falsehood, fraud, theft, intemperance, adultery, and other scandalous offences, yet when their brethren, in faithfulness to God and to them, attempt to reclaim them by the discipline of the gospel, they show themselves to be haughty scorners. They refuse to hear their brethren and confess their faults, as Christ hath commanded them. Instead of this, they hate their faithful pastors and brethren, and speak all manner of evil against them. They forsake their worship, manifest an implacable and revengeful spirit, employing their utmost exertions and influence to injure and ruin the churches with which they had covenanted to walk in brotherly love: and by all means to edify and build up each other. They proceed from sin to sin, from one gross violation of their covenant to another. Do not they, like Judas, betray their Lord, and exhibit sad evidence, that they are irreclaimable sinners? Do they not treat the blood of the covenant as an unholy thing? Can there remain for them any more sacrifice for sin? Any thing but a fearful looking for of judgment, and fiery indignation,which shall deyour the adversaries? If he that despised Moses' law died without mercy, of how much sorer punishment shall they be thought worthy, who

thus despise the authority, and tread under foot the Son of God?

There are other professors who grossly violate their covenant vows by an omission of the duties of religion. They cast off fear and restrain prayer before God, in the closet, and in their families. They, in a great measure, if not wholly, omit family government and religion. They pay no conscientious attention to the bringing up of their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Though these duties were expressly stipulated in the act of covenanting, and though they are abundantly inculcated in the divine word, yet they disregard them. They also too much neglect the assembling of themselves together, and other duties of religion: especially the duties of their particular relations.

There is yet another sort of professors, who, though they are zealous for some parts of religion, yet are gross covenant breakers.. They are not uniform and consistent in their religion. They do not, like Cornelius, unite piety and righteousness in their character: their prayers and their alms do not ascend up before God. Some are externally very pious. They pray often, are zealous for the public

worship, and talk much concerning religion: but they do not work righteousness. They are unfaithful, unrighteous, covetous, worldly-minded, and not conscientious in the performance of relative duties. Others have à fair outside as it respects men. They are externally honest and liberal, but they have no piety towards God. Both these characters violate their covenant vows, and are destitute of true religion. They covenanted to be pious, righteous, and charitable, and to walk in all God's commandments; in the performance of the duties of both tables; of one no less than the other.

Some professors are very zealous for some branches of piety, while they, in a manner, neglect all the other. Though they are very deficient in their attendance on the public worship and ordinances in general; though they appear to be inordinately attached to the world, are careless and loose livers, yet they are zealous and punctual to attend on the Lord's Supper. In this they seem to place a great part of their religion. By this they seem to expect to make an atonement for all their neglects of God, and deficiencies in other duties. Persons of all these characters are covenant breakers, and stand reproved by our

subject. They are all triflers with God and their own souls. They will, doubtless, continuing in their present state, be finally cut asunder, and have their portion with hypocrites. In the character of all true Christians there is uniformity and symmetry; piety, righteousness, and charity. Then they are not ashamed when they have respect unto all God's commandments. (Ps. cxix. 6.)

VI. With what holy fear and trembling, with what caution, self-examination, and prayerfulness, ought persons to covenant with God? As it is a most solemn and interesting transaction, the heart should be most deeply impressed, and filled with great concern to covenant sincerely in the love of God, and in the faith of the gospel: and also with the most fixed resolutions, through the grace of God, to keep covenant with him. With what seriousness and impartiality should they examine themselves whether they are born of God? Whether their hearts are broken for sin? Whether they are so united to the Redeemer by faith and love, as that they may expect grace and influence from him, enabling them to keep their cove nant vows? Whether they really covenant with God in obedience to his will, for his glory, and the good of others? How cautious

should they be of deceiving themselves, and of covenanting, merely because it is customary where they reside, or to obtain some external advantages for themselves or children; or to obtain a name, honour, or some worldly good? How should they pray to God to search them, and to try their heart, and their reins, and lead them in the way everlasting!

Having covenanted with God, with what vigilance, prayerfulness, constancy, and zeal, should they keep covenant with him? Having named the name of Christ, how careful should they be, not only to depart from all iniquity, but to shine as lights in the world, and bear much fruit, that their Father who is in heaven may be glorified? How should they strive to excel in all the duties of private and public life? And to be constantly growing in knowledge and in grace? How should they add to faith virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity that they may neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the practice of these duties they will adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour. They will be most useful in their families, and in the world; they will have the most sensible communion with God, the