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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 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 and
doctrines; to give it a sacred pre-eminence over all
institutions of human origin; 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 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
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 rule 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. |