# Faith's plea upon God's covenant (3)

Faith's Plea upon God's COVENANT.
A
SERMON
PREACHED
On a Preparation-day before deſpenſing the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, at King- laſſie, upon Pſalm lxxiv. 20. Have reſpect unto the Covenant.
By the late REVEREND Mr. RALPH ERSKINE Miniſter of the Goſpel at Dunfermline.
THE SIXTH EDITION: G L A S G O W. Printed by JOHN ROBERTSON MDCCLXXII
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FAITH'S PLEA upon GOD'S COVENANT.
Pſalm lxxiv. 20. Have reſpect unto the Covenant, &c.
THE, Pſalmiſt, in pleading for the church and people of God, and that he would appear for them againſt in the cloſe of the preceeding verſe, there is ſomething he pleads God may not Forget, Forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever;' and the rather he uſes this argument becauſe he had ſaid, Pſal. ix. 14. 'The needy ſhall not be forgotten; the expectation of the poor ſhall not periſh for ever.' There is, in this verſe, ſomething he pleads, that God may Remember and have regard unto, 'have reſpect unto the covenant.' Thou haft brought us into covenant with thee, might he ſay, and though we are unworthy to be reſpected; yet have reſpect onto the covenant of pro- miſe. When God delivers his people, it is in remembrance of his covenant, Lev. xxvi. 42.. Then will I remember my covenant with Abraham, Iſaac and Jacob; and I will remember the land.' We cannot expect he will remember us, till he remember his covenant: hence, therefore, we propoſe to illuſtrate the following truth. DOCT." That one of Faith's ſtrong pleas with God, is, " That he would have reſpect to the covenant." If we would deal with God for mercy, or plead with him for favour, or look to him for any good at this occaſion, let us expect it only upon this ground, the reſpect he bath to the covenant, and plead upon this argument. The method we would obſerve, as the Lord ſhall aſſiſt, for briefly handling this ſubject, ſhall be the following. I Shew what Covenant it is he will have a reſpect to. II. What it is for God to have a reſpect to the covenant. III. What it is if the covenant he hath a respect to. IV. What kind of reſpect he hath to it. V. Why he hath reſpect to it, and ſo why it is a ſuita- ble plea and argument in ſuing for mercy, VI. Make ſome application of the whole. I. We are then firſt to ſhew what covenant it is he will have a reſpect to. The covenant here ſpoken of is the co- venant of grace and promiſe, made in Chriſt Jeſus 'before the world began,' and publiſhed in this goſpel to ſinners,
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Jer. 32. 39.40.' And I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them. And I will make an e- verlaſting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they ſhall not depart from me. Ezek. 36. 26. A new heart alſo will I give you, and a new ſpirit will I put within you; and I will take away the ſtony heart out of your fleſh, &c. Jer. 31 33. But this ſhall be the cove- nant that I will make with the houſe of Iſrael, after thoſe days, faith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts, and I will be their God; and they ſhall be my people.' And in Pſalm 89. through- our. It is called a covenant of Grace; becauſe grace is the beginning and the end, the foundation and top-ſtone of it: even grace reigning thro' righteouſneſs. It is cal- led a covenant of Mercy; becauſe therein mercy to the miſerable is proclaimed thro' juſtice ſatisfying blood; for there mercy and truth met together;' and all the ſure mercies of David' are conveyed thereby. It is called a co- venant of Peace and Reconciliation; becauſe it both treats of peace with God, and makes it good. It is called a co- venant of Promiſe; becauſe it lies in promiſes with refe- rence to us, and there to be accompliſhed upon the condi- tion already fulfilled in Chriſt's obedience and ſatisfaction; and becauſe therein the faithfulneſs of God is pledged, for making out all the promiſes to believers, and the children of promiſe. It is called a covenant of Salt; becauſe it is an incorruptible word, 'an everlaſting covenant, well or- dered in all things and ſure.' In a word it is a covenant of Help to poor, helpleſs ſinners, ſaying, "I lave laid help upon one that is mighty. O Iſrael, thou haſ deſtroyed thy- ſelf, but in me is thy help.' It is a covenant of Pardon to the guilty, ſaying, 'I, even I, am be that blotteth out thy tranſgreſſions for mine own fake, and I will not remember thy sins. It is a covenant of Supply to the needy, ſaying, ' When the poor and needy ſeek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I, the Lord, will hear them, I, the God of Iſrael will not forſake them.' It is a covenant of Gifts wherein grace and glory are freely gi- ven; and in the diſpenſation thereof, God ſays, come, and take all freely, himſelf, his Chriſt, his Spirit, and all, Rev. 22. 17. Iſa. 55.1.
