Becure and euro. Goel takes care of his own Word. Enemies may ass!tll it, but ho watches ovor and preserves it. Foolish friends or professed friends may misinterpret it, m~y nnrrow it so as. to make it speak the langu~ge of their own particular sect, and prormso good only to its members, may overlay 1t by traditional interpretations or otherwise veil it from the sight of men as if it were too sacrerl for common eye; or substitute for it "another gospel, which is not another" (Gal. i. 6, 7), which they regard ns more in harmony with the advanced intelligence of the times; but, amid and through all, God's covenant abides sure, the only basis of his gracious dealin"s with men, the secure basis of men's hopes and life. (3) Everlasting. An assertiin that might be made in respect to its origin in the eternal thought and purpose of God but which is made of its enduring character. It is a covenant which a.bides the same ~ver- more, which God will never alter, and will be eternally fulfilling in the experience of h.is children. "The Word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the Word which by the gospel is preached unto you" (1 Pet. i. 25). 3. With whom it is made. "With me." 1'he covenant was made to David directly and personally, through Nathan. The covenant of God in the gospel is with all those who conform to its requirements-al\ who repent, believe, and obey. Whoever sincerely accepts Christ as Savionr and Lord, is warranted to regard the promises of God as made to himself, and will he able to do so with increasing confidence as his faith, love, and holiness increase. These are at once the work of the Holy Spirit, and his witness to each Christian that he is a Chris- tian indeed, one of" the children of God," who are "heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ" (Rom. viii. 16, 17). II. THE ESTIMATION IN wmcH IT IS HELD. The believer values it as beyond all price, because: 1. It assures him of salvation. "This is all my salvation "-salvation in·the fullest sense, salvation from all evil to the enjoyment of all blessing, a salvation everlasting as the covenant. 2. It meets and satisfies his best, his utmost longings. "All my desire "-:-delight, pleasure. The aspirations after perfect communion with God, and likeness to him and eternal happiness in him, all are met and satisfied by the promises of God. III. THE COMFORT IT AFFORDS. "Although my house, ... yet," etc. Similarly, the Christian may realize unfailing support ann consolation from the consciousness of being interested in the everlasting covenant. 1. In view of his past and present life. Its unfulfilled ideals, disappointed hopes, broken vows, wasted energies, poor results (material or spiritual); in view of sins committed, work undone or ill done; after sad experience of the unreliableness of the promises of men (whether through changed mind, or changed circumstances, or death); or again, when he thinks with sad heart of the moral condition of his "house" (often a distressing sight to godly parents), or the pain- ful circumstances in which it may be placed through bereavements or worldly misfor- tunes; or finally, when he looks upon himself, contrasting what he might have become with what he is-it is a thought to bring rest and hope that God has made with him an everlasting covenant, which remains secure and unchanged amid all chan~es, and assures of fori!;iveness of all that has been wrong and defective, and eternal profit from all that has been painful, and final and complete neliverance from all sin and sorrow. 2. In anticipation of the future. (1) The future of this life. Its uncertainties, its pos~ eible or probable troubles, personal, domestic, national, etc. "I know not what is before me, but this I know, that God has made with me a covenant which cannot fail." (2) Its approaching end and the eternal future. 'fhe possible suddenness or painfulness of tbe end; its possible loneliness, through the deaths or removals of those who it had been hoped would be near to impart consolation; in the case of the aged, the certainty that departure from this world cannot be long delayed; the dimness and strangeness of the invisible world, and the awfulness of eternity; the constitutional dread of death which haunts some; the dread, at least the awe, which sometimes visits all as they think of the account to be given of life to the holy Judge. How blessed under all anxieties an,\ forebodings to say, "' I know whom I have believed' (2 Tim. i. 12); I am sure he will not forsake me, but will 'deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom' (2 Tim. iv. 18); for 'he hath made with me an everlasting covenant,' etc." I Let Christians aim so to live that they ruay llVer enjoy such consolation. Let all ,eek to make it their own; for it is available for all, Hear the Word of the Lord bofo.e THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. [oH. xxm. 1-39.
reierred to: "Incline your <'ar, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall livo; and I will make an everlBHting oovenant with you, even tho sure mercies of David" (lsa. lv. 3).-G. W.