A Covenant Once Made Must Be Faithfully Observed (Part I)
The National Covenant.
DEUTERONOMY 29:9
Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do.
These words of Moses from God, to the people of Israel, contain a further reason of the exhortation delivered in the former chapter, of performing obedience to God’s commandments, which reason or argument is twofold. Firstly, from the consideration of God's great and wonderful mercies and benefits vouchsafed unto them, in their deliverance out of Egypt (verses 2-4), in their journey in the wilderness (verses 5-6), and in the confines of the promised land (verses 7-8). Secondly, from their faith given, or promise of obedience made unto God, intimated in the word {covenant} in this verse. Upon these two grounds, God’s goodness to them, and their promise to him, Moses does in this Chapter press them to obedience in these words,
Keep therefore the words of this Covenant, and do them,
The words of this covenant are the articles and conditions which the people were, by virtue of this covenant, bound to perform unto God. This covenant, that is, that covenant which the people of Israel, by God’s appointment, made with God in the land of Moab (verse 1) which is there said to be another covenant, beside, or differing from that which he made with them in Horeb, on Mount Sinai, where the covenant was given (Exodus 20), not in substance (for so it is the same with that) but [firstly] in respect of the persons with whom, even all those of Israel who were then unborn or unfit to enter into covenant with God (verses 14-15). And [secondly] in respect of the place, this being near the border of Canaan, in the country on the outside of Jordan. And thirdly, in respect of the manner of revealing Christ, who is in this more clearly revealed then on Mount Sinai.
The propositions, or points of doctrine naturally arising from these words, are two, namely:
(1) That a covenant once made must be faithfully observed; or, covenanters must keep touch with God.
(2) That this is the way to prosper; or, obedience is the way to true prosperity.
The former only is that which here I intend to insist upon, and shall include the other in the motives to this point: in handling of which, the rules of method do require that I do show you, before I come to application:
[1] What a covenant is, and the kinds of it.
[2] What it is to keep covenant with God.
[3] How it must be observed.
[4] The proof and grounds of this duty.
[1] What a covenant is, and the kinds of it.
For the first [1], a covenant (to speak of it to the present purpose) is a solemn promise, whereby a man does engage himself to God, to perform all that obedience unto God required in his Word, by strength from Jesus Christ.
{1} I call it a promise, because the party covenanting promises unto God obedience.
{2} I call it a solemn promise, Because it is ordinarily made with some outward solemnity: Of this outward solemnity (which is for the greater ratification of it) we find various forms in the sacred Scripture: sometimes by sacrifice, as a seal of the covenant with God: so Psalm 50:5; sometimes with subscribing of hands, as Isaiah 44:5; sometimes by sealing it also, as Nehemiah 9:38; sometimes by an oath, as in this chapter, verse 12, and 2 Chronicles 15:12, 15; and sometimes with an oath and a curse: so Nehemiah 10:29. All forms bind firmly, only some in a greater degree, and lay a stronger tie upon the soul, then some others do, So that to break either, must be dishonest and damnable.
{3} It was added, whereby a man death engage himself to God, for it lays a strong band and engagement on the soul, you have the phrase in Jeremiah 30:21: “Who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? Saith the LORD.”
{4} To perform unto God (viz. in respect of sincere endeavor) all the obedience which God in his Word requires of him; for otherwise, it is as good as nothing, to bind ourselves to obey God in some things, and in othersome, to take liberty to ourselves, to transgress at our pleasure, It is universal obedience that God requires (Deuteronomy 5:33).
{5} Lastly, It was added in the description, by strength from Christ, or in the name of Christ, etc. All our ability is from him, and without him we can do nothing, that is, truly good and acceptable unto God (John 15:5).
Now there is a double covenant: personal and national, Personal is that which is presupposed and sealed in baptism, and renewed in the Lord's Supper. The articles whereof, are these two: (i) Faith in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, and (ii) obedience to his commandments (the sum of which, is contained in the Decalogue, or ten commandments) as a fruit of that our faith in God. National is, when a whole nation, at least the generality, do thus engage themselves to the Lord, and such is the protestation lately taken.
Thus much of the first thing propounded, now of the second.
[2] What it is to keep covenant, and wherein it consists.
To keep covenant with God, is to embrace and observe his commandments, and that must be done inwardly and outwardly, and so by the whole man.
Inwardly, the covenant is laid hold on, and observed:
{1} In the mind, by knowing, and believing them.
