We fhall conclude this difcourfe with befeeching you to be in earnest that you have fuch a heart. This is that which you all need, that without which you must be miferable for ever.-It is a most invaluable bleffing, what you should highly prize; what is precious in God's esteem, and what he is urgent with you that you may poffefs "O that there were such an heart in them!"

THE

THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.

SERMON LXII.

DEUT. V. 29. O that there were fuch an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever.

H

AVING confidered, in the two preceding dif courses, the first and second doctrines propofed from this subject, we now go on to

DOCT. III. and last, That the work of covenanting with the Lord is flight work, when it is not heart-work; or, That folemn covenanting with the Lord is but folemn trifling with him, when the work of covenanting is not heart-work.

In treating this point, we fhall,

I. Produce fome evidences, that folemn covenanting is often nothing but folemn trifling, and not heart-work.

II. Shew when folemn covenanting is not heartwork.

III. Shew how people come to make folemn covenanting but a trifling business.

IV. Shew the danger of trifling, and not making heart-work of this weighty bufinefs.-And then,

V. Apply the whole.

WE are,

I. To produce fome evidences, that folema covenanting is often nothing but solemn trifling, and not heart-work. It is of importance that you may be stirred up to take heed to the deceits which we may discover in this weighty bufinefs.-With this view, we obferve,

1. That apoftacy and defection from the good ways of the Lord, perfons returning again openly to the fame courfes which they purfued before. This is an evidence, 2 Peter, ii. 19.-22. Matth. xii. 45. "Then the evil spirit goeth, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worfe than the first. Even fo fhall it be alfo unto this wicked generation." They who have no root foon wither away, Matth. xiii. 6. There are many who, fince the RevoJution, have folemnly covenanted with the Lord at facraments, and many who have done it, when they durft not fo well avow it as now, who have given a fad account of themselves fince that time, having returned to their former courses of wickedness and profanity. Fallen ftars were stars never but in appearance. To lofe both life and leaf, is a dreadful symptom: John, xv. 6. "If a man abide not in me, he is caft forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and caft them into the fire, and they are burned.”—Another evidence is,

2. When

2. When fome luits are room, as when an adulterous we

man instead of her husband. There are from which the heart is never toled,

2

they cannot part with; this is fcret . Deller Con
the Lord: Heb. iii. 12. That red,, Reifen,
left there be in any of oru nallat
belief, in departing from the lane two le
the Lord offers himeifa nners..e:
will take me, it nete pur YET,
into a marriage-covenant wh
give their hearts to

(quoted before.

God, which a late 1

Pfal. Ixxvii.

dence is.

3. Perions

Lord,

cerings viti. m.

HAC TALL-
This day have I pac my

YOWS Tucrtion came I forth to niest 11169

and

is a covenant of peace and war, which incl. Like ligently to fee tin face." The covenant of God Linner to be at peace with the Lord's frien », at war with his enemies. It makes the L.. to by to former lufts, I have learned from the g "deny ungodliness and worldly lufts, arac foberly, righteously, and godly, in this world," Titus, ii. 12. Hence, Chrift r

Spei, to

to inve preient

enters the heart, but he comes as Captain of the Lord's hoft; and the perfon's heart thus

the feat of war: Gal. v. 17." For the feft, utens

III. Shew how people come to make folemn covenanting but a trifling business.

IV. Shew the danger of trifling, and not making heart-work of this weighty business.—And then,

V. Apply the whole.

WE are,

I. To produce fome evidences, that folemn covenanting is often nothing but folemn trifling, and not heart-work. It is of importance that you may be stirred up to take heed to the deceits which we may discover in this weighty bufinefs.-With this view, we observe,

1. That apoftacy and defection from the good ways of the Lord, perfons returning again openly to the fame courfes which they pursued before. This is an evidence, 2 Peter, ii. 19.-22. Matth. xii. 45. "Then the evil spirit goeth, and taketh with himself seven other fpirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there; and the laft ftate of that man is worfe than the first. Even fo fhall it be alfo unto this wicked generation." They who have no root foon wither away, Matth. xiii. 6. There are many who, fince the Revolution, have folemnly covenanted with the Lord at facraments, and many who have done it, when they durft not fo well avow it as now, who have given a fad account of themselves fince that time, having returned to their former courfes of wickedness and profanity. Fallen ftars were stars never but in appearance. To lofe both life and leaf, is a dreadful fymptom: John, xv. 6. "If a man abide not in me, he is caft forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and caft them into the fire, and they are burned."-Another evidence is,

2. When