voice. The covenant bound them | can well be conceived, to render to universal obedience. There it solemn. The greatness of was no reservation with respect to any command or duty, in any relation or condition.

God, before whom all the nations are as nothing, and they are counted to him as less than nothing and vanity. He is infinitely pure, the very heavens are unclean in his sight. He is omniscient and omnipresent. It is impossible to deceive him, and none can escape from him. He is wise in heart and mighty in strength. None hath hardened himself against him and prospered. He can save and he can destroy. He is our judge and will dispense the rewards of eternity. These considerations all unite their influence to render the transaction deeply and wonderfully solemn. It is rendered further solemn and interesting, in that, in its very nature, it comprises the obligation of a most solemn oath, and contains in it an implication of a curse on those who deal falsely with God. Thus God, Moses, and the Is

This is the sense in which our churches view it, as appears by the forms used in them, which are generally if not universally to this effect, "You do "now avouch the Lord Jehovah, "Father, Son, and Holy Ghost "to be your sovereign Lord and "supreme good, giving up your "self to him, through Christ, in "the way and on the terms of "the covenant of grace. And you do also give yourself up "unto this church, according to "the will of God, promising to "watch over your fellow Chris"tians as becomes a saint: and "in your place, to bear testimo"ny against all sin, and to walk "in the strict and conscien"tious observance of all the "commands and ordinances of "Christ; upholding the wor"ship of God in this place, sub-raelites understood it. It was "mitting yourself to the disci"pline of Christ, according to "his word." Those who enter into covenant, engage also to give up such as God hath committed to their care to him, and to train them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and to teach all under their care to know and serve him. In words to this effect have all professors covenanted, even from the first settlement of the country to the present time. They have bound themselves to an unreserved obedience to the whole will of God.

Having considered what professors covenant with God and their brethren, we will consider the solemnity of the transaction. There is every thing, which VOL. V. No. 10.

termed both an oath and a curse. Deuteron. xxix. 12. That thou shouldest enter into covenant with the Lord thy God, and into his oath. Nehemiah x. 29. And entered into a curse and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes. The ancient people of God swore universal obedience to his will, and exposed themselves to the curses of his law upon them, if they did not perform their oath, in keeping covenant with him. In covenanting, a calf, or some beast for sacrifice, was cut in pieces, and the covenanters passed between the pieces, the more Z z

can possibly be more solemn and interesting than the manner of covenanting.

deeply to impress the mind, silently confessing that it would be just in God, if they did not keep covenant with him, to cut Further, covenanting with them asunder as they had the God is solemn and interesting beast, between the parts of which as the safety and comfort of they passed. In this manner, Christians, in the present state, God and Abraham covenanted. and eternal life in the future, Gen. xv. 9, 10, 17, 18. Abra- are dependent on the manner in ham passed between those pie- which they covenant. If they ces of the beasts, and when the covenant in a right manner, sun went down, and it was dark, choosing him with supreme afbehold a smoaking furnace and fection, believing on the name burning lamp passed between of his Son, and depending on his those pieces. This was emble- merit for acceptance, and for matical of God's passing between grace to keep covenant with them. In that same day the him, he will be their God. They Lord made a covenant with A- will have an interest in his cov braham. In the same manner did enant love, and in the promises; the Israelites covenant with God and he will enable them to keep in Jeremiah's time. They pas- his covenant. He will never sed between the divided calf, con- leave, nor forsake them. They fessing it would be just in God will have communion with the to cut them in pieces, if they did Father and with his Son Jesus not keep covenant with him.* Christ. They will have peace Hence covenanting with God, with God, and in their own was termed an oath and a curse; hearts, and rejoice in hope of and making a covenant in the the glory of God. But if they Hebrew phraseology is termed covenant, while they have no cutting the covenant; because love to God, no faith in Christ, the slain beast, or sacrifice, at they will have no interest in the time of covenanting, was di- him, can derive no grace nor vided, and those who entered in- strength from him; and withto covenant passed between the out him they can do nothing acpieces. In some other passa- ceptably. They never can keep gescovenanting is termed swear- covenant, or perform a single ing unto the Lord, swearing with duty of it. In the very act of all the heart, an oath, and swear- covenanting, they flatter him ing in righteousness. 2 Chron. with their mouth, and lie unto xv. 14, 15. Isaiah xix. 18. Jer-him with their tongues. They emiah iv. 2. Nothing therefore grieve his Spirit, and there will be no rational prospect that they will keep covenant with him; but that they will forsake him. They will be but foolish virgins bearing lamps without oil. Being branches which bear no fruit, they will be in danger of being taken away from God's altar, by

* Jeremiah xxxiv. 18.

