USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Contributions to the ecclesiastical history of Essex County, Mass., 1865 > Part 31
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Inverhill North Ch. .
TABLE OF ANNUAL ADDITIONS TO THE CHURCHES - Continued.
2
1
0
0
0
0
13
16
2
1
0
0
0
3
5
15
7
8
4
4
0
0
3
Ipswich Ist Church
.
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
6
0
0
1
0
0
0
6
2
0
6
1
0
0
2
1
Newbury Ist Ch. .
·
3
.
0
5
5
0
5
5
0
3
0
6
10
0
2
6
4
3
0
3
11
9
0
0
0
0
0
0
6
1
0
0
Bradford .
0
1
·
1
1
7
0
1
1
I
2
0
0
0
0
I
3
2
0
2
4
1
2
1
2
2
0
West Haverhill
1
.
.
.
1
0
Newb'port North Ch. .
Newburyport 4th Ch.
21
19
18
*
4
2
2
2
0
ADDITIONS TO THE CHURCHES.
West Amesbury
0
3
U
3
4
1
2
1
0
1
1
3
1
1
1
1
0
27
1
0
West Boxford
1
1
0
1
1
0
0
1
1
0
0
Georgetown
1
4
0
3
8
2
6
11
0
5
Rowley .
6
6
4
Haverhill Ist Ch.
8
3
4
2
0
0
1
# From 1811 to 1831, 107 were added.
+ From 1804 to 1811, 32 were added.
0
3
Salisbury Ist Ch.
.
2
2
2
2
16
294
TABLE OF ANNUAL ADDITIONS TO THE CHURCHES - Continued.
1816 1817 1818 1819 1820 1821 1822 1823 1824 1825 1826 1827 1828 1829 1830 1831 1832 1833 1834 1835 1836 1837 1838
Ipswich Ist Church .
1
6
0
1
9
5
3
2
1
18
12
3
4
5
95
11
8
1
5
1
9
2
2
Newbury Ist Ch. .
2
6
0
10
1
5
4
3
1
2
6
8
10
3
37
48
16
45
7
10
1
9
Salisbury Ist Ch. .
7
0
2
1
3
3
14
2
2
3
14
8
0
16
3
16
1
4
2
0)
0
2
Rowley . .
0
3
4
2
1
5
0
2
5
1
0
3
5
4
1
21
33
6
3
6
12
4
53
W. Newbury Ist Ch. .
6
1
0
0
0
0
11
7
0
0
0
9
4
0
0
33
41
1
2
0
0
0
2
Newbury Byfield Ch. .
0
5
3
0
22
0
2
9
0
0
1
7
8
11
0
55
1
24
0
11
6
2
Salisbury 2d Ch. . .
0
0
0
0
6
7
0
2
0
0
0
1
12
2
11
0
1
25
0
0
14
0
Newburyport Ist Ch. .
1
1
0
1
5
2
0
0
3
1
0
0
1
1
24
3
1
25 79
37 30
5
5
0
0
6
1
Groveland
3
2
0
11
67
10
0
0
1
0
3
1
2
0
0
0
2
19
49
15
1
9
3
3
11
W. Newbury 2d Ch.
14
10
6
0
1
5
6
4
2
2
0
1
0
2
13
1
1
61
21
3
4
24
1
3
0
Georgetown
5
0
1
0
8
0
6
0
1
3
5
0
0
29
2
4
5
29
17
2
4
5
1
1
15
West Haverhill .
0
0
0
0
0
15
6
3
2
0
0
0
0
2
1
4
4
16
2
0
2
0
0
4
West Boxford
0
3
3
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
0
0
12
1
0
0
22
2
0
0
East Haverhill
1
0
1
2
0
1
0
3
2
1
7
12
8
4
39
12
15
4
18
3
1
10
0
Newb'yport North Ch.
2
14
1
0
34
12
13
34
20
22
8
10
11
4
8
73
49
23
66
0
11
3
13
Newburyport 4th Ch.
7
4
2
0
2
4
0
2
2
0
0
1
12
0
2
36
55
2
30
2
5
3
3
Newb'rt Belleville Ch.
11
27
10
43 9
20
15
5
32
Haverhill Centre Ch. .
28
14
13
6
Amesbury & Salisbury
Haverhill Winter St. .
Newb'rt Whitfield Ch.
Haverhill North Ch. .
· Became a Unitarian church about this time.
.
.
Bradford .
