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.

Come to my family

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.

I invite thee to come to my poor babes. Let them be included among those little children that Thou permittest to come to Thee. Grant salvation to the one who appears to be near the end of his life. Let him have mercy in and through a complete Mediator, Christ. Let Thy sympathy and free love be extended towards him, for he is one of Thy sufferers, who has gone without the administration of Thy sacrament of baptism because of the unfaithfulness of ministers. Lord, Thou knowest it was not in contempt of Thy holy ordinance that he has not been baptised, but because, in our situation, we could not show, in any more eminent way, our dislike to the injuries done to thee, O Lord, by unfaithful ministers. All their treachery is well known to Thee. Lord, break the snares, and let Thy poor flock escape; and hasten the day when my young ones shall feed beside the shepherd’s tents (Song 1:8).

I invite Thee this day to every soul within my family. Let the work of grace be amongst them all, every one encouraging another in the way of duty, that we may be a little sanctuary for Thee to dwell in.

Come to our country

I invite thee, O Lord, this day to return to poor covenanted Scotland. Although she has broken covenant with Thee, yet Thou must not give up on her. Remember Thy former lovingkindness to her; and, for Thy own name’s sake, return, return, and deliver. Are not enemies rejoicing that they have got some of the sons and daughters of Zion to help them to lay on the gravestone to hold down the work? Are not enemies crying, “Where is the covenanted God of Scotland?” and saying, “If this work had been of God, it would have stood!” All the blood of Thy people, and the cause of God for which they suffered, is now buried under the mockery of some and the joy of others. But rouse up Thyself, Thou who art the Lion of the tribe of Judah! Let it be known to all nations that the covenanted God of Scotland lives and reigns. O that the resurrection of Thy buried work would be more glorious than ever! Let Zion’s walls be built again, so that she may be beautiful as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners (Song 6); so that her enemies may tremble; and so that her children, who for a long time have been mourning over her rubbish, may rejoice in her beautiful order, and be compassed about with songs (Psalm 32:7).

I invite Thee to the poor, betrayed, scattered societies in Scotland that Thou art now justly contending with. The marks of Thy displeasure are evidently to be seen in every meeting — an absent God in every piece of duty, love and tenderness much gone, the breeding of hot-headedness and contentions and lukewarmness, nothing like a practical work among the majority, or making any progress in the way of Christianity. Has all this not come on us because our God is not amongst us? O that Thou, Lord, wouldst return, and make known for what Thou art contending! Remove these spiritual plagues, and let Thy Spirit be poured out among the poor ones who sigh in Zion, and let them again behold the king’s face in peace.

I desire to invite thee to every afflicted and wearied soul that is tossed and like to faint on the dark mountains, passing through dark steps, and none to speak comfortably unto them, but every one adding to their grief. Lord, appear thou for their help, and shorten these days for the elect’s sake, lest they faint under the burden, and put forth their hands to iniquity.

Come in spite of everything

I desire this day to covenant with Thee in opposition to all the powers, civil and ecclesiastical, that have eaten out the life of Christianity, and are standing in opposition to Thee and Thy precious truths, and I engage never to own them till they be for Thee. This I engage in the strength of the Lord. I adhere to all the truths of the Old and New Testaments, and to all the testimonies given by Thy people for carrying on Thy work. I desire to adhere to the now forgotten Covenants, and to all the work of Reformation which is founded on Thy Word.

Lord, help a poor, weak, insufficient creature to hold by this, vowing and paying vows unto Thee. I do this day give up my dear husband and children unto Thee, that Thou mayest make them for Thee, and employ them in Thy service, whatever the risks may be. O Lord, take them off my hand, that they may be committed in Thy love to Thy service. In the day when Thou goest through the land with the devouring sword, let them get their souls for a prey, and be found within the bounds of the everlasting covenant. This is all my desire. May grace in exercise be their portion.

I do this day solemnly enter into covenant with Thee, holding up my hands, vowing to be Thine, giving myself up unto Thee, closing with Thee on Thy own terms, begging Thee to come and add Thy seal to this great work.

And I desire that this covenant may be as a staff to hold me up from staggering on the dark mountains. O Lord, help me to have a practice in sincerity, like one who is genuinely in covenant with thee! O Lord, I take the stones in the wall, and timber in the house, to be witnesses that I have given up myself and all mine unto Thee, O Lord, this day!

(Signed) Janet Hamilton
Earlstoun
January 1691

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