done to a gracious God
thereby; which sorrow must not be of an ordinary sort, but an
extraordinary and most intense sorrow, for it cannot be an ordinary kind
of sorrow, provided it be in any suitable measure proportioned to the
offence. And 3dly, which follows upon the former, there must be a
"loathing of the person's self because of these its ways and doings that
have not been good in his sight," Ezek. vi. 9, even to that degree as to
fill the soul with wonder and astonishment, that ever it should have an
occasion of renewing covenant with God again. 4thly, There must be a
sincere and hearty resolving against all sins, consequent upon this
loathing; the soul saying with a steady purpose, "if I have done
iniquity I will do so no more," Job xxxiv. 32.

2dly, As to the latter, the things engaged unto render the nature of
covenanting work difficult and weighty, which are duties of various
kinds, such as, 1st, Holiness towards God, which is one special and
chief part of the covenant, and that not for a time only, but for ever;
both in regard that God, the party covenanted with, is holy and
unchangeably so, and calls his people to imitate him in this attribute
especially; and also in regard that the covenant itself is for its
nature holy, all the articles being morally good and consonant to the
royal law, the scriptures of truth; and for the extent of its duration,
of perpetual force and obligation. This duty of holiness towards God,
engaged to in the covenant, comprehends in it a zealous endeavor to
maintain the purity of the doctrine, worship, discipline and government
of his institution, in opposition to all those who would corrupt it, or
decline from it. 2d, Righteousness towards our neighbor, and more
especially to our covenanted brother; which righteousness should
discover itself both in reference to sin and duty, by reproving him for
sin; or upon his rejecting reproof, by withdrawing from him, that he may
be ashamed, and so come to be reclaimed from his evil course; and by
affording him all that help and assistance to covenanted duties, that
may be warrantably called for, and generally by uprightness towards him
in all our transactions and dealings of any kind. 3d, Faithfulness
towards our nation, which comprehends a constant endeavor to advance and
promote in our station the common good thereof; and a stedfast
opposition to the courses that tend to take away the privilege of the
same. 4th, Uprightness towards oursel