y the language employed at one of these
seasons will here be quoted. "Neither with you only do I make this
covenant and this oath; but with him that standeth here with us this day
before the Lord our God, and also with him that is not here with us this
day." However, it may be necessary to add the explanation, that, by
those who are represented as not present, we are to understand the
descendants of the congregation of Israel; inasmuch as in reference to
the duties then performed by the assembled people, it was said,
"Therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live." Hence,
whatever, in consequence of entering into such federal engagements, is
incumbent on those who make them, is binding on their successors; and
since a covenant transaction binds the parties to the making of it, it
therefore binds all those, though not present, whom these parties
represent, and for whom also it was made. Whatever reason the
transaction affords for binding the former, it supplies for holding the
latter bound. The engagement made by and for the living Covenanters, is
not less explicit than that thereby made by them for those who shall
succeed to their privileges and duties. And as it is the engagement
which binds, the latter are, not less than the former, brought under
obligation by it. The federal compact could not be made without
constituting an obligation. That could not be entered into without
conferring that obligation on all the parties represented at its
formation. And from its acknowledged nature, those to whom the functions
of the Covenanters should descend, are included among those, and those
therefore are thereby bound.

Secondly. Because the Church is one in all ages. Her glorious Head is
one. All her true members are spiritually united to him. All of them are
united in love to one another. The Church is distinct from the world. By
the ordinances given to her by the Lord Jesus, she is distinguished from
civil society. She possesses a real incorporate character. The Church
consists not of a limited number of those who at any time fear God, but
of all of them. The individual members of the Church from day to day are
changing; but she remains one. Some are constantly being added, others
are removed from her communion on earth, but her characteristic absolute
identity remains. Under the Patriarchal, Levitical, and Christian
dispensations, she is one. As one body enduring from generation to
generation by her Lord, she i