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Digitized by the Internet Archive

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http://www.archive.org/details/articlescovenantOOtabe

ARTICLES

AND

COYEJXANT

OF THE

TABERNACLE CHURCH

^iil^^lEs

ADOPTED MAY 8, 1786.

Revised, 1821 5 Reprinted, Feb. 1833.

BOSTON:

PRINTED BY PERKINS & MARVIN,

1833,

ARTICLES, &c.

The form of discipline and government of this church is to be Congregational, which we view to be agreeable to the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. These alone we believe to be of divine authority, and agreeably to these we consider the substance of the Plat- form agreed upon by the Assembly of Divines at Cam- bridge.

I.

That none shall be admitted into this church, but such as make a credible profession of cordial subjection to Jesus Christ, appearing in the judgment of the church to be persons of competent knowledge in things of reli- gion, the subjects of Christian experience, and of exem- plary conversation, agreeable to Hehreios, chapter iii. Platform, chapter iii. section 1.

II.

That the exercise of brotherly love be kept up in the church, by frequent conferences in private between mem- bers, as opportunity shall allow, and meetings of the church for prayer and religious conference, in which the members shall strive to promote the spiritual good of each other, by mutual instruction, exhortation, reproof, or con- solation, as the case may require, agreeably to Acts ii.

4 III.

That, in case of offence or scandal in any member, Christian discipline shall be exercised, with all humility and meekness, agreeably to the gospel, MaWieiv, xviii. and elsewhere. Particularly, when any member has rea- son to think any other is offended with him, he shall go and labor to be reconciled to his brother, by confessing his fault, if guilty, or by convincing his brother of his innocency, agreeably to Matthew v, 23. And on the other hand, if any brother be offended with any other, he shall go and tell him his fault in a private, humble. Christian manner, agreeably to Maitheiv xviii, 15 ; and if this step be not successful, he shall take with him one or two brethren, and labor for a Christian settlement of the difficulty, previous to any public steps of discipline in the case, by the church, as there directed.

IV.

That an offending member, being found guilty by the church, and not submitting, after the first and second admonition, administered with proper humility and so- lemnity, and after due long suffering, shall be rejected, and cut off from the church: see Titus iii. 10; Platform, chap. xiv. 6.

VI.*

Although the power which Christ has left in his church is ordinarily to be exercised under the leading and mode- ration of the Eldership ; yet this is not to be construed to preclude the church's right of acting, if necessary, when

* This article is numbered VI. instead of V. in order to make it correspond with certain references which are made to it, in the church records.

the Elders cannot be present, or when, though regularly applied to, they decline leading the church, and especially when the church have matters of complaint against the Elders, or either of them, to which they think it their duty to attend.

VII.

That this church will hold Christian communion with all the churches of Christ in all things in which we are mutually agreed, so far as there shall be opportunity, agreeably to chap. xv. Platform,

VIII.

That we will be ready to assist other Christian churches, with whom we are connected, by counsel, when desired; to admit their members to occasional communion in the Lord's Supper ; and to receive the sacraments at the hand of their pastors, according to Platform, chap. xv.

IX.

That, in cases of difficulty, which cannot be settled satisfactorily in the church, the advice of sister churches, by their pastors and delegates, shall be requested ; and when obtained, be complied with by all parties concerned, unless in their judgment they have weighty reasons to dissent; which reasons shall be offered to the council, when time and circumstances will admit of it, and, if otherwise, to the church, previous to a dissent, agreeably to Acts XV. Platform, chap. xvi. But in all cases within the contemplation of this article, a council is to be re- garded as advisory only, without any paramount control over the decisions of the church. 1 *

X..

That we do not think it our duty to receive to stated communion and membership (except in cases extraor- dinary) any members of churches with whom we are in fellowship, without the consent and recommendation of the church from whence they come, or the recommenda- tion of an ecclesiastical council, chosen agreeably to es- tablished usages in Congregational churches.

XI.

To prevent misunderstanding, and for the exercise of brotherly love, we think it expedient that members coming from other churches, previous to their admission, not only bring a recommendation from the church to which they belong, with consent to their joining in this ; but that they be made thoroughly acquainted with the principles, order and government of this church ; and whenever, in the judgment of the church, it may be deemed necessary, that they give a relation of their Christian experience, and state the reason of the hope that is in them — upon doing which, and consenting to the Articles and Covenant, they shall be received to membership, the church voting to. accept them.

XII.

