II. I believe, that there is but One only, living, and true God; that there are Three Persons in the Godhead, who are equal in nature, power, and glory; and, that the Son and Holy Ghost, are as truly and properly God, as the Father. These Three divine Persons are distinguished from each other by peculiar relative properties. These Three divine distinct Persons, I profess to reverence, serve, and worship, as the One true God.
III. I believe, that before the World began, God did elect a certain number of Mankind unto everlasting life, whom he did predestinate to the adoption of Children, by Jesus Christ, of his own free grace, and according to the good pleasure of his will; that he appointed holiness as the means; and that no one has a right to consider himself as a chosen vessel, till he is effectually called by the grace of God. [6]
IV. I believe, that God made all things in Creation, out of nothing, to display his goodness, wisdom, power, and glory; and, that by the same power, he upholds and governs, rules and directs all things in Heaven and Earth; and, that he displays his sovereignty according to the counsel of his own will, or his eternal plan, formed before all Worlds.
V. I believe, that there is one Mediator between God and Man; the Man, Christ Jesus; that he stood in his mediatorial capacity as our representative and head, in the covenant of eternal redemption and grace; engaged to be all that to his people, they could possibly need in time, and their bliss through eternity.
VI. I believe, that God made Man upright; but mutable and liable to fall: and, being left to the freedom of his own will, through the influence of Satan, he broke the covenant of works, and fell from the Image of God; that all Mankind sinned in him and fell with him, as their head and representative; and both him and his posterity became liable to the curse and penalty of a violated law.
VII. I believe, that all Mankind are conceived and born in sin, Children of disobedience, enemies to God, violaters of his commands, averse to good, prone to evil, Children of wrath, obnoxious to the justice of God, and the condemnation of his law: and I believe, that no Creature can help or deliver himself, out of that wretched state into which he has fallen. I solemnly believe, that this is the state of all Men by nature.
VIII. I believe, that according to the eternal appointment of God the Father, and the Covenant engagements of the dear Redeemer, that, in the fulness of time, God sent his Son into the world to redeem fallen Men; that part of the human race, that was given him in eternity; that their redemption was obtained by the shedding of his blood; that this redemption is special and particular, designed only for the elect of God, the Sheep of Christ, who only share the special and peculiar blessings of it. And, in order to accomplish our redemption, I believe, it was necessary that the Redeemer should take upon him our nature, a human body and soul, created and formed by God the Spirit, conceived in the womb of the Virgin Mary, born of a Woman, made under the law, that he might redeem his people from it; work out a righteousness adequate to its demands, make an atonement by suffering the death of the Cross, satisfy divine Justice, glorify all the attributes of Deity, and open a way, for the communication of all those blessings, which are needful for the Saints of God, both for time and eternity.
IX. I believe, that the matter of the Sinners’ justification before a holy God, is the righteousness of Christ imputed to them; which is, his perfect, spotless obedience to the law, in their room and stead, without the consideration of any works done by them; and, that the full and free pardon of all their sins, past, present, and to come, is only through the blood of Christ, according to the riches of his grace; and, that none can be justified in any other way. This righteousness being seen by the eye of faith, and embraced by the hand of faith, we are manifestly justified and freed from the law; that, being dead wherein we were held, we live to God, and by love serve the Lord, having our fruit unto holiness, and the end, eternal life. [9]
X. I believe, that all the objects of eternal love, the subjects of his choice, and the purchase of the Redeemer’s blood, are effectually called in one way or another, by the efficacious and irresistible grace of God the divine Spirit; and not by an act of Man’s free will and power. I believe they are washed, justified, and sanctified, in the name and by God the Spirit, in some part of their lives.
XI. I believe, that all Saints are kept by the mighty power of God, through faith, to eternal Salvation; and, that as sure as they are called, justified, and sanctified, they will infallibly persevere: because of the perpetuity of God’s love, the liability of his covenant, and his faithfulness to his absolute promises.