Posted at Reformation Scotland:
There is a dynamic to-and-fro between the Lord and His people when they are united to each other within the covenant of grace. This means that while the Lord makes promises and gives blessings for His people to grasp hold of, they can in turn with reverence hold Him to His word and remind Him to do what He has said. One believer who had a clear sense of this was Janet Hamilton, Lady Earlstoun (who died in 1696). She suffered persecution alongside her husband, Sir Alexander Gordon of Earlston (1650–1726), for Covenanter principles. At various stages in her life, Janet wrote down her reflections on the Lord’s dealings with her, also taking the opportunity to renew of her personal covenant with the Lord. Janet’s writings were discovered after her death and were published at the request of her friends. In the following updated extract, Janet appeals to the Lord for help with her own family, as well as showing a concern for the wider church and national context.Now, Lord, I desire to enter into covenant with Thee this day, in opposition to all the corruptions of the body of sin that I am mastered with. I desire in Thy sight to protest against all things in me or my family that are not like Thee, and this day to invite Thee back to my house on any terms, and do not break us with Thy long absence. Come, Lord Jesus, and take up Thy dwelling amongst us. We are a heartless company without thee.
Come to the heads, and tell us what is our duty, and put work in our hands. Art Thou passing by us as one that has no work for us to do? O Lord, I cannot contemplate this! Do not let our iniquities put a stop in Thy way. Come over the mountains of oppositions and put us to duty, and keep us at duty, and dwell with us.