N00231:73
Returning unto God the great concernment of a covenant people. Or A sermon preached…
Returning unto God the great concernment of a covenant people. Or A sermon preached to the Second Church in Boston in New-England, March 17. 1679.80. when that church did solemnly and explicitly renew their covenant with God, and one with another. By Increase Mather teacher of that church. ; [Ten lines of Scripture texts]
Boston: printed by John Foster, 1680
The Covenant which was unanimously consented unto, is as followeth.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And as an expedient unto Reformation of those, or whatever evils have provoked the eyes of Gods glory amongst us; We do subjoin unto our Church Covenant a further Engagement, whereby we do, as in the presence of God, promise,
And as an expedient unto Reformation of those, or whatever evils have provoked the eyes of Gods glory amongst us; We doe subjoyn unto our Church Covenant a further Engagement, whereby we doe, as in the presence of God, promise,
1. That we will (by the help of Christ) labour every one of us, to Reform his own heart and life, by seeking to mortify all our Sins, and endeavouring to walk more closely with God, then ever we have done, and to uphold the power of godliness; and that we will continue to worship God in public, private, secret, and this (as God shall help us) without Formality and Hypocrisy; and more fully and faithfully then heretofore, to discharge all Covenant duties one towards another in a way of Church Communion.
1. That we will (by the help of Christ) labour every one of us, to Reform his own heart and life, by seeking to mortify all our Sins, and endeavouring to walk more closely with God, then ever we have done, and to uphold the power of godliness; and that we will continue to worship God in publick, private, secret, and this (as God shall help us) without Formality and Hypocrisie; and more fully and faithfully then heretofore, to discharge all Covenant dutyes one towards another in a way of Church Communion.
2. We promise (by the help of Christ) that we will endeavour to walk before God in our houses, with a perfect heart and that we will uphold the worship of God therein continually, according as he in his word doth require, both in respect of Prayer, and reading the Scriptures, that so the word of Christ may dwell richly in us; And that we will do what in us lieth, to bring up our Children for Christ, that they may become such, as they that have the Lords Name put upon them by a solemn dedication to God in Christ, ought to be; and that therefore we will (so far as there shall be need of it) Catechize them, and exhort and charge them to fear and serve the Lord, and endeavour to set an holy Example before them, and be much in Prayer for their Conversion and Salvation.