Philadelphia 1742

Philadelphia Confession of Faith

A Confession of Faith
Put Forth by the Elders and Brethren
Of Many Congregations of Christians

(Baptized upon Profession of their Faith)
In London and the Country

Adopted by the Baptist Association Met at Philadelphia
September 25, 1742
To which are added Two Chapters, viz.
Of Laying on of Hands, and Of Singing of Psalms in Public Worship

It is apparent to me in reading the history of the Associational churches that they were using the 1689 London Confession of Faith here in North America. We can find this from the Philadelphia Associational minutes. This note, taken from 1724, states: "We refer to the Confession of faith, set forth by the elders and brethren met in London, 1689, and owned by us...."

On September 25, 1742 "the elders and messengers of the baptized congregations in Pennsylvannia and the Jerseys, met in Association at Philadelphia..." In that meeting "a motion was made in the Association for reprinting the Confession faith, set forth by the elders of baptized congregations, met in London, A.D. 1689, with a short treatise of church disipline, to be annexed to the Confession of faith" These notes are taken from the "Minutes of The Philadelphia Assoication from 1707 to 1807," edited by A.D. Gillette. The following is a copy of each article then printed by Benjamin Franklin in 1743. I want to thank Pastor John F. Daniel's, of the Free Baptist Church of Limerick, in Maine, for providing me with a digital copy of the these articles.
William L. Brown

Chapter I Of the Holy Scriptures

Chapter II Of God and the Holy Trinity

Chapter III Of God's Decree

Chapter IV Of Creation

Chapter V Of Divine Providence

Chapter VI Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment Thereof

Chapter VII Of God's Covenant

Chapter VIII Of Christ the Mediator

Chapter IX Of Free Will

Chapter X Of Effectual Calling

Chapter XI Of Justification

Chapter XII Of Adoption