these relations to unbelievers, for they are its children; the latter to true believers who are children and heirs of God. Suppose a subject married to her sovereign, thereby a new relation takes place between him and her, viz. that of husband and wife. If after a while she be justly divorced, the conjugal relation is thereby entirely dissolved; but that of the sovereign and the subject remains untouched. She owes him no more obedience as a husband, for that he is no more to her, though still she owes him allegiance as a king, he being her sovereign no less after the marriage-relation is dissolved, than before it was constituted. Much after this manner is it with believers and the law. Before they believed they were married to the law: it was their husband, Rom. vii. 1-4. By believing, the marriage-relation to the law is dissolved: they owe it no obedience as an husband, they being married to another. But still they owe it all obedience as a rule: such a relation being no way inconsistent with that subsisting betwixt Christ and them. So far from this, the law is given out by him as the rule of their obedience. Though no more their husband, it is still their husband's law. And their love to it is regulated by, and bears proportion to, their love to him. It is the royal law of Christ their king: they are under law to him, 1 Cor. ix. 21. Being delivered from the law as a covenant, Rom. vii. 6. they delight in it as a rule, verse 22. Being delivered from it as a covenant, there is no condemnation to them; and being conformed to it as a rule, they walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit, Rom. viii. 1. As a covenant, it was a burden and a yoke which Christ took from off them; as a rule, it is his burden and his yoke which he puts upon them, Matt. xi. 30.

But here it must be observed, that though they are perfectly delivered from it as a covenant, yet they are not in this life perfectly conformed to it as a rule. Though freed from the old covenant, they have still much of the old man; though it be dead to them, he is not dead in them, but only dying. They are perfect

ly delivered from the condemnatory sentence, and brought forth from the prison-house, and have laid aside their prison-garments, sin being no more imputed to them; but they are not perfectly cured of the jail disease, only they are in the hands of a skilful physician. He who was Jehovah their righteousness, is Jehovah their healer too, Exod. xv. 26. And the same blood that satisfied for their crimes, will heal their wounds also.

3dly. Such as are in the covenant of grace have fellowship with God. Being confederates with heaven, they enjoy covenant communion with Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Eph. ii. 10. 1 John i. 3. iii. 24. As delivered from the curse of the law, they are entitled to this honour, and as conformed to the precepts of the law, they are meet to be partakers of it. What a blessed correspondence they carry on with heaven in giving and receiving! The Lord guides them continually, satisfies their soul in drought, and makes fat their bones. While others like the heath in the desert, see not when good cometh, they are like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not, Isa. lviii. 11. They are the vineyard which Jehovah keeps, which he waters every moment. Lest Lest any hurt it, he keeps it night and day, Isa. xxvii. 3. The dew of divine influences descends on them, their devotions come up with acceptance before God, and in testimony of this he manifests himself to them, in another manner than to the world. They have his assistance in duty, acceptance of it, and Ŏ what rewards of grace are poured into their bosom. They keep the Redeemer's commandments: He and his Father love them, and come unto them, and make their abode with them, John xiv. 21, 23. In them as his temple the Holy Ghost vouchsafes to dwell, 1 Cor. iii. 16. Having such intimate fellowship with God, they are satisfied with his goodness. The light of his countenance lifted up upon them puts gladness into their heart, such as the wealth of worldlings can never give. They have a joy with which strangers to the cove

Amidst all

nants of promise cannot intermeddle. their straits and difficulties, unto their covenant-God they can go, and to him as a father, tell all their wants. Never a storm arises, but into this harbour they can put. Into the secret place of prayer they can go, and solace themselves as under the wings of the Almighty. There as his hidden ones they are honoured to eat of the hidden manna, meat which the world knoweth not of. Pouring out their hearts before the Lord, he often pours his consolations into them, filling them with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

