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Origins_001-050.indd 35 2/17/12 6:09 PM 5 [The Salem Covenant of 1629] Probably the briefest covenant in American history, the Salem document neverthelesspresumed that whoever owned it was in total agreement with the Puritan-Calvinistic arm ofthe English established church. Salem, like many other New Englandsettlements, was initiallyfounded as apopular theocracy-government rested in the hands ofchurch members. Those who did not belong to the settlement 's approved church, originally agroupftw in number, did not have rights ofcitizenship. An oath such as this one made one who took it simultaneously a member ofthe church and a citizen ofthe polity. Prospective members were subjected to a carefol examination as to their knowledge, experience ofgrace, and godly conversation. Within a ftw years, as the percentage ofnonchurch members grew, conflict within the colonyforced the Salem community to draw up the Enlarged Covenant ofi6J6, which included specific articles encouraging harmony andfollowship (see The Enlarged Salem Covenant [I8]). As the number ofchurched citizensfaded into a minority, the form ofa church covenant was retained, but the substance ofthe covenant shifted to becomepurely political. We Covenant with the Lord and one with an other; and doe bynd our selves in the presence of God, to walke together in all his waies, according as he is pleased to reveale himselfe unto us in his Blessed word of truth. Complete text and spelling taken from Williston Walker, The Creeds and Platforms of Congregationalism (Boston: The Pilgrim Press, 1960), 197. 35 ...

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