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II. We are to ſnew what it is for God to have reſpect to the covenant. I. God hath reſpect to the covenant when he remembers it, and ſo remembers us, as in that forecited, Lev. 26. 42. 'I will remember my covenant, and then will I remember the land.' This Pſal. 109. 5. He hath given meat to them that fear him.' Why, he will ever be mindful of his co- venant, if he come to give us meat to feed our fouls at this occaſion, the ground will be, he will be mindful of his covenant, mindful of his promiſe. 2.God may be ſaid to have reſpect to his covenant, when he regards it. He hath no reaſon to have reſpect or regard to us, but he fees reaſon to have a regard to his covenants he puts honour upon it, for reaſons that I ſhall afterwards ſhew, only I ſhall ſay here, his honour is engaged therein, therefore he ſays, My covenant will I not break, nor al- ter the thing that is gone out of my lips,' Pſalm 89.34. He hath more regard to it than he hath to heaven and earth: for he ſays heaven and earth ſhall paſs away, but my words ſhall not paſs away.' He hath ſuch regard to it, that he will never break it, but ever keep it. 3. He hath reſpect to his covenant, when he eſtablishes it. And when we pray, that he would have reſpect to the covenant,' we not only pray he would remember the cove- nant, and regard the covenant, bar eſtabliſh the covenant betwixt him and us, as be laid to Abraham, Gen. 17. 7. ' I will eſtabliſh it between me and thee, and thy feed af- ter thee.' He ſhews reſpect to the covenant, when he makes the covenant take hold of us, and makes us take hold of the covenant; for then he makes us pus reſpect upon him, and upon his covenant. 4. He hash reſpect to the covenant, when he performs the covenant-promiſe, according to Micah 7.20 Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou haft ſworn to our fathers from the days of old :' and he does this, when be acts according to the covenant, or according to the mercy that made the promiſe, and the truth that is engaged to make out the promiſe. In ſhort the ſum of this prayer, as it concerns the import of the word Respect, Have reſpect to the covenant,' is, ' Lord, remember the covenant, and ſo remember me; Lord, have regard to the covenant, and let me be remem- bered on this ground, when there is no reaſon why I ſhould
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be regarded: Lord, eſtabliſh thy covenant with me, and ſo put honour upon thy name manifeſted in that covenant. and do to me according to the promiſe of the covenant, Cauſe me hope in thy word, and then remember thy word on which thou hast cauſed me to hope and deal with me not according to my sin and deſert, but according to thy covenant and mercy in Chriſt Jeſus. III. We are next to ſhew what it is in the covenant he hath a reſpect to, or that we ſhould plead upon, 1. Have reſpect to the covenant;' that is, to the Me- diator of the covenant. Tho' thou oweſ, no reſpect to me, yet doſt thou not owe reſpect, and halt thou not a great re- ſpact to the Mediator of the covenant, even to him whom thou hast given to be a covenant of the people?' For his sake let me be pitied; have reſpect to the relation he bears to the covenant, even to him who is the Mediator, Teſta- tor, Witneſs, Meſſenger, Surety, and all of the covenant. Have reſpect to his offices, and let him get the glory of his ſaving offices. It is a ſtrong plea to plead with God upon the reſpect he bears to Chriſt; God cannot win over ſuch a plea as that. He muſt own his regard and reſpect to Chriſt, who hath paid ſuch a reſpect to him, and 'fi- niſhed the work he gave him do.' 2. Have reſpect to the covenant, by having reſpect to the blood of the covenant. The blood of Christ, that is re- preſerted in the ſacrament of the ſupper, it is the blood of the covenant,' called, 'the new Teſtament in his blood: becauſe all the promiſes are ſealed therewith, and ſo ' yes and amen in Chriſt:' this is the condition of the now co- venant. The covenant of works had only the active obedi- ence of the firſt Adam for its condition: but the condition of the covenant of grace properly, is both the active and paſſive obedience of the Second Adam, his doing and dy- ing. Now, Lord, have reſpect to that blood that ſealed the covenant ; Since the condition is fulfilled to thy infinite ſatisfaction let the promiſed good be conferred upon me. 3. Have reſpect to the covenant, by having reſpect to the oath of the covenant, Heb. vi. 17. The promiſe is confirmed with the covenant of God;. That by two im- mutable things wherein it is impoſſible for God to lye, we might have ſtrong conſolation, &c.' Now, Lord, wilt thou not have reſpect to thine own oath? Haſt thou not ſworn by thy holineſs, thou wilt not lye unto David ?'
