The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1865-03-23

trees, were cnt clean of, us though
they had been trimmed with an
immense scythe. This monster
when measured was fifty ono feet,
two inches aud half in extreme
length, while round the thickcst
part of tho body its girth was
nearly three feet, thus proving, |
believe, TO be the largest serpent
that was over automatically heard
I OF.
Daniel Webstors Confession oil
Faith.
--nr. Smith, of Concord, N. H.,
mas puo '''si npr hand tho follow
ing letter OF Dam,N Webstor to
Rev. Thomas Worcester, ioruv.i,,
pastor of the Congregational
Church at Salisbury N. H., which
is accompanied wifi II confession
of his religious nIith, both ol
which are in his own hand writ
ing. We have seen Mr.. Web
ster's name in the records of the
church in Salisbury, enrolled
among its members, live mistake
not, about the time the letter below
bears date. lie remained n mem.
her of that church till his doath.--
This letter and confession were
never before published. They arc
as follows:
BosoAwi-N, Aug. s, 1907.
DEAR SIR:-Thc other day we
were convorsing respecting con.
fcssions of faith. Sometime ago |
wrote down for my own use u few
propositions in the shape of arti-
clos, intending to exhibit vefy
short summary ofthe doctrines of
the Christian religion as they i'm
press my mind. | have taken
the liberty to enclose u copy for
your perusM.
| am, sir, with respect, yours &c',
u. WEBSTER.
believe in tho existence of Al
mighty God who created and gov
erns the whole world. lam taught
lnlS Uy lnU WINS Utnotuio y oud thV
word of revelation.
| beliovo that God exists in
three persons this can lcarn
from revelation alone. Nor is it
any objection to this belief that !
cannot comprehend how ono can
be three or throo one. | hold it
my duty to believe, not what | can
comprehend or account for, but
what my maker teaches mo,
| believe tho Scriptures of the
Old and New Testament to be tho
will and word of God.
| believe Jesus Christ to be the
Son Of God. The miracles which
he wrought establish, in my mind,
his personal authority, and render
il proper to me to believe what
ever he asserts; believe, therefore,
all his declarations, as well when
he declares any other proposition.
And | believe there ia no other
way of salvation but through the
merits of his atonement.
| believe that things past,
present aud to come, are all equal.
" present in tho mind of tho
Deity; that with him thero is no
succession of time, nor Of ideas
that, therefore, the relative terms
past, present aud ,hture, as used
among men, cannot with strict
propriety, be applied to Deity.
| believe in the doctrines offoro.
knowledge and psedestination, rs
thus expounded. I do not believe
in those doctrines, ms imposing
any fatality or necessity on mems
actions, or in any way infringing
free agency.
believe in those great peculi-
arities of the Christian religion--a
resurrection from the dead and al
day of Judgment.
believe in tho universal Pro
videnco of God; aud leave the
Epicurus, and his moro uureason.
bic followers in modern times, the
Inconsistency Of believing that
God made n world which he docs
not take the trouble ef governing.
believe that the. Bible is to be
understood and received in the
plain and obvious meaning Of its
passages, since | cannot persuade
myself that u book intended for
the instruction and cosverson Of
tho whole world, should cover it's
true meaning in such mystery and
doubt, that mono but critics and
philosophers can discover it
Finally, | believe that Christ has
imposed on all his disciples a life
of active benevolenco; that the re,
strains only from what no thinks to-
be sinful, has performed but a
part, small part of his duty.
that be is bound to do good and
communicate, 20 love his neighbor,
SO far as in him lies, TO promote
peace, truth, piety and happiness
in wicked and iorlorn world, be-
lieving that in the great day which
is to come, there will be no other
standard of merit. no other criter.
ion OF character, than that which ia
ALREADY established. Shy their
fruits ye shall know them.b