Now this covenant every godly person " keeps." He em- braces it gladly, being well persuaded, that if the tenor of it were not precisely what it is, he could have no hope. If the covenant required the performance of certain conditions on his part, without providing him with strength to perform those conditions, and pardon for his innumerable failures and defects, he would sit down in despair. But seeing that " the covenant is ordered in all things and sure," and that Jesus, the surety of it, has guaranteed to God the accomplishment of its demands, and to us the enjoyment of its blessings, every believer rejoices in it, and cleaves to it steadfastly with his whole heart.]
2. They keep God's testimonies —
[While the believer is thus attached to the Gospel cove- nant, he does not relax his obedience to the law. On the contrary, whatever God has testified to be his will, that the believer labours to fulfil. He would not wish to live in sin, though he might do it with impunity: nor does he account one of the commandments grievous : but rather he esteems them all concerning all things to be rights His complaints are not against the law as too strict, but against his own heart, as treacherous and vile. With respect to the testimonies of God, he says, with David, " I claim them as mine heritage for ever ; yea, they are the rejoicing of my heart; they are sweeter to me than honey and the honey-comb."
Such, in other parts of God's word, is the description given of the godly''. We should therefore inquire into our faith and practice, in order that we may ascertain our real character. For if we are harbouring self-righteousness on the one hand, or hypocrisy on the other, we have no part in this covenant, nor any interest in its blessings. Whether we reject the covenant or dishonour it, we are equally destitute of grace, and equally obnoxious to God's displeasure. To have a good evidence of our acceptance with God, we must trust as simply in the covenant as if no works were required; and be as earnest in the perform- ance of good works, as if works only were required.]
Having delineated the character of the godly, let us next consider, II. The dealings of God towards them —
It might be supposed that persons so pleasing to God should never suffer affliction : but the contrary is true, as appears, not only from the declarations of Scripture ^ but from the experience of all that have
b Ps. cxix. 128. <= Isai. Ivi. 4, 5. Ps. ciii. 17, 18.
^ Zeph. iii. 12. Ps. xxxiv. 19.
532.] god's paths are mercy and truth. 157
been most favoured of God^ But all God's dealings towards them are,
1. Mercy —
[There are no dispensations, however afflictive, which are not sent to them for good. They are all mercy in their source, their measure, their end. Whence do they spring, but from the love of God? for, "whom he loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth." And are they not all mercifully tempered as to their number, weight, and dura- tion? Has there not "with every temptation been opened also a way to escape," or " strength given according to our day <■? " And have they not all wrought for good, to wean us from the world, to purge away sin, to exercise and increase our grace, to give to us the comfort of grace bestowed, and to God the glory of it ? Is there one of us who must not confess, " It is good for me that I have been afflicted ? " And shall we not say that our light and momentary afflictions have been rich mercies, when we find what a weight of glory they have wrought out for us ?]
2. Truth—
[Truth has respect to the performance of promises. Now afflictions are expressly promised as much as salvation itself s. When therefore they come, we should regard them as the accomplishment of God's word, wherein he has said, that he will withhold no good thing from us. It was in this light that David viewed them, when he said, I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou, in faithfulness hast afflicted me''. And it is in consideration of this, that we are taught to consider, not merely life with all its comforts, but even death also with all its antecedent evils, as a treasure given us by God^.]