As a bond
of unity among us, this church accepts for its members the following covenant:
Having been led by the Holy Spirit to receive the
Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and on profession of our faith in Him, having
been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
we do now most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one
body in Christ.
We promise that we will watch over and counsel
one another in the spirit of brotherly love, that we will remember one another
in our prayers and that we will aid each other in sickness and distress.
We further agree, 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; and 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 further covenant to maintain family and
private devotions; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of
our kindred and acquaintances; to live carefully in this present 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 everything that will cause our brother to stumble or that will bring
reproach upon the cause of Christ; and to strive to grow in the grace and
knowledge of our Lord and Savior, that amidst evil and good report we will
humbly and earnestly seek to live to the honor and glory of Him who loved us and
gave Himself for us.
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.