ressed the laws, changed the ordinance,
broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the
earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate."[361] How dreadful,
then, is it for sinners to speak to God perfidiously! And how important,
according to his commandment, to draw near unto him in making solemn
vows, in dependence on that grace which it is his to give, in order that
the vow may be acceptably made, and also performed!

Secondly. Though some connected with the visible church do not engage in
the duty of formal Covenanting, they are not therefore free from
covenant obligation. All who are not in the communion of the true
Church, are exposed to the wrath threatened against those who are far
from God. A connection with that Church brings under obligation. The
vows of God are upon all, received by Baptism or the Lord's Supper into
its communion, whether worthy members or not. The spiritual blessings
promised to Abraham and to his seed--even to all the faithful--belong to
the people of God therein; and all the duties incumbent on those to whom
great and precious promises have been made, devolve on them. Till it be
paid, every vow made by a member of the Church, whatever be his
character, he is under obligation to perform. Till they be paid, all the
vows vowed by those in the Church of God who represented him in all past
time, are upon him. The vows made, and that should have been made
lawfully by the Church in all past time since the days of the
Apostles--those vowed at that distinguished period, and those entered
into in all preceding eras, even up till the time when the Covenant was
revealed, in so far as their matter was not peculiar to given
dispensations, but adapted to all, unite to bring him under one
obligation. Through every age that was gathering weight. Viewed as
accumulating and being transmitted through the voluntary agency of man,
it is manifestly mighty; contemplated as conferred by the authority of
God, it appears to be infinite. Divine grace alone can enable to pay the
debt of duty. Happy they who look by faith for that! Thus, in proportion
to her acquaintance with the covenant transactions of the past, the
Church ought to feel herself under obligation. With her progress her
real responsibility will increase. Like the force of gravitation towards
a central orb, the force of obligation propelling her, will increase
with time; and with a celerity due to all her solemn covenant
engagemen