The Solemn Covenant of the Church Meeting in White-Street, at its Constitution;
June 5, 1696.
We who desire to walk together in the fear of the Lord, do, through the
assistance of his Holy Spirit, profess our deep and serious humiliation
for all our transgressions. And we do also solemnly, in the presence of
God, of each other, in the sense of our own unworthiness, give up ourselves
to the Lord, in church state according to the apostolical constitution that
he may be our God, and we may be his people, through the everlasting covenant
of his free grace, in which alone we hope to be accepted by him, through
his blessed son Jesus Christ, whom we take to be our high priest, to justify
and sanctify us, and our prophet to teach us; and to be subject to him as
our Law-giver, and the king of saints; and to conform to all his holy Laws
and ordinances, for our growth, establishment, and consolation; that we
may be as a holy spouse unto him, and serve him in our Generation and wait
for his second appearance, as our glorious bridegroom. Being fully satisfied
in the way of church-communion, and the truth of grace in some good measure
upon one another's spirits, we do solemnly join ourselves together in a
holy union and fellowship, humbly submitting to the discipline of the Gospel
and all holy duties required of people in such a spiritual relation.
1. We do promise and engage to walk in all holiness, godliness, humility,
and brotherly love, as much as in us lieth to render our communion delightful
to God, comfortable to ourselves, and lovely to the rest of the Lord's people.
2. We do promise to watch over each others conversations, and not to suffer
sin upon one another, so far as God shall discover it to us, or any in us;
and to stir one another to love and good works; to warn, rebuke, and admonish
one another with meekness according to the rules left to us by Christ in
that behalf.
3. We do promise in an especial manner to pray for one another, and for
the glory and increase of this church, and for the presence of God in it,
and the pouring forth of his Spirit on it, and his protection over it to
his glory.
4. We do promise to bear with one another's burdens, to cleave to one another,
and to have fellow-feeling with one another, in all conditions both outward
and inward, as God in his providence shall cast any of us into.
5. We do promise to bear with one another's weaknesses, failings, and infirmities,
with much tenderness, not discovering to any without the church, nor any
within, unless according to Christ's rule, and the order of the Gospel provided
in that case.
6. We do promise to strive together for the truths of the Gospel, and purity
of God's ways and ordinances, to avoid causes, and causers of division,
endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace; Ephesians
4:3.
7. We do promise to meet together on the Lord's Day, and on other times,
as the Lord shall give us opportunities, to serve and glorify God in the
way of his worship, to edify one another, and to contrive the good of his
church.
8. We do promise according to our ability (or as God should bless us with
the good things of the world) to communicate to our pastor, or minister,
God having ordained that they that preach the Gospel should live of the
Gospel. (And how can anything lay a greater obligation upon the conscience,
than this covenant, what then is the sin of such who violate it.) These
and other Gospel duties we humbly submit unto, promising and purposing to
perform, not in our own strength, being conscious of our own weakness, but
in the power, strength of the blessed God, whose we are, and whom we desire
to serve: To whom be glory now and forevermore.