"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 joyfully
enter into covenant with one another as
one body of 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 preeminence 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 all
products and practices which defile the
body, 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
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 Savior to
secure it without delay.
We, moreover, engage that when we remove
ourselves from this place, we will as soon
as possible unite with another church of
like faith, where we can carry out the
spirit of this covenant and the principles
of God's Word."
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Excerpt taken from the covenant of Grace
Baptist Church |