Springfield 1636-1886, History of Town and City, by Mason A. Green ...

SPRINGFrELI). 1636-1SS6. 245
That this Council expect tlie Dissatisfied Brethren not only to produce their
Objections against the ordination of Mr. Breck, hut also the Proofs and evi-
dences to support them ; and that if the Dissatisfied Brethren refuse to do so. we
shall think it our Duty to enquire into the principles of Mr. Breck, and, if we
find him to he orthodox, shall proceed to comply with the Desire of the Churcii
in this Place.
This vote did not mollify the dissatisfied wlio had put tliemselves
in the hands of the Hampshire association ; but after some negotia-
tions it was stipulated that the evidence of the dissatisfied should be
given with closed doors, and, accordingly, ^Ir. Clap and his witnesses
were locked into a chamber in Widow Brewer's hotise with the coun-
cil and the accused. It is believed that Mr. Breck was usually en-
tertained b}' INlrs. Brewer when visiting Springfield, and by that
means he became acquainted with her daughter Eunice, a young
woman of more than ordinary gifts of mind.
The exact history of that secret session of the council is not known,
but at some stage of the proceedings Mr. Breck was called upon to
submit a confession of faith. He promptly responded with a paper,
from which are taken the following extracts :
—
Mu. Brfxk's Confession of F.\irH.
T believe that there is a God whose Eternal Power and Godhead are to he
clearly seen from the thiiv^s whicli he has made, but I believe the light of Nature
IS no way sufficient to leail us into the true knowledge of what God is. . . .
I therefore acknowledge the necessity of a Divine Revelation and lielieve that
is to be found in the Books of the Old and New Testam'^ and in no other.
I believe that there is but one God who is over all blessed forever, yet
tiiat in the Unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son and
tlie Holy Ghost, who are the same in Substance and Equal in Power and Glory.
And as this is a Doctrine of Pure Revelation, so I look upon it to be of the Highest
Importance in Religion and on which the Greatest Truths of the Gospel do de-
pend. I believe that this one God hath from all Eternity Decreed and foreor-
dained in the Council of his own will whatsoever come to pass in time, yet so as
not to take away the will of his Creatures or make himself be y^' author of Sin.
I also believe that Adam beinij tlie Covenant as well as Natural