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"And they entered into covenant
to seek the Lord God of their fathers
with all their heart and with all their soul."
(II Chronicles 15:12)
Having to be led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and on profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of God and Father, and of the Son Jesus, and of the blessed 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 promise by the aid of the Holy Spirit to forsake the paths of sin, and walk the ways of holiness all the days of our lives. With this view, we engage to strive together in 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 contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the church, relief of the poor, and the spread of the gospel throughout all nations.
We also engage to maintain family and secret devotions; to educate our children religiously; to seek salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings; faithful in our engagements; exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger; to abstain from the sole use of intoxicating liquors as a beverage; and to be zealous in all our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Savior.
We further engage to walk together in Christian love and watchfulness, giving and receiving admonition with meekness and affection; 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, and to secure it without delay. We moreover engage that when we move from this place, we will as soon as possible unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of the covenant and the principles of God's Word.
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