of. The evil impairs
its dignity and excellence, nay, tends to make it void. Evil confers no
obligation. The admission of it into any engagement is sinful. The good
part of every compact accords not with it, but demands its expulsion.
Let those who acknowledge themselves to be called to obedience not
refrain from vowing: but in doing this duty, let them be cautious, and
endeavouring to perform, let them fear to break, their engagement to
duty, and also to keep what they ought not to have promised. To neglect
either of these things is sinful. To vow, however, notwithstanding the
dreadful consequences of sinfully doing so, and of not performing, is
indispensable. To do so, is to use an appointed means of arriving at the
knowledge of God, to make progress towards spiritual perfection, and to
prepare to attain at last to the great end of all his arrangements for
sinners--even complete conformity to the will of God, and the promotion
of His glory.

Finally. That men are bound by previous descending Covenant obligations,
is no reason why they should not themselves engage in Covenanting. Have
not all the chosen of God to be brought successively nearer and nearer
to him? And ought not this exercise, designed for facilitating this, to
be carefully had recourse to? Are not the Scriptures to be read? Are not
all the means of grace to be used for this? Covenanting is a means of
the restoration of men to Him from every imperfection, whether in an
unconverted or converted state. Engaging in it, they are described as
returning to God.[363] By it, all ought to return from every departure
from him. Throughout their lives, believers will be imperfect, and will
be called to use this means of attaining their expected end. The
obligations entailed from the past bind to the duty. The very first
obligation, voluntarily accepted by personally or socially discharging
it, binds additionally to it. Every new performance thereof adds to the
motive to engage in it again; so that, instead of the obligation to
Covenant being diminished by the doing of the duty, it is rather
increased. And as the believer goes on to perform it, his call to the
service will wax indefinitely great. His is the state of mind cherished
by the Psalmist declaring himself cordially bound, when he vowed in
these words,--"Thy vows are upon me, O God. I will render praises unto
thee."[364]

FOOTNOTES:

[314] P. 37 of "Observations on the Public Covenants betwixt God and the