Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1859-10-27
Daniel Webster's Confession ,of Faith.


Dr.. Smith, of Concord, N. H., has put in
to our hand the following letter Of Daniel
Webster TO Rev. Thomas Worcester, FORM
erly pastor of the Congregational Church in
Salisbury, n. H., which is accompanied
with confession Of his religious faith, both
Of which are in his own handwriting. Wc
have seen Mr.. Wsbster's name in the rec
ords of the Church in Salisbury, enrolled a.
rnong its mex bers, il we mistake MOI, about
the tine the letter below bears date. He
remained member Of that church till his
death. The letter and confession were new
er before published. They ere as follows:
BoscAwEE, Aug. 8, 1907.
DEAR SIR: The ether day we were cer!
versing respecting confessions of faith
Some time ago wrote down for nv own
uss few propositions in the shape of ar
tisles, intending TO exhibit very short sum-
nary Of the doctrines CT the Chris,ien re-
liglOn nS they impress my mind. l have To-
Ken Inc iiberty ia enclose copy for your
perussl. an sir, with respect, yours, sc.
d. WEBSTER.
/ bclisre in The existence CT Almighty
God, who created and governs the whole
wosld. 1 ala taught this by the works of
nature and the word Of revelation.
| believe that Goa exists in three per-
sons; this learn from revelation alcne.-
Nor is it any objection to this belief that I
cannot comprehend to-r one can be Three or
three one. 1 hold ii M duty TO believe, not
what can comprehend CT account for, but
what my Maker teaches rno. I
/ believe ihe ScEip,ures Of the Old and
New Testament 10 be tho will and word of
God. The miracles which he wrought es-
tablish, in my mind, his personal authority,
and render i. proper FOR me 70 believe what,
ever he asserts; l believe, therefore, all his
declarations, as well when he declares him
self the Sen Of God, as when he declares
any other proposition. And believe there
IS 10 other way Of salvation than through
The merits Of his afonsrsnt.
| believe that things past, present and 10
come, are equally present in the mind Of the
Deity; that with him there is no succession.
Of time, nor Of indeas; that therefore, the
relative terms past. present, and future, as
usued among men, cannot with strict pro-
priety, be applied TO Deity. believe in
the doctrines Of fore-knowledse and predes-.
tinatiOn, as thus expounded. / do not be-
lisre in those doctrines, as imposing any
fatality or necessity on mems actions, or
any way infringing free agency.
believe in the utter inability Of any hu-
man being TO work cut his own salvation
without the constant aid of the Spirit Of
Grace. s.,
believe in these grea, peculiarities OF
the Christian religiOn-a resurrection from
the dead and a day Of judgment. *
| believe in the universal Providencs CT.
Grd; urd leave to Epicurus, and his more
followers in modern times,
the inconsistency Of believing tina. God made,
a world which he does moi take the trouble
Of governing
although / hsve great respect for some
other forms of worship, believe the Con-.
gregatiOnal mode, on the whole, TO be pref
erable 10 any other.
Ibelieve religion te be matter not Of de-.
nomination, but of faith. God requiresu.
to give credit 10 lhe truths which he reveals.
not because we can prove them, but because
he declares lhem. When The mind is res-
sonaby convinced that The Bible is the word
Of iiOd, the only remaining duty is 10 reg
csive its doctrines, with full confidence CT
their truth, and practice them with pure
heart.
believe thai the Bible is 70 bs under
stood and received in the plain and obvious,
meaning of IFS passages; since l cannot pur-.
suads myself that book. intended for the
Instruction and conversion of the whole
world should cover IFS true meaning in such
mystery and doubt, that none bu, critics and
can discover it. -,
| believe that tha experiments and sub
letiss Of human wisdom are more likely 10
obscure than to enlighten the revealed will
IF God, and dthat he is most accomplished
Christian scholar who hath been educated
It the feet Of Jesus, and in the College sf
Fishermen.
Ibelisve that all true religion oonsists in
he heart and the affections, and that, there
ore, all creeds and confessions are. fall,bis
md uncertain evidences Of evangelical piety.
Finally, ] believe that Christ has impos-
d on all his disciples life of active benev-.
'lence; that he who relrains only from what
ls thinks to be sinful. has performed buts q,
'art, and a small part 0f bis duty; that be.
hound to do good and communicate. TO-
owe his neighbor, 10 give food and drinl; 10
lis enemy, and TO endeavor, so sar as in him
les, 10 promote peace, truth. piety and hap