............................................CHURCH COVENANT
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
properity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances,
discipline,
and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly
to the support of the ministry,
the expenses 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 devotion; 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 deportment;
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 offense, 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, where we can
carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God's
Word.