IV. Tms MERCY 19 BEOUREO TO MEN BY COVENANT, A covenant is a compact or treaty n1[11lo between two persons, and which is intended for the advanto.ge of all parties in~ tcrcsted. But it is a pure net of condescension, when God undertakes to bind himself in solomn engagements with his feeble and fallen creatures. This gracious procedure is taken in order to encourage our trust, and to pierce unbelief through and through with 11 two-edged sword. Now that God has m:i,de a ?ovena.nt with men, and repented it age after age, his truth and faithfulness and mtegr1ty are pledged for onr salvation. Ha mado a coveno.nt with Christ, by which he secured to him an ample recompensjl of redeemed men, and our Lord pleads in prayer for the fulfilment of his Father's cove- nant. So gracious is the covenant tha.t God makes with us--the new covenant-that he writes it on the tablet oI our minds, yea, deeply engraves it upon the soft affections of our hearts. V. THIS MEHCY IS MADE CONSPICUOUS BY THE MIGHTY DEEDS 011' Goo. Moses reminds the Hebrews of the splendid tokens of God's goodness they had seen ; for every one of these was a pledge of unchanging love, God's signal emancipation of the people from the iron bondage of Egypt; his care over them throughout the desert pilgrimage; his unprecedented revelation of himself on Horeb, in fire and cloud and voice ;-all these things were tantamount to fresh covcnants-earnests of yet larger blessing. Jn deeds, more eloquent than words, he assured them that all his resources were available for them. .And we, in New Testament times, can make this argument stronger still. Calvary serves as a platform, on which we may erect a magnificent structure of ex- pectation. If God had meant to desert us, would he have shown to us such kindnesses as these? VI. Goo DISTRIBUTES HIS MERCY IN VARIOUS MEASURES. He did for the Hebrews what he did not do for other nations of that period. In the way of providence, and in the way of revelation, he deals differently with separate nations, and with individuals. ·we cannot understand all the rules and methods by which he is pleased to work, but we can leave it to himself to justify his ways. Because mercy snatched the crucified thief from the jaws of perdition at the last moment of life, it is criminal presumption for any other man to expect mercy in his last hour. VII. MERCY FLOWS TO MEN THROUGH A VICARIOUS CHANNEL. God assured that generation of the Jews, tha.t they were blessed for their fathers' sake. Not on the ground of personal merit, nor on the ground of personal claim, did God show them his distinguishing favour, but because he had loved Abraham their father, and for his sake loved his seed. Learn here how greatly God loves a good man ! Abraham was not destitute of fault; yet so conspicuous was his practical faith, that God could not do enough for him during nn earthly life-time. The benediction of God overflowed (like the oil on Aaron's head), and descended to the skirts of his posterity. So, and much more, the love which God bears his only Son flows to us for his Son's sake. The same rich quality of love God cherishes for his Son, he cherishes for us. The gift of salvation can flow to us in no other way than through this- channel oI vicarious mrrit. "God, in Christ, reconciles"the world unto himself.'' VIII. Goo's MERCY A POTENT INDUCEMENT FOR LOYAL OBEDIENCE. When all other methods have failed to elicit a man's loyalty, the unexpected display of mercy has often succeeded. Justice, and honour, and all sense of obligation in man have been appealed to over and over again, and always in vain. No appeal moves his callous nature, except the plaintive voice of love. We may tell him of the measureless po\ver of JehoYah, of his inflexible justice, of his inviolable truth, of his fixed determination to root out sin from his kingdom; he hears it all unmoved. But tell him of Jehovah's overflowing mercy, of his tender love for the chief of sinners, of the costly provision of salvation; and by the gracious application of this by the Divine Spirit, man's nature relents, becomes docile, and enshrines the Law of God in its inmost centre. "Ma.n ! " ~ays tlie silvery voice of mercy," thy sins are forgiven thee." And the swift response 1s, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? "-D.
Vers. 41-43.-Tlie cities of 1·efuge. Regard for human life is more important than regard for private property. With legislative prescience, Moses secured three cities on the east of Jordan as sanctuaries for fugitives, before the land was allocated to their ~cveral families. Still further security for the unwary ruanslayer was obtaineu by the •lrcrce that these cities should be occupied by families of the Levites. 80 THE DOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. [en. IV. 25-49.