Greetings Brethren, Beloved by our LORD GOD!
THE ORIGINAL CHURCH COVENANT
Having been brought, as we trust, by divine grace, to embrace the Lord Jesus Christ, and to give ourselves wholly to him, we do now solemnly and joyfully covenant with each other, to walk together in Him, with brotherly love, to His glory, as our common Lord; We do therefore, in His strength, engage:
THAT, We will exercise a Christian care and watchfulness over each other, and faithfully warn, exhort, and admonish each other, as occasion may require;
THAT, We will not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, but will uphold the public worship of God, and the ordinances of His house;
THAT, We will not omit closet and family religion at home, nor neglect the great duty of religiously training our children, and those under our care, for the service of Christ, and the enjoyment of Heaven;
THAT, As we are the light of the world, and the salt of the earth, we will seek divine aid, to enable us to deny ungodliness, and every worldly lust, and to walk circumspectly in the world, that we may win the souls of men;
THAT, We will cheerfully contribute of our property, according as God has prospered us, for the maintenance of a faithful and evangelical ministry among us, for the support of the poor, and to spread the Gospel over the earth;
THAT, We will in all conditions, even till death, strive to live to the glory of Him, who hath called us out of darkness into His marvelous light;
”And the God of Peace, who brought again
from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great
Shepherd of the Sheep, through the blood
of the everlasting covenant, make us
perfect in every good work to do His will,
working in us that which is well pleasing
in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to
Whom be glory, forever and ever. Amen.”
* Adopted by the Calvary Baptist Church, October 10, 1863, ”as the expression of our distinctive belief in the teachings of God’s Word, and our bond and pledge of Christian Union and Fellowship” (pp. 3-4, Clerk’s Minutes).