Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-12-17
UNITARIAN CREED.

4 =
in the city of New-York:
cit is agood custom, that, when a.
| bout to lay the first stone OF building
to be dedicated TO God and his worT
ship, we assemble together and ask his
blessing on the work, and that to those
who are standing around, we declare
the motives by which we are actuated,
and explain the principles OF the chris
tian faith in which We commence SO IN
teresting labor.
| We began, then, the building Of
this house Of prayer, that the in.
creasing numbers of those who are
believers in the stric, unity OF God, and
lovers of real christian liberty, may
have a convenient place where they
NAV gather themselves together, and
unite in the solemnilies OF social wor,
ship; where they may pray to the only
God, through the only Mediator; where
they may hear the doctrine OF Christ
preached, as they think, in first simpll'
city, and where they may be built up
together in the knowledge and obedi'
ence of the truth as il is in Jesus. With
the greater attention that is daily Civ
en- BY christians, of every name, to the
discovery of,ruth and the detection OF
error, and with the increase Of our CT
ty, it has necessarily happened, that
the number of Unitarian believers has
greatly multiplied, and that more am,
Die accommodations for religious wor.
Ship are needed. 1t is to meet this
| want, that we have begun to lay the
foundation Of this house of prayer
When, four years ago, the building OF
the first congregational church was
commenced in this place, it was little
thought, that in so short time, the e.
rection of second would become ne
cessary. But, through the blessing OF
God on the cause of pure christianity,
the most ardent anticipatfons OF. those
who first entered into this field of ho-
norary labor have been more than an
.swered, and we hope and pray, that, be-
fore an equal period shall have elapsed,
through the continued blessing OF hea-
ven, another will have been begun and
completed.
To those who stand here, and some
of whom may be ignorant of the princi-
plies of that christian faith which we
profess, and in behalf Of which we be-
gin this church, to them, and to all
who are here present, would say, that
we lay this stone, the corner OF a chris
tan temple, in the firm and happy be-
lief Of one God, the Father, Almighty,
wise, just, good, and merciful; the God
of our lives, and the God of our saliva
ton. Rejecting, as the inventions OF
benighted age of the church, all dis
,inc,ion Of person in the Deity, anc all
ideas of his character that do not COM
port with the parental relation which
he susta:ns 10 his creatures, we begin
house, where God may be worship.
ped as the only God, the Father with
out equal, without partner, through
faith in Jesus Christ, his well-beloved
son, our Saviour and Redeemer. Be-
lieving thus, as we think, on most GER
tain warrant of holy scripture, we look
up with humble confidence for the
blessing of Almighty God on our un-
dertaking.
We lay this stone, as joyful believ-
ers in Jesus Christ: as believers in the
divinity of his mission; in the supreme
authority Of his doctrine; in the mil a
cles which he wrought, by the power
Of COD, in confirmation of the truths he
uttered; as believers in his prophelical
and mediatorial character; that he is
the only true prophet Of God; that his
religion is the only one that has God
for It's author, and the true happiness
of men for its end; that all the COM
mands, precepts, and institutions of Je-
sus have the force and delegation Of di'
vine commands, precepts, and institu-
tons; that he is the only appointed me-
dunn of approach to God by prayer;
that in his name all acceptable worship
must be offered up; that the rejection
of him is the rejection Of God; that
they who despise him despisehim who
sent him. And we hope that they who
believe thus in Christ; will, ere, long
enjoy holy and happy communion,
through him, with the father of their
spirits; will here receive new strength,
their good principles be confirmed and
settled, their virtuous habits be estab-
lished, their devout affections be en-
liyened and purified; that this house
will, indeed, be then the house Of God,
and the gate of heaven.
We lay this stone, in belief Of the
christian doctrine of a resurrection from
the dead, and Of state of righteous re-
tribution beyond the grave; in the be-
lief that all they, who, according to the
light they have, lead viItuous and de-
vout lives, shall, through the infinite
mercy of God, declared in Jesus Christ,
be received to eternal life and Joy; and
that the unjust-all they who despise
the riches Of his goodness, forbearance
m n n