Having been led, as we believe, by the
Spirit of God, To receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our
Saviour, and on the profession of our faith having been
baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of
the Holy Ghost, we do now, in the presence of God, angels
and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into
covenant with one another as one body in Christ.
We engage, therefore, by the aid of
the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to
strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge,
holiness and comfort; to promote its prosperity and
spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances,
discipline, doctrines; to give it a sacred preeminence
over all institutions of human origin; to contribute
cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry,
the expense of the church, the relief of the poor, and the
spread of the gospel through all nations.
We also engage to maintain family and
secret devotions; to religiously educate our children; to
seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to
walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our
dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in
our department; to avoid all tattling, backbiting, and
excessive anger; to abstain from the sale and use of
intoxicating drinks as a beverage, and to be zealous in
our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Saviour.
We further engage to watch over one
another in brotherly love; to remember each other in
prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to
cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in
speech; to be slow to take offence, but always ready for
reconciliation, and mindful of the rules of our Saviour to
secure it without delay.
We moreover engage that when we remove
from this place we will, as soon as possible, unite with
some other church of like faith and order, where we can
carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles
of God’s Word.