fied his veracity, in bringing his promife to their remembrance in the fame place where Abraham had glorified it in believing it.

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4. THIS Covenant was made a little before Jofhua's death. He was well ftricken in years before he affembled the congregation for this folemn work: Like Mofes, probably, he called them to it in the last year of his life. him too, he much wished that Ifrael might be in a flourishing state, as to their religious circumftances, at his demife: Therefore, he fet about this ordinance, as the means of their eftablishment: "And it came to pafs, after these things, that Joshua the fon of Nun, the fervant of the Lord, died; being an hundred and ten years old."

How could it be fet up near a grove, or an oak; feeing, Deut. xvi. 21. Ifrael is exprefsly prohibited from planting a grove, or any trees, near the altar of the Lord? Anfwer, An occafional bringing of the Sanctuary nigh unto an ancient oak (which was a memorial of former manifestations and covenants), and that for a very short time, did not come within the prohibition. The reafon of this prohibition feems to be, that Ifrael might maintain a teftimony against the idolatrous cuftom of planting groves, for temples unto idols. It is plain, from many places of Scripture, that idolaters worshipped their gods in groves, and under every GREEN TREE. And Pliny affures us of the fame, Hift. Lib. XII. cap. i. The Second Law of the twelve tables concerning religion, expressly commanded that which Mofes prohibited.

FIFTHLY,

FIFTHLY, The SOLEMNITIES by which this Covenant was confirmed, muft be confidered in the next place.

1. JOSHUA took them witneffes against each other, in cafe of covenant-violation: "And Jofhua faid unto the people, Ye are witneffes against yourselves, that ye have chofen you the Lord to ferve him: And they faid, We are witnesses." All focial worship has this folemnity. In focial vows, each covenanter is a witness against his neighbour in cafe of covenant-violation: And the converfation of fuch as in any meafure keep their vows, as well as the remembrance of thofe vows themselves (which is preferved by the very fight of fellowcovenanters), cannot but ftrike the apoftate with the bittereft remorse. Hence apoftates, who have been covenanters, have a keener malice and enmity against fuch as retain their integrity, than any other fpecies of the enemies of religion whatever.. None have been more cruel perfecutors than apoftatizing cove

nanters.

2. THIS Covenant was ratified by writing: "And Joshua wrote thefe words in the book of the law of God t." The three preceding covenants were all committed to writing; and

either this covenant, or an abftract of it, was registered along with them. The book in which they were registered was laid up befide the ark, in the most holy place.

3. JOSHUA fet up a monument for the commemoration and confirmation of this covenant in like manner: "And Jofhua took a great ftone and fet it up there under an oak, that was by the Sanctuary of the Lord. And Jofhua faid unto all the people, Behold, this ftone fhall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the Lord which he hath spoken unto us it fhall be, therefore, a witnefs unto you, left ye deny your God *." The STONE is faid to hear by a profopopeia, profopopeia, in order un

* Joh. xxiv. 26, 27. We have already feen, that Jacob erected a monument on a fimilar occafion (Dissert. IV.): Jacob's pillar, however, was at once an altar and a monument; but this was intended to be a monument only. Monuments were also used, in ancient times, for the ratification of civil contracts; as in the covenant between Jacob and Laban (Gen. xxxi. 45-51): And also between Romulus and Tatius, τάντα ωμοσαν καὶ βωμεσ επι 2015 op2015 iòpucav, Jurarunt in hæc mutuo (Romulus et Tatius, viz.) ET JURATI ARAS IN SUPER EXTRUXERANT. Dion. Halicarnafs. Lib. II. Nor was this rite unknown in our western ifles, in later times: "Ad lævam Carrontis duo terreni funt tumuli, hominum opera (ut res indicat) ædificati. vulgo Dunipacis appellantur." BUCHAN. Hist. (mihi p. 15.) On the left hand of Carron there are two finall hills made of earth, by man's hand (as the thing itself fhews) commonly called Duni pacis, i. e. Emblems of Reconciliation.

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to remembrance: As if Joshua had faid, However this day's work be remembered by you, this ftone will be a faithful remembrancer of it. Every one who enquires, wherefore it was fet up, will be answered, It was erected when Ifrael dedicated themfelves unto the Lord by the miniftry of Joshua. It will be a witnefs to their honour, upon keeping covenant; and to their fhame, in cafe of violation of it. This is ftrongly infinuated in the text: "It fhall be a witneffes AGAINST you;" for fo 1 would choose to render it *. This will inftruct your guilt, fhould any of you prefume to deny it; for witneffes are chiefly neceffary when things are controverted.

SIXTHLY, I fhall now conclude this fubject with a few REFLECTIONS.

1. WE may see the neceffity of felf-examination unto folemn covenanting. Perfons fhould count the coft, prior to their putting their hand unto this building: They ought to weigh matters fully in the balance of the Sanctuary,-to deliberate, with the moft mature deliberation, as ever they would not devour that which is holy, and after vows make enquiry. How

* Pagnin renders CONTRA VOS; Arias Montanus, IN VOS, which is of the fame fignification: And it were eafy to fhew, that the prefix admits of this fenfe.

much pains did Joshua take to bring thefe covenanters unto ferious confideration of the nature and extent of their engagements. The matters propofed were of infinite concern; therefore, worthy of every degree of attention of which a human foul is capable. Precipitation in vowing cannot fail to precipitate the perfon in covenant-violation; while deliberation and felf-examination may, by the bleffing of God, be the means of preventing it.

2. RIGHT Covenanting is an act of voluntary obedience. It is the fruit of free choice. Jollua carried the civil fword; but, on this occafion, he used the fword of his tongue inftead of the fword in his hand. He addreffed the confcience inftead of the fears of the congregation of Ifrael,-perfuading them it was their beft intereft, as well as their indifpenfible duty. Every thing on the part of God is moft encouraging; God is willing to bring back his banished; he has fent his Son to invite them, and his Spirit to incline them: Well, therefore, may they fay, "Ere ever I was aware, my foul made me as the chariots of a willing people."

3. Good examples have great influence to procure ready obedience. Jofhua's example was as excellent as his ftation was elevated:

And