the secret counsels, and lays open to us the whole gracious purposes of God, respecting the human race. There we are informed of his dealings with our forefathers, the establishment of his church in the world, together with all his wondrous watchfulness and care so invariably exercised towards his people, from age to age. There we hear of the stupendous miracles occasionally wrought for the confirmation of his ancient saints, the grace he communicated, the faithfulness he exhibited, and the consolations with which he favoured them, in proportion to the severity of their respective trials. These most authentic and interesting memorials are not only come down to us, but they were purposely written for our learning; that we, through patience and comfort of the Scripture, might have hope. This forms a part, and but a part, of what the Lord hath done for us: yet surely this must be considered as constituting a most undoubted ground of love to our almighty Benefactor, who has made so liberal a provision for the temporal and spiritual wants of his adopted children. But

Thirdly-What He hath promised to us, forms a further and still ampler ground of love to God. And here, And here, my brethren, what an inviting prospect opens before us! How rich, how varied, how boundless is the view! When Moses ascended the heights of Pisgah at the divine command, to look abroad upon the promised Canaan, the prospect he enjoyed was animating and extensive. But however animating and extensive that prospect might be, it was commensurate only with the length and breadth of that goodly land while ours is immeasurably vast, stretching away from the very spot on which we stand, to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills. Moreover, unbounded as our prospect is, we know that every part and portion of it shall one day be realized. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath; that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us. And that nothing might be left undone for our satisfaction, in a concern of such endless im

portance, He has made with us an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure,

Now this covenant is not of a slight and transitory nature: but it is ordered for all times and seasons; for all states and conditions; yea, for time and eternity. It is ordered in all things by infallible wisdom. No counsellor was admitted to give his advice in the formation of so invaluable an instrument: but every jot and tittle of it was deliberately planned and fully digested in the divine mind, before it was legibly drawn out and presented to his helpless creature man—so that all possibility of errors creeping into this memorable covenant, is for ever done away. In consequence of which there are to be found in it no flaws, no defects, no omissions of any kind: neither is it capable of any additions. It is regulated with the most comprehensive foresight, down to the minutest particulars; not only ordering and arranging the greater events of our life, but even numbering the very hairs of our head. And, further, it is. a sure covenant. It is confirmed and established by the hand that stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundation of the

earth. It is also signed and sealed with the precious blood of Christ, which on that very account is called the blood of the covenant, being ratified in heaven and earth, and witnessed before angels and men. He who is able to do abundantly above all that we can ask or think, engages, by this gracious and unchangeable covenant, to supply all the wants, and to guide all the steps, of his people he promises them support under every burthen, and comfort in every affliction; most freely holding out to them the sure pardon of sin, the free communications grace, and the secret influences of his

of his

Spirit.

Such is the intent and meaning of the covenant, which God hath been pleased to establish with his faithful people, so far as it respects the present state. But its engagements relate to the eternal as well as to this

transitory world. The great and gracious

Head of the covenant undertakes to conduct us safely, through the valley of the shadow of death, to that state of light and glory, in which He himself has fixed his everlasting dwelling, among blessed spirits of innumerable ranks and orders. Yes, he intends

one day to gather in his children from the four corners of the earth, that where He is, there they may be also. We are here in a course of sacred training for greater things; but this preparatory state is hastening to its appointed termination, when our heavenly Father means to fix us in the possession of a divine inheritance, beyond the reach of evil-where we shall wander no more, every but dwell for ever at home-where we shall sin no more, but be made as the angels of God-where we shall weep no more, but rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Such are the provisions of this unalterable covenant; such are the promises of a faithful God; and such the settled purpose of Him, with whom there is no variableness nor shadow of turning.—And who, believing these things, can do otherwise than love the Lord our God with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his mind?

Tell me now, thou mourning saint, who art sitting in darkness, encompassed with fears, and abandoning thyself to dismal forebodings-what more canst thou ask; what more canst thou desire or think, than that which is here held out to thee in so