covenants made, and renewed by the people of Israel and Judah, that the
Lord discovered his gracious presence with them, by some remarkable
effect of his goodness. Thus it is remarked of Hezekiah, that after he
had entered into covenant, "That the Lord was with him, and he prospered
whithersoever he went forth," 2 Kings xviii. 7, compared with 2 Chron.
xxix. 10. 4th, That _the Lord puts none of his people to any piece of
his work upon their own proper expense and charges, but upon his own_;
and whatever complaints his people may have of want of necessary
charges, he both has wherewith to supply them, and has undertaken to
make it actually forthcoming for them, having commanded his people to
open their mouths wide, and he has promised to fill them. 5th, That the
covenant has a greater entail of blessings, than what will sufficiently
compensate whatever expense and pains a people may be at, in undertaking
and performing it. In regard, that though a Christian should lose all,
yea, even life itself, upon the account of it, yet the covenant will
bring in all with advantage to a hundred fold, and glory to the
overplus, when it is duly observed. 6th, That _the undertakers have
God's call and commandment to set about it_; this is that which, above
all other considerations, inspires a Christian with undaunted courage
and alacrity in the undertaking of a duty, when it is made clear that
the person has God's call and command for a warrant; otherwise the want
of this may make the duty to be heartlessly and doubtingly entered upon,
and lamely performed.

Seeing, therefore, that sometimes a work may be the Lord's, and yet the
Lord's call to such a particular person, or people to undertake it, may
be wanting; he came necessarily (which was the _second_ head proposed)
to enquire, what were the several things that might seem to speak
against us, as not having this call from the Lord, and what were the
things that spake for us, and might give us matter of encouragement in