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4. Have reſpect to the covenant, by having a reſpect to the properties of the covenant. This would be a large field; I ſum it up in a few words. Have reſpect to the co- venant; that is, Lord have reſpect to the fulneſs of the co- venant; and let me be ſupplied, for there is enough there; it contains all my ſalvation and all my deſire.' Have re- ſpect to the freedom of the covenant, and let me, however unworthy, ſhare of the grace that runs freely thence. Have reſpect to the ſtability of the covenant, and let me, be pi- tied, though unſtable as water, and infirm, yet the cove- nant ſtands faſt; remember thy word that endures for e- ver.' Have reſpect to the order of the covenant, that is well ordered in all things, as well as ſure. Though my houſe be not ſo with God,' says David, yet he hath made with me an everlaſting covenant, well ordered in all things and ſure.' Though my houſe be out of order, and heart out of order, and my frame out of order, and all be in confuſion with me, yet ſee, according to thy covenant, to order all well. IV. We proceed to ſhew what kind of a reſpect he hath to the covenant, that we may be the more engaged to plead upon it. 1. He hath a great and high reſpect to the covenant. It is the covenant of the great God, with his great and eter- nal Son, for the honour and glory of his great name; and therefore, he cannot but have a great and high reſpect un- to it. His great name is manifeſted in it; and therefore, when we plead his reſpect to the covenant, we plead in effect, ſaying, What wilt shou do for thy great name?' 2. He hath a dear and lovely reſpect to the covenant, for it is the covenant of his grace and love, wherein he ſhews his infinite love to Chriſt, and thro' him to a company of wretched ſinners. It is a covenant of kindneſs, Isa. 54.10. My kindneſs ſhall not depart from thee, neither ſhall the covenant of my peace be removed, faith the Lord, that hath mercy on thee;' intimating, his covenant of peace is a covenant of kindneſs, wherein he manifeſts his deareſt love; therefore he hath a dear reſpect to it. 3. He hath a full reſpect to the covenant, a reſpect to every promiſe, of it they are all yea and amen, to the glory of God,' 2 Cor. 1. 20. He hath a reſpect to all of them becauſe they are all yea and amen, and becauſe they are all thus ratified in Chriſt, to the glory of God.
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He hath reſpect to every article of the covenant, not a jot ſhall fall to the ground. 4. He hath an everlaſting reſpect to the covenant; there- fore it is called an everlaſting covenant,' it is ſecured by an everlaſting righteouſneſs; it is made between everlaſting parties; it is repleniſhed with everlaſting bleſſings; it is rooted in his everlaſting love: therefore he is ever mindful of his covenant, and will never ceaſe to have reſpect to it. Well then, ſay you, what need we pray and plead, that he would have reſpect to his covenant? Why, if it be ſure that he hath, and will for ever have, a reſpect to the cove- nant, then we may pray with the more aſſurance and confi- dence; ſo that there is here ſtrong footing for our prayer: but beſides, when we pray, and fay; Have reſpect unto the covenant,' we ſeek, that he would thew the reſpect that he hath unto it, that he would ſhew and make it ma- nifeſt unto us, that we may have the faith of it, and enjoy the fruits of it, and the bleſſed effects of that reſpect to it in our participation of the bleſſings thereof. V. The next thing was, to ſhew why lie will have re- ſpect to his covenant; and conſequently, whence it is ſuch a ſuitable plea and argument for us. Why, 1. When he hath reſpect to the covenant, he hath reſpect to himſelf; the framer of it he owns himſelf to be, Pſalm 89 3. I have made a covenant with my choſen. Why then the ſtrength of the plea is, ' have reſpect unto the co- venant,' and ſo have reſpect to thyſelf, and thy own glori- ous name and attributes, and let them be glorified, in ſhew- ing regard to the covenant, Have reſpect to thy wiſdom that lines in the contrivance of the covenant, the mani- fold wiſdom of God; yea, the wiſdom of God in a myſte- ry' that here appears. Have reſpect to thy power that ſhines in the efficacy of the covenant, not only for over-power- ing principalities and powers, but overcoming thyſelf, and the power of thine own wrath, by the power of thy love. Have reſpect to thy holineſs, that shines in the holy cash of Jehovah, by which it is confirmed, and the holy obedi- ence of Jeſus, by which it is fulfilled; ſo that, as by the Sinful diſobedience of one many were made ſinners, by the Holy obedience of another Glorious One, many are made righteous.' Have reſpect to thy juſtice, that ſhines in the blood of the covenant, the ſacrifice by which juſtice hath condign and infinite ſatisfaction. Have reſpect to thy
