2d, Such as would rightly renew covenant with God, must be well resolved
concerning the motives leading them to covenant; which motives must
neither arise wholly from without, nor yet wholly from within, for if
these motives arise wholly from without, it discovers a great deal of
treachery in the persons covenanting, as not beginning at the heart, not
duly considering the inward case of the soul, but being moved from some
external considerations, as a name amongst men, or affectation of zeal
for public concerns, or such like; if they arise wholly from within it
betrays much weakness and lowness of spirit, as not being able at the
same time both to have a concern about the inward frame of the heart,
and eternal state and condition of the soul, and likewise a zeal for the
public good of the nation, and thriving of the work of God and kingdom
of Christ. Both which interests ought to be in their due proportion
before the eyes of a sound and real Covenanter; a right engager in
covenant must be moved thereto, both from a due sense of the strength
and power of corruption within, and also from the consideration of the
lowness of God's work through defection without.

3d, A right covenanter must be well resolved concerning the terms of
the covenant; that it excludes all coming and going, according to the
revolutions of the times, and the ebbing and flowing of worldly
interests: One that has given up his name to the Lord in covenant, and
called himself by the name of Israel, must not, like the Samaritans, be
an Israelite only in the time of Israel's prosperity, but he must be one
in adversity too: The things engaged to in the covenant being of an
everlasting and permanent duration, in their nature, must be lasting
also in their observation.

4th, A right renewer of covenant must be well resolved anent the cost
and expense of steadfast keeping of covenant. This should be first
counted and deliberately resolved upon before engaging, lest after
persons have engaged they want sufficiency to finish and fulfil the
undertaking; and the Wise man assures us, it is better not to vow, than
to vow and not pay. The covenant may come to require the cost both of
doing and suffering to finish it: there must, therefore, be a resolving
upon both, before engaging.

5th, A right covenanter must be well resolved concerning the separating
nature, and the uniting tie and bond of the covenant, for as it
distinguished between friends and foes, so it u