A Confession of Faith
Put Forth by the Elders and Brethren
Of Many Congregations of Christians
(Baptized upon Profession of their Faith)
In London and the Country
Adopted by the Baptist Association Met at
Philadelphia
September 25, 1742
To which are added Two Chapters, viz.
Of Laying on of Hands, and Of Singing of Psalms in Public Worship
It is apparent to me in reading the history of the Associational churches that they were using the 1689 London Confession of Faith here in North America. We can find this from the Philadelphia Associational minutes. This note, taken from 1724, states: "We refer to the Confession of faith, set forth by the elders and brethren met in London, 1689, and owned by us...."
On September
25, 1742 "the elders and messengers of the baptized congregations in Pennsylvannia
and the Jerseys, met in Association at Philadelphia..." In that meeting "a
motion was made in the Association for reprinting the Confession faith, set forth by the
elders of baptized congregations, met in London, A.D. 1689, with a short treatise of
church disipline, to be annexed to the Confession of faith" These notes are taken
from the "Minutes of The Philadelphia Assoication from 1707 to 1807," edited by
A.D. Gillette. The following is a copy of each article then printed by Benjamin Franklin
in 1743. I want to thank Pastor John F. Daniel's, of the Free Baptist Church of Limerick, in Maine, for
providing me with a digital copy of the these articles.
William L. Brown
Chapter I Of the Holy Scriptures
Chapter II Of God and the Holy Trinity
Chapter V Of Divine Providence
Chapter VI Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment Thereof
Chapter VIII Of Christ the Mediator
Chapter X Of Effectual Calling
Chapter XIII Of Sanctification
Chapter XV Of Repentance Unto Life and Salvation
Chapter XVII Of the Perseverance of the Saints
Chapter XVIII Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation
Chapter XX Of the Gospel and of the Extent of the Grace Thereof
Chapter XXI Of Christian Liberty, and Liberty of Conscience
Chapter XXII Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day
Chapter XXIII Of Singing of Psalms & etc.
Chapter XXIV Of Lawful Oaths and Vows
Chapter XXV Of the Civil Magistrate
Chapter XXVIII Of the Communion of Saints
Chapter XXIX Of Baptism and the Lord's Supper
Chapter XXXI Of Laying On of Hands
Chapter XXXII Of the Lord's Supper
Chapter XXXIII Of the State of Man After Death, and of the Resurrection of the Dead
Chapter XXXIV Of the Last Judgment