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mercy and grace, that reigns through that righteouſneſs to eternal life. Have reſpect to thy truth and faithfulneſs, that ſhines in accompliſhing all the promiſes of the covenant, upon the ground of Chriſt's having fulfilled the condition. Have reſpect unto thy eternity and immutability, in the unchangeableneſs of the covenant; ſhew that thou art God, and changeſ nor. Thus have reſpect to thyſelf. 2. When he hath reſpect to the covenant, he hath reſpect to his Son, Chriſt, the center of it, and in whom it ſtands ſalt as he owns, Pſal. 89. 28. My covenant ſhall ſtand faſt with him. Why then, the ſtrength of the plea is, have re- ſpect to the covenant,' and ſo ſhew reſpect to thy Son: have reſpect to him in his perſon, as he is thy Son and our Savi- our; Emmanuel, God man; in his divinity, wherein he is equal with God; in his humanity, wherein he is the Ma. fer-piece of God's works. Have reſpect to him in his pur- chaſe, which is the ſubſtance of the covenant bought with his blood. Have reſpect to his death and reſurrection; for thou loveſt him on this account. John 10. 17. Therefore doth the Father love me, becauſe I lay down my life, that I may take it up again;' where we ſee that Chriſt, as dying and riſing in the room of his people, is the object of the Father's love, delight, and eſteem. Have reſpect unto his interceſſion, wherein he prays for all the bleſſings of the covenant that he hath purchaſed : doth not the Father hear him always? Have reſpect to his commiſſion, which is ſealed by thee; for 'him hath God the Father ſealed,' appointed, and au- thorized unto all ſaving offices, relations, and appearances, let him get the glory of all theſe. O ſtrong plea! 3. When he hath reſpect to the covenant, he hath reſpect to his Spirit, the great applier of the covenant-bleſſings, and executor of the Teſtament, ſealed with the blood of Chriſt, and by whom covenant love is ſhed abroad upon the heart, Rom. v. 5. Why then, the ſtrength of the plea is, shave reſpect to the covenant;' that is, have reſpect to thy own Spirit, that he may get the glory of applying by his power, what Chriſt hath purchaſed by his blood. Have reſpect to the Promiſe, of the Spirit that thou haſt made, that when he is come, he ſhall convince the world of sin, righteouſ- neſſ, and judgment,' and teſtify of Chriſt, and glorify Chriſt, by ſhewing the things of Chriſt. Have reſpect to the offices of the Spirit, as he is a convincer, ſanctiſier, and comforter, according to the order and method of the
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covenant. Have reſpect to the honour of the Spirit, who is the all in all of the covenant in point of power, and powerful manifeſtation, communication, and operation. Have reſpect to the relations, of the Spirit, as he is the Spirit of the Father and of the Son, the Spirit of the co- venant, and of all the covenant ſeed. Hence, 4. When he hath reſpect to the covenant, he hath reſpect to his people on the account of the covenant of promiſe ; for they, as Iſaac was, are the children of promiſe,' Gal iv. 28. Why then, the ſtrength of the plea and argument here is Lord,'have reſpect to the covenant,' and ſo ſhew regard and reſpect to us. We have no confidence to claim any reſpect at thy hand, but merely upon the account of the re- ſpect thou haft to thy covenant. Have reſpect to our per- tons on this ground, ſince the covenant provides acceptance in the beloved,' Eph. i. 6. Look upon us in the face of thine anointed, and in the glaſs of the new covenant. Have reſpect to our prayers and performances on this ground, ſince the covenant hath provided much incenſe to perfume the prayers and offerings of all saints, upon the golden als far that is before the throne, Rev. viii. 3. Have reſpect to our tears, when we ſigh and groan, and mourn, and weep before thee, sins the covenant provides a bottle for out tears, Pſalm lvi. 8. Put thou my tears in thy bottle.' Have reſpect to our needs on this ground, when we are hardened, that we can neither pray nor weep, nor ſhed a tear, fine the covenant provides ſupply to the poor and needy, Philip. iv. 19. My God ſhall ſupply all your need, according to his riches, in glory, by Chriſt Jeſus.' VI. I would now proceed to make ſome application of the ſubject in theſe four words. 