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of the world; I do believe that record, that there is life eternal for men in him, and in him only I do this day in my heart please and acquiesce in that device of saving sinners by him, and do intrust my soul unto him; I do accept of reconciliation with God through him, and do close with thee as my God in him; I choose him in all that he is, and all that may follow him, and do.. resign up myself, and what I am, or have, unto thee; desiring to be divorced from every thing hateful unto thee, and that without exception, or reservation, of any thing consistent within my knowledge, or intended reversion. Here I give the hand to thee, and do take all things about! me witnesses, that I, whatever I be or have hitherto been, do accept of God's offer of peace! through Christ; and do make a sure covenant with thee this day, never to be reversed, hoping that thou wilt make all things forthcoming, both on thy part and mine, seriously begging, as I desire to be saved, that my corruptions may be subdued, and my neck brought under thy sweet yoke in all things, and my heart made cheerfully to acquiesce in whatsoever thou dost unto me, or with me, in order to these ends. Now, glory be unto thee, O Father, who deviseth such a salvation, and gave the son to accomplish it; Glory be to Christ Jesus, who at so dear a rate, did purchase the outletting of that love from the Father's bosom, and through whom alone this access is granted, and in whom I am reconciled. unto God, and honourably united unto him, and am no more an enemy or stranger: glory to the Holy Ghost, who did alarm me when I was destroying myself, and who did not only

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-convince me of my hazard, but did also open my eyes to behold the relief provided in Christ; yea, and did persuade and determine my wild heart to fall in love with Christ, as the enriching treasure; and this day doth teach me how to covenant with God, and how to appropriate to myself all the sure mercies of David, and blessings of Abraham, and to secure to myself the favour and friendship of God forever. Now, with my soul, heart, head, and whole man, as I can, I do acquiesce in my choice this day, henceforth re-solving not to be my own, but thine; and that the care of whatsoever concerns me shall be on thee, as my head and Lord: protesting humbly, that failings on my part (against which I resolve, thou knowest) shall not make void this covenant; for so hast thou said, which I intend not to abuse, but so much the more to cleave close unto thee, and I must have liberty to renew, ratify, and draw extracts of this transaction, as often as shall be needful. Now, I know thy consent to this bargain stands recorded in scripture, so as I need no new signification of it; and I having accepted of thy offer upon thy own terms, will henceforth wait for what is good, and for thy salvation in end. As thou art faithful, pardon what is amiss in my way of doing the thing, and accept me, in my sweet Lord Jesus, in whom I only desire pardon. And in testimony hereof, I set to my seal that God is true, in declaring him a competent Saviour."

Let people covenant with God in fewer or more words, as the Lord shall dispose them; for we intend no platform of words for any person;

only it were, fitting that men should before the Lord acknowledge their lost state in themselves, and the relief that is by Christ; and they do declare that they accept of the same as it is offered in the gospel, and do thankfully rest satisfied with it, instructing themselves henceforth wholly unto God, to be saved in his way, for which they wait according to his faithfulness.

If men would heartily and sincerely do this, it might, through the Lord's blessing, help to establish them against many fears and jealousies; and they might date some good thing from this day and hour, which might prove comfortable unto them when they fall in the dark afterwards, and even when many failings do stare them in the face, perhaps at the hour of death; 2 Sam. xxiii. 5. "These be the last words of David Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure; for this is all my salvation, and all my desire." It is much if a man can appeal unto God, and say, Thou knowest there was a day and an hour when in such a place I did accept of peace through Christ, and did deliver up my heart to thee, to write on it thy whole law without exception; heaven and earth are witnesses of it. "Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope," Psal, cxix. 49.

OBJECT. I dare not adventure to speak such words unto God, because I find not my heart coming up full length in affection and seriousness; so I should but lie unto God, in transacting so with him.

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ANSW. It is to be regretted that men's heart' doth not, with much vigour of desire and affection, embrace and welcome that blessed offer and portion. Yet for answer to the objection, remember, (1.) That in those to whom the Lord giveth the new heart, forming Christ in them, the whole heart is not renewed; there is "flesh and spirit lusting against each other, the one contrary unto the other, so as a man can neither do the good or evil he would do" with full force, Gal. v. 17. It is well if there be a good part of the heart going out after Christ, dew siring to close with him on his own terms.

(2.) That there is often a rational love in the heart unto Christ Jesus, expressing itself by a respect to his commandments; 1 John v. 3. "This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments, and his commandments are not grievous." When there is not a sensible prevailing love which maketh the soul sick; Cant. ii. 5. "I am sick of love:" men must not always expect to find this. I say then, although somewhat in your heart draw back, yet if you can say that you are convinced of your broken state without him, that you want a righteousness to cover your guilt, and that you want strength to stand out against sin, or to do what is pleasing before God, and that you also see fulness in him! both these respects, if you dare say, that some what within your heart would be fain at him upon his own terms, and would have both righteousness for justification, and strength in order to sanctification; and that what is within your contradicting this is your burden in some meas

ure, and your bondage: if it be so, your heart is brought up a tolerable length; go on to the business, and determine the matter by covenanting › with God, and say with your mouth, "that you have both righteousness and strength in the Lord," as he hath sworn you shall do, Isa. xlv. 23, 24. It is approved divinity to say unto God, I believe, when much misbelief is in me, and the heart divided in the case; Mark ix. 24. "Lord I believe, help thou mine unbelief." Withal, shew unto God how matters are in your heart, that so you may be without guile before him concealing nothing from him; and put your heart as it is in his hand, to write his law on it, according to the covenant: for that is the thing he seeks of men, that they deliver up their heart to him, that he may stamp it with his whole will, without exception; and if you can heartily consent unto that, judging Christ's blood a sufficient ransom and satisfaction for man's transgression, you may go and expressly strike covenant with God, for your heart and affection is already engaged.

OBJECT. I dare not so covenant with God, lest I break to him; yea, I persuade myself, that if such a temptation did offer, so and so circumstantiated, I would fall before it and succumb : therefore, to transact so with God whilst I foresee such a thing, were but to aggravate my condemnation.

ANSW. (1.) You have already entered covenant with God, as you are a member of his visible church; and what is now pressed upon you is, but that you more heartily, sincerely, particular