OF BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S SUPPER.
1. Baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordinances of positive and sovereign institution, appointed by the Lord Jesus, the only Lawgiver, to be continued in his Church to the end of the world.
2. These holy appointments are to be administered by those only who are qualified, and thereunto called, according to the commission of Christ.
Similarly (Ch. XXVIII. W. C.; Ch. XXIX. B. C.):
OF BAPTISM.
1. Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament ordained by Jesus Christ to be unto the party baptized a sign of his fellowship with him in his death and resurrection; of his being engrafted into him; of remission of sins; and of his giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ, to live and walk in newness of life.
2. Those who do actually profess repentance towards God, faith in and obedience to our Lord Jesus, are the only proper subjects of this ordinance.
3. The outward element to be used in this ordinance is water, wherein the party is to be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
4. Immersion, or dipping of the person in water, is necessary to the due administration of this ordinance.
Chapters XXX., 'Of Church Censures,' and XXXI., 'Of Synods and Councils,' of the Westminster Confession are omitted. On the other hand, a chapter 'Of the Gospel and the Extent of the Grace thereof' is added from the Savoy Declaration, making Chapter XXX. of the Baptist Confession and the Savoy Declaration.
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]