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I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven
and earth; and in Jesus Christ His only Son, our Lord;
which was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the
virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was
crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell
[that is, the place of the departed righteous]; the
third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into
heaven; and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father
Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick
and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy
catholic [universal] church; the communion of saints;
the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body;
and life everlasting. Amen.
Covenant
We, having been called out of the world by the
blessed Spirit of God, and having become acquainted with
the Articles of Faith and polity of the Pentecostal
Holiness Church, and believing it to be of God, and
having given our names and thereby become members of the
same, do solemnly, but cheerfully, and with joy and
gladness enter into this covenant; We will watch over
one another with brotherly love and kindness, not that
we may have whereof to accuse our brother, but that we
may with meekness correct each other's faults.
We will abstain from frivolous conversations, such as
foolish talking and jesting, and from backbiting and
tattling, or taking up a reproach against anyone,
especially our brother. We will heed the injunction of
the apostle (Ephesians 4:1-3), who exhorts us to walk
worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called, with all
lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing
one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of
the Spirit in the bond of peace. We will bear one
another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. We
will also heed the exhortation recorded in 1
Thessalonians 5:12-15:
"We beseech you, brethren, to know them which
labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and
admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for
their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. Now
we exhort you brethren, warn them that are unruly
[disorderly], comfort the feebleminded, support the
weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render
evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which
is good, both among yourselves, and to all men."
And we will "recompense to no man evil for
evil," but will "provide things honest in the
sight of all men," and, "if it be possible, as
much as lieth in [us], [we will] live peaceably with all
men" (Romans 12:17-18). And we will be "kind
one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven [us]"
(Ephesians 4:32). As opportunity affords we will be
engaged in works of mercy; such as visiting the sick and
imprisoned and the distressed, and all who may need and
will accept our ministrations. We will have no
fellowship with unfruitful works of darkness (Ephesians
5:11), but keep ourselves by the grace of God (1 Peter
1:5) unspotted from the world (James 1:27). All this
will we do, God being our Helper.
Response
We accept the obligations of this covenant in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost.
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