As to Israel under Joshua and the elders that overlived him, so to the people Covenanting under Josiah, the Lord showed his favour, by enabling them to keep covenant with him. "And all his days they departed not from following the Lord, the God of their fathers."[758] Though there is less explicitly said to intimate that the Covenanting of Israel under Ezra was approved of God, than what is recorded in commendation of other like exercises, yet their work was acceptable to Him.[759] Were there nothing else to show this, the prayerful frame of mind, corresponding to a former promise, in which they engaged in it, were sufficient.[760] The Covenant between God and his Church, in the days of Nehemiah, was made and followed with signal marks of Divine favour. The transaction had been predicted. "For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness."[761] "The consumption" here spoken of, was the destruction of the Assyrian empire. The returning referred to, was the restoration of Israel from Babylon. And the overflowing with righteousness adverted to, would appear to have been the exercises of engaging in Covenanting under Ezra and under Nehemiah, and the consequences thereof. And manifold were the benefits that followed from these engagements. Copies of the law of God were increased: the people were accordingly much more abundantly instructed than they had been before; and they no more returned to idolatry. And what is said by an apostle, in reference to the Churches of Macedonia engaging in the exercise, we have no reason to suppose to be inapplicable to the other Churches in the apostolic age, that performed the duty,--that they did so "by the will of God." Hence, in conclusion. Though the Canon of Scripture be now closed, we have encouragement to make vows, the engagements of which are lawful. A material difference that obtains between the former and the present dispensation of Divine grace is, that what was vouchsafed under the former, was fitted to afford the principles according to which, all under the latter should judge of the attainments from the hand of God, made by them in every given exercise. Did he, in former times, manifestly approve the performance of the duty? he will substantially do so now. Did he favour his people taking hold on his covenant then? he will do so still. FOOTNOTES: [743] Gen. vi. 17, 18. vii. 16. [744] Gen. xv. 9-18. [745] Gen. xvii. 7-14. [746] Gen. xxii. 1-18. [747] Gen. xxvi. 3-5; and Ps. cv. 9. [748] Gen. xxviii. 11-22. [749] Exod. xix. xx. [750] Exod. xxxiv. 6; see also ver. 10. [751] Num. xxi. 2, 3. [752] Deut. xxix. 13. [753] Jos. xxiv. 25, 31. [754] 2 Sam. vii. 11-22; 1 Chron. xxviii. 8. [755] 2 Chron. xv. 15. [756] 2 Chron. xxx. 12. [757] 2 Chron. xxx. 27. [758] 2 Chron. xxxiv. 33. [759] Ezra x. [760] Jer. l. 4, 5. [761] Is. x. 22. CHAPTER XIII. COVENANTING PREDICTED IN PROPHECY.