128 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1785 



be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of the 



Faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name 



of the Holy Scriptures we do understand the canonical books of the 

 Old and New Testament. 



Of the names and numbers of the eanonical Books. 



Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, 

 Ruth, The ist Book of Samuel, The 2d Book of Samuel, The ist Book 

 of Kings, The 2d Book of Kings, The ist Book of Chronicles, The 2d 

 Book of Chronicles, The ist Book of Esdras, The 2d Book of Esdras, 

 The Book of Hester, The Book of Job, The Psalms, The Proverbs, 

 Ecclesiastes or Preacher, Cantica or Songs of Solomon, Four Prophets 

 the greater, Twelve Prophets the less. 



And the other books the Church doth read for example of life, and 

 instruction of manners ; but yet doth it not apply them to establish any 

 doctrine ; such are these following : 



The 3d Book of Esdras, The 4th Book of Esdras, The Book of Tobias, 

 The Book of Judith, The rest of the Book cf Hester, The Book of Wis- 

 dom, Jesus the Son of Sirach, Baruch the Prophet, The Song of the 

 three Children, The Story of Susanna, Of Bell and the Dragon, The 

 Prayer of Manasses, The ist Book of Maccabees, The 2d Book of 

 Maccabees. 



All the books of the New Testament, as they are commonly received, 

 we do receive and account them canonical. 



3. Of the Old and Nf.w Testament. 



There is a perfect harmony and agreement between the Old Testa- 

 ment and the New ; for in both, everlasting life is offered to mankind 

 by Christ, who is the only mediator between God and man ; being both 

 God and man : and altho' the law given by Moses, as to ceremonies 

 and the civil precepts of it, doth not bind Christians : yet all such are 

 obliged to observe the moral commandments which he delivered. 



4. Of Creeds. 



The creed, commonly called the Apostles' creed, ought to be received 

 and believed : because it may be proved by the Holy Scripture. 



5. Of Original Sin. 



By the fall of Adam, the nature of man is become so corrupt, as to 

 be greatly depraved, having departed from its primitive innocence, and 

 that original righteousness in which it was at first created by God. For 

 we are now so naturally inclined to do evil that the flesh is continually 

 striving to act contrary to the Spirit of God, which corrupt inclination 

 still remains even in the regenerate. But tho' there is no man living 