1. Hence fee a mark and character of true believers, that are sit for a communion table, they are of God's mind; he hath a reſpect to the covenant, and they have a re- ſpect to the covenant; and hence they know what it is to plead with God upon the reſpect that he hath to the co- venant; they could not do ſo, if they had not a high re- ſpect to it themſelves ; they have ſuch a reſpect to the co- venant in kind as God hath. They have a great reſpect to it ſo as they eſteem it more than all things in a world, they would not give one promise of it, on which they have been cauſed to hope for all the gold of Ophir. They have
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a dear and kindly reſpect to it, as all their ſalvation and all their deſire: yea, and all their delight alſo. The word of grace is ſweeter to them than honey and the honey comb.' They have a full and univerſal reſpect to it, and to all the promiſes of it; they reſpect the promiſe of purity as well as the promiſe of pardon: she promiſe of ſalvation from ſin as well, and as much, as the promiſe of ſalvation from hell; the promiſe of holineſs as well as of happineſs. As they have a reſpect to all God's commandments, ſo they have a reſpect to all his promiſes; and particularly as David had his golden Pſalms, ſo they have their golden promiſes that they are made to hing upon. Yea, they have an everlaſting reſpect to the covenant and to the promiſes thereof; even when their frame fails them, when their ſweet enjoyments fail then, yet their reſpect to the covenant remains and their reſpect to the maker of the covenant, to the Mediator of the covenant, to the blood and oath of the covenant, to the Spirit of the covenant, and to the bleſſings and benefits of it. They have an everlaſting reſpect to the grace of the covenant of grace; they are adorers and admirers of free grace. They have an everlaſting reſpect to, and remembe- rance of the words of the covenant, particularly theſe words that have been let in with any life and power upon their ſoul, or that they have been cauſed to hope upon; what- ever they forget, they can never forget ſuch a word that brought life to their souls ; I will never forget thy words, says David : for by them thou haſt quickened me. They have ſuch an everlaſting reſpect to the covenant, that, when they have nothing in the world to trust to; they will rely on the covenant, and confide in ſuch a promiſe, and plead upon it, ſaying, Lord, 'Have reſpect to the covenant.' 2 Hence we may ſee the miſery of theſe that are unbe- lievers, and remain ſtrangers to the covenant of promiſe,' and have no reſpect to the covenant. It is miſery enough, that God hath no reſpect to you: no reſpect to your per- sons nor prayers, as it is ſaid, To Cain and his offering God had no reſpect,' Gen. iv. 5. So God hath no reſpect either to your perſons or performances ; they are an abo- mination to him. Your prayers to him are but like the howl- ing of a dog, if you have never taken hold of his covenant, nor ſeen the reſpect that God hath to the covenant You have no reſpect to God, while you have no reſpect to that which he reſpects ſo highly. And as he hath no reſpect to
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your perſons or performances, he hath no reſpect to your tears; they never flowed from faith's views of a pierced Chriſt. He hath no reſpect to your ſouls, the redemption therefore ceaseth for ever,' becauſe you have no due re- ſpect to the Redeemer's blood and righteouſneſs. He hath no respect to your communicating; nay he diſapproves, of it, and diſcharges you to fit down at his table, on peril of eating and drinking your damnation. God hath no re- gard nor reſpect to your ſalvation, becauſe you have no re- gard nor reſpect to the Saviour he hath provided and of- fered. God thinks as little to damn you, as you think little to diſhonour