tures in ordinary conversation, as well as the breach of those promises which are ratified by appeal unto inferior beings. Ye ought, by all means, to give up thofe criminal indulgences; and not leave the performance of your vows undone." 6. THAT Our Lord Jefus Chrift, in the days of his flesh, took his difciples engaged, oftener than once, unto fuch particular articles of doctrine, and parts of duty as were then opposed. The perfonal miniftry of Chrift belonged, indeed, to the Church of the circumcifion; but it was a prelude likeways of his kingdom in the Gospel state; or, as an interlude between the two difpenfations: Hence Chrift did not enter upon the renovation of fuch covenants as bound unto an obfervance of the ritual fyftem; for he came to finish that system: Neither did he take them bound unto the inftitutions of the Gospel economy; for that was not yet formed. But there were various doctrines which were the PRESENT TRUTH in that period; fuch as, That Jefus of Nazareth is the true Meffiah; and that he is the Son of the living God: There were alfo duties correfpondent unto thefe truths; namely, acknowledging him to be the true Meffiah, receiving his doctrine, cleaving to his perfon, and owning his caufe. Now, we will find, that Chrift took his difciples engaged unto the profeffion of thefe truths, and obfervance of thefe duties; yea, yea, he required a renovation of these engagements, and they confirmed them with a folemn appeal unto his own omniscience. Hence, fays a late writer of distinguished merit, "In the days of Christ's humiliation we have an example of it, (viz. of focial vowing). At a certain time, when many who profeffed steadfastnefs in their attachment to Chrift's perfon and miniftrations had gone back,-He put a question to the twelve,"—"Will ye alfo go away?" Peter fpake the fentiments of the whole, in a PUBLIC VOW," Lord, to whom fhall we go! Thou haft the words of eternal life: And we believe and are fure, That thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God." This declaration hath not only the eflentials of a vow, but even the very form of it. form of it. It is made not merely concerning Chrift, but to him; it contains a dedication of themfelves to him for time and eternity, as the Lord of eternal life; and it is attended with a folemn profeffion of their faith concerning the character of Chrift, on whom they believed. In short, Peter faid all that can be expreffed in the most prolix form of words used in any folemn vow. We have another example of folemn vows from the tips of the fame confeffor, after Chrift's refurrection. Peter had shamefully deferted, and wickedly denied his Lord. His divine mafter, in order to restore him to the other difciples, whom, no doubt, he had fcandalized by his conduct; and to give the other Apostles affurance, that 8 his commiffion of apoftleship was not forfeited; -drew him to a folemn public vow of his love to the mafter whom he had lately denied; yea, to a confirming his vow by fwearing, as he had, on that occafion, denied him with CURSES and OATHS. "Simeon, fon of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He faith unto him, Yea, Lord! thou knoweft that I love thee," &c. Here is both a formal public vow, and a formal public appeal to the omniscience of Christ, with regard to his fincerity in his vow. It is true, though it be a public vow it is not focial: But the reafon is obvious. The other apostles were not affociates with him in the act of denying his Lord: But, had they been in the fame cafe with Peter, the fame reafon would have pleaded for extending the question to them all; in order to their jointly profeffing their love to Chrift, in a focial as well as a pu blic vow *." * See Mr GRAHAM's Difcourfes on Covenanting. DISSER O N COVENANTING IN THE APOSTOLIC TH CHURCHES. 2 COR. viii. 5. HEB. iv. 14. and x. 23. 'HE Gospel Church, conftituted by Christ immediately after his refurrection, was propagated by his infpired Apoftles, according to the model he fhewed them by his Spirit; and particular churches were formed according to that original pattern. The Church of Macedonia, was formed on that of Jerufalem, which last was the first particular church under the better economy. These focieties, however, were not MOLES ABSQUE NERVIS; but firmly bound together by ligaments, flowing from the will of their original founder. To afcertain the truth in this matter, we may,1. Confider the Terms on which perfons were Aaaa admitted * . A PROFIC form a judge them from the pr inftances as are to be found in the fmitory. The firt time the Church exerthis power was ca the day of Pentecod: she terms of their afent are not recorded th. The facred hiftorian only obferves, general, that young converts "received d, and that they continued in the apoTRINE:" But it is probable they laid dation in doctrines concerning the perof Chrift; faith in him; converfion to God agh him; baptifm with water, as the fign internal baptifin with the Holy Ghoft: For the facred hiftorian affures us, that Peter preachd on these subjects unto the people; " and with |