n accordance with the
extensive signification of the verb, and in order to unfold the full
scope of the text had been requisite. The verse ought therefore to
run,--"Let the people _confess_ thee, O God, let all the people
_confess_ thee." And hence is enjoined, in the whole passage, on the
people of Israel, and on all nations on the earth, the exercises of
confessing sin, and praising God, and the duty of entering into Covenant
with him with the hand extended in swearing by his name. And that the
exercise of Covenanting is specially intended there, moreover appears
from the end to be accomplished by the shining of God's face upon his
people, one of the means of attaining to which is that special method of
confessing his name. "God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause
his face to shine upon us. Selah. That thy way may be known upon earth,
thy saving health among all nations."[221] Thus it is manifest, that
nations in their organised capacity are called to engage in this
service. Rulers, both in church and state, in their official capacity
are bound to do so. The people themselves collectively are called to
this; and laws, civil and ecclesiastical, sanctioning the exercise
should be made, so that the contravention of the ends of the Covenant
entered into should be condemned, and that those who would be hostile to
the design of it, should be kept from places of power and trust, both in
church and state. The enactment of such laws, and the carrying of them
into effect, would not be persecution. Rulers should not compel any man
to take the Covenant; but they should punish the man who would obstruct
its fulfilment, as they would punish the transgressor of any civil
statute. Being entered into by the whole nation, the Covenant would be
eventually national: and even, as the whole nation consider every man
bound by the laws of the nation, so they ought to consider every one,
whether willing or unwilling, as bound by the Covenant. Were the matter
of the Covenant against the law of God, it would not be obligatory on
any one; and rulers would punish the frustration of it only at their
peril. Were the matter of it right, the people would all be under
obligation to adhere to it, both in consequence of the Divine law
enjoining it, and also of their voluntary engagement as a people to
perform it. The individual who would fail in attaining to any place of
influence, because of not acceding to the stipulations of the Covenant,
wou