Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/167

THE ANCIENT COVENANT. 127 spective Places to exercise Practice and Submit to the Gov- ernment of Christ in this his Church, viz. further Protesting against all Rending and Dividing Principles or Practices from any of the People of God as being most abominable and loathsome to our souls and utterly inconsistent with that Christian Charity which declares men to be Christ's Disciples. Indeed further declaring in that as Union in Christ is the sole ground of our Communion, each with other, so we are ready to accept of, Receive to and hold Communion with all such as by judgment of Charity we conceive to be fellow- members with us in our head Christ Jesus tho differing from us in Such Controversial points as are not absolutely and es- sentially necessary to salvation. We also hope that though of ourselves we are altogether unworthy and unfit thus to offer up ourselves to God or to do him a, or to expect any, favor with or mercy from him. He will graciously accept of this our free-will offering, in and through the mediation of our Dear Redeemer. And that he will imploy and emprove us his service to his praise, to whom be all Glory, and Honor, now and forever, Amen." The names of the persons that first joyned themselves in the Covenant aforesaid as a Church of Christ : John Myles, Elder, James Brown, Nicholas Tanner, Joseph Carpenter, John Buttervvorth, Eldad Kingsley. Benjamin Alby, The Catholic spirit of Mr. Myles, as expressed in this covenant and in his godly life, soon drew to the new settle- ment many families who held to Baptist opinions, as well as some of other church relations, friendly to their interests. The opposition which their liberal principles had awakened had brought the little company into public notice through- out the two colonies, and their character had won for them the respect and confidence of all their neighbors and author- ities. The Rehoboth Church also soon came to regard Mr. Myles and his followers with more kindly feelings, for, in