-One God, and ratified by Christ. They who will
not perform the duty are none of his. He represented each of his people.
Each is therefore called individually to Covenant. He represented his
people in their associate capacity as his Church. In that they are
called to enter into covenant with God. He represented them in all their
approved social relations. In all these they are bound by his engagement
to take hold on God's covenant.

Secondly. All the promises accepted in Covenanting were made to the
Surety in the Covenant of Redemption. In a promise including that of
every benefit which those should enjoy through him, a seed was presented
to him. The promise of the Spirit, and all His glorious effects through
the word, was made not merely to the Church but to Christ himself, and
therefore to him in the everlasting covenant. "As for me, this is my
covenant with them, saith the Lord; my Spirit that is upon thee, and my
words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth,
nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's
seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever."[373] To Noah, to
Abraham, to Israel under Moses, and to the Church in succeeding ages,
the Lord gave the promise that he would establish his covenant with his
people.[374] And a promise equivalent to this he made when he engaged to
establish his called and chosen, as a holy people to himself.[375] But a
promise including each of these was given to Christ. In a passage where
the very same verb ([Hebrew: kom], _to establish_,) that occurs in the
portions quoted, is employed, it is found. "I will preserve thee, and
give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause
to inherit the desolate heritages."[376] And in another, where a verb
([Hebrew: kon]) of a kindred import, but from a different origin, is
used, it is recorded.[377] It is the promise of God that is laid hold on
in Covenanting. He commands to draw near to him in the exercise. He has
prescribed the matter of vows which he will accept. But in order to give
encouragement to perform the duty and fulfil its engagements, he has
also made promises of good. To the sinner these could not otherwise come
than through Christ. To Him at first they were made, and that for men.
When the saints accept them, they cleave to what comes to them as not
standing alone, but interested in the work of the great Surety; and
accordingly, as the children of a covena