that race unto race might praise him, and fhew

forth his mighty deeds.

FOURTHLY, We fhall confider the CONFIRMATIONS of this Tranfaction.

1. IT was difpenfed by Mofes, and accepted by Ifrael: "And Mofes called all Ifrael, and faid unto them," &c. " And Moses spake these words unto all Ifrael*." As the congregation was affembled for this purpofe; fo we have no reason to imagine that any of them refused to accept.

2. Ir was, I humbly judge, a written covenant. I readily grant, that we have only an abstract of it tranfinitted to us: But no reason can be affigned, I prefume, why it should not be written at length, as well as the two foregoing, and all fucceeding ones.

3. It was a fworn covenant. This is plainly declared by the infpired hiftorian: "That thou fhouldft enter into covenant with the Lord thy God, and INTO HIS OATH." Again, "Neither with you only do I make this covenant, and this O ATH." The question is, By whom

* Deut. xxix. 2. compared with Deut. xxxi. 1.

This manner of expreffion is ufual enough in the Old Teftament, as in Ecc. viii. 2. I counfel thee to keep the King's commandment, and that in regard of

whom was it fworn? By Ifrael, or by Jehovah? To me the former feems evidently intended; for he is faid to enter into the oath of the Lord his God, which cannot imply lefs than to fwear it. Nor is it any objection against this fenfe, that the oath is called his oath,-Jehovah's oath: For it may be called нrs, as it was of HIS appointment, as well as including an appeal unto his omniscience, and omnipotence, to reward fincerity, and chastife perfidy.

THE last thing propofed is, A few REFLECTIONS On the whole.

1. WE may learn to adore divine fovereignty, efpecially in God's conduct towards his Church and people. He might justly have faid, "What has fuch a perfidious generation to do to take my covenant in their lips? Have I not been grieved by you, and your fathers, for the space of forty years? But, beyond the expectation of angels and men, he caufed them to enter into the covenant of the Lord God of their fathers; "that he may establish thee to-day for a people to himfelf." What a people is this, that God should take them for his people!What fovereignty has he difplayed to this prefent generation of covenanters?-Covenanters sprung

the OATH OF GOD." The oath of loyalty to the King is ftyled the oath of GOD; as he is the object of worship, to whom the appeal is made, and by whom the allegiance is pledged.

from

from covenant-breakers! What a miracle of forbearance is it, that this generation is not confumed! There is fomething fo ftriking in our cafe, that it feems even to exceed that of Ifrael at the Plains of Moab; yea, it has fcarce a parallel in the annals of providence.

2. COVENANTERS fhould be carefully inftructed as to thofe vows which are upon them, in order to prepare them for covenant-renovation. This is well warranted by the conduct of Mofes. He dwelt upon the fubject;-he applied it unto the particular circumftances of his audience; he laboured to the utmost to make them understand it. The fubject was, every whit, as complicated and difficult as the prefent bond; but Mofes did not defpair of making a stupid people understand it.Some imagine it is beft to keep themselves free (as they speak) when they are free: But, were fach perfons fuitably inftructed, as to what Vows are upon them, they would fee, that there is no one duty from which they can be exempted, by abitaining from covenanting. When perfons are previously under folemn vows, as was the cafe with Ifrael; and as is the cafe with us, they are already bound unto every duty: and nothing but the formality of a perfonal adherence is a-wanting. The obligation, however, is inviolable, whether we acknowledge it or not;-whether we add this perfonal adherence or not.

3. THIS fubject difcovers unto us the true nature of covenant-renovation. Covenant-renovation neceffarily prefuppofeth an acknowledgment of all previous covenant-obligations; an avowed adherence unto them; with an addition of fuch articles as prefent circumftances dictate to be requifite. This covenant was a renovation of all the patriarchal covenants, as well as the two Sinai tranfactions: And it contained an application of them unto the circum→ ftances of the covenanters then prefent, with fuch alterations as fitted their peculiar circumftances; being a people ready to enter on the enjoyment of the promifed land. Former covenants respected chiefly their wandering state; but this had a principal refpect unto a fettled condition: Hence, there were fome things in thefe tranfactions unneceffary in this one; fuch as, the promife of fafe conduct through the wilderness, the pillar of fire and the pillar of cloud for that effect. Thefe were fuperfeded by the promise of his abode in the place which he fhould choofe to put his name there, and unto which he would affemble the congrega

tion.

DISSER

ON THE

COVENANT BETWEEN GOD AND ISRAEL,

AT SHECHEM.

Jos H. xxiv. 1 — 28.

IN taking a view of this Covenant, I shall flew, -I. By whom this Covenant was Dispensed. -II. To whom it was Adminiftered.-III. I fhall confider the Matter of the Covenant.IV. The Occafions of it.-V. The Solemnities by which it was Confirmed.-VI. Concluding with fome Reflections on the whole.

nant was DISPENSED.

FIRST, I fhall fhew by whom this CoveThe infpired prophet affures us, this was no other than Joshua : "And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Ifrael together, to Shechem," &c. "And Jofhua faid unto all the people *." Joshua Jofhua was a great

Josh. xxiv. 1, 2,

general