o. Now, because sundry objections may be levied against the ac- complishment of this engagement of God, upon the account of our instability and backsliding, the Lord addeth the manner of his en- tering into this engagement with us, obviating and preventing, or removing, all such objections whatever; which is the third thing proposed to consideration, — namely, the engagement of the proper- ties of God for the accomplishment of this promise.
Five properties doth the Lord here mention, to assure us of his constancy in this undertaking of his gi'ace, and of the steadfastness of the covenant he hath taken his people into; and they are, "right- eousness, judgment, loving-kindness, mercies," and "faithfulness;" whose efficacy, also, in reference unto their abiding with him whom he doth betroth to himself, he mentioneth in the close of verse 20, " Tliou," saith he, " shalt know the Lord." I shall not in- sist on the particular importance of the several expressions whereby the Lord hath set forth himself and his goodness here unto us. It is plain that they are all mentioned to the same end and purpose, — namely, to give assurance unto us of the unchangeableness of this work of his grace, and to prevent the objections which the fears of our unbelieving hearts, from the consideration of our weaknesses, ways, and walkings, temptations, trials, and troubles, would raise upon it. The Lord, when he betroths us to himself, sees and knows what we are, what we will be, and how we will provoke the eyes of bis
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glory. He sees that if we should be left unto ourselves, we would utterly cast off all knowledge of him and obedience unto him. " Wherefore," saith he, " ' I will betroth thee unto me in righteous- ness and in judgment;' allowing full measure for all thy weaknesses, that they shall not dissolve that union I intend." As if a prince should go to take to him in marriage a poor deformed beggar, who being amazed with his kindness, and fearing much lest he should be mistaken, and account her otherwise than indeed she is, which when it is discovered will be her ruin, she plainly telleth him she is poor, deformed, and hath nothing in the world that may answer his expec- tation, and therefore she cannot but fear that when he knoweth her thoroughly indeed, he will utterly cast her off: but he thereupon re- plieth, " Fear no such thing; what I do, I do in righteousness and judgment, knowingly of thee and thy condition, and so as that I will abide by it." Perhaps, as some think, by this " betrothing us in righteousness," the Lord may intimate his bestowing upon us right- eousness, yea, his becoming in Jesus Christ our righteousness, to supply that utter want which is in us of that which is acceptable unto him, Isa. xlv. 24. Now, because we are not only unmeet to be at first accepted into any such terms of alliance with the Lord, but also shall certainly in the carrying of it on behave ourselves foolishly and frowardly, unanswerable to his loving-kindness, so that he may justly cast us off for ever, he telleth us farther that he betroths us to himself " in loving-kindness and in mercies," knowing that in entering into this alliance with us he maketh work for his tenderest bowels of compassion, his pity and pardoning mercy. In his continuance in this relation, whatever his kindness, patience, and pardoning mercy can be extended unto, that he will accomplish and bring about. But will not the Lord, when he pardons once and again, at length be wearied by our innumerable provocations, so as to cast us off for ever? "No," saith he; " this will I do in faithfulness." He doubleth the expression of his grace, and addeth a property of his nature that will carry him out to abide by his first love to the utmost: " I will," saith he, " even betroth thee unto myself in faithfulness." His firm- ness, constancy, and truth, in all his ways and promises, will he use in this work of his grace, Deut. xxxii. 4. But perhaps, notwithstand- ing all this, the heart is not yet quiet, but it feareth itself and its own treachery, lest it should utterly fall off from this gracious hus- band; wherefore, in the close of all, God undertaketh for them also that no scruple may remain why our souls should not be satisfied with the sincere milk that floweth from this breast of consolation. "Thou shalt," saith he, "know the Lord." This, indeed, is required, that under the accomplishment of this gracious promise you know the Lord, — that is, believe and trust, and obey the Lord; and saith he, "Thou shalt do it. I will by my grace keep alive in thy heart
282 DOCTRINE OF THE SAINTS' PERSEVERANCE. [CHAr.
(as a fruit of that love wherewith I have betrothed thee to myself) that knowledge, faith, and obedience, which I require of thee."
This, then, is some part of that whicl) in this promise the Lord holdeth out unto us and assureth us of. Notwithstanding liis re- jection of the carnal Jews, yet for his elect, both the Jews and Gen- tiles, he will so take them into a marriage covenant with himself that he will continue for ever a husband unto them, undertaking also that they shall continue in faith and obedience, knowing hira all their days. And of all this he effectually assureth them upon the account of his righteousness, judgment, loving-kindness, mercy, and faithfulness.