Page:Faith's plea upon God's covenant (5).pdf/21

Rh here is a covenant of liberating grace! 'proclaiming liberty to the captives, 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 loadſtone 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 entailing 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 concerned for the church, and the dangerous circumſtances ſhe is in 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 habitations of cruelty.' Theſe that live in the darkneſs of ignorance 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,' what ſhall become of her? Why, here is a covenant of defence, and of defending and protecting grace, ſaying, 'Upon all the glory there