to the covenant made with him, all his seed, to the very end of time, were to live in him, or in him to die. In this view it must be confessed, that his motives to steadfastness were more powerful than any which can operate on us; unless indeed we balance a regard for the Saviour's glory against his concern for his children's welfare. But, however this may be, our motives to obedience are unspeakably great : the everlasting happiness or misery of our souls is now at stake: heaven with all its glory, or hell with all its torments, must be our portion : and upon our present conduct our eternal state depends. Now can any one reflect a moment on these considerations, and not stand amazed that ever he should be induced to violate the covenant of his God ? Is it not astonishing that any thing in the whole universe should prevail upon us to transgress under such cir- cumstances, and to withstand such motives as these?]
3. Under the slightest possible temptations to dis- obedience—
[There was nothing wanting to Adam in Paradise that could at all conduce to his happiness. Nothing was denied him, but the fruit of one single tree, as a test of his obedience. And what temptation was this to him, who already possessed all that he could reasonably desire? But, slight as the tempta- tion was, he yielded to it. And let us inquire, what our temptations are? A little money, a breath of honour, a momentary gratification, this is all that we can promise our- selves by transgressing the covenant : and what is this when set against eternity ? What are we the happier at this moment for all our past transgressions ? What is left to us from them all, but shame and remorse ? And have we any reason to expect that the gratifications of sin in future will be more solid and permanent than those which we have enjoyed in times past ? Behold then, this is the price for which we forego the hopes of heaven, and entail upon ourselves the miseries of hell ! What desperate, what incredible infatuation !]
Infer —
1. How striking a contrast is there between God and us !
[We violate our covenant continually upon the most trifling temptations, and that too in spite of the strongest motives and obligations to the contrary. But does God ever violate his covenant? He has engaged to receive every return- ing prodigal, that comes to him in the name of Jesus : and did we ever hear of so much as one whom he spurned from his footstool ? He has engaged also to " keep the feet of his saints," and to " perfect that which concerneth them." And