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2. How the Lord shows his people his covenant, or makes them to know it.

This he graciously effects by the power of the Holy Spirit. Their understandings are enlightened to discover that all their blessings are granted to them through the covenant of redemption, or of grace. They are taught by the Spirit of God that it is an everlasting covenant ordered in all things and sure. It has laid a foundation for their justification "freely, by the grace of God, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Hence it becomes all their salvation and all their desire. It is the foundation of all their hopes; for they renounce every other ground of acceptance and forgiveness. They see the evil of sin; they feel their sinfulness, and they rest all their hopes of pardon on that foundation of God which standeth sure. There they view the mercy of God, the efficacy of the atonement, and the ability of Christ to save. They are taught by that gracious agent, who is designated in the scriptures the Spirit of knowledge, to venture their souls upon the Saviour, and to "rejoice in Christ Jesus, having no confidence in the flesh.' They are taught to seek happiness solely upon the ground of the everlasting covenant. They learn to renounce every other foundation. And all their expectations and hopes arise from God's covenant, and not from their own works, or merits. They look to Christ for pardon, and to the blessed Spirit for sanctification and holiness for by such evidences as these the secret of the Lord is with them that fear him, and in this

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things we offend all; and there is no man that liveth and sinneth not." But the scripture frequently connects the fear of the Lord with departing from evil, and with keeping his commandments. Hence when Abraham obeyed the most difficult command that could be enjoined on man, the Almighty declared it to be an evidence of his possessing this principle: "Now I know that thou fearest God." The same principle will create an earnest desire to do the will of God; to the observance of which is annexed the saving knowledge of the doctrine of salvation by Christ himself: "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God."

4. Once more, the fear of the Lord is connected with the love of his goodness.

God is infinitely good, as well as infinitely great and holy and just. Oh how gloriously is his goodness displayed in the gift of his only begotten Son! In this unspeakable evidence of his love, we see his readiness to pardon sinners, and to become their reconciled Father and Friend. The fear of the Lord is therefore intimately connected with love for his mercy and goodness. It is promised in the prophecies of Hosea, that the people of God "shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days," under the gospel dispensation. This implies that they shall have such a view of the divine mercy, grace, and goodness, in their deliverance and salvation by Jesus Christ, as shall fill them with holy awe and reverential love. Such are the characters described in the text. Let us consider,

II. What are the privileges conferred them.

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surely you know that you are indebted for these blessings to the mercy and grace of God in the everlasting covenant. Are you believers? But why are you so? Because God had a purpose of grace towards you. Therefore he ordained that you should be born in a country where the light of revelation shines, and where the means of salvation have been afforded you. And how has this grace, which so many receive in vain, been made effectual for you? By the mighty power of God, whereby you have been turned from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God." The conversion of the soul to God, is by the apostle attributed to the same mighty power which raised Christ from the dead. Hence he prayed for the Ephesians, "that the eyes of their understanding might be enlightened, that they might know what is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward, who believe according to the working of His mighty power, which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places." Are not these some of the secrets of God, which he has made known to you? Has he not shewn you that you have not chosen Him, but that He has chosen you? Has He not led you to understand that you have not first loved or apprehended Him, but that you have been loved and apprehended by Him? Has He not convinced you by His word and spirit, that He has loved you with an everlasting love, and that with loving kind

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redemption. The blessed and Holy Spirit, in consequence of covenant engagements, enlightens the understandings of the elect, regenerates their hearts, leads them to Jesus for salvation, and seals them through the faith of Christ unto the day of redemption. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. According as he hath chosen us in him, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love . . . . . that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom also ye trusted after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of your inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession,' unto the praise of his glory." Let us take a view of the covenant in its conditions and its promises.

(1.) The conditions of the covenant of redemption as made with Christ, were the following:

In the first place, Christ was to become the representative head of his people. The eternal Son of God, the second person in the ever-blessed and glorious Trinity, by virtue of the office he undertook in the covenant of redemption, was appointed to represent the persons, and to bear the names of the elect, before the eternal Father. In consequence of this covenant-relation to his people, he is called God's servant. "Behold my servant, whom I up

lievers are given to Christ by the Father; and Christ has engaged that none shall pluck them out of his hands. Our blessed Lord has also declared, "This is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day." And in his last interesting prayer on earth, he says, "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory." The everlasting blessings of the covenant are secured to believers by the word and the oath of the God of truth; "that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us which hope we have as an anchor of the soul both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high-priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." Here believers you have an inviolable assurance of peace and joy. Well may the apostle address true Christians, "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again, I say, rejoice." Rejoice then, believers, that you are safe in the hands of Him who changeth not. His covenant is your security against all the wiles of the devil, all the temptations of the world, and all the infirmities of the flesh. He who hath said, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee," will preserve you unto his heavenly kingdom, and crown you with glory, honour, and immortality.

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