The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1866-10-03
wEBsTER'sCoNFEssIoN or FAITH


our hand the following letter OF Daniel
Webster to Rev. Thomas Worcester. for
merIy pastor Of the Congregational church
in Salisbury, N. H.. which Is accompani-
edwith confession ofhis religious faith,
both OF which are in his own handwriting.
We have seen Mr.. Webster's name IN the
records Of the church in Salisbury enrolled
among the members, if we mistake not,
about the time the letter below bears date.
He remained a member OF that church till
his death. The letter and confession were
never before published. They are as fol-
lows;-- Salem Register. june aad.
Boscawen, Aug. 8, 1903.
DEAR Sra THE other day We were con-
versing respecting confessions Of faith.
Some time ago wrote down for my own
use few propositions in the shape of ar
ticies, intending to exhibit very short
summary OF the doctrines Of the Christian
religion as they impressed my mind. |
have taken the liberty TO enclose copy Tor
your perusaI. am, sic, with respect,
yours. &C.. ID. WEBSTER.
believe in the existence Of Almighty
God, who created and governs the whole
world. AN taught this by The works Of
nature and the word Of revelation.
believe that God exists in three per-
sons this learn from revelation alone
Nor is il any objection 10 this belief that
cannot comprehend how one can be three
in one. hold j, my duty 70 believe. not
what can comprehend and account for,
but what my Maker teaches us.
believe the Sc, ip,ures Of the Old and
New Testament 10 be the will and word Of
God.
believe Jesus Christ 10 be the Son of
God. The miracles which lie wrought, ss-
tablish in my mind his personal authority.
and render il proper for me 70 believe what.
ever he asserts; believe. therefore, all his
declarations. as well when he declares him.
self the Son &C God, a. when he declares
any other proposition. And believe there
il no other way Of salvation than through
the merits of his stonement,
believe that things past, present. and
90 come are all equally present in the mind
of the Deity: that with him there is no
succession Of time, nor ideas; that there.
fore, the relative terms past, present and
future, as used among men. connut with
strict propriety, be applied 10 Deity. |
believe in the doctrine Of predestiustion,
as thus erpounded. do no. believe in
those doctrines as imposing any fatality or
necessity on mems actions, or in any way
infringing free agency.
I believe in the utter inability Of any
human being 10 work out his owu salvation,
without constant aids Of the Spirit Of all
grace.
believe those great peculiariiies Of the
christian religIon--a resurrection from The
dead and day Of judgment.
believe in the universal providence Of
God and leave TO Epicurus, and his more
unreasonable followers in modern times,
the Inconsistency OF believing that Gud has
made world which he does not take the
trouble Of governing.
Although have great respect for some
other forms Of worship. believe The Con.
gregstI0nal mode, on the whole, 10 be pre-.
ferable 10 any other.
believe religion t. be q matter mt uf
demonstration, but ol faith. Cod requires
u to give credit to the truths which he re-
scals. not because we can prove them, but
because he declares them. When the mind
y reasonably convinced that the Bible il the
word Of God. the only remaining duty is To
receive It's doctrines with full confidence of
their truth, and practice them with pure
heart.
believe that the Bible is TO be under.
stood and received in the plain and obvious
meaning Of its passages; since | cannot
persuade myself that book intended for
instruction and conversion Of the whole
world, should cover its true meaning 10
such mystery and doubt that none but
critics and philosophers can discover il.
believe the experiments and subtleiies
oihuman wisdom are more likely TO obscure