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CHAP. firmed by our experience, that there can be no 'Church in complete order, according to the law of 'Christ, without a joint interest and union, in which all the members have an equal right and privilege, according to their calling and needs, in things spiritual and temporal."

7. "And in this, we have a greater privilege and 'opportunity of doing good to each other, as well as 'to the rest of mankind; and of receiving according 'to our needs, jointly and equally, one with another, 'agreeable to the following articles of Covenant."

8. "First. All, or as many of us, as were of age 'to act for ourselves, who offered ourselves as mem'bers of the Church, were to do it freely, and volun'tarily, as a religious duty, and according to our own 'faith and desire."

9. "Second. Youth and children, being under age, were not to be received as members, or as be'ing under the immediate care and government of 'the Church, except by the request, or free consent, ' of both their parents, if living; but if they were 'left by one of their parents to the care of the other, then by the request, or free consent, of that parent; but if the child had no parents, then by the request 'or free consent, of such person, or persons as had 'just and lawful right in the care of the child, to'gether with the child's own desire."

10. Third. All who were received as members, being of age, who had any substance or property, and were free from debt, or any just demand from 'those that were without, such as creditors, or heirs,

were allowed to bring in their substance, as their 'natural and lawful right; and to give it as a part of 'the joint interest of the Church, according to their ' own faith and desire; to be under the order and gov'ernment of the Deacons or overseers of the tempo"ral interest of the Church, for the use and support

of the Church, or for any other use that the gos'pel might require, according to the understanding ' and discretion of those members with whom it was ⚫ intrusted, and who were appointed to that office and 'care."

11. "Fourth. All the members who were receiv

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'ed into the Church, were to possess one joint inter- CHAP 'est, as a religious right; that is, all were to have just and equal rights and privileges, according to their needs, in the use of all things in the Church,without any difference being made, on account of what any of us brought in, so long as we remained in obedience to the order and government of the Church, and were holden in relation as members.All the members were, likewise, equally holden, according to their abilities, to maintain and support one joint interest, in union and conformity to the order and government of the Church.”

12. Fifth. As it was not the duty, nor purpose of the Church, in uniting into Church order, to 'gather, and lay up an interest of this world's goods; but what we became possessed of by honest industry, more than for our own support, was to be devoted to charitable uses, for the relief of the poor, and such other uses, as the gospel might require.— Therefore, it was, and still is our faith, never to bring debt nor blame against the Church, or each other, for any interest, or services which we have bestowed to the joint interest of the Church; but 'freely to give our time and talents, as Brethren and Sisters, for the mutual good one of another, and ' other charitable uses, according to the order of the "Church."

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13. "The foregoing is the true sense of the Covenant of the Church, in relation to the order, and manner of the possession, and uses of a joint interest, understood, and supported by us the mem'bers."

14. "And we do fully, and freely, in the most solemn manner, acknowledge and testify, in the pre'sence of each other, (and are free and willing to do it before all men if required,) that it is that which we have kept and supported, according to our understanding, from the time of our first gathering; and still mean to support, as that which we believe to be both our privilege and duty."

15. "And we have had the experience of seven years labour and travel, and have received a greater confirmation and establishment in our faith; and

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CHAP. we believe that the order and covenant which we have solemnly entered into, is a greater privilege, ' and enables us to be more useful to ourselves and 'others, than any other state within our knowledge; and is that which was required, and is accepted of 'God; and that which we feel in duty bound, ac'cording to our faith and understanding, in the most 'conscientious manner to support and keep."

16. The foregoing are the most essential particuJars of the Covenant in form, which w verbally entered into by the members of the Church, in the year 1788; and committed to writing, and signed by the members at large, in the year 1795; and renewed, on account of further provision in the order of deacons, in the year 1801, and is closed in the following words.

