Guilford Covenant
June 1, 1639 June 1. Individuals who, the next September, purchase Menunkatuck, afterwards Guilford, enter into the following covenant: We whose names are hereunder written, intending by God's gracious persmission to plant ourselves in New England, and, if it may be, in teh southerly part about Quinnipiack, we do faithfully promise each to each, for ourselves and our families, and those that belong to us, that we will, the Lord assisting us, sit down and join ourselves together in one entire plantation, and to be helpful each to the other in any common work, according to every man's ability and as need shall require;... As for our gathering together in a church way, and the choice of officers and members to be joined together in that way, we do refer ourselves until such time as it shall please God to settle us in our plantation. |
[Champlin Burrage: The Church Covenant Idea. Its Origin and Its Development (Philadelphia: American Baptist Publication Society, 1904), p. 94. — Colonial Origins, p. 216.]