not the prophet eafily rejoin, "The authority of God, interpofed in his precept, is fufficient warrant for prefent duty, though all the world. be against it." Should any ftill infift, that "If the majority avow their religion with the folemnity of an oath, and the minority theirs, then the land will be profaned with contradictory fwearing." The answer is eafy, The profanity lies at the door of them who fwear unto a falfe religion; and the profeffors of the true religion are by no means anfwerable for the oppofers of it. Moreover, few who have imbibed falfe principles, and followed corrupt practices, ever durft avow them with the folemnity of an oath. Sin and error delight to walk in the fhade.

DISSER

ON THE

COVENANT BETWEEN GOD AND JUDAH,

IN THE DAYS OF JEHOIADA.

As

2 KINGS Xi. 17. 2 CHRON. xxiii 16.

S this tranfaction took place at a very remarkable revolution of the State, it may not be improper to attend,-I. Unto the Character and Circumftances of the Covenanters. -II. The Minifter who bore a principal share in that revolution, and who difpenfed this Covenant.-I. Confider the Subftance of the Covenant, IV. The Occafions of it.-And then conclude with fome Reflections on the whole.

FIRST, I must attend unto the CHARACTER and CIRCUMSTANCES of the Covenanters. The sketch which is drawn of them by the infpired hiftorian is fhorter than ufual: Our furvey must be contracted in proportion.

They were

were Jehoiada, all the people, -and the King.

1. JEHOIADA whofe character is afterwards reviewed, as the Minifter in this tranfaction: "And Jehoiada made a covenant between HIM, and between all the people *," &c. Some refer the relative. him, as referring to the remote antecedent Jehovah, or Lord, mentioned in verfe fourteenth; and they include the intermediate verfes in a parenthefis +. And the fenfe, according to this connection is, and Jelroiada made a covenant between the Lord and all the people. But this connection feems, to me at least, far ftrained; especially as a much more natural account of things may be had, by referring the relative HIM to Jehoiada, as its immediate antecedent. Jehoiada fuftained a two-fold character; that of an eminent covenanter, and that of an High-prieft in the congregation. Like Mofes, he was God's representative; and alfo a typical mediator, through whom the people drew near to God‡.

2. ALL THE PEOPLE were covenaiters at this time. The univerfal designation used in

2 Chron. xxiii. 16.

+ JUNIUS and TREMELLIUS in their annotations fubjoined to their tranflation. In the parallel place, in Kings, the fenfe must be according to their view of it, indeed; but then Lord is inferted, and not referred to.

See DIODATI, HENRY on the text, efpecially PISCATOR.

the

the book of the Chronicles, is to be underflood of the greater part of the two tribes, as diftinguished from the ten, and alfo from the nations round about them. It is alfo to be understood of ALL who were fit to enter into the congregation of the Lord.-Various orders of people are enumerated in the context, efpecially fuch as held any military rank among them: They are defigned RULERS OVER HUNDREDS, and CAPTAINS, and the GUARD. They are alfo defcribed as perfons entering in on the Sabbath.

3. THE King is alfo reckoned to the number of covenanters on this occafion. He bound himself to be one of the Lord's people, in oppofition to wicked Athaliah, and her accomplices, who were eminently Baal's people. In his public character, he became at once the pattern and protector of the true religion, as well as an oppofer of falfe worthip. But it might be enquired, How could Joafh be an intelligent covenanter when only feven years of age? It might be answered, Youth come fooner to the exercife of reafon, as well as majority, in those warmer oriental climates, than in our cold ones. Irrefragable evidence might be produced from Jewish history and antiquities, to prove that civil contracts might be made by perfons in that nation, at the age of twelve, by females at leaft; whereas our laws fix their majority at eighteen. Now, as Chri

Iii 2

ftians

ftians have been deemed capable of being admitted to partake of the Lord's Supper feven years before they arrive at the years of majority, and alfo to join in public covenanting; grant but the Jews the fame privilege, and you grant unto the King a right to covenant for himself, even at the age of feven. Again, Joafh is not the only inftance of early piety among the Jewish monarchs. Jofiah gave equal, if not fuperior proofs of it, at much the fame time of life.Thefe covenanters, I fhall only add, were the fucceffors of covenanting ancestors, both prince and people; therefore, bound to act this part both by the law of God and antecedent foederal obligations.

SECONDLY, I fhall now attend unto the CHARACTER of the Minifter, who had a principal band in the revolution of the State; and who difpenfed this covenant to the people. It has been faid, “That Jehoiada, instead of walking in the paths of peace and loyalty, fubverted the established government; and, unlike his office, not only moved sedition; but alfo profaned the temple of the Lord, by introducing into it statesmen and military officers, who had formed a combination to affaffinate the queen, and affifted in the coronation of a child in her ftead. Which are more than prefumptions, that he grafped at the regency for himself, and fought the aggrandizement of his own family at the expenfe of the commonwealth.