n. When a vow or an
oath to God, to accept of good from one another, or to perform mutual
services among themselves is made, a corresponding engagement to each
other is thereby made among them. The two engagements are distinct in
themselves; but the latter flows from, or is constituted by, the former;
nay, in so far as the former has a regard to mutual relations among the
parties themselves, it was made that the latter might obtain. The vow or
oath to God is not an engagement to men; but what is by vow or oath
promised to God to be performed to men, constitutes the reality or
substance of an engagement thereby made to them. Covenanting with God is
the laudable means employed to bring parties together, to promise in the
most solemn manner to accept of specified good from each other, and to
render certain services in correspondence therewith to each.

It is by engaging to God, that they engage to one another. And therefore
conversely, it may be added, that their own engagement to one another,
as well as their engagement to God, by which that engagement was made,
is, according to the general definition of Covenanting that has been
given, a taking hold upon the Covenant of Grace.

The engagement to God is always substantial, whether by vow or oath, or
by both; as is the engagement among the Covenanting parties. But one or
other of the engagements may be either expressed or understood. The
recognition of their engagement to one another may be implied, but not
expressed, whilst the Covenant of the Lord to whom they vow or swear to
give obedience, is explicitly adhered to. This was the case with the
people of Israel when they engaged in the act, along with Josiah their
king. "And the king stood in his place, and 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, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this
book. And he caused all that were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to
stand to it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the
covenant of God, the God of their fathers."[103] Again, these mutual
engagements, in some cases, may be expressed, while the Covenant of God
is implicitly renewed. Zedekiah, and the people of Israel, at once, in
express terms, entered into an engagement to set free their servants who
were of their brethren, and before the Lord thus in covenant with him
im