Inasmuch as we are often exhorted in the word of God not to be conformed to the world, we hold ourselves bound to abstain from its vain amusements, and to do what we can to persuade those under our care to abstain from them, in as far as they appear to be inconsistent with the spirit and precepts of the Gospel. Ec. xi. 9. Rom. xii. 1, 2.

XIII.

Whereas there are many things as contrary to the gospel, as darkness is to light, which professors of religion sometimes make too light of; such as foolish talking and jesting; vain disputings about words and things, which edify not, but rather gender strife; spending time idly; unnecessary conversation on the Lord's day, &c. ; we think it for the glory of God, that we abstain from these and such like things, and will faithfully rebuke any of the members of this church, if at any time they are found ia these, or in any of these sinful practices: Epli. v. 11.

XIV.

Though no human compositions are of divine authority,, yet we look upon the Confession of Faith, and Shorter Catechism, agreed upon by the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, to be an excellent system of the doctrines of our holy religion.

XV.

That, in the choice of a Pastor, the church must obtain; satisfaction respecting the person's qualifications ^for the office, agreeably to the Apostle's directions to Timothy and Titus; respecting his experimental acquaintance with Christianity, as well as competent gifts, abilities, know- ledge and wisdom for the office, agreeable to chapter viii. sec. 4, o^ Platform.

xvr.

To prevent as much as possible any unconverted min- ister ever having the charge of this church, we think it necessary, that such persons as may be set over us in the Lord, should give the church a particular account of what God has done for them, by a work of grace upon their

8

hearts, and sign the articles of the church, before ordina- tion to the pastoral oflice over it.

XVII.

That we view it a principal part of ministerial work, besides preaching and praying publicly, and administering the ordinances of the Old and New Testaments, &c. to know the state of the flock, and for this end frequently to visit the poor, as well as the rich, to converse with them about the state of their souls; that he may more privately as well as publicly pull down the kingdom of Satan* and build up the kingdom of Christ in the hearts of his hearers.

N. JB. These Articles are considered as being adopted and signed with the following

COVENANT.

WE, whose names are underwritten, apprehending our- selves called of God into a gospel church state, deeply sensible how unworthy we are of so high a privilege, can- not but admire that rich and free grace which triumphs over so great unworthiness. But with humble reliance on the aids of that grace, which is promised to all, who, with a true sense of their guilt and ruin, return to God for pardon and help, we thankfully lay hold on his covenant. Avouching, this day, the Lord Jehovah, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, to be our God, our Father, our Saviour, and our Leader, we humbly give up ourselves to him, and receive him as our portion forever. We give up ourselves and our all to the blessed Jesus, whom we acknowledge as Almighty God, and, in the covenant of grace, engage to adhere to him, as head over all things to his church and people,, relying upon him as our Prophet, Priest, and

King, to bring us to eternal blessedness. We acknow- ledge our everlasting and indispensable obligations to glorify our God, in all the duties of a holy, sober and reli- gious life. Depending, therefore, on his powerful grace, we engage to walk together, particularly in a church state, in the faith and order of the gospel, as far as we shall have the same revealed to us by the word and Spirit of God ; conscientiously attending the worship of God in all its parts, in secret, in the family, and in public, upon the sacraments of the New Testament, baptism, and the Lord's supper, upon the discipline of his kingdom, and upon all his holy institutions. Declaring our firm belief of the Christian religion, as revealed in the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, and of such a view of it, substantially, as the Westminster Catechism exhibits, we heartily resolve to conform ourselves to it as long as we shall live in the world. Affectionately giving up ourselves to one another in the Lord, we solemnly covenant faith- fully to watch over each other, to seek the promotion of each other's spiritual good, to submit ourselves to the discipline and government of Christ in his church, and watchfully to avoid all sinful stumbling blocks and conten- tions, as become a people, whom the Lord hath bound up together in the same bundle of life. At the same time, we also dedicate our offspring with us to the Lord, pur- posing with his help faithfully to perform our duty to them in the methods of a religious education, that the Lord may be their God.

All this we do, relying on the blood of the everlasting covenant for the pardon of our many transgressions, and praying that the glorious Lord, who is the great Shepherd, would prepare and strengthen us in every good work to do his will, working in us that which is well pleasing in his sight; to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

LIST OF

THE

OFFICERS AND MEMBERS

OF THE

tabhhnilcimIi church.

February 1, 1833.

OFFICERS. Rev. John P, Cleaveland, Pastor.

