male and female, their fons and their daughters, who had arrived at the exercife of their reafon, even fuch as were capable of doing it with knowledge and understanding.

SECONDLY, I fhall now attend unto the CHARACTER of the Minifter, by whofe inftrumentality they entered on this work. The ministers adminiftering it were the Levites, indeed; but Nehemiah had a principal share in the reformation, and covenant-renovation which followed it. The congregation was affembled by his orders, and animated by his example. Nehemiah was probably of the tribe of Levi; but, as far as I have been able to judge, his genealogy cannot be reckoned. There are other things, however, of which we may be abundantly certain He filled an high office at the Perfían court; and, at the fame time, poffeffed a qualification rarely to be met with in courtiers: He was frequently employed in ejaculatory prayer, even in the prefence of the Per fian monarch: He is the moft fignal example of this duty in all the book of God: His ardour for the welfare of the Church was equal to his piety; and this made him improve his high ftation for her benefit and advantage. Having obtained leave from Artaxerxes Longimanus to go unto Jerufalem, and authority to govern the returned captives, he gave equal proof of his courage and diligence, as well as

his ability to rule,-ftirring up the Princes, Priefts, and people, unto repentance *.

THIRDLY, It is now time to confider the MATTER of this Covenant: "And they entered into an oath to walk in God's law, which was given by Mofes the fervant of God, and to obferve. and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord, and his judgments and his ftatutes: And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our fons: And if the people of the land bring ware, or any victuals on the Sabbath day to fell, that. we would not bay it of them on the Sabbath, or on the holy day: and that we would leave the feventh year, and the exaction of every debt," &c. Here I obferve,

1. THIS tranfaction bore a reference unto the whole of the facred fyftem, and included a renovation of all former covenants. Thus,

From Nehemiah's account of himself, he held the office of the King's Cup-bearer when at Shushan; and of the Tirthatha when at Jerufaleni: But what is meant by the Tirthatha? The original word is of doubtful derivation; hence the learned have taken liberty to offer their conjectures. Some reckon it is compounded of

w and , QUI DISPENSAVIT POTUM, MUNSTER ON Ezra. Others from a Perfian word which fignifies SEVERE; fuch as CASTELLUS, MENINSKI, &c. Hence, they conclude, that it imports the Perfian monarch's Viceroy. Ezrah fucceed Zerubbabel in this office, as he was fucceeded by Nehemiah.

they

they engaged to walk according to the Mofaic fyftem, and obferve morals and ceremonials, as well as judicials, according to their various defignations, formerly explained.

2. THERE was an explicit renovation of fuch precepts as they had remarkably violated; fuch as Sabbath-breaking, mixing with the heathen, ufury, oppreffion, &c. Now it was proper to make a formal renunciation of thefe fins, and a formal engagement unto the oppofite duties; as a general and material adherence unto them was not a fufficient teftimony and barrier against the oppofite fins.

3. THEY made fuch alterations, and additions unto former bonds, as their circumftances required. The ftyle of Covenants, prior to the captivity, would be, "Our King, our Princes," &c. But, as the Jews had now no king of their own religion, it was only, " Our Princes," &c. Again, They fettled the neceffary expenfes of the temple-fervice, and made a regulation to this purpose, in the form of a poll tax. The expenfes of the temple and tabernacle had been defrayed by other fources before the captivity; fuch as the redemption of the first-born, &c. But thefe fources being decreased, as the number of the people was impaired, they judged a poll tax the fitteft vein they could ftrike on this occafion.

FOURTHLY, The facred hiftorian delineates the MANNER in which they fet about this work.

1. THEY Covenanted with knowledge and understanding. It is by no means improbable that ignorant perfons were restrained; for, when Nehemiah enumerates their fons and their daughters, he limits them thus: "Every one having KNOWLEDGE and UNDERSTANDING." At any rate, the covenanters were well inftructed, Ezrah having read many lectures to them on this duty. The matter was of too great importance to be rushed upon with precipita

tion.

The

2. THEY Covenanted with the deepest humility and reverence. Accordingly, this and the former tranfaction have fome excellencies fuperior to any of the foregoing ones. confeffion of their fins, and God's goodnefs unto them, are more particularly delineated than on former occafions. The ninth chapters of the books of Ezrah and Nehemiah afford the moft excellent models and patterns for this duty of folemn confeffion; and are also standing evidences of the humble and penitent frame unto which thofe perfons were brought on these occafions. Could perfons be brought unto fuch a humble difpofition, their objections and difficulties in the way of covenanting would be

more

more than half removed. But, are not many, too many, disposed to say I am innocent!

3. THEY Covenanted almost universally. There was a congregation of more than forty. thousand, made up of perfons of all ranks, as well as different ages and fexes. There were few ceremonial duties in which females were engaged; they were exempted, in particular, from attendance on the folemn feafts, while the males were enjoined to attend three times a-year. But, as covenanting was a moral duty, and as females had concern in the whole of practical religion, they were obliged to join in it as well as males.

In

FIFTHLY, I must now attend unto the OCCASIONS of this Covenant. The interval between this tranfaction and that which was executed under the miniftry of Ezrah, above defcribed, was not less than twelve years. that space of time, there had been a relapfe into thofe fins from which they had been reformed by the ministry of Ezrah, and that covenant-renovation which he directed in the feventh year of Artaxerxes. Now, this covevenant obtained in the twentieth year of his reign. Such is the versatility of men, even of gracious perfons, that they are foon turned afide from the path of holinefs!

1. THIS Covenant-renovation obtained after the people of God had been greatly alarm