(Marshall, William). A Display of the Religious Principles of the Associate Synod of North America : Revised by the Associate Synod, 1815. Albany: Webster & Wood, 1828. Fifth Edition, with Notes. [11419]
Full dry leather, front board detached, 7 1/4 x 4 1/4 inches. Former library copy, "Park College Library" stamped on title page, a few incidental markings, never had a card pocket or lending slip. 177, [1], pages, foxing, text block is tight. Good. Hardcover.
Originally written by William Marshall and first published in Philadelphia, 1794. "This volume contains all the printed papers which display the religious principles of the Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania, and the people of their communion."
It was the tradition of the Scottish Covenanters and their immediate church descendants to issue an historical and doctrinal record and defense of their religious principles. The history was an important part, an "approved" church history so to speak, that gave reasons for their dissent from the established or compromised church. They were called Reformation Testimonies, and in this book it takes up the first 72 pages, beginning with the Covenanters in Scotland, and then Ebenezer Erskine and the Associate Synod.
The next 100 pages or so is a detailed doctrinal statement, beginning with "We would not think it necessary to add any thing concerning the doctrines taught in our Confession of Faith, were it not that many of these doctrines are perverted or denied by some who profess to receive it as their Confession of Faith. It is, therefore, our duty to bear testimony for the truth, against those and other enemies with whom they join in opposing it."
"The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church is a small denomination, formed from the merger of the Associate (Seceder) and most of the Reformed Presbyterian (Covenanter) churches in Philadelphia in 1782. It is a theologically and socially conservative denomination and one of the oldest in the United States. In 1739, Presbyterian pastor Ebenezer Erskine led a group of Christians in leaving the Church of Scotland and forming a separate Associate Presbytery. Other similar offshoots had formed the Reformed Presbytery. These emigrated to Ireland, and later to the United States, establishing congregations from around 1750 to 1770, mostly in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. Some churches of the two movements came together officially in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1782. Another synod was formed of churches in South Carolina and Georgia in 1803 and still another in Texas. The northern Synod merged with the Associate Presbyterians in 1858 to form the United Presbyterian Church of North America." - wikipedia.