(i) First, by knowing the mind and will of God, and what he requires of us in his Word, which is the Book of the Covenant (Exodus 24:7), containing the articles or conditions of the covenant on both sides, what we must expect from God, and what we must perform unto him, which are propounded by Moses the mediator, and assented to by the people (Exodus 19), and a copy of them fairly written, delivered to the people (Exodus 20).
(ii) Secondly, by faith believing his Word, resting on his promises: for though faith (being an affiance or fiducial resting on the promise of life) be an act of the will and heart, as well as of the mind; yet I place it here, because it has its origin [from] the assent, in the mind, understanding and giving assent to the promise, as true and good.
{2} In the memory it consists, by retaining in mind, what the Lord requires of us, and what we must perform unto him; for we cannot keep our covenant with God, unless we both know, remember, and bear in mind, the articles and conditions which we are to observe.
{3} In our wills by embracing of his covenant; that is, freely, willingly, and heartily, making choice of God to be our God in Christ, our Father, and sovereign Lord; and embracing these conditions, upon which he is pleased to accept of us, to be his peculiar people; and which we engage ourselves to observe, and to our power, perform unto him, as most holy, just, and good, not only good and right in themselves, but good to us also, and all those that in conscience do observe them (Romans 7:12).
{4} In our affections, we lay hold on the covenant, and keep it, when we do not only assent to the conditions of the covenant, embrace them, and resolve to observe them to our power, but do it out of love to the commandment, joying and rejoicing in this covenant with the prophet (Jeremiah 15:16), delighting in it, fearing to break it, caring to observe it according to our promise and bounden duty. Thus we must embrace and keep the covenant in our inward man, viz. In the mind, by knowing and believing it; in our memory, by retaining it, and meditating on it; in our wills, by embracing the conditions of it, freely and willingly, as just and good; and in our affections, by loving, joying, delighting in it, etc.
Outwardly also, by obeying his commandments by a hearty endeavor, in the whole course of our lives to observe and do them (Nehemiah 10:29). They clave to their brethren, their nobles (as if you should say, the Parliament men) to walk in God’s law, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord, and his judgments and his statutes. This is the second.
[3] How we must keep Covenant with God.
For the manner and extent of our obedience, namely:
{1} Willingly and heartily, do every duty, every service we do unto God from the heart, with a ready mind, as unto the Lord, as Josiah did, who made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul (2 Chronicles 34:31). It is certain that in every good action there is tantum bonitatis, quantum voluntatis: so much goodness as there is willingness and hearty affection; therefore it is, that in every service God calls for the heart (Proverbs 23:26): “My son, give me thine heart,” without which, all our services are but hypocritical, and the most plentiful expressions of obedience little regarded by the Almighty. God is a Spirit, and therefore looks on the spirits of men, and will be worshiped in spirit and truth (John 4:24).
{2} Universally, in all things, as well in one thing, as in another; we may not observe some things, and omit others at our pleasure, for any worldly profits, preferment, or other respect whatsoever. Deuteronomy 5:32-33: “Ye shall observe to do as the Lord your God hath commanded you, You shall not turn aside, to the right hand or to the left; Ye shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God hath commanded you, that ye may live,” etc..
{3} Constantly, always. To this we are exhorted, encouraged, commanded in Revelation 2:10: “Be thou faithful to the death, and I will give thee a crown of life;” and in Galatians 6:9: “Be not weary of well-doing.” To begin well, and afterward to tall off again, is fearful; what is it else but to return with the dog to his vomit, and with the swine to the wallowing in the mire: “better for such a man that he had never known the way of righteousness, then after he hath known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto him” (2 Peter 2:21-22). “Better it is that thou shouldst not vow” (he there speaks of things arbitrary, and not such as are commanded and necessary) “then that thou shouldst vow, and not pay it” (Ecclesiastes 5:5). This for the manner. Now –
[4] The proof and grounds of this duty.
Fourthly, come we to the grounds and reasons why we must, having once entered into covenant with God, be careful constantly to observe and keep it: And they are these, and the like:
{1} The command of God, which is very clear and full in the text; see also Jeremiah 11:6: “Hear ye the words of this covenant, and do them.” Deuteronomy 4:23: “Saith Moses to Israel from God, Take heed to yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which he hath made with you.” Psalm 50:15: “Pay thy vows unto the Most High.” Ecclesiastes 5:4: “When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it, for be hath no pleasure in fools; pay that which thou hast vowed.” In these two last places it is spoken chiefly, if not only, of vows made of things voluntary and arbitrary, that was in the power of him that voweth, before he vowed, to vow or not vow them unto the Lord; yet being once vowed, the vow must be kept. And if this bind in things arbitrary, how much more in things necessary, and otherwise commanded? Also full to this purpose are [those texts of] Deuteronomy 4:6, 40, 5:1-2, 32-33 & 6:1, and in very many other places.
