power of the Holy Spirit, in connection with divine truth,²¹⁰⁰ so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel;²¹⁰¹ and that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance, and faith, and newness of life.²¹⁰²

VIII. OF REPENTANCE AND FAITH.

We believe that Repentance and Faith are sacred duties, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God;²¹⁰³ whereby being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ,²¹⁰⁴ we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy;²¹⁰⁵ at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as our Prophet, Priest, and King, and relying on him alone as the only and all-sufficient Saviour.²¹⁰⁶

IX. OF GOD'S PURPOSE OF GRACE.

We believe that Election is the eternal purpose of God, according to which he graciously regenerates, sanctifies, and saves sinners;²¹⁰⁷ that being perfectly consistent with the free agency of man, it comprehends all the means in connection with the end;²¹⁰⁸ that it is a most glorious display of God's sovereign goodness, being infinitely free, wise, holy, and unchangeable;²¹⁰⁹ that it utterly excludes boasting, and promotes humility, love, prayer, praise, trust in God, and active imitation of his free mercy;²¹¹⁰ that it encourages the use of means in the highest degree;²¹¹¹ that it may be ascertained by its effects in all who truly believe the gospel;²¹¹² that it is the foundation of Christian assurance;²¹¹³ and that to ascertain it with regard to ourselves demands and deserves the utmost diligence.²¹¹⁴

X. OF SANCTIFICATION.

We believe that Sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of his holiness;²¹¹⁵ that it is a progressive work;²¹¹⁶ that it is begun in regeneration;²¹¹⁷ and that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter, in the continual use of the appointed means—especially the Word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer.²¹¹⁸

XI. OF THE PERSEl'ERANCE OF SAINTS.

We believe that such only are real believers as endure unto the end;²¹¹⁹ that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors;²¹²⁰ that a special Providence watches over their welfare;²¹²¹ and they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.²¹²²

XII. OF THE HARMONY OF THE LAW AND THE GOSPEL.

We believe that the Law of God is the eternal and unchangeable rule of his moral government;²¹²³ that it is holy, just, and good;²¹²⁴ and that the inability which the Scriptures ascribe to fallen men to fulfill its precepts arises entirely from their love of sin;²¹²⁵ to deliver them from winch, and to restore them through a Mediator to unfeigned obedience to the holy Law, is one great end of the Gospel, and of the means of grace connected with the establishment of the visible Church.²¹²⁶

XIII. OF A GOSPEL CHURCH.

We believe that a visible Church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers,²¹²⁷ associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel;²¹²⁸ observing the ordinances of Christ;²¹²⁹ governed by his laws,²¹³⁰ and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by his Word;²¹³¹ that its only scriptural officers are Bishops, or Pastors, and Deacons,²¹³² whose qualifications, claims, and duties are defined in the Epistles to Timothy and Titus.

XIV. OF BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S SUPPER.

We believe that Christian Baptism is the immersion in water of a believer,²¹³³ into the name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost;²¹³⁴ to show forth, in a solemn and beautiful emblem, our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life;²¹³⁵ that it is prerequisite to the privileges of a Church relation; and to the Lord's Supper,²¹³⁶ in which the members of the Church, by the sacred use of bread and wine, are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ;²¹³⁷ proceeded always by solemn self-examination.²¹³⁸

XV. OF THE CHRISTIAN SABBATH.

We believe that the first day of the week is the Lord's Day, or Christian Sabbath;²¹³⁹ and is to be kept sacred to religious purposes,²¹⁴⁰ by abstaining from all secular labor and sinful recreations;²¹⁴¹ by the devout observance of all the means of grace, both private²¹⁴² and public;²¹⁴³ and by preparation for that rest that remaineth for the people of God.²¹⁴⁴

XVI. OF CIVIL GOl'ERNMENT.

We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society;²¹⁴⁵ and that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed;²¹⁴⁶ except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ,²¹⁴⁷ who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the Prince of the kings of the earth.²¹⁴⁸

XVII. OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED.

We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked;²¹⁴⁹ that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in his esteem;²¹⁵⁰ while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in his sight wicked, and under the curse;²¹⁵¹ and this distinction holds among men both in and after death.²¹⁵²

XVIII. OF THE WORLD TO COME.

We believe that the end of the world is approaching;²¹⁵³ that at the last day Christ will descend from heaven,²¹⁵⁴ and raise the dead from the grave to final retribution;²¹⁵⁵ that a solemn separation will then take place;²¹⁵⁶ that the wicked will be adjudged to endless punishment, and the righteous to endless joy;²¹⁵⁷ and that this judgment will fix forever the final state of men in heaven or hell, on principles of righteousness.²¹⁵⁸