3. The special covenants which we ourselves have individually made with God —
[In our baptism we entered into covenant with God ; and engaged to " renounce the devil and all his works, the pomps and vanities of this wicked world, and all the sinful lusts of the flesh." At other times also, either at our confirmation by the bishop, or at the Lord's supper, or in a time of sickness, or under conviction of sin, we have resolved that we would repent, and turn unto God in newness of heart and life. But have not the practices of every day contradicted these pro- fessions? Have we not broken all our vows and resolutions? And have not the world, the flesh, and the devil, yet too great an ascendency over our hearts ? Behold then, " We are trans- gressors of the covenant;" and we have been " transgressors even from the womb."]
To discover more fully the guilt of violating the covenant, let us consider,
II. With what aggravations we have transgressed it—
The having " sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression" greatly enhances our guilt ; since, in so doing, we have sinned,
1. Against the greatest obligations to obedience —
[The obligations which had been conferred on Adam in Paradise, ought to have kept him steadfast in his obedience. He was endued with faculties superior to any other being upon earth. He was made capable of knowing, loving, and enjoying God ; yea, was admitted to the most familiar converse with the Deity. But notwithstanding all these favours, he transgressed. Thus have we also done. Indeed the obliga- tions conferred on us have been infinitely greater than any which Adam enjoyed, even in his state of innocence : for God has given us his only -begotten Son, to take upon him our nature, and to expiate our guilt by his own blood. Who can ever appreciate this favour, or compute its value? The tongue of an archangel cannot fully declare it ; nor can any finite mind fully comprehend it. Yet, notwithstanding this obligation, we have sinned : yes ; we have transgressed against a redeeming God ; and have trampled on that very blood which he shed for our redemption. O what a fearful aggravation is this of all the guilt we have contracted !]
2. Against the strongest motives to obedience —
[Adam had not only his own salvation, but also the salva- tion of all his posterity, involved in his obedience. According