17. "And we do, by these presents, solemnly 'covenant with each other, for ourselves, and as'signs, never hereafter, to bring debt or demand ' against the said Deacons, nor their successors, nor ' against any member of the Church, or community, 'jointly or severally on account of any of our ser'vices, or property, thus devoted and consecrated to the aforesaid sacred and charitable uses."

18. "And we also covenant with each other, to 'subject ourselves in union, as Brethren and Sisters, 'who are called to follow Christ in Regeneration, in ' obedience to the order, rules and government of the Church-And this covenant shall be a sufficient 'witness for us before all men, and in all cases relat'ing to the possession, order, and use, of the joint interest of the Church. In testimony whereof, 'we have, both Brethren and Sisters, hereunto subscribed our names, in the presence of each other, This twenty-fourth day of June, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and one."

19. It may here be understood, that this covenant which was entered into in the year 1788, immediately respects the Church at New-Lebanon, as the first in gospel order, in this day of Christ's second appearing. And after the example and order of the first, the Church was shortly after established in sev

eral of the principal places where the word and testimony of the gospel had been planted, and such of the Believers as were scattered in different parts, gathered at those places.

20. Particularly at Water-Vliet, near Albany, in the state of Miw-York; at Hancock, Tyringham, Har vard, and Shirley, in the state of Massachusetts; at Enfield, in the state of Connecticut; at Canterbury and New-Enfield, in the state of New-Hampshire; and at Alfred, and Sabbath-day-fond, near Portland, in the District of Maine.

21. Hence the whole body of Believers was placed in distinct societies or communities, and those again into large families, situated according to circumstances, for convenience in life; each family, in their own order, having their own government in their temporal economy; and in spiritual matters, having their immediate head of influence in their own order and community; and each particular community having their corresponding relation to the Church at Lebanon, which is the centre of union to all who believe.

22. All the Believers, who came together in the full order and covenant of a Church relation, possessed all things jointly; neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but every thing was possessed in a perfect law of justice and equity, by all the members.

23. However, there were some, who gathered together into large families, and stood in a family relation, whose circumstances did not immediately admit of a joint union and interest in all things; and who devoted their services, and the use and improvement only, of their temporal substance, for the joint support and up-building of each other; while their real and personal estates remained in substance, as they were at the time of their coming together.

24. Such were not considered as standing in perfect gospel order, but held a certain relation to the Church according to the order in which they stood. It may, therefore, be proper to make a few remarks on the nature of the Church Covenant, in which alone the perfect order and equality of the gospel can be enjoyed.

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25. First. As one of the most essential principles of the Church, was to maintain a perfect law of justice and equity, both in relation to themselves and others; therefore parents, who had estates, and children under age, could not bring their substance into the joint interest of the Church, after it was established.

26. And provided the parents or children were gathered, with their substance, into any family, in the like capacity, the inheritance of the cl.ildren was secured until they became of age. And it was an established principle in the Church, that children who were faithful and obedient to their parents until they became of age, were then entitied to their natural and just portion.

27. Second. As the Church was established upon the principles of gospel liberty and freedom, and as no one could be bound contrary to their own faith and desire, having a perfect understanding of the nature of their undertaking; therefore, children in minority, could not be fully considered as members of the Church, until they became of mature age to judge and act for themselves.

28. Nevertheless, children who had faith, and who were wrought upon by the Spirit of light from God, (of whom there were many that received faith with their parents,) enjoyed equal rights and privileges of all things in the Church, according to their needs, and the measure of their faith and understanding.

29. Third. As the gathering together of the Believers, into the order and liberty of the gospel, immediately respected their separation from the perplexed cares and entanglements of the world; therefore such as were under obligations to creditors or heirs, were not considered in full membership in the Church, until they were perfectly free from all just demands of those who were without. Yet, all such as were faithful and diligent in paying their just debts, and faithful in all matters according to their light and understanding, were as much owned and accepted in their relation to the Church as any others.

30. Fourth. As the gathering of the Church, was not from any worldly motives, to lay up in store of

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