e time, will all do homage to Him as the Prince of the kings of the
earth. Now, it has been shown before, that in Covenanting at Horeb
Israel served God. If, then, they served him there in that exercise,
they must have served him when again they engaged in it under the
patriarch who led them, and also when they performed it under Joshua his
successor. And as on such occasions, as a church and nation recognising
God as their king, they obeyed him, so, not ceasing to recognise Him as
in all relations their Lord and Master, the house of Jacob, under kings
ruling in His fear, or judges acting according to his commandment,
whether before or after a first or succeeding restoration; and the
Gentile nations in gospel times, in vowing and swearing to Him in their
ecclesiastical and national characters; must be viewed as willing
servants obeying his commands.

Covenanting is commanded in the Moral Law. In the ten commandments,
containing a summary of that law, and in other passages that variously
unfold its import, the exercise is presented as a duty.

It is enjoined in the first three precepts of the decalogue. The manner
of injunction is prohibitory of contrary practices; and accordingly
intimates, with great force, that the duty is to be so steadfastly
performed that departure from it, even in one instance, is not to be
attempted. The first precept--forbidding all respect to other gods
before God, implies, that He, before whom all things are manifest,
claims not merely the misdirected homage paid to his creatures, but all
the devout obedience of men; and that, demanding that adoring thoughts
be entertained of Him alone, He commands that He be accepted and served
as the only true God. To prefer God to others is not merely to cast them
and their services off, but to acknowledge and reverence Him as the
object of supreme regard. Man cannot be without some thoughts of a
divinity. Even among those who would seem to have fallen most from the
knowledge of God, something about their own characters or circumstances
virtually usurps His place. The law of the ten commandments, written at
first on the heart of man, and afterwards proclaimed by the voice of
God, contemplated and anticipated every departure from the service due
to Him that should occur throughout all time. Originating in the perfect
nature of God, it is perfect. It reproves the rebellion of those who
would worship the creature instead of the Creator, and is directed alike