What Baptists believe; the New Hampshire confession, an exposition ...

Front matter

Class &U S T Book , W 3

Copyrights?

COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT.

Preface

This book is for the use of young people. Its eighteen chapters may be regarded as extended paraphrases of the eighteen articles of the New Hampshire Confession of Faith.

There are many repetitions. These are connected with those fundamental truths which relate themselves closely to several of the articles. For this reason, and because the whole purpose here is to teach, and repetition is necessary in teaching, there has been no attempt to avoid repetition.

Each chapter is divided into numbered sections, and at the close of the chapter there are questions corresponding to these sections. Those who wish to study th Scriptures upon which the declarations of the New Hampshire Confession are based will find them indicated in connection with the several articles. These articles are printed before the corresponding chapters.

This Confession was chosen for the present purpose because it is the formula of Christian truth most commonly used as a standard in Baptist churches throughout the country, to express what they believe according to the Scriptures. It has been adopted, too, within the last few years, with the modification of a single word, by the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary at Fort Worth, Texas, as a suitable expression of its doctrinal character and life. For helpful comparison and study an Appendix is added which presents "Abstract of Principles of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary" at Louisville, Ky.

It is only just to say, however, that these great creedal statements of Christian faith, notwithstanding their essential agreement and conspicuous use, would not be quoted singly or jointly as exercising authority over the belief of anyone. Yet in an eminent and almost commanding way they represent the things which are most surely believed among a great people, who recognize the Scriptures alone as the one supreme standard of religious belief and practice.

The Pastor's Study, O. C. S. Wallace.

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH,

Baltimore, March, 1913.