l make with you an
everlasting covenant, even the sure mercies of David."[7] On the part of
the believer, his faith and imperfect obedience, though necessary, are
not a condition. His title to acceptance is founded on the perfect
righteousness of Christ. In reference, not merely to the actual
righteousness wrought in him, but also to the condition of that covenant
on which he lays hold, which was fulfilled on behalf of all the children
thereof, he says, "In the Lord have I righteousness and strength."[8]

This relation is the Covenant of Grace. It was revealed as God's
covenant. It is that covenant which God established with Noah, which he
made with Abraham, sware unto Isaac, confirmed unto Jacob for a law, and
to Israel for an everlasting covenant. It is none other than that
covenant which was confirmed of God in Christ, of which Jesus is the
Mediator, and which has been commanded for ever.

Covenanting in civil life is the exercise of entering into a covenant
engagement, or of renewing it.

The _term_ is almost wholly confined to Covenanting with God, and shall
be so used. In the ordinary intercourse of men the _practice_ is common:
in religion it is essential.

Covenanting is the exercise of either entering, in an individual or a
social capacity, solemnly and formally in to the Covenant of Grace, or
of renewing it.

From the definition it follows, that by Covenanting men do make a
covenant with God. The renovation of a covenant is not less a covenant
than was the original bond. In Covenanting is given that acquiescence
in the conditions of the Covenant of Grace which is an essential of a
covenant, and the free offer to enter into it being continued,
acceptance in the service is enjoyed. As certainly, therefore, as that
called the Covenant of Grace, is in _reality_ a covenant, is every
lawful engagement entered into by solemnly Covenanting with God
possessed of the character of a covenant.

But such a covenant is not distinct from the Covenant of Redemption, nor
from the Covenant of Grace. It is dependent on that covenant as made
with the Mediator, and consistent with it as established with men. In
all the three cases, the God of grace is one of the contracting parties.
In the Covenant of Redemption, the Redeemer himself, as the surety of
the elect, was the other. In the Covenant of Grace, the people of God
united to Christ, and drawing near to God through him, are the other
party. And in the case of personal o