Part 24 (1/2)

2. Of course, an Officer who is receiving no salary, or only part salary, may accept food or other gifts, such as are needed to meet his wants; but it is dishonourable for any one who is receiving their salary to accept gifts of food also.

THE DOCTRINES OF THE SALVATION ARMY.

The princ.i.p.al Doctrines taught in the Army are as follows: --

1. We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament were given by inspiration of G.o.d, and that they only const.i.tute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice.

2. We believe there is only one G.o.d, who is infinitely perfect, the Creator, Preserver, and Governor of all things.

3. We believe that there are three persons in the G.o.dhead--the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, undivided in essence, coequal in power and glory, and the only proper object of religious wors.h.i.+p.

4. We believe that, in the person of Jesus Christ, the Divine and human natures are united, so that He is truly and properly G.o.d, and truly and properly man.

5. We believe that our first parents were created in a state of innocency, but by their disobedience they lost their purity and happiness; and that, in consequence of their fall, all men have become sinners, totally depraved, and as such are justly exposed to the wrath of G.o.d.

6. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has, by His suffering and death, made an atonement for the whole world, so that whosoever will may be saved.

7. We believe that repentance towards G.o.d, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and regeneration by the Holy Spirit, are necessary to Salvation.

8. We believe that we are justified by grace, through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and that he that believeth hath the witness in himself.

9. We believe the Scriptures teach that not only does continuance in the favour of G.o.d depend upon continued faith in, and obedience to, Christ, but that it is possible for those who have been truly converted to fall away and be eternally lost.

10. We believe that it is the privilege of all believers to be ”wholly sanctified,” and that ”the whole spirit and soul and body” may ”be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” That is to say, we believe that after conversion there remain in the heart of the believer inclinations to evil, or roots of bitterness, which, unless overpowered by Divine grace, produce actual sin; but that these evil tendencies can be entirely taken away by the Spirit of G.o.d, and the whole heart, thus cleansed from everything contrary to the will of G.o.d, or entirely sanctified, will then produce the fruit of the Spirit only. And we believe that persons thus entirely sanctified may, by the power of G.o.d, be kept unblamable and unreprovable before Him.

11. We believe in the immortality of the soul; in the resurrection of the body; in the general judgment at the end of the world; in the eternal happiness of the righteous; and in the everlasting punishment of the wicked.

DECLARATION.