0
0
1
4
0
0
0
0
1
7
0
54
1
2
4
19
2
0
0
9
West Amesbury . .
1
0
0
9.
1
3
0
0
0
0
.
.
1
1
Ipswich 2d Ch.
38
12
4
84
4
8
0
83
10
7
59
10
Amesbury Mills . . .
THE CHURCHES OF ESSEX NORTH.
·
.
I
2
3
*
6
0
Haverhill Ist Ch.
.
0 *
18
4
2
2
·
TABLE OF ANNUAL ADDITIONS TO THE CHURCHES - Continued.
1839 1840 1841 1842 1843 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860
4 26
5
2
4
Ipswich Ist Church
9
5
2
1
6
2
1
1
6
4
1
0
0
8
3
0
0
13
0
2
0
52
4
4
Newbury Ist Ch. . . ·
4
4
8
3
2
5
3
8
Salisbury Ist Ch.
·
8
3
1
1
9
0
5
3
18
3
6
49
4
0
4
26
0
2
14
21
4
2
Haverhill 1st Ch.
9
14
9
4
12
6
0
23
1
3
10
6
5
6
27
2
14
43
11
4
Bradford .
2
1
0
2
1
0
3
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
13
0
8
0
55
3
2
Newbury Bvfield Ch.
0
2
0
1
1
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
31
0
0
3
16
1
3
0
0
0
10
9
2
Newburyport Ist Ch. .
4
31
3
0
0
8
12
10
1
0
3
5
11
5
3
4
39
3
9
24
3
0
West Amesbury . .
14
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
=
0
0
4
29
1
0
4
8
0
1
Groveland
6
2
5
3
2
3
2
5
1
1
3
29
3
2
2
1
0
17
7
22
0
1
W. Newbury 2d Ch.
35
4
0
I
20
5
3
2
13
6
9
3
0
0
6
4
2
12
8
0
8
21
6
0
·
·
1
0
0
0
0
2
-
0
0
3
8
0
0
1
0
0
7
0
0
9
0
1
West Boxford
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
0
17
7
50
2
2
1
11
0
2
6
4
4
1
Newb'yport North Ch.
16
10
9
10
4
5
3
5
I
14
7
26
3
3
6
2
1
7
0
4
3
71
4
1
Newburyport 4th Ch.
31
11
10
7
0
3
2
6
12
16
10
62
6
5
9
6
27
2
9
1
1
10
65
8:
4. 12
Amesbury Mills . .
10
10
4
13
8
7
3
5
1
4
0
16
15
7
0
0
15
4
10
6
11
Newh'rt Belleville Ch.
13
0
9
31
1
1
1
0
3
10
8
Haverhill Centre Ch. .
Amesbury & Salisbury
13
4
0
7
2
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
15
1
2
0
7
0
0
12
0
0
Haverhill Winter St. .
67
29
14
4
21
11
16
3
59
14
6
Newh'rt Whitfield Ch. Haverhill North Ch. .
-
30
4
4
9
7
3
·
·
·
3
5
Ipswich 2d Ch.
11
1
9
7
22
18
3
48
0
0
West Haverhill
6
2
0
6
0
0
2
0
25
0
0
0
2
2
6
2
10
1
14
1
8
58
4
2
Georgetown
2
1
0
12
1
=
ADDITIONS TO THE CHURCHES.
49
10
52
20
14
17
7
1
8
14
2
3
5
17
2
13
14
7
8
9
60
8
6
0
0
1
31
28
W. Newbury Ist Cli. .
Salisbury 2d Ch. . . .
8
5
1
East Haverhill
2
295
105 22
5
Rowley . . .
SKETCHES OF CHURCHES.
CHURCH IN AMESBURY AND SALISBURY (MILLS VILLAGE).
BY REV. T. D. P. STONE.
THIS church was organized December 6, 1831.
First pastor, Joseph HI. Towne, installed March 5, 1834; dismissed October 30, 1836.
Second pastor, Seth II. Keeler, installed December 7, 1836; dismissed October 7, 1839.
Third pastor, Samuel H. Merrill, installed September 16, 1840; dis- missed November 5, 1844.
Stated supply, John H. Mordough, from December 15, 1844, to April 29,1849.
Fourth pastor, Rufus King, ordained April 17, 1850; dismissed May 17, 1853.
Stated supply, N. Lasselle, from November 6, 1853, to April 6, 1856.