Ordained 1827.

Deacons.

App.

	1804. Nehemiah Adams.
	1818. John Punchard.
	1827. Samuel	H. Archer.
	1831, Joseph Torrey.
	John Punchard, Clerh. Appointed 1793.
	MALE MEMBERS.
1780.	William SafFord.	1804. Joseph Farmer.
1783.	John Punchard.	1805. Josiah Woodbury.
<(	John Woodbury.	" John Foot.
1784.	Nathaniel Knight.	1808. Ephraim Greene.
1785.	John Adams.	1810. William Treadwell
1786.	Nehemiah Adams.	" T. Chamberlain.
1787.	James Stone.	" Eppes Brown.
1788.	William Jenkins.	1815. Jona. C. Kimball.
1797.	James C. Tuttle.	1818. Joseph Torrey.
(C	Daniel Bancroft.	1820. Harvey Brown.
1803.	David Perkins.	" William Knight.
1804.	John Gardner.	" Joshua H. Cross.
i(	Eliphalet Shorer.	1821. David Lord.

11

Benj. Goodhue, Jr.

Andrew Lord.

Eliphalet Jewett.

Jonathan Kenney. " Ebenezer T. Clarke. " Samuel D. Deland. " James Leighton. " S. Henderson, Jr. " Benjamin Obear. " Ephraim Brown.

1825. John Trask.

" Henry T. Aborn. " Benjamin Cutts. " George Mugford, " John Ellis. " James Harris. " Samuel H. Archer. " James K. Averill. " James Chase. " Ephraim Norwood.

1826. S. A. Chamberlain. " Charles D. Jackson.

1827. Stephen Driver, Jr. " Oliver Parsons.

1828. James Trask. " James Giles.

" William Nicholson. " Jonas Fiske. " William Peach. " Lemuel P. Stratton.

1829. Josiah Adams.

1830. 1831.	Benjamin A. Gray. Henry Fox. Ira A. Brewster.
(C (C (1	Epes Cogswell. Jonathan Perley. Nathaniel Appleton. Abel Lawrence.
((	John W. Archer.
le	John Marks.
i(	Nath'l. T. Moulton.
ie	Samuel Ferguson.
	Samuel W. Stickney. John Tuttle.
(I	L. Sewall Coburn.
(C	Francis P. Webster.
11 it i< i( <t	Joseph Hale. Elijah Haskell. Edward P. Cogswell Humphrey Cook. Samuel Adams.
is	Samuel H. Berry. John H. Stratton.
1832	Joseph Dewing. Edward A. Colcord.
n	Ezekiel Goss.
(C	John N. Goodhue.
(t	John N. Johnson,
le	John Janes.
i(	Cornelius Wasgatt.
a	Amos S. Wilkins.
u	Ebenezer Moulton,

No. of Male members, 89.

FEMALE MEMBERS.

1770.	Sarah Cloutman.	1804
((	Martha Ferguson.	((
1771.	R-ebecca Oliver.	((
a	Elizabeth Ireland.	a
1782.	Esther Ashby.	a
1783.	Lydia Cross.	it
178G.	Elizabeth Dennis.	((
((	Thankful Smith.	i(
SI	Kezia Punchard.	IS
a	Margaret Alley.	IS
1787.	Judith Curtis.	SI
((	Hannah Smith.	ss
((	Eliz'h. Whittemore.	ss
(<	Elizabeth Ingersoll.	se
C(	Elizabeth Symonds.	ss
((	Abigail Tuttle.	ss
((	Sarah Caldwell.	ss
1788.	Sarah Knight.	ss
((	Ann Chamberlain.	ss
1789.	Hannah Deland.	1805
1790.	Polly Jones.	St
1794.	Mary Ramsdell.	ss
1795.	Ann Briggs.	ss
li	Sally Nichols.	ss
n	Fanny Dickerson.	ss
a	Dorothy Dewing.	1806
a	Mary Perkins.	ss
1796.	Martha Cross.	SI
1797.	Hannah Felt.	ss
((	Rachel Morgan.	St
1798.	Hannah Morong.	1807
1799.	Elizabeth Tate.	ss
i(	Sarah Bancroft.	1808
((	Polly Osgood.	ss
1801.	Hannah Treadwell.	1809
18.93.	Zervia Worcester.	((
((	Sally Preston.	1810
((	Hannah Perkins.	ss
i(	Mary Tuttle.	ss

