ll duty, and that alone, ought to be vowed to
God in covenant, it is manifest that what is lawfully engaged to in
swearing by the name of God is enjoined in the moral law, and, because
of the authority of that law, ought to be performed as a duty. But it is
now to be proved that what is promised to God by vow or oath, ought to
be performed also because of the act of Covenanting. The performance of
that exercise is commanded, and the same law which enjoins that the
duties thereby engaged to be discharged, finds the Covenanter, or the
Covenanting community, bound by the deed itself to fulfil them; and
thus, by the service, the party under original obligation to obey, is
brought under one that is superadded. The Covenanting party, not as
independent, but as under the authority of God, by means of the exercise
binds itself to duty. He commands to vow, that men may be brought under
additional obligation; and when they obey, he recognises them as
voluntarily engaged, and, according to his will, additionally called to
fulfil. "The obligation arises entirely from the act of the creatures,
using a divine ordinance, by vowing unto God, and covenanting with him,
whereby they bind their souls with a bond to serve the Lord."[314] It is
wrong to imagine that the obligation comes solely from the will of those
who vow. Were not the exercise of vowing commanded, nor the law of God
to hold those who engage in it bound by their own act, these should not
be under obligation. By vowing, they bind themselves, not as by
themselves, but by the authority of God. Or, by vowing, they submit to a
requirement of his law, in yielding obedience to which they become
bound, not by themselves but by his authority, to perform the duties
vowed.

SECTION I.

Personal and Social Covenanting both entail obligation on the
Covenanting parties.

First. Various general representations exhibit this. Several scriptures
present such as _bound_. In reference to the truth that a wicked ruler
is destitute of right to claim the allegiance of his subjects by oath,
or in any other manner, it is asked, "Shall even he that hateth right
govern (bind)?"[315] Reproaching his servants, Saul said to them, "All
of you have conspired (bound yourselves) against me, and there is none
that showeth me that my son hath made a league with the son of
Jesse."[316] The Psalmist said, "Thou shalt hide them in the secret of
thy presence, from the pride, (or rather _the binding_, that i