+ See Pool's Synopsis, and his English Annotations on Gen. xv. 9, 1, 17, 18; on Nehemiah x. 29, and on

Jeremiah xxxiv. 18. and Buxtorf on

the Hebrew root Carat, and Robertson's Key to the Hebrew Bible, on the same word. This appears anciently to have been the usual way of covenanting.

* Psalm lxxviii. 36.

discipline or by the judgments of] God. Having not on a wedding garment, they may soon be bound hand and foot, and be cast into outer darkness: soon be cut asunder and have their portion with hypocrites, where is wailing and gnashing of teeth.

to remove to their country, which is about 300 miles distant, and preach the word of life among them. We held a Council with our old people, all of whom expressed their determination to follow us. Accordingly we set out in May, 1801. Brother Anderson, who had joined us some months before, preceded us, with part of our property; Kramer, Scholtz, and myself followed at a distance, with the bulk of our people. In the course of our journey we found the country far more populous than we had conceived.

One of our company whose name was Katjee, was taken so

What grievous afflictions God's own children may bring upon themselves by violating his commands, and not walking stedfastly in his covenant, hath been already suggested. For this cause, he may take from them their dearest enjoyments. He may lay his hand heavily upon them. He may send darkness and horror into their souls. Like Heman, while they suffer his ter-ill on the road, that we expected rors they may be distracted. He her dissolution every moment. may visit them with distressing In this critical situation she was pains and sickness of body, and greatly alarmed, and admonishlike the Corinthians, many a-ed the people, in very affecting mong them may be weak and sickly, and many may sleep. Besides, it is by a circumspect walk with God, that Christians enjoy communion with him, peace and assurance in life, joyers; but, I am sorry to say, after and triumph in death. How im- she recovered her health, and portant is it therefore, that their was out of danger, she relapsed hearts should be sound in his into her former carelessness. statutes and stedfast in his covenant!

(To be continued.)

strains, not to trifle with their souls, nor to think real conversion an easy work. Her discour ses on this subject made lasting impressions on myself and oth

Proceeding on our journey, we were joined by Cornelius Koopman, who had not been with us more than a single day, when he was struck with convictions while I was praying. When

The Rev. Mr. Kicherer's Narra-I first saw him, I perceived so tive of his Mission to the Hot- much pride in his carriage, that

I entertained a very unfavorable opinion of him; but no sooner was his heart touched by grace, than the Lion was changed into a Lamb; the haughtiness of his deportment entirely forsook him; and he appeared to be possessed of that deeply humbled spirit, which I always considered as the most conspicuous token of real

some of my poor people, one here, behind a rock; another there, under a bush, earnestly engaged in private prayer and seldom did Cornelius fail to appear with his two little ones in his arms, or led by his hand, whom he caused, with himself, to bow their young knees before the Lord. How was my faith strengthened by such cheering objects! I now plainly saw that the Lord Jesus had begun a good work among these poor heathen, and I was encouraged to hope, that he would triumphantly establish his church in this country, and cause his blessed word to be preached to the children, and children's children of the present generation.

