of gratitude and joy. Only they who
are without Christ, are aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and
strangers from the covenants of promise. All who are in him, though once
like those, who were sometimes afar off, are made nigh by his blood. It
is by faith in Christ that men become the children of God. While waiting
on any of the means of grace, elect souls may, for the first time, be
enabled to exercise it; and then, even at that time, becomes theirs the
inheritance of the promise.

God's covenant may, for the first time, be entered into in the exercise
of Covenanting. It cannot be entered into at any time but by faith--an
element essential in covenanting. But it may be primarily laid hold upon
in some instances in the formal performance of that exercise. An
individual may wait on the ordinances of Divine grace, not being in
covenant. He may have been plied by the expostulations of the servants
of Christ, because of continuing regardless of the offers of mercy, not
having acceded to them. The exercise of entering into covenant with God
may have been pressed upon his attention. He is doubtful whether or not
he has received the Lord Jesus. In reality he has not acted faith upon
him. He studies the subject of Covenanting, endeavours to examine the
claims which the exercise has upon him. He is convinced of sin, but has
not been converted. He feels himself acted on by the fear of wrath, and
drawn by the desire of good to cast himself upon the care of the
Redeemer. He essays the work of preparation. God is leading him on by
the common operations of his Spirit, though still he is in darkness. He
endeavours to bring himself up to the resolution of giving himself away
to God. Corruption within, however, opposes his purpose. Yet he is
urged forward to an exercise which, if performed in a proper spirit,
would be accepted, but which, of himself, in his present condition,
notwithstanding all his fears and desires, he cannot enter upon aright.
He attempts to pray and make supplication--yea, even he endeavours to
perform the service. Strength is given him to do it with acceptance;
and, through marvellous grace, he stands among the children of the
Covenant! He might have been still left to himself; his promises might
have been insincere, and the covenant which he professed to make with
his lips he might have profaned. But though at the commencement of his
exercises there was no gracious emotion felt by him, he was led by an
overrul