The Communicant's Companion
and a robber, that comes not in by the door, but climbeth up some other way: and therefore to him we must not open. But the grace of God takes the regular way of dealing with reasonable creatures,—opening the understanding first, and then bowing the will: this is entering in by the door, as the shepherd of the sheep does. In this method, therefore, we must see that the work be done. We must first acquaint ourselves with the tenor of the covenant, and then consent to the terms of it. Moses read the book of the covenant in the audience of the people, and then sprinkled upon them the blood of the covenant. And we must take the same method: first peruse the articles, and then sign them. That faith which is without knowledge, is not the faith of God's elect.
2. We must do it considerately. We need not take time to consider whether we should do it or not; the matter is too plain to bear that debate; but we must seriously consider what we do, when we go about it. Let it be done with a solemn pause, such as Moses put Israel upon, when he said, "Ye stand this day all of you before the Lord your God, that thou shouldest enter into covenant with the Lord thy God, and into his oath." Consider how weighty the transaction is; that it may be managed with due seriousness: and of what consequence it is that it be done well; for it is to be hoped, if it be once well done, it is done for ever. We must sit down and count the cost, consider the restraints this covenant will put upon the flesh, the loss and expense we may sustain by our adherence to it, the hazards we run, and the difficulties we must reckon upon, if we will be faithful unto death—and in the view of these, consent to the covenant, that hereafter, when tribulation and persecution arise because of the word, we may not say, This was what we did not think of. Do it deliberately therefore, and then it will not be easily undone. The rule in vowing is, "Be not rash with thy mouth, neither