ON HOSEA XIV.- VERSES 2 3. 83 John xv. 5. Phil. iv. 13. So that every religious covenant which we make, hath indeed a double obli- gation in it: an obligation to the duty promised, that we may stir up ourselves to perform it ; and an obli- gation unto prayer, and recourse to God that he would furnish us with grace to perform it : as he that hath bound himself to pay a debt, and hath no money of his own to do it, is constrained to betake himself unto supplications, that he may procure the money of some other friend. The final cause of a covenant is to induce an obli- gation where was none before, or else to double and strengthen it where was one before, to be a bond to preserve truth and fidelity. Being subject unto many temptations, and having backsliding and revolting hearts, apt, if they be not kept up to service, to draw back from it, therefore we use ourselves as men, do cowardly soldiers, set them there where they must fight, and shall not be able to run away, or fall off from service. 3. This should serve to humble us upon a twofold consideration. (1.) For the falseness and unstedfastness of our hearts, which want such covenants to bind them, and as it were fasten them to the altar with cords : as men put locks and fetters upon wild horses, whom otherwise no inclosure would shut in. Our hearts, as Jacob said of Reuben, Gen. xlix. 4. are unstable as water. Moist bodies (as water is) do not set bounds to themselves, as solid and compact bodies do, but shed all abroad, if left to themselves ; the way to keep them united, and together, is to put them into a close vessel ; so the heart of man can set itself no bounds, but falls all asunder, and out of frame, if it be not fastened and bound together by such strong resolutions.
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