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Kay & John Collins 2006
Old Baptist Church
"Top Meeting"

Extracted from the Old Baptist Church Record Book.

The Church Covenant Renewed 29th January 1768


The Church Covenant renewed, by the Unanimous assent of the whole Community 29th January 1768
We whose Names are hereunto subscribed having as we hope thro’ grace known by experience Something of the Spirits work in its powerful operations in and upon our Souls, quickening us who were dead in Sin, enlightening our dark understandings, discovering to, and convincing us of our lost & perishing state & condition by Nature & Practice; As also, in applying and bringing home to our hearts & Consciences the glad tidings of Salvation, working and making way for its reception in our hearts, making us willing in the day of his power to embrace Salvation on his own terms which is not by works of Righteousness which we have done, but in a way of Sovereign Grace having also experienced under the Influence of the Same Spirit of Christ, what it is to be refreshed and Comforted, by whom we have enjoyed times of refreshing from the presence of ye Lord, being made pertakers of that Joy the stranger intermeddleth not with, being and at times filled with Joy & peace in believeing, even Joy unspeakable and full of glory; from an Experience of those things.

We profess in the Awfull presence of God & His holy Angels, in the presence of professors And of the World, that Christ is our Lord, and Him only would we desire to Serve.
And having as we hope first given our own selves to the Lord, we Judge it our duty to be giving ourselves to each other by the will of God, to walk together in a vizable Church State Laying the foundation upon the person, Office, Authority, Spirit and word of Christ: And thro’ him and assistance from him, We do Solemnly engage to bear our Testimony against all Idolatry & Superstition and all false ways and modes of Worship that any way infringes upon the authority of Christ our King & Law-giver; We also promise as receiving assistance from Christ our Head & Husband, to be maintaining the Doctrines of pure grace, the truths as they be in Jesus, to be Contending earnastly for the faith once delivered to the Saints and to bear a testimony against all unsound professors by withdrawing from them , and to be striving together for the
peace of the Gospel, to be maintaining the faith & order of his House as revealed to us in the same Scriptures which is that more sure word to which we do well to take heed as to a Light that shineth in a dark place.

We also promise in this our Covenant engagements with Christ and each other to be observing all the laws, Ordinances, forms & fashions of his House as he shall enable us; especially these two great instituitions, Baptism & the Supper of the Lord: with regard to the first, we hold & maintain it as an ordinance peculiar to believers, they and only they who believe with the heart and are capable of making Confession thereof with the mouth and whose Conversation is agreeable thereunto, being according to Scripture the proper Subjects of this Ordinance – As to the mode or manner of administering this ordinance, we believe it is by immersion, dipping or overwhelming the whole body in water being confirmed therein by the Constant practice of the Apostles and primitive followers of Christ in the first Ages of Christianity – We do also believe and profess the end of this Solemn Ordinance is to represent the Death, Burial and Resurrection of our dear Lord; as also our Death unto Sin and resurrection unto newness of life. This is what we believe & promise to maintain respecting this Ordinance.
Providing Nevertheless; A believing Brother or Sister is not so fully persuaded in their own minds respecting this form of the ordinance, we have agreed to allow each one to act according to their own light and Judgment therein without offence not being minded to lord it over the Consciences of our Brethren as knowing that whatsoever is not of faith is Sin. Yet therefore we judge it our duty to inform each other as the Lord shall enable us, and to excite & stir up one another to a diligent and impartial attendance to the Scripture account of the Subjects mode and end of this and every other Ordinance and Institution of Christ, that being the Infailiable rule both of our faith and practice, by which we would endeavour to walk & act in all the affairs of the House of God.     

We also promise in this our Covenant engagments with one another as receiving assistance and Influence from Christ our head, to be walking uprightly in his House, to be discharging all relative duties in this, or any other relation we stand in whatsoever. We also engage frequently to attend on the ministery of the word and the ordinances of the House of God unless hindered by sickness or any other lawful means; and to frequent Church Meetings, to consult together in order to manage the affairs of this House of God and to give advice in cases of difficulty: to open the Doors of the Church for the reception of such who Are according to the judgement of charity made (or manifestively become the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus)  Baptising & adding of Members upon a Confession of their faith and a conversation agreeable thereunto, professing their allegiance & subjection to Christ as their Lord & Law-giver. And also to advise, exhort, instruct, reprove, correct and admonish one another as occasion may require and to withdraw from such that walk disorderly and to deal with such according to the rules of Christ, casting out offenders, if need be, suspending & excluding from our communion and fellowship, such that obstinately refuse or neglect to hear the admonitions of the Church, governing with Christ in his house to keep it clean. So in the strength of Christ and as receiving assistance & influence from him we do solemnly engage to be watching over each others souls in the Lord, to be walking together in love, endeavouring to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, being kindly affectionated and tender hearted one towards another being long-suffering, patient & forebearing one with another covering each others infirmities with the mantle of love and to be bearing one anothers burdens so fulfilling the law of Christ.


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