him. God thinks as little of you, as you think little of sin, and he hath as little reſpect to you, as you have to Chriſt and to the covenant. Wo to you, if you remain in this caſe, for the day is coming wherein God will, be- ſore all the world, ſhew no more reſpect to you, than to say to you, 'Depart from me ye curſed, into everlaſting fire, prepared for the Devil and his angels!' But, 3. Hence we may ſee the happineſs of believers, that have ſuch a reſpect to the covenant, as I was ſpeaking of, a great, dear, full, and perpetual reſpect to it, and the Me- diator of it, who have taken hold of the covenant thro' grace, and know what it is to take hold of God in the co- venant, to take hold of God in a promiſe, and to hold him by his word, and rely upon him in it, ſaying, Lord, Have reſpect to the covenant;' here is your great happineſs, God hath reſpect to you: what reſpect? Even to your per- sons and offerings, as it is ſaid of Abel, Gen.iv. 4. God bad a reſpect to him and to his offering. Tho' you be ſaying in your heart, oh! how can he have a reſpect to me, black and vile, and guilty me? Why ? not for your sake indeed, be it known unto you, but for his covenant's sake, and his name's ſake. He hath a reſpect to your praying, and praiſ- ing, and communicating ; becauſe he hath a reſpect to the covenant. He hath a reſpect to your name; tho' the name of the wicked ſhall rot, your name shall be in everlaſting remembrance;' for God hath put his name; in you; ſome- thing of Christ in you, ſomething of the covenant in you. Some obſerve, when Abram's name was turned to Abraham, there was ſome of the letters of the name Jehovah put in Abram's name. Indeed, God gives the believer a new name, that he hath a reſpect unto, he hath a reſpect to your ſuits and ſupplications; "I have heard Ephraim bemoaning
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himſelf. O my dove, that art in the cleft of the rock, in the ſecret places of the stairs; let me bear thy voice; let me ſee thy countenance, for ſweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.' He hath a reſpect to his doves, when pouring out of their heart before him; that voice that the world laughs at, God hath a reſpect to it. He hath a reſpect to your blood, precious in his fight is the blood of his saints. He hath a reſpect to your ſouls; and hence he gave his blood to be a ranſom for them, and when your ſouls languiſh, he sends his Spirit to reſtore them, and when you die, he will find his angels to bring them to heaven. He hath a reſpect to your bodies; you ought, being bought with a price, to glorify him in your souls and bodies, which are his. When your body goes to the duſt, he will take care of that duſt, and loſe nothing of you, but raiſe you up at the laſt day, and make your vile bodies like unto his glorious body; and ſo ſhall ye ever be with the Lord. He hath a reſpect to you, ſuch a reſpect that he puts honour upon you, 'Since thou waſ precious in my fight, thou haft been ho- nourable.' He hath made you kings and prieſts to your God Jacob was crowned a prince on the field of battle, the field of prayer, when he wreſtled with the angel and prevailed, as a prince. The poor wreſtling man is a prince, and the poor wreſtling woman a princeſs, in God's sight: This is the honour of all the saints. They have power with God, and therefore no wonder that they have 'power over the nations, to rule them with a rod of iron', 'they judge and torment them that dwell upon the earth, even here; and 'know you not that hereafter the saints ſhall judge the world?' God hath a reſpect to you, and he will ſhew is in due time becauſe be hath a reſpect to the covenant and billed your heart with reſpect to it alſo. 4. Hence ſee the duty incimbent upon us in pleading with God for his favour, prefernce, and blessing: let us go to him both in ſecret prayer, and in clean approaches to his table, crying Lord, 'have reſpect to thy covenant. I know not a caſe you can be in but the covenant exhibits a cure, and you are allowed to plead it, Ezek. xxxiv. 27. After many precious new covenant prom les, it is ſaid, For this will I be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them,' and how are we to enquire, but by pleasing the reſpect he hath to the covenant? Have you a polluted heart, with the filth of ſin; a polluted conſcience, with the guilt of ſin?
