Daily Republican., 1889-11-20
DANIEL wEBslER's CREED.

A letter has recently come into the
hands OF writer In The Congregation
alist, In which Daniel Webster has set
down few propositions in the shape of
articles, which arc Intended ito exhibit
a short summary OF the doctrines of the
Christian religion" as they impressed
bis mind. TIE document Is dated Bos-
cawen, N. H., August s, 1907. 1t is
thought that this is the statement which
he read TO the Congregational church In
franklin upon HIS being admitted to the
membership OF that church. This is not
unlikely, az the date of his admission
was September 10, 1907. The recsnt
centennial anniversary OF his birth has to
n great extent revived the interest In Mr..
Webster, and this "confession of faith"
Will undoubtedly be read by many peo-
Pic with interest.
confession or FAITH.
believe IN the existence oi Almighty
God, who created and governs the whole
world. am taught this by the works
OF nature and the words OF revelation.
] believe that God exists In three per-
sons; that learn from revelation alone.
Nor is II any objection to the belief that l
cannot comprehend how one can be three,
or three one. hold 1t my duty to be.
lieve, not what / can comprehend or
account for, but what my Master teaches
me.
believe the Scriptures of the Old aud
New TestAments to be the will and word
of God. believe Jesus Christ to be the
Son OF God. The miracles which He
wrought establish In my mind His per-
personal authority. and render 1t proper
Tor me to believe whatever He asserts. /
believe, therefore, all His declarations, as
well when He declares himself to be the
eon OF God, as when He declares any
other proposition. Aud l believe there
Is no other way Of salvation than through
the merits OF His atonement.
] be ieve that things past, present and
to come are all equally present In the
mind of Deity; that with Him there is no
succession Of time, nor of ideas; that,
therefore, the relative terms, past, present
and future, as used among men, cannot,
with propriety, be applied to Deity.
/ believe la the doctrines OF fore
knowledge and ptedestiuation as thus
expoundod. 1 do not believe In those
doctrines as impsiring any necessity on
mems actions, or In any way infringing
Tree agency.
believe In the utter inability OF any
human being to work ont his own saliva
ton without the constant aid of the
Spirit OF all grace.
| believe In those great peculiaritles OF
the Christian religion, q resurrection from
the dead and day OF judgm, Mt
believe III the universal providence of
God; and leave to Epicurus, and his more
unreasonable followers In modern times,
the Inconsistency OF belieiii e that God
made world which he does not take tue
trouble OF governing. CDR. Sherlook.)
Although l have great respect for
other forms Of worship, believe the Con-
gregational mode, on the whole, prefer.
able to any other. believe religion to
be a matter, not OF demonstration, but OF
faith.
God requires us to give credit to the
truths which lie reveals, not because We
can prove them, but because He declares
them. When the mind Is reasonably
convinced that the Bible 10 the Word OF
God, the only remaining duty is to re-
ceiye Its doctrines with full confidence OF
their truth aud practice them with pure
heart.
l believe thatthe Bible Ia to be under.
stood and received IN the plan and obvl-
Gus meaning OF its passage; since cannot
persuade myself that book intended for
the instruction and conversion of the
whole world should cover It's true mean
ng in any such mystery and doubt that
none but critics and philosophers can
discover It.
believe that the reflnenents and sub.
tleties OF human wisdom are more likely
to Obscure than to enlighten the revealed
will { God; and that he Is the most &C.
complisbed Christian scholar who hath
been educated at the feet OF Jesus and 10
the college of fishermen.
believe that all true religion consistt
In the heart and the affections, and thai
therefore all creeds and confessions ar,
faliihle ard uncertain evidences Of evan.
Relical piely.
Finally, believe that Christ has i'm.
posed ON all His disciples q life OF active
benevnlence; that lie who refrains onl,
from what he thinks to be sinful has per
formed but Q part, and q small part, o.
his duty; that he Is bound TO do good
and to communicate; to love his neigh
Dor, and TO give food and drink to hi.
enemy; and to endeavor, as far as In him
lies, 10 promote peace, truth, piety and
happiness In a wicked and forlorn world
believing that In the great day which II
to come, there will be no other standard
of merit, no other criterion of character
than that which is already established
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