Wee who through the Exceeding riches of Grace and patience of God doe yet continue Members of this Church, being now Assembled in the holy presence of God, and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ after humble Confession of our manifold breaches of covenant before the Lord our God, and Earnest Supplication of pardoning mercy through the blood of Christ, and deep acknowledgement of our great unworthynes to be owned as the Lords Covenant people; Also acknowledging our inability to keep Covenant with God, or to performe any spirituall duty vnlesse the Lord Jesus do enable vs therevnto, by his Spirit dwelling in us: and being awfully sensible, that it is a dreadfull thing for sinfull dust and ashes, personally to transact with the infinitely glorious Majesty of Heaven and Earth: We doe in humble Confidence of his gracious assistance, and acceptance through Christ Each one of us severally for our selves, and Jointly as a church of the living God, explicitely renew our Covenant with God, and one with another in manner and forme following. That is to say.

Wee doe give vp ourselves unto that God whose name alone is Jehovah, Father, Son and holy Spiritt, as the one only true and living God, and vnto 224our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ as our onely Saviour, prophett, preist, and King over our Soules, and onely mediator of the covenant of Grace; promiseing (by the helpe of his Spiritt and Grace) to cleave vnto God as our cheife Good, and vnto the Lord Jesus Christ by faith in a way of Gospell Obedience as becometh his Covenant people for ever.

Wee doe also give vp our offspring vnto God in Jesus Christ, avouching the lord to be our God, and the God of our Children, and our selves, with our children to be his people, humbly adoring this Grace of God, that wee and our offspring with us, may be looked upon as the Lords.

Wee doe also give up our selves one vnto another in the Lord, and according to the Will of God, freely covenanting, and binding our selves to walke together as a right Ordered Congregation, and church of Christ, in all wayes of his worship according to the holy rules of the word of God: promiseing in Brotherly love, faithfully to watch over one anothers Soules, and to submitt our selves to the discipline and government of Christ in his Church, and duely to attend the Seales, censures, or whatever Ordinances Christ hath comanded should be observed by his people according to the order of the Gospell.

And whereas the lord our God hath of late brought us vnder very solemn and awfull dispensations of his holy providence, even so, as in some sort, to remove this Candlesticke out of its place; wee must needs confesse before him, that he is righteous, and that by our transgressions against the Covenant, we have deserved all the evill that is come vpon us. Particularly, Wee from our hearts bewaile it before the Lord, that wee have loved Christ no more, and the world with the things and vanityes thereof so much, as also, that wee have no more loved one another with a pure heart fervently. [Wee must moreover confesse, that some amongst us have been visibly guilty of that Sin of Pride in apparelling themselves or their children, otherwise then doth become their places, and those that professe Godlines. And that some amongst us have been Guilty, in respect of that too common, and prevailing Sin of Excesse in drinking. Wee desire to be ashamed before the lord our God this day, that ever such evills should be found amongst us or in any of us]2 and humbly apply our selves to the throne of Grace for pardoning mercy: and as an Expedient to reformation of these, and what ever evills have provoked the Eyes of Gods glory, amongst us. Wee doe subjoine vnto our Church Covenant a further engagement whereby wee doe as in the presence of God promise.

1. That wee will (by the helpe of Christ) endeavour every one of us, to re­225forme his owne heart and life, by seeking to mortify all our Sins, and endeavouring to walke more fully, firmely, and closely with God, then ever wee have done, and to uphold the power of Godlines, and that wee will continue to worship God in publike, private, secrett; and this (as God shall helpe us) without formality, and hipocrisy, and more fully, faithfully then heretofore to discharge all covenant dutyes, one towards another in a way of church Communion.

2. Wee promise (by the helpe of Christ) to walke before God in our houses, with a perfect heart, and that wee will vphold the worship of God therein constantly, both in respect of prayer and reading the Scriptures, that so the word of Christ may dwell richly in us, and that wee will doe what in us lyeth to bring up our children for Christ, that they may become such, as they that have the Lords name put vpon them by a solemn dedication to God in Christ, ought to be; and that therefore we will Catechise them, and exhort and charge them to feare and serve the lord, and endeavour to sett an holy Example before them, and be much in prayer for their Conversion and Salvation.

3. Wee doe further engage (the Lord helping of us) to keep ourselves pure from the Sins of the times, and in our places to endeavour the Suppression thereof. Whether those Sins mentioned, or any other scandalous transgressions, against the first or second Table, and that we will make Conscience to walke so as that we may not give occasion to others to sin, or to speake Evill of our holy profession.

Now that we may observe, and keep this sacred Covenant, and all the branches of it, inviolable forever, we desire to deny ourselves, and to depend wholy upon the power of the eternall Spirit of Grace, and vpon the free mercy of God, and meritt of Jesus Christ; and where we shall faile, there to wait vpon the Lord Jesus for pardon, and for acceptance, and for healing for his names sake.

I have received yours dated the 10th December, 1635, being very glad to hear of your wellfare, it doth somewhat rejoice my hearte when I 226consider and think what you enjoyne: my hearte is with you. I shall I hope be glad if the Lord make mee a waye which I hope hee will that I may come, see your and behold the bewttye of our God in those gouernings of his in his tempel: Sir, it dyd glad mee to see that you had not forgott mee and more that you would be pleased to take the paynes to wryte to mee. Sir, I have now put off my trade, and as soone as it shall please God to send in my debts, that I may paye what I owe and cleare things so here that I may come away without giving offence, I am for your parte, the Lord make mee a cleare waye: now Sir, seeing you have mee in your thoughts, help forward that Mr. Ransford may be accomodated with lands for a farme to keep my cattele, that so my stock may be preserved; for I conceive I have lost neare £500, as Mr. Willson can certifye you: thus not doubting of your love he rests Who is yours to command