N00231:56
Returning unto God the great concernment of a covenant people. Or A sermon preached…
Returning unto God the great concernment of a covenant people. Or A sermon preached to the Second Church in Boston in New-England, March 17. 1679.80. when that church did solemnly and explicitly renew their covenant with God, and one with another. By Increase Mather teacher of that church. ; [Ten lines of Scripture texts]
Boston: printed by John Foster, 1680
Returning unto God the great Concernment of a Covenant People.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Object. 3. But what shall become of the old Covenant?
Answ. If when Moses called upon the Children of Israel to Renew their Covenant in the plains of Moab, Deut. 20. 1. it should have been said, but what shall become of the old Covenant, which we entered into at Horeb, forty years ago? Would it not have been replied, that Covenant is hereby, not nullified but confirmed. So is that Covenant which we are now engaging our selves unto the Lord by, a confirmation of what hath been formerly done by us. There is not any one particular mentioned in this Covenant, which is a new duty, or not required in the everlasting Covenant, nor indeed any thing but what was contained in that expression of the Covenant formerly. We promise to cleave unto the Lord as our God, & to him only, and to the Lord Jesus Christ, as our only Priest, Prophet and King. He that observeth the first and great Commandment, can not but keep all the rest. ⟨p. 17⟩So if this general and comprehensive Covenant be duly remembered and observed, no more is required. The particulars which this Covenant is branched out into, do but explain and so confirm our former Engagements. And it is of great advantage, to have the Covenant thus particularly expressed and explained, that so any one may see what they are bound unto.
Answ. If when Moses called upon the Children of Israel to Renew their Covenant in the plains of Moab, Deut. 20. 1. it should have been said, but what shall become of the old Covenant, which we entred into at Horeb, forty years agoe? Would it not have been replyed, that Covenant is hereby, not nullified but confirmed. So is that Covenant which we are now engaging our selves unto the Lord by, a confirmation of what hath been formerly done by us. There is not any one particular mentioned in this Covenant, which is a new duty, or not required in the everlasting Covenant, nor indeed any thing but what was contained in that expression of the Covenant formerly. We promise to cleave unto the Lord as our God, & to him only, and to the Lord Jesus Christ, as our only Priest, Prophet and King. He that observeth the first and great Commandment, can not but keep all the rest.