have raised, on which we have inscribed our "Ebenezer "-" Hitherto the Lord bath he! ped us ; " and at any time we should be able to look back and bid these pillars remind us of the " wonderful works that he bath done." II. IT HOLDS TEE RACE-MEMORIALS OF GoD'S GOODNESS. Scripture tells us of God's dealings with men, both before he separated the Jewish people and while he bad them under his special lea.dings. "The God of the whole earth shall he be called." It is characteristic of David's psalms that they are full of large broad thoughts of God'~ relations to the whole world. And both Scripture and secular history should provide us with stores for the memory, as they reveal God's workings towards his gracious encJg of substantial and eternal good. If Israel may say," He is the Lord our God," it must go on to say," His judgments are in all the earth." III. IT HOLDS THE COVENANT PEOPLE'S MEllORIALS OF Gon's GOODNESS. This is the peculiar treasure of the godly. We have the Bible records of the covenant race-God's peculiar people, whom he had chosen for himself. Show what a large portion of the good man's memory is taken up with the Scripture story of Israel. God's ways with his covenant people are to us the model and example of all his dealings, and upon these we argue what he is and will be in his ways with us. But they are wonderful ways, marvellous works; often mysterious, often severe; ways of judgment as well as mercy. Impress that the use of due occasions for considering the contents of the memory, for refreshing the memory, and for making new grounds of praise and trust, is a most important, but often neglected, part of Christian duty, bearing direct relation tu Christian strength and joy.-R. T. Ver. 15.-.Abiding thoughts of the cove11ant. Comparing the first clause of this verse with the answering clause in Ps. cv. 8, it would seem that it is rather a statement concerning God than a counsel given to man; and it may be rendered, "He hath remembered," or "He hath been mindful always of his covenant." But man may very properly be urged to keep God's covenant ever in mind, on the very ground that Go,l himself, i.n Divine faithfulness, keeps it ever before him. We may dwell on the moral influence exerted by cherishing thoughts of those covenant conditions under which Goel has been graciously pleased to set us. Explanations should be given of the Adamic covenant, or covenant of creation; the patriarchal covenant, renewed again and again in Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; the Mosaic covenant, solemnly accepted by God an,l the people at Sinai, o.nd made the condition of the national prosperity ; and tho Christian covenant, pledged for all believers in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. It should be shown how fully the Mosaic covenant became interwoven with Jewish thought; and how, by fresh and arousing incidents, the claims of the covenant wero renewed; and also how, to the more devout Jewish mind, that covenant was glorifieJ. 'fhe following points will be suggestive. It is morally helpful to keep before us- I. TEE HONOUR OF BEING IN THJ!l DIVINE COVENANT. All accesses to Gou aro honourable. Compare our estimate of the honour of presentation to an earthly sovc- roign, and our sense of the yet higher honour of coming into direct relations of friendship and service with him. Illustrate by Abraham's oppressed feeling at the honour of close communion with the Lord and permission to intercede for Sodom, or by the sur- llrised feeling of St. Paul when he thinks of himself ns being a co-worker together with God. This "honour" exercises a moral influence on us especially in this, that it inspires us to be our best. It makes us feel, "What manner of persons ought we to bu in all holy conversation and godliness?" II. THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING m TEE DIVINE COVENANT. For we must be favoured above others; and if we are right-minded, all signs of special favour and regaru. bow us down in humility, ns they did David, leading him to say, "What is man, that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man, that thou visitest him?" Seeing that there is "no respect of persons with God," it is necessary that we should keep from associating f11,vouritiam with his dealings. If he brings some-a few-under a special covenant, it is only for the service of the many, and with a view to the final blessing of the whole through them. So the sense of "privilege" should always bo associated with thu "humility" of the true servant; and we remember the covenant that we may be over kept humble under God's gracious hand. III. 'l'Hl!I REBPONBIBILITY OF nEING IN THE DIVINE COVJ-:NANT. For it involves 264 THE FIRST BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. [oH. xvI.1-43.
solemn pledges bearing relation to the (1) maintenance of a high character; (2) render- ing of a pure witness; and (3) doing an earnest work. These may be set forth in both their Jewish and their Christian phases. The sense of responsibility has this moral influence-it cultures earnestness and diligence, and it arouses the whole powers to the attainment of" faithfulness." IV. THE REWARDS OF BEING IN THE DIVINE COVENANT. Those rewards come in the fulfilment of the promises attached to the covenant. In the Jewish case they con- cerned material good, national peace and prosperity. In the Christian case they concern moral and spiritual blessings, with earthly good conditioned upon the Divine wisdom and will. Rewards have this moral influence-they brighten, cheer, and encourage those who may be in the midst of toil and trouble. In each of the above it may be shown how the sense of covenant-relations is cor- rective of the precise forms of worldly influence to which we are subject. And, in conclusion, we may dwell upon the holy rest of the thought that God himself is in pledged and holy covenant with us in Christ J esus.-R. T.