|
Having been led by the Holy Spirit to receive the Lord Jesus
Christ as our Savior, and on the public confession of our faith,
having been immersed in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit, we do now, in the presence of God and
this assembly, solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with
one another, as one body in Christ.
We purpose, 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 attend its services regularly;
to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrines; to
give it a sacred preeminence over all institutions of human
origin; to give faithfully of time and talent in its activities;
to contribute cheerfully and regularly, as God has prospered us,
to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the
relief of the poor, and the spread of the gospel throughout all
nations.
We also purpose to maintain personal and family Bible study; to
train our children according to the Word of God; 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 conduct; to avoid all
gossip, backbiting and unrighteous anger; to abstain from all
forms of activity which dishonor our Lord Jesus Christ, cause
stumbling to a fellow believer or hinder evangelism; to be
zealous in our efforts to advance the cause of Christ, our
Savior, and to give Him preeminence in all things.
We further purpose to encourage one another in the blessed hope
of our Lord's return; 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 Savior, to seek it without delay.
We moreover purpose that when we remove from this place we will
as soon as possible unite with some other church of like faith
and order where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and
the principles of God's Word. In the event there is no such
church, we shall seek, with the Lord's help, to establish one.
|