d of the
privilege of engaging in covenant, though bound to inform themselves of
its nature and obligation; and also in relation to the breaches, such as
would engage into it being called to have some suitable sense and
understanding, both how it has been violated, and by what means persons
come to be guilty of the breach thereof. So, Neh. x. 28, 29--"Every one
that had knowledge and understanding entered into the covenant."

2. This duty must be gone about with sincerity and uprightness of heart;
thus Joshua, when making a covenant with the people, that they should
serve the Lord, exhorts them--"Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve
him in sincerity and truth," Joshua, xxiv., compare the 25th verse with
the 14th. The want of which qualification in covenant-renewing, causes
unsteadfastness and perfidy in covenant-performing--Psal. lxxviii. 36,
37.

3. This duty of covenant-renewing requires, as a qualification towards
the right performing of it, that there be a due consideration, and some
suitable impression of the solemnity and weightiness of the work: which
ariseth, partly from the _object_ or _party covenanted with_, the holy
and jealous God, Joshua xxiv. 19--"He is a holy God, he is a jealous
God, he will not forgive your transgressions, nor your sins," and partly
from the _subject matter covenanted, or engaged to_. The articles of the
covenant of grace, which we have professedly, at last, yielded to in our
baptism, are weighty; for therein, as God engages to give us himself,
his Son Christ Jesus, and in him all temporal and eternal blessings; so
we engaged to be obedient children, and faithful subjects to him all the
days of our lives. And the articles of these national covenants are
weighty, for therein we engage to great things relating to the glory of
God, and the good of our own and other's souls. And, partly, this
weightiness ariseth from the great _danger and dreadful punishment of
breaking the covenant_; which is threatened in many places of Scripture.
The same is also intimated to us in the customs both of the Jews and
Heathens, in entering into covenant; particularly, we find that the Jews
used to cut a calf, or some other clean beast, in twain, and pass
between the parts of it--using this, or the like form of speech, as the
Jewish doctors relate--"So God divide or separate me, if I keep not this
covenant." Jer. xxxiv. 18, compared with verse 20--"I will give the men
into the hands of their enemies who h