By Thomas Maclellan

Eternal, unchangeable & ever blessed God! Creator of Heaven and earth, the All in All! I now fall down before Thy throne and prostrate myself at Thy footstool, and earnestly pray that Thou wouldst penetrate my heart with a suitable sense of Thine infinite and unutterable glories – When I present myself before Thee, the Holy Majesty of Heaven, King of Kings, & Lord of Lords; trembling may justly take hold of me – and that more especially on such an occasion as the present when I would desire to enter into a covenant transaction with Thee - What am I that I should desire to be one party in a covenant where Thou art the other. Well may I, a poor sinful worm, be confounded even to mention such a thing. I acknowledge, O Lord, that I have been a great transgressor. Thou broughtest me into being on this day twenty years ago, and Thou has preserved me and renewed my life day by day ever since, yet I have rebelled against Thee. During the whole of that time I have lived without Thee in the world. I was dedicated to Thee in baptism and about two years ago I confirmed that act at the Table of the Lord. Still, I confess, with grief and shame, I did not “depart from all iniquity”. But, O Lord, Thou art a God that pardonest iniquity and though great is Thy majesty, so also is Thy mercy. Through Jesus Christ Thou can descendest to visit poor sinners, and it is Thy grace that has inclined my heart to this act of dedication of myself to Thee. I come, therefore, invited by the name of Thy Son and trusting wholly in His righteousness and grace. For His sake, do Thou be merciful to my unrighteousness and my sins and iniquities do Thou remember no more. Receive me, I beseech Thee, and make me to desire nothing so much as that I may be Thine, who art my rightful owner and sovereign Ruler. O God of Heaven, record it in the book of Thy remembrances that from henceforth I am Thine forever. I renounce all former lords that have had dominion over me and consecrate all that I am and all that I have, the faculties of my mind, the members of my body, my worldly possessions, my time, and my influence over others, all to be used entirely for Thy glory and resolutely employed in obedience to Thy commands as long as Thou continuest me in life. In this course, O blessed God, would I steadily persevere to the very end of my life, earnestly praying that every future day of it may supply the deficiencies and correct the irregularities of the former; and that I may, by divine grace, be enabled, not only to hold on in that happy way, but daily to grow more active in it. To Thy direction also, I resign myself and all that I have to be disposed of by Thee as Thou shalt see fit. To Thee I leave the management of all events and desire that Thou enable me to say, without reserve, not my will but Thine be done. Knowing that Thou governest all things wisely and will ever do that which is best for me.

Use me, O Lord, I beseech Thee as an instrument for Thy service. May I bring some avenue of praise to Thee, and of benefit to the world in which I dwell. From this day forward, number me among Thy peculiar people and make me a fellow citizen with the Saints and of the household of God. Wash me in the blood of Thy dear Son. Clothe me with His righteousness. Sanctify me throughout by the power of Thy Spirit. Destroy, I beseech Thee, more and more the power of sin in my heart. Transform me to the resemblance of Jesus, whom henceforth I would acknowledge as my Teacher and Sacrifice, my Intercessor and my Lord. Communicate, I beseech Thee, to me all needful influences of Thy purifying, Thy cheering, and Thy comforting Spirit. And lift up that light of Thy countenance upon me which will put the sublimest joy and gladness into my soul.

What more can I say. Let the remembrance of this solemn act be before mine eyes every day of my life. And, O Lord, I beseech Thee to give me grace whereby I may be enabled to perform these vows. Give me of Thine own wherewith I may serve Thee. O deny me not Thy grace. Make me to remember that the vows of the Lord are upon me and that it is better not to vow than to vow and not to pay. And, O God, when I have done and borne Thy will upon earth, call me from hence at what time and in what manner Thou pleasest. And grant in my dying moments and in the near prospect of eternity I may remember these my engagements to Thee and may employ my latest breath in Thy service. And do Thou, O Lord, remember it too. Look down with pity on Thy languishing dying child. Place Thine everlasting arms beneath me for my support; put strength and confidence into my departing spirit and receive it to the embraces of Thine everlasting love. Receive it to the abodes of them that sleep in Jesus, peacefully and joyfully to wait the accomplishment of Thy great promise to all Thy people, even that of a glorious resurrection and of eternal happiness in Thy Heavenly presence. And if this should fall into the hands of any of my friends when I am in the dust may they make the engagement their own; and do Thou graciously admit them to partake in all the blessings of Thy covenant Though Jesus, the great Mediator of it. May they learn to fear the Lord my God, and with me to put their trust under the shadow of His wings, for time and for eternity. And may they also learn to adore with me that grace which inclines our hearts to enter into the covenant, and condescends to admit us unto it when so inclined, ascribing with me and with all the nations of the redeemed, to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, that glory, honor and praise which is so justly due to each divine person for the part he bears in this illustrious work! Amen.

