In the presence of GoD and this assembly, you do now solemnly dedicate yourselves as your chief good, to the Lord Jesus Christ as your mediator and Head, humbly relying on him as your Prophet, Priest and King, and to the Holy Ghost as your sanctifier, comforter and guide. To this one God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, you do hereby give up yourselves in an everlasting Covenant to love and obey him. Having assented to the Articles of Faith and Government adopted by this Church, do you promise to walk with us, in conformity to them, in submission to all the orders of the Gospel, and in attendance on all its ordinances; and by the aid of the Divine Spirit, adorn your profession by a holy and blameless walk? (life.) Now, therefore, in the name and on behalf of this church, I bid you welcome to its fellowship in all its blessings, immunities and privileges, and, affectionately receive you as a member of the Church of the Lord Jesus in full communion, and under the care and discipline of this branch of that Church and engage on our part to watch over, pray for you and seek your holiness and comfort so long as you remain connected with us. Should you remove, it will be your duty and privilege to ask, and ours to give you a dismission and recommendation to some other portion of the same visible church. For henceforth you can never withdraw yourself from the watch and communion of Saints, without a breach of Covenant. And now beloved in the Lord Jesus Christ, let it be engraven upon your hearts, that you have now entered into Solemn Covenant with God. Wherever you go, these vows will be upon you--from your obligations to pay these vows, you can never escape! They will follow you to the bar of God, and in whatever world you may be fixed, will abide upon you to eternity: You can never again be as you have been ! You have unalterably committed yourselves, and must serve the Lord. The eyes of the Church will be upon you--you have led them to place confidence in you and to cherish high hopes in regard to you; abuse not our confidence, Oh! disappoint not our hopes. You have made us witnesses before God of your vows, Oh! we implore you, make us not witnesses against you at the bar of Christ, for your infidelity and apostacy. The eyes of the World are upon you--see that they find no occasion to cavil against religion, from your conduct, but let them see your good works, that they too may glorify your Father, who is in Heaven. If you walk worthy of your profession, you will be a credit and a comfort to us; but if otherwise, you will be a grief of heart and vexation. And if there be a woe denounced against him, who offends one of Christ's little ones, Woe, woe, woe to him who offends a whole Church. But Beloved we are persuaded better things of you, though we thus speak. And now, we commend you to God and to the good word of his power, and pray you may be sanctified soul and body and spirit, and be kept through faith unto salvation. On the 26th September, 1833, the Rev. A. HENRY DUMONT was installed, by an Ecclesiastical Council, the First Pastor of the United Church. The Societies being now united in one, after mature deliberation, deemed it expedient to erect a new house of worship; which was accordingly done. This house was solemnly dedicated to the worship of the Tri-une God, on the 4th day of June, 1834. The Standing Committee of the Society, at the union, were- Doct. David King, Mr. Stephen Cahoone, Mr. Adam S. Coe, Mr. William Vernon, Mr. John V. Hammett, and Dea. Nathan B. Hammett. The Form FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF BAPTISM TO INFANTS OF BELIEVERS. The principal parts of the doctrine of holy baptism are these three: First. That we, with our children, are conceived and born in sin; and therefore are children of wrath, in so much, that we cannot enter into the kingdom of God, except we are born again. Secondly. Holy baptism witnesseth and sealeth unto us the washing away of sins, through Jesus Christ. Therefore, we are baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Thirdly. Whereas in all covenants there are contained two parts; therefore are we, by God, through baptism, admonished of, and obliged unto new obedience, namely, that we cleave to this one God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; that we trust in him, and love him with all our hearts, with all our souls, with all our mind, and with all our strength; that we forsake the world, crucify our old nature, and walk in a new and holy life. And although our young children do not understand these things, we may not therefore exclude them from baptism, for as they are, without their knowledge, partakers of the condemnation in Adam, so are they again received unto grace in Christ. Therefore God formerly commanded. them to be circumcised, which was a seal of the covenant, and of the righteousness of the faith; and therefore Christ also embraced them, laid his hands upon them and blessed them. Since then baptism is come in the place of circumcision, therefore infants are to be baptized as heirs of the kingdóm of God, and of his covenant. And parents are in duty bound farther to instruct their children herein, when they shall arrive to years of discretion. Baptism is an ordinance of God, to seal unto us, and to our seed, his covenant, therefore it must be used for that end and not out of custom or superstition. That it may then be manifest that you are thus minded, you are to answer sincerely to the following questions. First. Do you acknowledge, that though our children are conceived and born in sin, and therefore are subject to all miseries, yea to condemnation itself; yet that they are sanctified in Christ, and therefore as members of his church ought to be baptized. Secondly. Do you acknowledge the doctrine which is contained in the old and new Testaments, and in the articles of the Christian faith, and which is taught here in this Christian Church, to be the true and perfect† doctrine of Salvation. Thirdly. Do you promise and intend to see this child instructed and brought up in the aforesaid doctrine, or help or cause it to be instructed therein to the utmost of your power ? Ans. Yes. The Lord bless your child and make you faithful to your Vows. * My children. Ezek. xvi. 21. They are holy. I. Cor. vii. 14. † Complete. The Form FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF HOLY BAPTISM TO ADULT PERSONS. However children of Christian parents, (although they understand not this mystery,) must be baptized by virtue of the covenant; yet it is not lawful to baptize those who are come to years of discretion, except they be first sensible of their sins, and make confession both of their repentance and faith in Christ. For this cause, not only did John the Baptist preach the baptism of repentance, and baptized for the remission of sins those who confessed their sins, but our Lord Jesus Christ also commanded his disciples to teach all nations, and then to baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; adding this promise, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." According to which rule, the Apostles baptized none, who were of years of discretion, but such as made confession of their faith and repentance; therefore it is not lawful now-a-days, to baptize any other adult persons, than such as have been taught the mysteries of holy baptism, by the preaching of the Gospel, and are able to give an account of their faith by the confession of the mouth. Since, therefore, you are also desirous of holy baptism, to the end, it may be to you a seal of your ingrafting in the church of God; that it may appear that you do not only receive the Christian religion, of which also you have made confession before us; but that you through the grace of God, intend and purpose to lead a life according to the same; you are sincerely to give answer before God and his church: |