Fifth pastor, A. C. Childs, installed November 19, 1856; dismissed August 11, 1858.
Present pastor, T. D. P. Stone, from February 27, 1859.
CONFESSION
OF FAITH.
1. You believe in the eternal existence of Jehovah, the Creator and Ruler of the universe; and that all his accountable creatures ought to render him perfect obedience forever.
2. You believe that the Bible was given by inspiration of God; and that it contains the perfect and only infallible rule of faith and practice.
3. You believe that Jehovah reveals Himself to us, as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, - to whom we are required to pay equal and undivided honors.
4. You believe that Jehovah is possessed of infinite moral excellence ; and that he administers a perfect moral government over the universe.
297
SKETCHES OF CHURCHES.
5. You believe that he also administers a providential government, which extends to all events, great and small ; that to him alone belongs the glory of the saved ; and the impenitent in sin perish through their own voluntary perverseness.
6. You believe that the gospel of Christ finds mankind in a state of sin and condemnation, utterly destitute of that holiness without which no man shall see the Lord ; and that we must consequently become renewed in the spirit of our minds, before we can enter the kingdom of God.
7. You believe in the incarnation, obedience, suffering and death, resurrection and ascension, of Jesus Christ ; that he alone, by his suffer- ing and death, hath made atonement for sin ; and that he ever liveth to make intercession for us.
8. You believe it to be the duty and the privilege of Christians, to make visible profession of their faith in Christ ; receiving and applying the ordinance of baptism and the Lord's Supper, as instituted by Christ and practised by his Apostles.
9. You believe the future existence of the soul ; that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked - a day of final judg- ment; that all will receive according to their works; that the wicked will go away into everlasting punisliment, and the righteous into life eternal.
COVENANT.
You do now solemnly give up yourselves to God the Father, as your God, your Father, and your eternal portion ; you give up yourselves to Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, as your Prophet, Priest, and King, relying upon him alone for salvation ; you give up yourselves to the Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier and Comforter, relying on him alone for sanctification and all spiritual aid.
Depending on divine grace for assistance, you engage to glorify God, by a faithful observance of all the ordinances and institutions of the Christian religion, and by exhibiting the light of a pure example to the world.
You especially engage to walk in Christian fellowship with this church, ever willing to give and receive counsel, or reproof, with a spirit of kind- ness, and watchfully avoiding whatever is contrary to purity, peace, and love, as become the disciples of the meek and lowly Jesus.
All this you do, flying to the blood of the everlasting Covenant for the pardon of your sins, and beseeching the glorious God to sustain and guide you, in his perfect way, to the end of this life, and thien to receive you to himself, where is fulness of joy, and to his right hand, where are pleasures forevermore.
38
298
SKETCHES OF CHURCHES.
We, therefore, the members of this church, affectionately receive you to our communion and fellowship; and on our part, engage to watch over your spiritual interest, and walk with you, in all the ordinances of the Gospel, as becometh saints. And may God, of his infinite mercy, give us grace to be faithful to each other, while we live; that we may be admitted, at last, through the merits of Christ, to the everlasting fel- lowship of saints and angels, in the presence of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
In 1851, it was voted that this church, in the present enlightened state of the public mind in regard to the evils and the remedies of in- temperance, feel themselves required, by the spirit of the gospel, to refrain entirely from the manufacture, sale, or use of ardent spirits, except as an article of medicine.
This church, when organized, consisted of eleven members, -
Admitted at divers times before the settlement of a pastor, by profession,
15 ; by letter, 10, 25
Admitted under Rev. Mr. Towne, by profession, 30; by letter, 30, 60
Admitted under Rev. Mr. Keeler, by profession, 59 ; by letter, 20, 79
Admitted under Rev. Mr. Merrill, by profession, 67 ; by letter, 34,
Admitted under Rev. Mr. Mordough, by letter, 101
13
Admitted under Rev. Mr. King, by profession, 27; by letter, 11, 38
Admitted under Rev. Mr. Lasselle, by profession, 16; by letter, 1, 17
Admitted under Rev. Mr. Childs, by profession, 14; by letter, 9, 23
Present number, 173
CHURCH IN WEST AMESBURY.
BY REV. L. THOMPSON.
The Second Congregational Church in Amesbury (First in West Amesbury) was organized May 19, 1726. The following are the dates of the ordination or installation of the pastors, together with the dates of their death or dismission :
Rev. Paine Wingate, ordained June 15, 1726 ; died Feb. 19, 1786.
