the more general heads of the
foresaid Acknowledgement of Sins; and a part of the 78th Psalm,
beginning at the 36th verse, was sung; and the minister dismissed the
congregation with a short reprehension and advice, reproving them for
their unconcerned carriage and behaviour during the reading of the
acknowledgment of the breaches of these covenants, which had been first
entered into at the expense of so much blood and treasure, and confirmed
and sealed with the blood of many honourable martyrs of all ranks in the
land; withal, exhorting all present to labour after a heart-melting
frame for the right performance of the work in hand.

Upon Thursday, July 24th, after singing a part of the 105th Psalm, from
the 6th to the 12th verse, and prayer--Mr. John M'Millan preached upon
Isaiah, xliv. 5--"One shall say I am the Lord's: and another shall call
himself by the name of Jacob: and another shall subscribe with his hand
unto the Lord, and sirname himself by the name of Israel." Whereupon,
after the unfolding of the context, and explication of the words,
showing that they clearly contain an intimation of a covenant relation
betwixt God and a people, and their avouching of the same upon their
part; the words seeming to have a reference to the state of the New
Testament Church, and conversion of the Gentiles, who, being allured by
the great gospel blessings and mercies bestowed by God upon the Jews, to
join themselves to the church, should avouch their interest in the
Messiah and covenant of grace, by taking the Lord for their God, and
owning themselves to be his people. So that the words may be taken up as
an answer to such a presupposed question as this, _Whose are you?_ _and
what is your name?_ To which question, one shall answer, _I am the
Lord's;_ another, _I am one of old Jacob's family and offspring_;
another, if you desiderate my name, look the covenant subscriptions and
you will find it there; another shall say, whatever my name was before,
_my sirname now is an Israelite_. So sweetly should a shower of gospel
grace engage the hearts of the New Testament converts to avow their
covenant relation to the Lord, and glory in their union with his church
and covenanted people. Having taking up the sense of the words to this
effect, he deduced from them these two observations:

_1. That the Lord is graciously pleased sometimes to privilege his
people with very remarkable tokens of his gracious presence._ This
doctrine is clea