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of Works. That this tranfaction is called the MINISTRATION OF DEATH, as the Covenant of Works was greatly predominant in it is readily granted; but that the glory of it belonged unto the Covenant of Works can never be proved. This fplendor was intended to conciliate authority to Mofes, as a typical mediator and, by it, to typify the glory of the New Testament lawgiver; so that both the glory of Chrift, and of the gofpel œconomy, are compared to this glory, and preferred to it, by the Apostle. The vail was a reprefentation of the darkness and imperfection of that minor ftate: And as the darknefs of it was the occafion, not the caufe, of the blindness of the Jews, in the days of the Apoftle, he makes an eafy tranfition to the vail of darkness that was on their heart.

I SHALL now make fome REFLECTIONS on what has been explained,

1. THE faints of God themselves may fometimes violate their moft folemn engagements, very foon after they have made them. It was but about forty days after the most folemn covenanting at Sinai, that Aaron, and the greater part of the covenanters with him, brake that covenant, in the most shameful manner. And would to God the like feene had not been too often re-acted in later times. Thefe fame covenanters,

venanters, who were cheerful and ready in taking the national covenant, in the year 1596*, were foon guilty of violating it. The like fcene was alfo re-acted, by many covenanters, in the year 1638. And, to come ftill nearer our own times, did not fome of the most eminent covenanters, in the year 1743, relinquish these veryengagements, in April 1747. Plain and incon

testible as the facts are, by which this awful truth is established, our feparating brethren, who efpoufe the Burgess-oath, affect to deny it. Say they, The great ERSKINES were too good men to be guilty of breaking covenant with the Moft High! This is the ftrength of the canfe, indeed. But can we be better affured of the fainthip of an Erfkine, or a Fisher, than of the fainthip of Aaron? Or, Were the Erfkines, excellent as they were, fecured from apoftacy, in a manner fuperior to the Apostles --Do we not find Peter guilty of diffimulation, even after he had entered on the work of his apoftlefhip? If fuch a pillar as an infallible teacher might fall, in refpect of his perfonal conduct, why is it not poflible for the strongest pillars among fallible teachers to be likeways flaken?

2. COVENANTERS frequently violate their engagements, by falling back into thofe very fins from which they have been but lately re

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formed. So grofs was Ifrael's infatuation, that they wished to be conducted into the promised land by thofe gods from whom they had been redeemed. They faw, that thofe gods could not deliver the Egyptians; yet they vainly expected, that they could protect and direct them. Neither the impotence and inutility of those deities, on the one hand; nor their own facred engagements on the other, could be a barrier against the torrent of their apoftacy. How often, alas! How often do profeffors return, like the dog to his vomit; and, like the fwine that were washed, unto their wallowing in the mire !

3. SOLEMN CONFESSION, especially of fuch fins as are formal breaches of preceding covenants, ought to precede covenant-renovation. Mofes was employed, to good purpose, in this duty, previous to his receiving the draught of this covenant.

4. THE name of God, as a fin-pardoning God, gives great encouragement unto the acknowledgment of fin. God announced himfelf, The Lord God-forgiving iniquity, tranfgreffion, and fin. Mofes improved this noble character: He found fuch a grace in it, as filled the foul with fhame and evangelical contrition of mind.

5. COVENANT

5. COVENANT ENGAGEMENTS ought to be fo framed, as to ftrike directly and explicitly against those fins that are most prevalent in the time and place in which they are made; and most likely to befet those who enter into fuch engagements. There are two kinds of covenant engagements with which wicked men will bear a little, although they count every species fuperfluous: The firit is, Such as do not condemu any but very remote evils; and fuch as they have no prefent temptation to practise: For example, not a few seem to approve of Ifrael's explicit condemnation of idolatry; yea, they would not say much against a condemnation of fome of the groffer abominations of Popery But a condemnation of PRESENT EVILS is always a torment to them who dwell on the face of the earth. Again, Others would put up with covenant engagements, provided they be kept private; and do not amount, like Noah's, unto a condemnation of the world lying in wickedness. But neither of thefe can confift with the model afforded in the hiftory before us. The fins into which Ifrael had fallen are especially mentioned, and others condemned only by confequence and implication. As they had finned by imitating Egyptian idolatry, fo they covenanted against it,-against all imitation of it, or compliance with it, whether Egyptian or Canaanitish.

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6. THE great difcouragement of covenanters, which originates in their unfteadfastnefs, is no juft argument against the practice itself. Were covenanting God's ordinance, fay fome, and his work, he would not fuffer men to break it down fo foon after they have been employed in building it up: But, who can doubt if the Sinai Covenant were God's work? And who can deny but it was broken foon after it was made? If we attend carefully unto God's work, we will find, that he has, feemingly, permitted Satan to crush his work almoft in the very bud: His image was not long fet up in this lower world before it was broken down by the fall. The more glorious the work is, the fooner, and the keener, will the attack upon it be; and though the enemies of God. fhould apparently prevail, and his work, according to our view, appear to be quite marred; yet it will be really mended, being raifed up with fuperior advantage, on the one hand; and his name will be glorified, by the wickednefs of his enemies, and the weaknefs of his friends, on the other.

7. WHEN perfons and churches are called unto the duty of covenanting, they are alfo frequently called unto feparation from fuch profeffors as are tinged with the fins of the times, and perfift in refufing to be reclaimed. Such were the circumftances of Mofes, and

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