Rev. Francis Welch, ordained June 3, 1789 ; died Dec. 15, 1793.
Rev. David Smith, ordained Jan. 28, 1795 ; dismissed May 22, 1800.
Rev. Samuel Mead, installed June 6, 1804 ; died March 28, 1818.
Rev. Peter S. Eaton, ordained Sept. 20, 1826 ; dismissed May 10, 1837.
Rev. Lucius W. Clark, installed Nov. 1, 1837 ; dismissed Aug. 31, 1842.
Rev. Henry B. Smith, ordained Dec. 29, 1842; dismissed Sept. 29, 1847.
299
SKETCHES OF CHURCHES.
Rev. Albert Paine. ordained Sept. 7, 1848 ; dismissed April 11, 1854. Rev. Leander Thompson, installed Sept. 20, 1854.
The following is the Confession of Faith and Covenant adopted by the church at the organization, May 19, 1726, - the Rev. Messrs. Wells, Cushing, Parsons, Tufts, and Brown being present to assist in the ser- vices of the occasion :
CONFESSION. ·
1. We believe the truths contained in the Holy Scriptures to be the Word of God, wherein he hath revealed his will ; and that they are the only rule of the obedience of faith, containing in them all things neces- sary to be known, believed, and obeyed in order unto life.
2. That there is but one God, subsisting in three persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, who alone is to be worshipped in spirit and in truth, with whatsoever else the Scriptures do reveal concerning God, his attributes, worship, word, and works.
3. The doctrines of the decrees of God ; that the counsel of the Lord standeth forever, and the thoughts of his heart to all generations (Psalms 33 : 11) ; concerning election, reprobation, that God hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began (2 Tim. 1: 9), and that the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded (Rom. 11 : 7).
4. That God executes his decrees in the works of creation and provi- dence, working all things after the counsel of his own will.
5. That God made man, male and female, upright, - entered into a covenant of works with them, and promised life in case of obedience, and threatened death in case of disobedience ; and that man was endned with a power and ability to the free choice of his own will, and so, fall- ing, accordingly subjected himself and all his posterity unto the death threatened in case of disobedience.
6. That, therefore, God was pleased to enter into a covenant of grace with fallen men, - freely offering life and salvation by Jesus Christ. re- quiring faith in them that they may be saved, and promising his Spirit to enable them to believe.
7. That God, according to an eternal covenant of redemption, or- dained the Lord Jesus Christ, and, in the fulness of time, sent him into the world clothed with our nature and infirmities, yet without sin, being God and Man in One Person, to be a Mediator between God and man, the great and beloved Prophet, Priest, and King, Head and Saviour of his church, Heir of all things, and Judge of the world.
8. The truth of the doctrine of Conception, Incarnation, Birth, Life,
1
300
SKETCHES OF CHURCHES.
Death, Burial, Resurrection, Ascension, and Glorification at the right hand of his Father, where he ever liveth to make intercession for all.
9. That Christ ever hath his church in all ages of the world, which he will redeem, govern, and preserve, and, in time, by his Word and Spirit, effectually call and make partakers of the benefits of redemption : our Justification, Adoption, Sanetification, and Glorification.
10. That the Holy Spirit is the Author and Fountain, the Giver and Worker of all grace, spiritual good, and consolation, and of the efficacy of the means of grace unto our souls, - quickening, enabling, and direct- ing us, according to his Word, to live unto God in the obedience of faith, in the exercise of repentance, and every other grace.
11. The doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints, - that those whom God hath accepted in Christ, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be kept by the mighty power of God through faith unto salvation.
12. The doctrine of Justification by Faith in Christ, his Righteous- ness imputed to us, by which alone we can be saved.
13. The doctrine of the Christian Sabbath, the necessity of the Com- munion of Saints for the worship of God, and edification of themselves under all his ordinances.
14. That Baptism and the Lord's Supper are the only sacraments of the New Testament, and the appointments of our Lord Jesus Christ, to be attended upon to the end of the world, together with all other means of grace for our edification.
15. The doctrine of the Resurrection of the Body of the Just and Unjust, and the Last Judgment, when Christ shall judge the world in righteousness, and render to every one according to his works ; and then the righteous shall go into life eternal, but the wicked into everlasting punishment with the devil and his angels.
COVENANT.