Thomas Maclellan
Blairgowrie
Sabbath Evening
7th June 1857

*Please note that this covenant was adapted from a covenant attributed to Phillip Doddridge, D.D., in Chapter 17 of The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul (1745).

Click here to view a page of the covenant.

S’ John WB. 7th June 1887. Thirty years have run their course since I put my hand to the previous covenant – done I think sincerely if not as intelligently as I ought to have been done. I have forgotten too much my engagements and have not claimed as I ought the grace of my covenant God. It has been less of a reality than it ought, and yet I never destroyed the writing. I would not now desire to renounce the act. I would rather renew it. I hope not thereby to increase my guilt, but to have the blessing of my Three One God in what I do. Varied have been my experiences since. I have been taught my helplessness and inability and I fear to make further vows. The 30 years have been spent in church connection and amidst many religious privileges, altho I have not profited as I ought thereby nor done the good I ought. I have been loaded with God's benefits and not been thankful enough. I have had 15 years of happy married life and my wife and three children like myself are in good health. I was esteemed in the community and held various positions and trusts of importance, but in God's adorable providence a wonderful change has suddenly come in my worldly position and I know not what my future may be immediate or more remote, but the Lord does (Psalm 139:2-3) and I would leave my times in His loving, wise, almighty hands and trusting in the promised grace I would now humbly and solemnly renew this my

O Lord God, Father, Son & Holy Ghost, one God and my God. I have once more read over the covenant made on my twentieth birthday and have said "Amen" to it all. For 30 years added to my life and for all the blessings enjoyed I give Thee thanks. The sins committed I would believe are laid on Jesus according to Thy word and so through my Redeemer are all forgiven. I would always remember that I am not working up to the Cross but passed it and from this time have no more doubts about my forgiveness and standing in Christ – nothing in myself but completely in Him. Thou hast loosed my bonds. I am Thy child and Thy servant.

Anew I take God the Father to be my God and portion. I take the Lord Jesus Christ to be my Savior and King, not only my Priest in His passion, but my Priest upon His throne, not only my substitute but my surety still, my intercessor and my Prince, to be submitted to and served as well as trusted in. Help my unbelief; make me loyal, O blessed Holy Spirit, whom I would take as my teacher, my guide, my helper, my sanctifier, my comforter and would have dwell in me as a temple and use me in doing good. I would thus take God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost to be my God alone and forever. I take the Bible as the Word of God to be guided in my creed and life thereby I would take the people of God to be my people and that Church to be mine which has its creed and government most scriptural and most honoring to the Head of the Church. Thy cause, O Lord, I would espouse: Thy Kingdom come. My wife and I would commend to my God that we may be one in the Lord. My three children already given in baptism I would anew now make over to my covenant God, and may we all be led by the right way to our Father's house in His good time. My future – an earthly home; a livelihood and other temporal blessings – I would have my covenant God choose out for me praying that I may bear and do His will. O my God, bless me in every way and in all my concerns, and make me to honor and glorify Thee, to live more like Christ, and as my time is fast running done, may I not be slothful but serve Thee heartily and follow Thee fully all my remaining days. Henceforth I would not go back. I am Thine by right and Thine by this renewed bond. I am afraid to vow, but O merciful Father for Christ's sake, accept of me as Thine and of this dedication of myself and all that I have and am, present and future. Say unto me, “Fear not. I am Thy God. My grace will be sufficient for Thee to be and do and bear all I require of Thee.”

I am Thine. Thou art mine. To Thee be all the glory. Amen and Amen.

Signed and sealed at S' John WB this 7th day of June, 1887.

Thomas Maclellan

Chattanooga, Tennessee
June 7, 1907
70th Birthday

Twenty more years have been added to my life. I would remember the way by which I have been led all these 70 years; and for all Thy long suffering and tender mercies I would desire to thank Thee and praise Thy glorious name. There is much cause for humility as well as gratitude, for a fresh consecration of myself, my all to Thee. And I humbly desire Thy blessing as I now would renew these former covenants and add this fresh expression of my faith in Thee as my Triune covenant God, and of my desire to be enabled to be more Christ-like in heart and life. Oh! That Thou wouldst bless me indeed – me and mine – now and in the future, here and hereafter. Pardon all the past and accept of us in Christ and Thine shall be the glory forever. Amen. Amen. Amen.

Thomas Maclellan