between the parts thereof." Nehemiah also, chap. v. 12, 13, when he took
an oath of the priests, shook his lap and said--"So God shake out every
man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this
promise," &c. And all the covenanters said--"Amen."

4. Much tenderness and heart-melting is requisite to the right
performing of this duty. So it was with covenant-renewing Israel and
Judah, who were "weeping as they went to seek the Lord their God, and to
make a covenant never to be forgotten." This brokenness of heart, and
tender-melting frame may arise, both from the consideration of the many
sins and iniquities whereby persons have provoked the Lord their God to
anger, whence they come "to be like doves of the valley, every one
mourning for his iniquity:" and likewise from the consideration of the
grace and mercy of God, manifested in Christ Jesus, his condescension to
enter into a covenant with sinful men, and readiness, upon his people's
repentance, to pardon their former breaches; from the consideration of
this transcendently free grace, an humble and sincere covenanter will be
transported into an ecstacy of wonder and admiration; as the church is,
Mic. vii. 18, 19, 20--"Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth
iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his
heritage?" &c.

5. Dependency and recumbency upon the Lord by faith, for strength to
perform covenant engagements, is requisite to right covenanting, Isa.
xxvii. 5--"Let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with
me; and he shall make peace with me." This is to "take hold of" God's
covenant, Isa. lvi. 4.

6. Affection to God and the duties whereunto we engage, is requisite to
right covenanting, and that in its flower and vigour, height and