Such sensible communion, I grant, may suffer many interruptions. For a sinful cause in them, or for a sovereign in himself, God may suspend the wonted manifestations of his love. Such as fear him may walk in darkness, and have no shining, Isa. 1. 10. They may go mourning without the sun, Job xxx. 28. But though weeping, may endure for a night, yet joy cometh in the morning, Psal. xxx. 5. Still it remaineth true, that light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart, Psalm. xcvii. 11. Meanwhile the influences of grace are never totally suspended. His consolations God may take away, but his Holy Spirit he never will, Rom. viii. 9. The man in covenant shall never be without God in the world, Eph. ii. 12. I know of no warrant to confine communion with God to his comforts only: why may it not extend to his chastisements to? To be without chastisement, indicates that one is without the covenant, Heb. xii. 8. What mercy to be chastised back to the road of duty, while others given up to themselves, walk on in the frowardness of their way, till they tumble headlong into the depths of hell? Against this the covenant people are secured. God chastises them for their profit, that they may be partakers of his holiness, Heb. xii. 10. To expel them his covenant is one thing: to chasthem as sons is another. The rod having driven away their folly, they are again admitted as into the` chambers of intimate fellowship with their God. So penitent David had the joy of God's salvation restored

to him, and Peter was honoured with a visit from the risen Redeemer. The saints are a people near to God, while all others are said to be afar off. Being in a state of nearness, they are admitted to acts of nearness too, coming even to his seat. Accordingly it is their scripture character that they walk with God, Gen. v. 22. and vi. 9. Being reconciled to him in justification, they are honoured as his friends to walk with him in holiness and comfort. His secret is with them, and theirs is with him. High life indeed! But this is not all. For,

4thly. Such as are in the covenant of grace shall have a blessed death. It shall come to them not in virtue of the old covenant threatening, but of the new covenant promise, 1 Cor. iii. 22. Its aspect may be awful, but friendly shall be its office. It shall take them from the body to the Lord, 2 Cor. v. 8. Though it still retains a serpent's shape, so to speak, it has lost the sting. Therefore believers shall feel no harm. When walking through the lonely vale of death, the Lord their covenanted God and Shepherd shall be with them. His rod and his staff, his word and his Spirit, shall comfort them. Possibly death may seize them, when not expecting it. Nevertheless being still in the covenant, their souls are bound up in the bundle of life with Christ. High as the billows of tribulation may arise, still they are in the ark of the covenant, and therefore their eternal interests are secure. Whatever Whatever disagreeable circumstances may introduce or attend their exit, yet of the one thing needful they are possessed: the better part, of which they made choice, cannot be taken from them. They are in Christ, and therefore death shall be gain to them. The worst it can do, respects the body only. The casket it lays in the dust, but the jewel, the immortal soul, it cannot touch. Ministering spirits stand ready to receive it when departing, and as on their expanded wings shall bear it to the regions of celestial bliss, Luke xvi. 22. The worst condition in which death can seize the covenant people is when lying under some sin of which they have not repented..

But though not then actually prepared for its attack, they are habitually. Though fast asleep, so to speak, yet being on board the ark of the covenant, they cannot perish. It is also trying, when instead of having their evidences fair, they are labouring under doubts and fears. But even then they shall be upheld. Though not enjoying strong consolations: though the candle of the Lord be not shining on their head, nor his secret be on their tabernacle, yet under them shall be the everlasting arms. And probable it is that the cloud shall be removed as from off the tabernacle before it be dissolved. Be this as it may, sure we are, that when they give up the ghost, so shall their old man, indwelling sin. Death shall be destruction to - him.

5thly. Such as are in the covenant of grace shall have a glorious resurrection. Christ speaking of the believer, promiseth four times in the compass of one chapter, I will raise him up at the last day, John vi. 39, 40, 44, 54. All in the covenant of grace shall come forth of their graves in virtue of the covenantpromise. I am their God, secures them a joyful resurrection, Matt. xxii. 31, 32. They shall rise not to suffer further punishment, as the wicked, but to reign in their whole man with Christ. They died in conformity to him, and so shall they rise. He had a double entrance into heaven, one private and another public, and so shall they. Soon as his soul left the body, it entered into paradise, where it remained till his resurrection. After forty days he in his whole man, and in the most public and triumphant manner entered heaven. As with the Redeemer, so with his redeemed. Their souls do at their death immediately pass into glory. This they do in a private manner, one by one, so to speak. But at the resurrection, all the covenanted people, in their whole man, and in one vast assembly, shall enter heaven, the Lord being on their head, and thousands and ten thousands of angels as on their rear. They shall publicly enter,