263 



he is pleased to reveale himself unto us in his Blessed word of 

 truth. And doe more explicitely in the name and feare of 

 God, profess and protest to walke as followeth through the 

 power and grace of our Lord Jesus. 



1. First wee avowe the Lord to be our God, and ourselves 

 his people, in the truth and simplicitie of our spirits. 



2. Wee give ourselves to the Lord Jesus Christ, and to the 

 word of his grace, for the teaching, ruleing and sanctifyeing 

 of us in matters of worship, and conversation ; resolveing to 

 cleave to him alone for life and glorie ; and oppose all contra- 

 rie "wayes, cannons and constitutions of men in his worship. 



3. Wee promise to walke with our brethren and sisters in 

 this Congregation with all watchfullness and tendernes, avoyd- 

 ing all jelousies, suspitions, backbyteings, censurings, provoak- 

 ings, secrete risings of spirit against them ; but in all offences 

 to follow the rule of the Lord Jesus, and to beare and forbeare, 

 give and forgive as he hath taught us. 



4. In publick or private we will willingly doe nothing to the 

 ofence of the Church, but will be willing to take advise for 

 ovrselves and ours as occasion shalbe presented. 



5. Wee will not in the Congregation be forward eyther to 

 shew oure owne gifts or parts in speaking or scrupling, or there 

 discover the fayling of oure brethren or sisters, butt atend an 

 orderly cale there unto ; knowing how much the Lord may be 

 dishonoured, and his Gospell in the profession of it, sleighted, 

 by our distempers, and weaknesses in publyck. 



6. Wee bynd our selves to studdy the advancement of the 

 Gospell in all truth and peace, both in regard of those that are 

 ■within, or without, noe waye sleighting our sister Churches, 

 but useing theire counsell as need shalbe : nor laying a 

 stumbling block before any, noe not the Indians, whose good 

 "we desire to promote, and soe to converse, as wee may avoyd 

 the verrye appearance of evill. 



7. Wee hearby promise to carrye our selves in all lawful 

 obedience, to those that are over us, in church or common- 

 weale, knowing how well pleasing it wall be to the Lord, that 

 they should have incouragement in theire places, by our not 

 greiveing theryre spirites through our iregularities. 



8. Wee resolve to approve our selves to the Lord in onr 

 perticular calings, shunning ydlenes as the bane of any state, 



ESSEX INST. PROCEED. 84. 