grace. He became remarkably ten had the pleasure to observe cautious in whatever he said, but discovered, at the same time, that "faith which worketh by love," in the exercise of which he enjoyed close communion with God. I recollect holding many a sweet conversation with Cornelius. "Ah," he would say, "how happy should I, poor sin"ner, think myself, were I as"sured that Jesus is my Jesus; "there would not be a more "blessed creature on earth than "myself; I am so poor here, "that frequently I know not "how to provide for my family; "I would gladly clothe my poor "children, were it only in sheep "skins, but alas! I have no sup"plies, for my few sheep are "all gone; yet had I rather "starve here, where Jesus is Another person, named Roe"preached, than return to serve loph, was a striking example of "those Christians, who never the power of divine grace. Hav"told me a word of God, or of ing been deeply affected under "Jesus, or of the way of salva- the reading of the Scriptures, ❝tion." After this man had en- and praying in our morning sertirely surrendered himself to the vice, I observed him sitting in a Lord, his whole walk and con- pensive posture on a waggon, versation bespoke the sincerity apparently in great distress of of his faith, and he became a pat-soul. I approached him, and tern of Godliness to all the com- enquired into the cause of his pany. Every day he would walk dejection; when he returned forth, three, four, or five times, the following answer: "Q into the solitude of the wilder-" my dear Sir, never could I ness, (where I sometimes follow-"have thought that I was so ed him unperceived) to hold con- great a sinner, such a monster verse with Jesus, by prayer.- "of iniquity, and my state so Many a time have I watched" dangerous, as I now perceive! him, at a distance, wrestling" God is a holy and righteous with God, and was put to shame" God, and I am such a vile sinby his importunity. It was also "ner! Oh, the very thought his custom, about sun-set, to" makes me tremble, that God take with him two of his chil-"thus! thus! (meaning, by his dren, whom he tenderly loved, to "motions, in the twinkling of an a solitary spot, that they might" eye) may put an end to my be present at his devotions. And "life! Oh, if God should not here I would make a general ob-" have mercy for me, then must servation that, when sitting by "I sink into the eternal pit. Oh, myself on some eminence, I of- “ I am greatly afraid, lest God

tion, more distant from this dangerous river, the inundations of which are so sudden, that men and beasts frequently perish in its mighty floods. We pitched on a spot called Reed Fountain, which some of us began immediately to clear for cultivation. While we were thus engaged, with about twenty Hottentots, the Corannas brought us regularly, every day, three sheep, and three hollow bamboo canes full of milk, as a present.

"should cause the earth to | life; some cried, and others "open her mouth, and swallow fainted under the preaching of me up a live. O Sir, what the word. "must I do to be saved?". We found it necessary shortI answered his question, as St.ly to look out for another posiPaul did that of the Jailer, at Philippi" Believe in the Lord "Jesus Christ, and thou shalt "be saved." Let your fears, said I, drive you to the Saviour; lay fast hold of him as your Redeemer; and then you need not be afraid. But, woe be to you, if you seek peace from any other quarter, or try to find rest in the things of this world. Having approved of my advice, he daily applied by faith and prayer to Jesus, as a sinner who earnestly wishes to be saved by his free Here it was that sleeping one grace. But I know not the re- night with Mr. Scholtz and my sult of his profession, as he re- Hottentots, by the side of a little moved from us to a considera- cart, the barking of my spaniel ble distance among the Farmers. dog disturbed my rest so much, About the close of the month that I was quite vexed at him. we reached the Great River, The Hottentots, however, unwhich, in the dry season, is about derstanding the little creature's half as wide as the Thames at meaning better than I did, lookLondon Bridge, and which was ed carefully around, and soon now so much swollen by the discovered a Lion near us, who, rains, as to be impassable: we like a cat, was creeping along therefore were obliged to wait the ground, in order to make a for its fall. Our brethren Kra- spring upon us. Immediately mer and Anderson had previous- they snatched up their guns to ly crossed the River, and had fire at him; but the Lion, findbegun to preach the gospel to ing we were so well prepared to the people, among whom they receive him, turned tal, and refound a considerable attention. treated with the utmost speed. While we waited for the subsid- As brother Scholtz and myself ing of the waters, with our people lay nearest to that spot from and cattle, some of our friends whence the Lion approached, on the opposite shore, who were we felt peculiarly thankful to our bold enough to swim across, as- Lord for this new preservation. sisted us in constructing rafts. Being now comfortably setBy means of these, we were ena-tled, we soon found ourselves bled, in about a week, to get over surrounded by crowds of differthe river, yet with great diffi- ent people-Corannas, Namaculty, for our raft sunk so deep, quas, Hottentots, Bastard Hotthat I sat up to the middle in tentots, and Boschemen, togethwater. Here we rejoiced to find er with their numerous flocks a great hunger for the bread of and herds. The Corannas and