Our
Covenant
Having
given ourselves to God, by faith in Christ, and adopted the Word of God
as our rule of faith and practice, we now give ourselves to one another
by the will of God in this solemn covenant.
We
promise, by His grace, to love and obey Him in all things, to avoid all
appearance of evil, to abstain from all sinful amusements and unholy conformity
to the world, from all sanction of the use and sale of intoxicating beverages,
and to "provide things honest in the sight of all men."
We
agree faithfully to discharge our obligations in reference to the study
of the Scriptures, secret prayer, family devotions, and social worship;
and by self-denial, faith, and good works endeavor to "grow in grace and
the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
We
will not forsake the assembling of ourselves together for church conferences,
public worship, and the observance of the ordinances of the Gospel; nor
fail to pay according to our ability for the support of the church, of
its poor, and all its benevolent work.
We
agree to accept Christian admonition and reproof with meekness, and to
watch over one another in love, endeavoring to "keep the unity of the Spirit"
in the bonds of peace, to be careful of one another's happiness and reputation,
and seek to strengthen the weak, encourage the afflicted, admonish the
erring, and as far as we are able, promote the success of the church and
of the Gospel.
We
will everywhere hold Christian principle sacred and Christian obligations
and enterprises supreme; counting it our chief business in life to extend
the influence of Christ in society, constantly praying and toiling that
the kingdom of God may come, and His will be done on earth as it is in
heaven.
To
this end we agree to labor for the promotion of educational and denominational
enterprises, the support of missions, the success of Sunday schools, and
evangelistic efforts for the salvation of the world. And may the God of
peace sanctify us wholly, and preserve us blameless unto the coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ.