set about renewing their covenant, thereby to prevent covenant curses, and procure covenant blessings; as we find both in scripture record, 2 Chron. xv. 12, 13; xxix. 10; xxxiv. 30, 31; Ezra x. 3, and in our own ecclesiastic history.  And the practice was justified by the success, for the most part terminating in some reviving and reformation. 6th, The time being come to such a crisis, that such as would keep the word of Christ’s patience cannot any longer do it in a distinguishing way from those that are covenant-breakers, but by renewing covenant, and thereby making a test and trial of the well-wishers to the covenanted interest in the land, is a call to set about this work:  in former times the godly held fast this their profession, by suffering for their adherence to covenanted duties, resisting unto blood, striving against the sin of covenant-breaking; whereas now our call seems to be more clear to do it, by renewing those covenant-obligations. 7th, The covenants themselves have, as it were, a loud voice to call us, and all who own their obligation, to set about renewing of them; they call by the justness and intrinsic goodness of the matter, which is of binding force by virtue of the law of God, prior to any covenant-tie, and by the holiness and excellency of the end, to wit, the reformation and preservation of religion.  Yea, the covenant seems to say to us, and to every true hearted son of the church of Scotland, as Job said in another case, “Have pity upon me, O my friends,” &c.  So says the covenant:  Have pity upon me, all ye that have any respect for me, for church and state have forsaken me.

The third thing proposed was to give some advices and directions for right managing the duty intended.  The scope and substance whereof briefly follows: 

1st, Such as would make a covenant with God aright, so as the same may never be broken nor yet forgotten, must labor to know if they be in good terms with the God of the covenant, and with the Mediator of the covenant; if they sincerely closed with the terms, and acquiesced to the proposals of the covenant of grace; this personal and particular acceptance of Christ in the new covenant being the only fountain of acceptable entering into national covenants.  Hence it concerns all that would be right Covenanters, to search and see how it may be betwixt God and them, because ’tis but a profanation of the covenant to have the hand and tongue at it, and the heart from it:  a well informed head without a reformed heart is not sufficient:  a good opinion and liking of the covenant without a heart and affection to the covenant avails nothing in God’s sight.