Forasmuch as the Lord hath accepted us, sinful wretches, into cove- nant with his Majesty in Christ, we therefore avouch the Lord to be our God, and make firm and sure covenant with his Majesty, and one with another (through the grace of Christ), to give up ourselves to him, to submit to his government, and all his holy ordinances, - acknowledging him for our Prophet, Priest, and King; to walk before him in all things according to the rule of his Word, shunning all atheism and anti-Chris- tianism, with all other errors and pollutions in the worship of God. We do also bind ourselves to walk together with the church, and all the members of it, in mutual love and watchfulness, to the building up each
301
SKETCHES OF CHURCHES.
other in the faith and love of our Lord Jesus Christ ; to yield obedience to his holy will, and to carry on the duties of his worship in public and private, according to gospel order and institution. Hereby craving help at God's hands for performance hereof, we do also, with ourselves, give up our seed unto the Lord, to be his people, and to submit under the watch and discipline of this church, according to the rules of Christ.
There have been changes, in repeated instances, in both the Confession and the Covenant, but the dates cannot now be ascertained. In all cases, however, the change has been only in phraseology, and not at all in doc- trine. The object seems to have been to condense the substance of the original articles into briefer terms. One exception to this occurred on a day of humiliation, prayer, and fasting, April 2, 1730, when the whole church, male and female, rose from their seats, and publicly " owned and acknowledged," the brethren with uplifted hands, a new covenant, which was much longer, more full, and more solemn, than the original covenant adopted at the organization of the church.
The church has been blessed with revivals throughout its whole his- tory, some of them of great power : but, owing to the loss of a portion, and the imperfection of all the records, until within a few years, it is impossible now to give their exact dates, or any details of their history.
It is not known that there have ever been any rebellions or secessions, or, except in an occasional instance of an individual, any defections from the faith of the gospel.
UNION EVANGELICAL CHURCH OF SALISBURY AND AMESBURY.
Organized Oct. 14, 1835. Has had three settled pastors, - Rev. John Gunnison, installed Dec. 31, 1835; dismissed Nov. 1, 1836. Rev. J. B. Hadley, ordained Sept. 2, 1837; dismissed April 19, 1848. Rev. James M. Bacon, installed June 25, 1851 ; dismissed Oct. 9, 1855. The following is its first and only Confession of Faith and Covenant :
CONFESSION OF FAITH.
1. You believe that there is one God only, - that He is self-existent, omnipresent, infinite in power, wisdom, justice, goodness, and truth, - and that this one God reveals himself to us in the Scriptures, as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, to whom we are required to pay equal and undivided honors.
2. You believe that the Scriptures were given by inspiration of God, and contain the only perfect rule of faith and practice.
302
SKETCHES OF CHURCHES.
3. You believe that all men previous to regeneration are destitute of holiness, and for their chosen and voluntary sins justly exposed to the everlasting displeasure of God.
4. You believe that through the atonement of Jesus Christ, salvation is freely offered to the whole world, and that none will be lost save those who freely refuse it.
5. You believe that in compassion to sinners, God has graciously sent his Spirit to enlighten their minds, to renew their hearts, and to concur with his truth in leading them back to duty and salvation.
6. You believe that the only sacraments of the church are baptism and the Lord's Supper; that the former may be lawfully administered to believers and their households, and the latter only to members of the church, in regular standing.
7. You believe in the immortality of the soul, - the resurrection both of the just and the unjust, - the fact of a future Judgment, and that according to their chosen character, one class of mankind will go away into "everlasting punishment," and the opposite class into " life eternal."
COVENANT.
In the presence of Almighty God and these witnesses, you do now most solemnly consecrate yourselves to Him as your Father and ever- lasting portion. You resign yourselves to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Redeemer and Head of the Church, as your Prophet, Priest, and King, relying upon Him alone for salvation. You give up yourselves to the Holy Spirit, depending upon Him for sanctification and every grace. You engage to take the word of God as the rule of your faith and prac- tice, -to maintain communion with Him by daily prayer, - to sanctify the Sabbath, - to attend habitually upon the institutions of the gospel, - to walk in Christian fellowship with this church, - to observe its regu- lations, - to submit to its discipline, - to watch over its members, and by the constant cultivation of purity, peace, and love, to recommend the Christian religion to the hearts and consciences of all with whom you have to do.
All this you promise and engage, depending upon the blood of the everlasting Covenant for pardon, and trusting divine grace for wisdom, strength, and perseverance in the fulfilment of these vows.
