Half-Way Covenant of a Boston church [1660s]


You now from your heart professing a serious belief to the christian religion, as it has been generally declared and embraced by the faithful in this place, do here give up yourself to God in Christ; promising with his help to endeavour, to walk according to the rules of that holy religion, all your days; choosing of God as your best good, and your last end, and Christ as the Prophet, and Priest, and the king of your soul forever. You do therefore submit unto the laws of his kingdom, as they are administered in this church of his; and you will also carefully and sincerely labour after those more positive and increased evidences of regeneration, which may further encourage you to seek an admission unto the table of the Lord.


[Magnalia, 1820, Vol. V., pp. 268-269. Quoted in: Champlin Burrage: The Church Covenant Idea. Its Origin and Its Development. Philadelphia: American Baptist Publication Society, 1904. p. 171.]