31; Ezra x. 3, and in our own ecclesiastic history. And the practice
was justified by the success, for the most part terminating in some
reviving and reformation. 6th, The time being come to such a crisis,
that such as would keep the word of Christ's patience cannot any longer
do it in a distinguishing way from those that are covenant-breakers, but
by renewing covenant, and thereby making a test and trial of the
well-wishers to the covenanted interest in the land, is a call to set
about this work: in former times the godly held fast this their
profession, by suffering for their adherence to covenanted duties,
resisting unto blood, striving against the sin of covenant-breaking;
whereas now our call seems to be more clear to do it, by renewing those
covenant-obligations. 7th, The covenants themselves have, as it were, a
loud voice to call us, and all who own their obligation, to set about
renewing of them; they call by the justness and intrinsic goodness of
the matter, which is of binding force by virtue of the law of God, prior
to any covenant-tie, and by the holiness and excellency of the end, to
wit, the reformation and preservation of religion. Yea, the covenant
seems to say to us, and to every true hearted son of the church of
Scotland, as Job said in another case, "Have pity upon me, O my
friends," &c. So says the covenant: Have pity upon me, all ye that have
any respect for me, for church and state have forsaken me.

The _third_ thing proposed was to give some advices and directions for
right managing the duty intended. The scope and substance whereof
briefly follows:

1st, Such as would make a covenant with God aright, so as the same may
never be broken nor yet forgotten, must labor to know if they be in good
terms with the God of the covenant, and with the Mediator of the
covenant; if they sincerely closed with the terms, and acquiesced to the
proposals of the covenant of grace; this personal and particular
acceptance of Christ in the new covenant being the only fountain of
acceptable entering into national covenants. Hence it concerns all that
would be right Covenanters, to search and see how it may be betwixt God
and them, because 'tis but a profanation of the covenant to have the
hand and tongue at it, and the heart from it: a well informed head
without a reformed heart is not sufficient: a good opinion and liking of
the covenant without a heart and affection to the covenant avails
nothing in God's sight.