Now we all ought to make conscience of the command of God, and carefully to observe and do it, in respect of our relation unto him, and dependence upon him, both essendo & operando, in our being actions, and well being; which is wholly on him: He gave us a being, when we had none; continueth that being, and the comforts of it, we do enjoy; and redeemed us, when we were worse then nothing, undone and lost forever.
{2} We should keep covenant with God, because of that solemn bond and tie that lieth upon our souls, whereby we have engaged ourselves to God, to be his, and only his forever, to fear him and serve him forever. Numbers 30:2: “If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond, every oath, every vow binds the soul, lays a strong bond or engagement on it.” “If it be but a man’s covenant, no man may disannul it,” says the apostle in Galatians 3:15 – namely: by reason of the strong bond or tie it lays on the soul. How much greater, do you think, is the tie and engagement which the covenant of God lays on the soul?
{3} We must keep covenant with God, that we may be like unto God, as we are exhorted to be (Ephesians 5:1) as in all other things, so in this we must strive to imitate and follow God, to be like unto him. Now concerning God, we read that he is faithful in keeping covenant with us in Deuteronomy 7:9: “The Lord thy God is the faithful God, that keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him, and keep his commandments.” Psalm 111:5. “He is ever mindful of his covenant;” as he promises in Hosea 2:19-20: “I will betroth thee unto me forever,” etc. Therefore, since God is faithful in keeping covenant with us, we must be faithful in keeping covenant with God, that we may be (as our duty is) like unto our heavenly Father, and thereby may approve ourselves to be the children of-God.
{4} For this end, we enter into covenant with God at baptism, renew it at the Lord’s Supper, and some other times, that we might keep his statutes, judgments, and commandments. God requires this, and we use it chiefly, as a help to further us in our obedience to God. We are all naturally very backward, and apt to take any occasion to neglect our duty of obedience to God, and therefore do promise and bind ourselves, thereby to help and further us in our duty, as we use to bind men, to bring them into bond, who are apt to break promise. If we are to deal with an unfaithful person that is like to play fast and loose, to deny his promise, and fly from his word, we use to get him into bonds, and then we think all is sure enough.
{5} Breach of covenant, God accounts a great sin, and will severely punish it, therefore we should keep covenant with God.
(i) He accounts breach of covenant a great sin, though it be of covenant only between man and man, and reckons it among the great sins of the Gentiles, that they were covenant-breakers (Romans 1:31; Psalm 55:20; 2 Timothy 3:3). What is it then to break Covenant with God?
(ii). And as God accounts it a great sin, so be will severely punish it. So he threatened in Genesis 17:14: “The uncircumcised man. child, whose flesh in his forehead is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people.” Mark the reason: “He hath broken my covenant,” says God. In Leviticus 26:15-17, God says “If ye shall despise my statutes – so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant, I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague – And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain by your enemies.” In Ezekiel 17:15-16, God says of Zedekiah: “Shall he prosper? Shall be escape that doth such things? Or shall he break the covenant, and be delivered? As I live, saith the LORD God, Surely in the place where the King dwelleth that made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he brake, even with him, in the midst of Babylon shall he die.” A grievous curse is threatened against this sin in Jeremiah 11:2-3: “Hear ye the words of this covenant – Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant” – yea, many curses. Deuteronomy 29:20, 21-25: “The Lord will not spare him, but then the anger of the Lord, and his jealousy shall smoke against that man; and all the curses that are written in this book, shall lie upon him, and the Lord shall blot out his name from under leaven; and the Lord shall separate him to evil, out of all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant that are written in this book of the law.” Mark the grand reason of all this fierce anger of the Lord against such in verse 25: “Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD God of their fathers.”
For breaking of covenant, God caused Achan and all his to be stoned and burnt in the fire (Joshua 7:11, 15), and all Israel suffered with him; they could not stand before their enemies, but were routed and smitten before them. For this very thing, Saul’s breaking the covenant made with the Gibeonites, though long before his time, God punished all Israel with three years famine; and in the end, with the death of seven of Saul’s sons (2 Samuel 21), therefore also God rent the kingdom from Solomon, and gave ten tribes to his servant Jeroboam (1 Kings 11:11).
All these things give weight to this duty, and the point in hand. Thus we have seen it opened what a covenant is, what it is to keep it, and how; and also the point or duty clearly proven, that a covenant once made may not be broken, but must be carefully kept. Thus of a covenant in general.