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Why, here is an article of the covenant: 'I will ſprinkle clean water upon you, and ye ſhall be clean, from all your filthineſs, and from all your idols will I cleanſe you.' ver. 25. O then, go to God for cleanſing, and plead, ſaving. O Lord, 'Have reſpect to the covenant.' Have you the old hard ſtony heart ſtill within you, and would you have it re- newed and ſoftened? Here is an article of the covenant. A new heart will I give you, and a new ſpirit will I put with in you: I will take away the Stony heart out of and I will give you an heart of fleſh.' O then, go to God, and plead it ſaying, Have reſpect to the covenant. Are you deſtitute of the Spirit ; ſenſual, not having the Spirit? Do you find ſuch a want of the Spirit, that you cannot walk in God's way? Well, there is an article of the cove- nant here, ver. 27. 'I will put my Spirit within you, and cauſe you to walk in my ſtatutes.' O plead for this great bleſſing, and ſay, Lord, Have reſpect to the covenant.' In a word, when you conſider what kind of a ſinner you are, conſider alſo what kind of a covenant this is; it is e- nough to ſay, that it is a covenant of grace, of all ſort of grace; for all ſorts of ſinners that are out of hell. Are you. under dreadful guile? Here is a covenant of pardoning grace, I will blot out thy ſin as a cloud and thy tranſgreſſion as a thick cloud : return to me for I have redeemed thee,' Isa. xliv. 22. O then plead he may have reſpect to the cove- nant.' Are you under fearful pollutions? O here is a covenant of purifying grace, ſaying, "There is a fountain opened to the houſe of David and the inhabitants of Jeru- ſalem for an and for uncleanneſs.' O then plead be may have reſpect to the covenant. Are you in darkneſs and ig- norance, having no knowledge of God? O here is cove- nant or enlightning grace, ſaying, “They ſhall be all taught of God.' O then plead it, ſaying, Lord. Have reſpect to the covenant.' Are you under deadneſs, and like dead and dry bones? O here is covenant of quickening grace, ſay- ing, I am come to give life, and to give more abundant- Iv. The hour cometh when the dead ſhall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear ſhall live,' O then, plead that he may have reſpect to the covenant. Are you in confuſion, and know not what way to take? O here is a covenant of directing grace, ſaying, I will bring the blind by a way they know not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known; I will make darkneſs light be
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fore them, and crooked things ſtraight. Are you under fad plagues and ſoul diſeaſes, over-run with sores, from the crown of the head to the ſole of the foot ? O here is a co- venant of healing grace, ſaying, “The Sun of Righteouſ- neſs ſhall ariſe with healing in his wings. I am the Lord that healeth thee; I will heal your backſlidings." O then, plead, ſaying, Lord, 'Have reſpect to the covenant. Are you in extreme danger of hell and damnation, becauſe of your sin and guilt? O here is a covenant of delivering grace, ſaying, Deliver his foul from going down to the pit, for I have found a ranſom. O then plead it, and ſay, Lord, Have reſpect to the covenant Are you in bond- age unto sin, Satan, and the world, a captive unto luſts, and ſhut up in unbelief as in a priſon? O here is a cove- nant of liberating grace ! proclaiming liberty to the cap- tives, and the opening of the priſon to them that are Bound.' Are you a ſtupid ſoul that cannot move toward God, nor ſtir heaven-ward, by reaſon of a backward will like a brazen gate that reſiſts all the force of moving means? Well, but, O! here is a covenant of drawing grace, ſaying, "When I am lifted up, I will draw all men after me.' As the power and virtue of the load ſtone draws iron, ſo the virtue of an exalted Chriſt draws the iron bar of the will. Thy people ſhall be willing in the day of thy power,' then, plead it, ſaying, Lord, ' Have reſpect to the covenant. What other concerns have you?- Are you concerned for your children, that they may be partakers of covenant bleſſings, and ſaved of the Lord ? o here is a covenant of extenſive grace intailing bleſſings on us and our offspring, ſaying, I will be thy God, and the God of thy seed.' O then, look to God in behalf of your children, ſaying, Lord, Have reſpect to the covenant. Are you concern- ed for the church, and the dangerous circumſtances ſhe is into by reaſon of cruel enemies? This ſeems to be the great concern of the pſalmiſt here, as appears from the body of the pſalm, and the words following the text: For the dark places of the earth are full of the habita- tions of cruelty. There that live in darkneſs of igno- rance and error, and in the works of darkneſs, are full of cruelty againſt the church and people of God, and they are ſurrounded with them, inſomuch that the church is like a lily among thorns,' or a ſheep among wolves,'