Lois Odeir. Sarah S. Barr. Mary Pitman. Hannah Noyes. Sarah L. Titcomb. Mary Winthrop. Mary Ford. Ruth Estes. Elizabeth Grant. Mary Millet. Rachel Brown. Hannah Glover. Sarah Benjamin. Polly Jackson. Hannah Joplin. Nancy Peirce. Mary Tucker. Abigail Smith. Betsey Henderson- Polly Hitchings. Tabitha Beadle. Hannah Kenny. Hannah Preston. Sophia Goodnow. Sally Brown. Elizabeth King. Sally Nick. Mary Harraden. Mary Neel. Hannah Symonds, Elizabeth Felt. Martha Lee. Mary Horton; Lydia Smith.. Procinda Batten. Mary Dix. Polly M. Coburn. Martha Bruce. Lucy Morgan.

IS

Catharine Learock. Mary Trask. Elizabeth Williams. Ruth Mugford. Lydia Moody. Lydia Dwyer. Mary Tilden. Nancy Holmes. Priscilla Bott. Susan Fox. Sally Bullock. Mary Pease. Dorcas Kent. Margaret Dewing. Mary Chamberlain. Lucy Boardman. Elizabeth G. Warner. Sarah Mclntire. Rachel Harraden. Sophia Burbank. Mary Heard. Eunice Trow. Betsy Smith. Mary Andrews. Lydia Thorndike. Mary Sheldon. Sally Emerson. Mary-Fuller. Mary G. Shays. Mary Gray. Phebe Hobart. Abigail P. Lawrence. Martha Jenkins. Dorcas Kimball. Abigail Lawrence. Hannah Lampreel. Elizabeth Valpey. Hannah Jones, 2d. Priscilla M. Dike. Mary C. Anderson. Eliz'h. C. Lawrence. Rebecca Adams.

1815.	Hannah Perkins, 2d.
1816.	Bridget Cross.
((	Mary W. Beckett
cc	Mary Lord.
ii	Margaret Felt.
1817.	Nancy Smith.
1818.	Mary Torrey.
1819.	Priscilla Goodhue.
(C	Elizabeth Goodhue.
<i	Susan Dennis,
It	Hannah Cross.
It	Mary Lampreel.
ti	Elizabeth Taylor.
tt	Hannah Brown.
((	Ann Brown.
1820.	Abigail Knight.
(C	Abigail Perkins.
tt	Lucretia R. Bowker.
tt	Mary H. Savage.
tt	Fanny Pomeroy.
tt	Sarah Blanchard.
tt	Nancy Towne.
1821.	Harriet Whipple
(C	Sarah Jefferson.
tt	Lucy Goodhue.
tt	Lucy Lord. '
tt	Rebecca Brown.
tt	Hannah Creamer.
ti	Mary Kimball.
It	Mary Ware.
tt	Sally Seccomb.
tt	Hannah Manning.
1822	Priscilla Manning-.
tt	Sybil Swinnerton.
it	Mehitable Adams-.
tt	Mary Obear.
tt	Rachel Rose.
It	Jane Smith.
it	Hannah Alley.
tt	Rebecca Ingalls.
ti	Mary Deland.
a	Deborah Foye,

14

1822. Hepsibah Johnson. " May Page.

" Hannah Carroll.

1823. Sarah Ropes.

" Hannah Dodge.

" Sarah Jewett.

" Mary W. Punchard.

" Clementine A. Foster.

" Mary Goodhue.

" Sally Benjamin.

" Eliz. B. Treadwell.

" Mary Gray.

1824. Rebecca King.

" S. Susan Lawrence.

" Asenath Perley.

" Caroline Ross.

" Betsy Parsons.

" Betsy Henderson.

" Jane Briggs.

" Ruth Page.

*' Sarah S. Mugford.

" Ann R. Bray.

" Hannah B. Cornelius.

" Eliza Towne.

" Lydia Pulsifer.

" Sarah Ball.

" Olive Ropes.

" Eliza Fletcher.

" Eliza E. Cutts.

" Sally Archer.

" Betsey Blanchard.

" Sally Wiggin.

" Lucinda Wilson.

1825. Lydia Fogg.

" Rebecca Trask.

" Eliza Punchard.

" Sarah B. Smith.

" Mary H. Blanchard.

'' Abigail P. Mugford.

" Eloisa Archer.

" Martha Allen.

" Mary H. Adams.

1825. Sarah Mclntire.

" Nancy Ellis.

" Abigail Smith.

