Having been led, as we
believe by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as
our Savior 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
advancement of this Church, in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to
promote its prosperity 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
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 drink as a beverage, and to be zealous in our efforts
to advance the Kingdom of our Savior.
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 our Savior 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.