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what ſhall become of it? Why, here is a covenant of de- fence, and of defending and protecting grace, ſaying, 'Upon all the glory there ſhall be a defence;' therefore even when enemies, break down the carved work with axes and hammers.' ver. 7. When they are ſaying, 'Let us deſtroy them together,' ver. 8. Yea, when it ſhall come to this, that a bloody ſword, that is raging abroad, ſhall come over to us, and that foreign domeſtic enemies, or both, ſhall devour and deſtroy, and may be burn up all the ſynagogues of God in the land,' as it is, ver. 8. And when we ſhall not ſee our ſigns, and there is no more any prophet, nor any among us that know the time how long,' ver. 9. In all ſuch caſes, what courſe ſhall we take but that of the Pſalmiſt here? Lord, Have reſpect to the covenant.' Are you concerned about inward enemies, ſpiritual ene- mies, and moleſted with the powers of darkneſs? Is your heart full of the habitations of cruelty, and fearfully in- habited with cruel devils, cruel luſts, cruel corruptions that maſter and conquer, and prevail againſt you ſo as you may ly many a time wounded and dead at the enemy's feet? O here is a covenant of fin conquering grace, not only a covenant of mercy to your ſoul, but of vengeance to your luſts, ſaying, 'The day of vengeance is in mine. heart, the year of my redeemed is come,' Isa. Ixiii. 4. O then cry down the promiſed vengeance on all your cruel ſoul enemies, ſaying, Lord, 'Have reſpect to the co- venant. Are you concerned about your ſoul poverty and indi- gency, not only oppreſſed with enemies without, and with- in, but alſo oppreſſed with wants and neceſſities, being abſolutely poor and needy deſtitute of all good? O here is a covenant of soul ſupplying grace, and of all needful proviſion, ſaying,. When the poor and needy ſeek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirſt, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Jacob will not for- sake them; I will pour water upon him that is thirſty, and floods upon the dry ground,' then, plead the covenant as the Pſalmiſt here in the following verſe, 'O let not the oppreſſed return aſhamed, let the poor and needy praiſe thy name. Have reſpect unto the covenant.' In a word let your caſe be the worſt out of hell this co- venant contains all ſalvation as a covenant of grace, of
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all grace, of ail ſort of cures for all ſort of caſes; and if you can get yourſelf wrapt within the bond of this cove- nant by believing and pleading it; then you draw God up- on your intereſt, ſo that your concern is his concern your intereſt is his intereſt, your cauſe is his cauſe' as the Pſalmiſt ſhews here. ver. 22. Ariſe, O God, plead thine own cauſe.' Stand ever upon his honour, and he will do his own work in his own time. If ever you got grace to draw a bill upon God as a covenanting, promiſing God in Chriſt, and have any bills lying tabled before the throne, and are ſometimes unable to plead and purſue the bill, with, Lord, Have reſpect into the covenant, you have the Strangest encouragement to wait on him and expect his unswering the bill in due time; for he will rather work mar- vellouſly, and create new worlds, rather turn all things to nothing than quit his concern in, or give up with his re- ſpect unto the covenant. Are you concerned for the advancement of the kingdom of Chriſt in the earth as you ought to be? Here is a co- venant of grace to the Jews, and grace to the Gentile: ; grace to the Heathen nations, ſaying, "I will give thee the Heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth are thy poſſeſſion. Are you concerned about gene- rations to come, about the rising generation, when there is little hope of the preſent? O! here is a covenant of grace to ſucceeding generations till the end of the world, I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations; there- fore ſhall the people praiſe thee for ever and ever.' Are you-concerned about your latter end, and how it halt fare with you when in the ſwellings of Jordan; how you will fight the battle? O here is a covenant of death conquering grace, ſaying, 'Death ſhall be ſwallowed up in victory: of death, I will be thy plague ; O grave, I will be thy deſtruction. Are you concerned about a goſpel. miniſtry, and thoughtful whether it ſhall be continued ? There is many a word in this covenant about it; but cſpe- cially that, Chriſt is exalted to maintain and ſupport a gospel diſpenſation to the end of the world, Mat. xxviii. 20. Whatever ſpot of the earth he chuſe or refuſe, he hav- ing aſcended on high bath received gifts for men, yea, for the rebellious alſo, that the Lord God might dwell a- mong them,' Pſalm lxxviii. 18.
F I NI S.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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