We, therefore, the members of this Church [all rising] affectionately receive you to our communion and fellowship, bidding you a cordial welcome to all the privileges and blessings of our Father's house. We engage in love and faithfulness to watch over your spiritual interests, and to walk with you in the fellowship of the gospel, and through infinite
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mercy may we all eventually be admitted to the general assembly and church of the first-born, who are written in heaven.
The number of persons at first composing this church was twenty- eight. Of these fifteen were from the West, or Rocky Hill Church in Salisbury, and eleven from the East, or First Church in Amesbury. Its growth and prosperity have not, perhaps, fully realized the expectations of its founders; still, it has enjoyed repeated tokens of the divine favor, and situated as it is, in the midst of an enterprising community, it is con- fidently believed that it will become a strong and widely useful church. For a number of years, it received aid from the Massachusetts Home Missionary Society, but of late has been self-supporting. Since 1859, Rev. N. Lasselle, has been acting pastor, though not installed over the church.
CHURCH IN WEST BOXFORD.
BY REV. C. E. PARK.
The church in West Boxford was organized on the ninth day of December, 1735. The following is the list of its successive pastors, with the date of their settlement and death or dismission, -
Rev. John Cushing, ordained Dec. 29, 1736; dismissed Jan. 25, 1772. Rev. Moses Hale, ordained Nov. 16, 1774 ; dismissed May 25, 1786. Rev. Peter Eaton, D. D., ordained Oct. 7, 1789 ; died April 14, 1848. Rev. Calvin E. Park, ordained Oct. 14, 1846; dismissed May 4, 1859.
The following is a copy of the Covenant which was adopted by the church at its formation in 1736:
" We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, apprehending ourselves called of God to join together in church state, and to embody ourselves in order to become a particular church or flock of the Lord Jesus (ac- knowledging our unworthiness of such an honor and privilege), we do profess and declare our serious belief of the Christian religion as con- tained in the Sacred Scriptures, and as expressed in the Confession of Faith commonly received in the churches of this land, heartily resolving to conform our lives to the rules of that holy religion as long as we live ; and therefore,
" We do now, in the presence of God himself, His holy angels and all His servants here present, give up ourselves unto the Lord Jehovah, who is Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and avouch Him this day to be our God.
" We give up ourselves to the Lord Jesus Christ, relying on Him as our Prophet, Priest, and King, promising, by the help of his grace, to
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glorify God in all the duties of a sober, godly, and righteous life, and very particularly, to uphold family and closet worship, and to attend the publie worship of God, the sacraments of the New Testament, and the discipline of Christ's kingdom and all his holy institutions in communion with one another, and carefully avoiding all sinful contentions.
" We do give ourselves one to another in the Lord, covenanting to walk together as a church of Christ, according to the rules of God's holy word, promising faithfully to watch over one another in brotherly love, and to submit ourselves to the discipline and power of Christ in His church, and duly to attend the seals and censures, or whatever ordinances Christ has commanded to be observed by His people, so far as the Lord, by IIis word and Spirit, shall reveal unto us to be our duty.
" We also present this day our offspring with us unto the Lord, prom- ising to give them a Christian education, and avouching the Lord to be not only our God, but also the God of our children, esteeming it a very high favor that the Most High will accept of us and our children with.us to be His people.
" And now, that we may keep this our covenant with God and with one another, we desire to deny ourselves, and to depend wholly on the free mercy of God and the merits and grace of Christ Jesus, and, wherein we shall fail, to wait on God for pardon through the name of Christ, be seeking the Lord Jehovah to own us as a church of Christ, that he would take delight to dwell among us, and that his blessing may be upon us, and upon our families, and His glorious kingdom be advanced by us. Amen."
In 1816, it was voted, that the following covenant should be assented to by those who desired admission to full communion :
" You profess your serious belief in the Old and New Testaments, not as the word of man, but as the word of God. You desire to be humble before God for all your sins, and for any instances of your conduet in your past life, which may have been a grief to Christians, or a dishonor to that religion you would now profess ; and in a feeling manner, you now desire to give up yourself to the glorious God, receiving Him as your God and portion. You would give up yourself to the Lord Jesus Christ, as to the Head of his chosen people, receiving Him as being made of God to be your wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. You give up yourself to this church of Christ, engaging, with His help in the communion thereof, to attend upon the ordinances of the gospel, while your opportunity to be thereby edified in your most holy faith shall be continued to you."
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