" Joanna Ingalls.

" Pamela Winn.

" Hannah Stoddard.

" Rebecca Cole.

" Hannah Young.

" Betsy F. Chamberlain.

" Mary Tay.

" Elizabeth R. Tuttle.

" Harriet Beckford.

" Mehitable S. Adams.

" Prudence N. Jewett.

" Sarah Page.

" Ann Ludlow.

" Leah Barney.

" Mary Bigelow.

" Sally Norwood.

" Deliverance Curtis.

" Mary Gavett.

" Mary Richardson.

'* Mary Osgood.

" Tabitha R. Symonds.

" Lucretia Dennison.

" Sarah P. Wilson.

" F. H. Henderson.

" Betsy Harris.

1826. Betsey Fisher.

" Sarah B. Stratton.

" Mary Fogg.

" Eleanor Bixby.

" Abigail Knight.

" Abigail Tarr.

1827. Mary H. Punchard.

" Sophronia Punchard.

" Nancy Bowker.

" Lucy Ann Morgan.

" Mary I. Treadwell.

" Martha Dodge.

" Mary Chamberlain.

" Mary Pickering.

15

Frances Pomeroy. Elizabeth Parton. Mary Moses. Elizabeth Benjamin. Elizabeth Grush. Fidelia W. Archer. Mary Smith. Hannah Deland. Sarah Ann Dodge. Susan H. Cleaveland. Margaret A. Maskall. Mary W". Farrington. Margaret Henderson. Miriam Rust. Abigail Pettingill. Hannah Roberts. Hannah Hodgdon. Nancy Wilson. Abigail Muzzey. Mary Peach. Sarah Gale. Harriet Utson. Sarah Obear. Lydia Burnham. Abigail Burnham. Mary Mclntire. Mary Cadet. Mary Ann Worthen. Hannah M. Osgood. Nancy Webster. L. A. Treadwell. Eunice Hale. Elizabeth Emmerton. Susan F. Appleton. Ruth H. Prince. Harriet L. Pierson. Hannah P. Stevens. Eliza J. Kenny. Mary P. Kenny. Harriet W. Brown. Abigail Webster. Sarah Baker,

1830. Hannah Driver.

Sarah Buckman. Lucretia O. Sprague^ Eliza F. Punchard. Hannah Ames.

1831. Priscilla L. Rowell. Hannah Carroll, 2d. Mary S. Brewster. Rebecca Moulton. Hannah Little. Mary Bancroft. Love Stimpson. Sally P. Perley. Adeline Atkins. Mary Bell. Eunice Jewett. Sally Marks. Rebecca D. Russell. Deborah H. Archer. Mary B. Driver. Elizabeth Perkins. Susan Felt. Lois K. Brown. Elizabeth P. Knight. Sally Knight. Rebecca M. Ingalls. Mercy Ferguson. Clarissa B. Seccomb. Sarah Melcher. Louisa Fiske. Mary Hale. Sarah W. Appleton. Susan H. Lord. Susan E. Vanderfort, Susan Fox, 2d. Susan Lovejoy. Lucy Ann Glover. Mary Agee. Mary Ann Davis. Mary Ann KimbalL Martha S. Driver, Ann B. Porter.

16

1831. Jane P. Jewett.

" Priscilla W. Preston.

" Elizabeth Ingalls.

" Catharine Alley.

" Louisa Beckford.

" Ursula S, Phippen.

" Maria Harvey.

" Nancy Colby.

" Eunice E. Tuttle.

" Mary D. Tuttle.

" Philinda C. Knight.

" Sarah Adams.

" Cath. F. T. Adams.

" Eliz. L. Worcester.

" Dolly N. Bott.

" Elizabeth Dennison.

" Abby A. Webster.

1832. Sally Berry.

" Mary Symonds.

*' Mehitable Dinsmore.

Females, Males,

1832. Martha L. Kimball.

" Margarette Stevens.

*' Mary Ann Pitman.

" Mary Cleaveland.

" Sarah Farnum.

" Sarah Foster.

" Mary Ann Larabee,

" Sarah R. Jewett.

" Harriet Jewett.

" Jane Skinner.

" Lydia N. Wallace.

" Sarah G. Gale.

" Mary G. Robie.

" Susan Pomeroy.

" Elizabeth M. Berry.

" Eunice Rand.

" Mary Fitz.

" Mary W. Wilkins.

" Clarissa C. Lawrence^

371

89

Total No. of members, 460

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