78 SECOND SERMON And so Jephthah, Judg. xi. 30, 31. and so Hannah, 1 Sam. i. 11. 27, 28. and so Hezekiah, Isa. xxxviii. 20. and so Jonah, ch. ii. 9. So Zaccheus, to testify his thankfulness unto Christ for his conversion, and to testify his thorough mortification of covetousness, which had been his master -sin, did not only out of duty make restitution where he had done wrong, but out of bounty did engage himself to give the half of his goods to the poor, Luke xix. 8. The formal cause of a covenant is the plighting of our fidelity, and engaging of our truth unto God in that particular, which is the matter of our covenant ; which is done two ways ; either by a simple promise and stipulation, as that of Zaccheus, or in a more solemn way by the intervention of an oath, or curse, or subscription, as that of Nehemiah, and the people there. (2.) The efficient cause is the person entering into the covenant. In whom these things are to concur, [1.] A clear knowledge, and deliberate weighing of the matter promised, because error, deception, or ignorance, are contrary to the formal notion of that consent, which in every covenant is intrinsical, and necessary thereunto. [2.] A free and willing concurrence. In every compact there must be freedom of will, and so in every promise. Not but that authority may impose oaths, and those as well promissory as assertory, Gen. xxiv. 3. 1 Kings ii. 42. Ezra x. 3. 5. As Josiah made a covenant, and caused the people to stand unto it, 2 Chron. xxxiv. 31, 32. But that the matter of it, though imposed, should be such in the nature of the thing, as that it may be taken in judgment, and righteousness, that so the person may not be hampered in any such hesitancy of conscience as
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