II. The end of God's appointing this day, is for the manifestation of the glory of his mercy in the eternal salvation of the elect, and of his justice in the damnation of the reprobate, who are wicked and disobedient: for then shall the righteous go into everlasting life, and receive that fulness of joy and glory, with everlasting reward in the presence of the Lord, but the wicked, who know not God, and obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ, shall be cast into eternal torments, and be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. III. As Christ would have us to be certainly persuaded that there shall be a judgment, both to deter all men from sin, and for the greater consolation of the godly in their adversity; so will he have that day unknown to men, that they may shake off all carnal security, and be always watchful, because they know not at what hour the Lord will come, and may be ever prepared to say, Come Lord Jesus, come quickly. Amen. THE FORM OF COVENANT OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH, ADOPTED NOVEMBER 3, 1769. YOU DO NOW, in the presence of God, and before his holy angels, and this assembly, solemnly profess to give up yourself, to GOD THE FATHER, as your chief good,-to THE SON OF GOD, as your Mediator, Head and Lord, relying upon Him as the Prophet, Priest and King of your salvation,— to THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD, as your Sanctifier, Guide and Comforter, to be a temple for Him to dwell in. You profess to give up yourself to this ONE GOD, who is the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, in an EVERLASTING COVENANT, TO LOVE, OBEY AND SERVE HIM FOREVER. You also promise to walk with this church of Christ, in a due submission to, and attendance upon, all the orders and ordinances of the gospel; and that, by the help of the Spirit, you will adorn this your profession, by a holy, blameless, fruitful life and conversation. This you do promise? We also do, by the help of the same Spirit, promise you, that we will carry it towards you, as towards those brought up with us in the fellowship of the saints. We will watch over you, not for your halting, but for your edification. We will counsel, reprove, comfort, and exhort you, as your circumstances, and our acquaintance therewith, shall require. This sacred covenant has been deliberately entered into, and its high obligations voluntarily assumed, by every member of this church. Those obligations are now, and will be until death, upon every one who has assumed them; for he that "openeth his mouth unto the Lord, cannot go back." See Judg. xi: 35. Luke ix: 62. Heb. x: This holy covenant has 38, 39. 2 Pet. ii: 20, 21. been renewed by every member of this church, every time he has partaken of the Lord's Supper; for every participation of that ordinance, is a renewed ratification of the covenant between the professed believer and Christ, of which the Savior has declared that sacrament to be a seal, Luke xxii: 20; and a renewal of the ratification of a covenant, of course, implies a renewal of the covenant itself. To assist the members of this church, in keeping in mind their covenant engagements, the following hints were, in conformity with a vote of the brethren, prepared in 1826, by the then pastor, Rev. B. B. Wisner, to be printed with the covenant. 1. Give a diligent and devout attention to the Covenant whenever it is publicly proposed to candidates for admission to the church, recollecting as each article is repeated, that you have solemnly entered into that engagement. 2. Attend regularly, except when necessarily prevented, upon the holy communion. Examine yourself carefully, in your private preparation for this service, in relation to each article of the Covenant, humbly confessing to God the deficiencies you discover, and supplicating forgiveness through the blood of Christ; and then, in your closet, solemnly renew your engagements with God as expressed in the Covenant, earnestly praying for grace to keep it more faithfully in future. Let a part of the evening preceding each administration of the Lord's Supper, if possible, be occupied in this manner. And when you come to the communion, recollect among other things, that you are renewing the ratification of your covenant with God and with your brethren. 3. Regard the Holy Scriptures, in your daily reading of them as "the book of the covenant” which you have made with the Most Highexhibiting the duties, to God and man, which you have engaged to perform, and the blessings you may expect to receive from God, if you are faithful to your engagements. See Exod. xxiv: 7. 4. Often reflect, and strive to have it deeply impressed on your mind, that you have taken God, angels and men, to witness that you have "given yourself up to Jehovah in an everlasting covenant, to love, obey and serve him forever;" that God, and angels, and men, are observing how you fulfil these engagements; that religion will be honored or dishonored, and the salvation of those around you, yet in impenitence, promoted or hindered, by your faithfulness or unfaithfulness to your vows; and that the Covenant you have taken, and so often virtually renewed, will be one of the tests to be applied to your character in the day of judgment. 5. Endeavor, as far as paramount duties will permit, to cultivate a Christian acquaintance with your brethren. And when in their company, converse frequently upon the things pertaining to the kingdom of God; and particularly of your duties and obligations as the covenant people of God. See Mal. iii: 16. Heb. x: 24, and iii : 13. "This practice," says one, "would be of eminent service to help the memory, in regard to our covenant obligations, as also to quicken unto obedience. Thus, for instance, when a brother is observed to |