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1. Having
been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God to receive
the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior; and, on the public
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 assembled witness, most solemnly and joyfully enter
into covenant with one another, as one body in
Christ.
2. 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, its ordinances, discipline, and
doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the
support of the ministry, expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spreading
of the gospel through all nations.
3. 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 of and the use
of all intoxicating drinks as a beverage, and to be
zealous in our efforts to advance the Kingdom of our
Savior.
4. We further engage to watch over one another in
brotherly love; to remember one another in prayer; to
aid one another 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 the Savior,
to secure it without delay.
5. We, moreover, engage that when we remove from this
place we will as soon as possible unite with another
church, where we carry out the spirit of this covenant and the
principles of God's Word. |