Chapter I: Nature of Covenanting

Term Covenant defined, 5
Sinners Redeemed, are in Covenant
with God, 6
This relation not a mere law, 7
has parties, 7
has conditions, 7
is the Covenant of Grace, 8
Term Covenanting defined, 8
By Covenanting men make a Covenant
with God, 8
This Covenant not distinct from that
of Redemption, or that of Grace, 9
The formal exercise of Covenanting
not indispensable to an interest
in the Covenant of Grace, 11
God's Covenant may, for the first
time, be entered into in the
exercise of Covenanting, 12
In Covenanting, if God's Covenant
has been laid hold on before, it
is then renewed, 14

THE VOW.

Definition, 15
Vow made to God alone, 15
a solemn promise to God, 16
to be made voluntarily, 17
must be consistent with duty, 17
never made but in Covenanting, 17

THE OATH.

Definition, 18 To swear, to use an oath, 19 It is by the Lord that all ought to swear, 19 Oath sworn with the lifting up of the right hand, 20 Swearing a devotional exercise, 21 In the oath is implied a condensed adoration, 21 The oath a solemn appeal to God, 23 In swearing a lawful oath, a Covenant with God is made, 23 whether given to confirm an assertion, 23 or given to confirm an explicit promise, 26 The civil or moral use of the oath depends on its spiritual character, 29 The oath distinct from the vow, 30

CONFESSION.

To confess, to perform services which
include Covenanting, 31
--in the Old Testament, 32
--in the New, 33
To confess Christ, to Covenant, 36
To profess, sometimes, to confess, 37
Then, profession equivalent to
confession, 38

PERSONAL COVENANTING.

This an act, of adherence to God's
Covenant, 38
approving of the way of salvation
through Christ, 39
of accepting Christ and all his
benefits, 39
of renouncing satan and sin, 42
of self-dedication to God, 43
in which duty is promised to God, 44

SOCIAL COVENANTING.

This also an act of acquiescence in
God's Covenant, 44
Performed by the Church in an
ecclesiastical capacity, 45
Performed by Covenanting in a
national capacity, 46
That may be performed by various
communities in one confederation, 47
Implying all that is included in
Personal Covenanting, 48
An act of acceptance of the benefits
of God's Covenant, 49
Of vowing general and specified
obedience, 50
Of federal engagement among the
members of the Covenanting
community, 51
Of public acceptance of the truth
of God and of renouncing error, 52
Performed in the name of those who
engage in it, and in the name of
posterity, 53

COVENANT RATIFICATION.

By oath, 54 Oath and Covenant associated, 54 Oath for confirmation, 55 Oath essential to a Covenant with God, 55