Account of the particular soliloquies and covenant engagements, of Mrs. Janet Hamilton (1801)/Third covenant
COVENANT ENGAGEMENTS, &c.
The third, dated at
Airds, June 1695.
I Out of the sense of my own weakness, and the great falling away of this generation, do desire to renew my covenant engagements. The Lord has been kind unto me; he has not been a barren wilderness, nor a land of drought in the day of famine—he has fed me in the green pastures. O for grace to improve all thy loving kindnesses unto me! Accept of my weak performances, which I desire to do only in thy strength. O help me to covenant aright with thee, and to keep covenant vows to thee! I do again give all that I have unto thee. I give up my dear sympathizing, husband to thee: put work in his hand that may be for thy glory, his souls comfort, and truth's advantage, that we may rejoice in thee in the way of thy salvation. I likewise give up my dear brother unto thee; his case is known unto thee; thou hast hitherto helped him, and I desire to believe thou wilt continue thy love. Lord, thou hast given a little flock; dear and precious Christ, as thou hast given them unto me, I do freely and solemnly give them back unto thee, and desire that thou mayest dispose of them at thy pleasure;—only, let grace be given to them, that they may be employed in their stations, for thy glory,—and be kept from the abominations of the time. Do with them as to the world, as thou thinks fit—only, convey grace down to their posterity; let them be pleaders for thee, as I have pleaded for them at the throne of grace: this is all my desire, and would be my comfort to see. O Lord, come this day and smile upon my poor gift, and accept of them. I solemnly stand to all my former engagements, and make a solemn resignation of myself unto thee, and desire to close with thee on thine own terms. O set thy seal to it, and condescend in thy love to let it be registrate in heaven, that whatever may be my case or trials, I may have a covenanted God to run to. Lord, keep me in thy way, and help me to stand by truth. I desire, this day, to protest against all the encroachments made on thy rights and church privileges: and I desire to protest, this day before thy throne, against the soul-murdering courses of ministers and people adopted: and I desire to protest against that horrid abomination of defiling the Lord's Table after such an ignominious manner.
Oh, poor Scotland! what shall be thy end? Wrath from on high, for your sacriligious abominations. I desire this day, to adhere to all thy covenanted truths, founded on thy holy word.—I desire to mourn over any thing that is in me, or mine, that is offensive in thy sight. O Lord, let us be wholly for thee, acting for thee with a perfect heart I desire no longer to have a posterity than they are for thee. O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, come and be witnesses to this bargain, and close with me that desires to close with thee, and to be thy covenanted child. Here I take all the trees of the wood, and all the works of Creation about me, to witness, that I have given all mine unto thee, not in my strength but in thine. O Lord Jehovah, to whom I desire this day to give everlasting praises, that thou hast not suffered my table to be empty, whilst others are defiling thine. O praise! praise for ever be to thee. As witness my hand,
At Airds,Sic subscribitur,
June, 1695.
N. B. If any suspect this to be vitiate or counterfeit, they may go to her husband, who can shew them the principal, all written and subscribed with her own hand.
FINIS.
Paisley, printed by J. Neilson, Cumberland, 1801.