7. THE COVENANT
THE COVENANT And now, let us confirm our commitment by a solemn covenant, beginning with the singing of a covenant hymn.
(The congregation will join in singing the following hymn, pub- lished by Charles Wesley in 1762 and based on Jeremiah 50:5 Among early Methodists it became popularly nown as the Cooenant Hymn " It should be sung to the tune of Hymn #1 7, 0 For a Thousand Tongues to Sing ")
Come, let us use the grace divine, And all, with one accord, In a perpetual covenant join Ourselves to Christ the Lord | The covenant we this moment make Be ever kept in mind: We will no more our God forsake, Or cast His words behind. |
Give up ourselves, through Jesus’ power, His name to glorify; And promise, in this sacred hour, For God to live and die | We never will throw off His fear Who hears our solemn vow; And if Thou art well pleased to hear, Come down, and meet us now. |
To each the covenant blood apply, which takes our sins away; And register our names on high, and keep us to that day.
Pastor:
Search your hearts whether you either have already, or can now freely, make this commitment to God in Christ. First, consider what your sins are and examine whether you can resolve to forego them all. Consider what the laws of Christ are, how holy, strict, and spiritual, and whether you can, upon deliberation, make choice of them all as the rule of your whole life.
Second, compose your spirits into the most serious frame possible, suitable to a transaction of so high importance.
Third, lay hold on the covenant of God and rely upon His promise of giving grace and strength, whereby you may be enabled to perform your promise. Trust not to your own strength but take hold on His strength.
Fourth, resolve to be faithful. Having engaged your hearts, opened your mouths, and subscribed with your hands to the Lord, resolve in His strength never to go back.
Last, being thus prepared, in the most solemn manner possible, as if the Lord were visibly present before your eyes, bow and open your hearts to the Lord.
Pastor and Congregation:
0 most holy God, I beseech Thee accept the poor prodigal now prostrating himself at Thy door. I have fallen from Thee by my iniquity and am by nature a son of death and a thousandfold more the child of hell by my wicked practice. But of Thy infinite grace Thou hast prom- ised mercy to me in Christ if I will but turn to Thee with all my heart. Therefore upon the call of Thy gospel, I am now come and, throwing down my weapons, submit myself to Thy mercy. And because Thou requirest, as the condition of my peace with Thee, that I should put away my idols and be at defiance with all Thy enemies, I here from the bottom of my heart renounce them all. I firmly covenant with Thee not to allow myself in any known sin, but conscien- tiously to use all the means that I know Thou hast prescribed, for the death and utter destruction of all my corruptions. I humbly affirm before Thy glorious majesty that it is the firm resolution of my heart to forsake all that is dear unto me in this world, rather than to turn from Thee to the ways of sin. I will watch against all its temptations whether of prosperity or adversity, lest they should withdraw my heart from Thee. And since Thou hast, of Thy boundless mercy, offered gra- ciously to me to be my God through Christ, I call heaven and earth to record this day, that I do here solemnly avouch Thee for the Lord my God. I do here take Thee, the Lord Jehovah, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, for my portion and do give up myself, body and soul, for Thy servant, promising and vowing to serve Thee in holiness and righteous- ness all the days of my life. And since Thou has appointed the Lord Jesus Christ the only means of coming unto Thee, I do here upon the bended knees of my soul solemnly join myself in a marriage-covenant to Him.
0 blessed Jesus, I come to Thee hungry, wretched, miserable, blind, and naked, unworthy to wash the feet of the servants of my Lord, much less to be solemnly married to the King of Glory. But since such is Thy unparalleled love, I do here with all my power accept Thee and take Thee for my Head and Husband, to love, honor, and obey Thee before all others, and this to the death. I renounce my own wor- thiness and do here avow Thee for the Lord my righteousness. I renounce my own wisdom and do here take Thee for my only guide. I renounce my own will and take Thy will for my law. And since Thou hast told me I must suffer if I will reign, I do here covenant with Thee to take my lot, as it falls, with Thee and by Thy grace to run all hazards with Thee, purposing that neither life nor death shall part between Thee and me.
Now, Almighty God, Searcher of Hearts, Thou knowest that I make this covenant with Thee this day, without any known guile or reservation, beseeching Thee that if Thou seest any flaw or falsehood therein, Thou wouldst reveal it to me and help me to put it right.
HYMN #298 "Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart"
Pastor and Congregation (standing): And now, glory be to thee, 0 God the Father, whom I shall be bold from this day forward to look upon as my God and Father. Glory be to Thee, 0 God the Son, who hast loved me and washed me from my sins in Thy own blood and art now become my Savior and Redeemer. Glory be to Thee, 0 God the Holy Ghost, who by Thy almighty power hast turned my heart from sin to God.
0 eternal Jehovah, the Lord God 0mnipotent, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Thou art now become my Covenant-Friend, and I, through Thy infinite grace, am become Thy Covenant-Servant. And the Cov- enant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.
C0MMUNI0N
CL0SING PRAYER