The Ordinance of Covenanting   By: John Cunningham (1819-1893)

ORDINANCE

OF

COVENANTING.

BY

JOHN CUNNINGHAM, A.M.

"HE HATH COMMANDED HIS COVENANT FOR EVER." Ps. cxi. 9.

"THOUGH IT BE BUT A MAN'S COVENANT, YET IF IT BE CONFIRMED, NO MAN DISANNULETH, OR ADDETH THERETO." Gal. iii. 15.

GLASGOW: WILLIAM MARSHALL. SOLD ALSO BY JOHN KEITH. EDINBURGH: THOMAS NELSON AND JOHN JOHNSTONE. LONDON: HAMILTON, ADAMS, & CO. MANCHESTER: GALT & ANDERSON. BELFAST: WILLIAM POLLOCK.

TO THE REVEREND ANDREW SYMINGTON, D.D., PROFESSOR OF DIVINITY IN THE REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, THIS VOLUME IS MOST RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED.

CONTENTS.

Introduction Page 1

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