join the exercise of Covenanting, were delivered to the
Church. Her members, in an individual capacity, are bound by all these.
These laws demand, too, the obedience of the whole Church in her
associate capacity, and consequently that of each of her Sections.
Possessing a constitution essentially distinct from that of every other
community, she is under peculiar obligations; and because of her
subjection, and of the delivery of Divine statutes to her, in her proper
character she is called to vow and swear to fulfil these. There is no
Section of the Church but ought to attempt the service. If Sections of
the true Church simultaneously exist in the same land, and accordingly
be in one class of circumstances, each of these ought to renounce its
dross and tin, and endeavouring to the utmost to maintain the Lord's
testimony, unite with the others, in one enlarged Section of the Church,
in displaying a banner for the whole truth, and confirm their union by
entering into solemn Covenant engagement with the Lord. While these
Sections, however, separately exist, not one of them, if consistent with
its own profession, can say that the others have separately a right to
engage in Covenanting, or in any other exercise, according to those
views of any of these others which are a ground of difference between it
and them, but are warranted in affirming that it is their duty to engage
in the exercise in that way which, as to its manner, and by the nature
and extent of its engagements, is right. What would justify each of such
Sections of the Church in approving of every Covenant engagement of all
the others, would not merely warrant but demand, a union in one
ecclesiastical body among all of them, and their vows as one society
dedicated to the Lord. And this might be extended even overall the
earth. Though the circumstances of a Section of the Church in one land,
might not precisely correspond with those of Sections of it elsewhere;
though, for example, a testimony might have to be borne, principally
against paganism in one case, against mohammedanism in another, against
popery in a third, and so on; yet as all ought, generally, to testify
against all error, and to maintain all truth, all might be united in
one ecclesiastical connection. Were the churches to see eye to eye,
there might be adopted, by solemn oath, a testimony so universal in the
exhibition of truth, and condemnation of error, as would suit the
exigencies of the Church in e