RULES FOR THE SPIRITUAL GOVERNMENT

OF

THE SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

PREAMBLE.

Necessity for these Rules.

ALTHOUGH this Church adopt "the Confession of Faith, and Form of Government, and Discipline of the Presbyterian Church in the United States," as the rule of their faith and practice, yet inasmuch as there are several matters in the mode of government and discipline, left there undetermined, by which a variety of practice is introduced into the churches, under the care of the General Assembly, the following additional rules are adopted.

RULE I.
Elders.

The Elders of the Church shall be elected by the male members, and shall be ordained with the imposition of hands, in the presence of the congregation.

RULE II.
Elders.

All such elections shall be decided by a majority of twothirds of the members present, who shall have two weeks notice of the nomination of candidates for that office; which nomination shall be made by the Session then in office.

RULE III.

Admission to the Church.

No person shall be admitted a member of this church who does not, on examination by the Pastor, or officiating minister, gives satisfactory evidence of a renewal of heart, and of faith and repentance towards God.

RULE IV.

Admission to the Church.

All applications for admission to church membership, shall be made to the Session, through the Pastor. And notice of

such intended application shall be given as long as possible before some regular meeting of the Session.

RULE V.

Admission to the Church.

The Session shall examine every candidate prior to admission.
RULE VI.
Public Profession.

All who may be admitted to membership, shall make a public profession of their faith, and enter into solemn covenant with Almighty God, in the presence of the congregation, on the morning of the Sabbath, on which the sacrament is administered.

RULE VII.

Form of Public Admission.

The following shall be

THE FORM OF PUBLIC ADMISSION TO THE

CHURCH.

ADDRESS TO THE CANDIDATES.

You have thus presented yourselves* before Almighty God, with a view to dedicate yourselvest to his service, and to be received as members of his visible church. By a public contract you are about to surrender yourselves to your Creator: to avouch the Lord to be your God; Jesus Christ your Redeemer; and yourselves his servants forever. You are surrounded by witnesses who attest the compact into which you enter. The all-seeing eye of Jehovah is upon you: and his holy angels are spectators of this scene. Brethren, we trust you have not rashly come up hither. And in this confidence we invite you to approach, with a holy boldness, unto the great Head of the Church; casting all your anxieties and cares upon Him, and relying on Him alone for grace and strength, to fulfill your solemn engagements.

PROFESSION OF FAITH.

You believe that there is one true God constituting in his incomprehensible essence, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, three persons in one Godhead. You believe in the divine inspiration of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament; and that they contain the only rule of faith and practice. You believe

*The singular or plural may be used as required.

tor to renew your dedication. This may be used when any one joins on certificate.

in the fall of man, in his entire depravity by nature, and in the necessity of repentance towards God, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. You believe, that by his humiliation, obedience and death, Christ made such a satisfaction to divine justice, as is sufficient to expiate all sin, and to remove and wash away all the guilt incurred by both original and actual sin, from all who rest upon him in truth and sincerity. You believe in the doctrines of a general resurrection, and future judgment; in the everlasting blessedness of the righteous, and in the endless punishment of the finally impenitent.

COVENANT.

And now in the presence of these witnesses, you do solemnly surrender yourselves to the Lord Jehovah, receiving him as your portion, and acknowledging him to be the supreme object of your love. Depending upon divine grace for assistance, you hereby sacredly bind yourselves to glorify God by obedience to his laws, and by a diligent observance of his ordinances. You promise to separate yourselves from the world, so far as its engagements would cool your attachment to piety, or bring a stigma upon your holy profession. You are willing, to consecrate a reasonable proportion of your time, influence, and property, to the cause of Christ; to co-operate in every good work; to live not unto yourselves, but unto him who died for you; and in your closets, in your families, and in the world, to act as becometh the gospel of Christ; and as you are required in the word of God. You pledge yourselves, to obey the laws and regulations of this particular church, and to submit to its discipline, while you continue members of the same, throwing yourselves upon its care, and affectionately regarding its interests.

CONCLUDING ADDRESS.

Beloved in the Lord, your engagement is sealed now. You have formed a contract which no power on earth can dissolve. These engagements will follow you through time, and accompany you to the judgment seat.

We who are members of this church, affectionately welcome you to a fellowship with us. We hail you as participants in the same glorious hope and blessings of the gospel.

And now when you depart from this place, carry with you the salutary recollection, that the eyes of the world are upon you, and that as you henceforth conduct yourselves, religion will be disgraced or honored. Remember that your engagement is not with man, but with God. The negligence therefore, or the folly, or the coldness of others around you, can never furnish excuse for your own dereliction. You stand or fall, each one of you by yourselves. Abide then, near a throne 7-VOL. V.

of grace; be diligent in duty, watchful in life and conversation; and you shall be assured of the fulfillment of that promise "that he who has begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."

RULE VIII.

Admission on Certificate.

Yet although these shall be the regulations for admission, they shall be considered applicable only to such as have not been members of another church, with whom we are understood to be in full fellowship. Applicants from such a church, who present a certificate of good standing, and whose characters are known to be pious and exemplary, are not required to enter into public covenant, they having engaged in that act in the church from which they are translated. The voluntary renewal of such a profession before this church, is however considered proper and highly beneficial to themselves and others. The names of such persons after admission, shall be read from the pulpit.

RULE IX.
Baptism.

The ordinance of baptism shall be administered in public; except under extraordinary circumstances.

RULE X.

To Whom Administered.

Baptism shall not be administered to infants, except where at least one of the parents is a member of the church in good standing; or to such as are in the opinion of the pastor, fit subjects.

RULE XI.
Discipline.

Every member of this church may expect the strictest exercise of discipline, (according to the Confession of Faith, and Form of Government of the Presbyterian Church) when offence is given.

RULE XII.

Neglect of Communion.

Any member absenting himself from the communion twice in succession, shall be called upon by the Session for his reason for this neglect. And if no proper reason be given, he shall

be dealt with, by the Session, for such neglect, in such ways as they may think proper.

RULE XIII.

Signing the Rules.

Every member of the Church on being admitted by the Session, shall sign his or her name to these Rules, in the Record of Church Members, as a pledge of their fidelity to their engagements, and as a memorial for future times.