As, had he existed alone,
he would from the very constitution of his nature have been under
covenant obligation to perform whatever duties his Creator might have
made known to him, so in his public character, his obedience to the law
of God on his own behalf and towards the fulfilment of the peculiar
duties connected with his relation to his descendants, was due as
required by covenant. As one with his posterity he was bound by
requirements that would have brought them under obligation. Feeling
himself commanded to obey on behalf of many of whom he himself was one,
no less than as if he had acted in an individual capacity, did he or
could he recognise his obligations to acquiesce in duty prescribed, nor
less was he called and urged solemnly by covenant to engage to them.

Accordingly, man in his original condition, was, from his constitution,
engaged in covenant to God by his law. By a twofold bond, the obligation
laid upon him was imposed. The authority of God requiring obedience was
one of the bonds. The authority of God requiring fulfilment of an
engagement made according to his command was the other. The giving of
the law implied the disposition of the constitution of man to respond to
its appeal, and demonstrated that both were of God. Seeing that He
determined to create moral subjects on earth, his arrangements provided
that he should make them disposed to acquiesce in that law; and hence,
so long as man continued to possess the moral standing in which he was
placed at first, he must have had an impression that by the constitution
which had been given him, God was engaged to bestow good upon him, which
he was brought under obligation by Covenanting to accept.

Covenanting is adapted to the moral constitution of man in a state of
grace.

First. Inasmuch as gracious capacities lead to acquiescence in what God
requires. All the powers of man, either directly or indirectly, were
injured and misdirected by the fall. The range of the intellect was
circumscribed, and its power was diminished. The affections were
deadened, and subjected to unholy influence; the conscience became
callous, and unfit to testify for God as it had formerly done; and the
will was exercised to do only evil, and that continually. From the moral
nature of man proceeded all the evils that overtook his constitution in
consequence of sin. That suffered the taint of a depravity that exposed
the sinner to ruin; and the curse of the broken law went ou