he vows paid by offerings laid on the altar of God, and all
offerings of obedience acceptable through Jesus Christ.

SOCIAL COVENANTING,

Like that which is Personal, is an act of acquiesence in God's Covenant.
They who are accepted in it are the saints. All invited to join in it
are required to have regard to all the institutions of religion. When
an injunction to engage in the service is delivered, the Covenant of God
is exhibited; and the blessings of that Covenant are promised to those
who will properly perform the exercise, and fulfil their obligations.

First. This act is performed by the Christian church in a collective
ecclesiastical capacity. One in opinion regarding her doctrine, worship,
discipline, and government, her members, having one origin, upheld by
the same grace, designed for one end, called to the same privileges,
enjoined to perform the same duties, expectants of the same glorious
consummation, and harmonious in their sentiments regarding special
incumbent duties, and concerning the manner of performing them, come
forward, and as one body in this unite. Unity of existence is necessary
to the body confederated in the social covenant. Those who hold the
truth cannot enter into it with the infidel, the unbeliever, the
erroneous or profane. All who unite in it must have the same motives,
and contemplate the same ultimate end. All must have the same sentiments
of a Covenant God, and harmonize in their views of the means to be
employed in order to the attainment of that end. There is no church so
free from imperfection as not to need an enlargement or correction of
its views. Yet no body of professing Christians are warranted in uniting
in covenant with those who hold not the truth. The unity of the Spirit
is necessary in the bond of peace. No church, in entering into Covenant,
includes so much in her engagements as the word of God requires. And,
hence, a standing of Christian profession higher than has yet been
attained to by any, has to be aspired at. To secure that, a closer
regard to what should be the character of the true church than has been
paid, is requisite. To unite with the people of God is good; but to
unite with any elsewhere than on the basis of truth, is not to be
desired. Unions among Sections of the visible church may possibly be
effected at the expense of deviations on either hand from the direct
line from each to the perfection of the church's character on earth. And
though, after