things, properly attended to, would in a great mea sure cure the timorousness and turbulency of our tempers, by exciting in us a cheerful confidence that all things were well ordered: we should be careful for nothing, but in every thing, by prayer and sup. plication, with thanksgiving, should make our requests known unto God; and in whatsoever state we were, should be therewith content.

13. The covenant is "sure"

Giving the greatest security to those who are entered into it that they shall not be finally disappointed. In the first covenant, there were blessings promised which were never bestowed: not, however, from any failure or change in God-no, surely'; the Lord was never slack concerning his promises; -but man proved false and disobedient, and so forfeited the blessings which God had otherwise iutended and engaged to give. But nothing of this can happen in this new and better covenant. Whatever God hath promised, his people shall as-` suredly receive. Sooner shall heaven and earth pass away, than the least tittle of God's word shall pass unfulfilled. "The mountains may depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord, that hath mercy on thee." (Isaiah liv. 10.) For men verily swear by the greater; and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife: wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath; that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold

on the hope set before us; which hope we have as an anchor to the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the vail." (Heb. vi. 16-19.) A promise confirmed by an oath, is the highest security that can be given by one man to another and yet even this doth not put the matter beyond all doubt, or possibility of failure; for "men of high degree are vanity, and men of low degree are a lie," and there is no dependance upon any of them: but, "let God be true, though all men are liars." When God condescends to swear to any thing, the performance is certain: he could as soon cease to be, as go from his word. "Every good and perfect gift cometh down from above, from the Father of lights, in whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." (James i. 17.) Yea, and as if this were not enough, he hath appointed his own eternal Son a surety of this covenant, and to become bound for the performance of the promises: and we know that he is" the Amen, the faithful and true Witness;" "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever."

"Why art thou cast down then, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance and my God." Once I thought "my mountain stood strong, and could never be moved; but, alas! it hath been terribly shakeng and the pillars on which my worldly hopes were built are most of them mouldered away. neverthe less," the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his." David rested his soul here, and set it in the balance

against all his troubles. This blessed covenant is indeed a rich storehouse of promises, a repository of the choicest cordials, suitable to all conditions, applicable at all times, and of universal and neverfailing efficacy.-But this brings us to the next general: viz.

II. That a personal interest in the covenant of grace is a sure relief under the greatest family troubles.

It is a fact too common to be concealed, that family afflictions are among the trials which some of the best and dearest of God's people have been exercised with. David was one that looked well to the state of his household; and resolved to walk before them with a perfect beart, and to discountenance and put away all that walked disorderly: and yet his house was not so with God as might be desired and expected; neither so faultless, nor so flourishing. Those who are most conscientious and exemplary, cannot always promise themselves domestic felicity. Something or other will be perpetually happening to draw tears from their eyes, and give pangs to their hearts. Will you allow me to hint at two or three of those things, which pa rents, and heads of houses, do most frequently and most bitterly lament?

J. Offences against God.

Who can shut the door so close as to keep out sinor, when once admitted, prevent its sometimes breaking out, to the dishonour of God and the disturbance and disgrace of the family? David, with all his prudence and piety, unhappily failed here. He had the mortification to have an incestuous Amnon, a rebellious Absalom, a proud and muti,

nous Adonijah, belonging to his house; which no doubt made him many a night to water his couch with his tears." But he could not lay all the blame upon his children: he himself was guilty of crimes as black as any of them. Instances are lamentably frequent of the violation of relative duties by parents, as well as children, in families professedly religious. I was going to mention Noah, Lot, Aaron, Eli, as fearful examples of it: but, alas! we need not go so far back: we are compassed about with a cloud of witnesses; and it is a common thing to hear pious heads of families, in the anguish of their spirits, crying out, Oh that ever God should be dishonoured in my house! that ever any belonging to me should prove enemies to God! that there should be any sin; especially that there should be so much sin, under this roof, where, considering our obligations and our profession, nothing should be seen among us but holiness and praise! Woe is me; I am afraid the Lord will write " Ichabod" over my door, and give me an awful and a speedy proof that" the glory is departed," and that he hath deserted the house where he hath been so grossly offended.

- A heavy trial this, no doubt; but, still, a wellordered covenant is a sure relief under a disordered family. With respect to his own sins, there is no room for hesitation: what can be more express than that declaration in Jeremiah (xxxi. 34), " I will forgive their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more?" And with respect to the sins of others, that text in Ezekiel (xviii. 20,) gives no small encouragement: "The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity

of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him." Where heads of families are accessary to the sin, they are more especially called to humiliation and penitence; but, still, if they are interested in the covenant, they have this consolation, and great consolation it is, that they shall not finally perish; though for the present they may be justly and severely punished: "And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord: and Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die: Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die." (2 Sam. xii. 13, 14.)

2. Afflictive providences.

That was a dreadful threatening: "Now, therefore, the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife." (2 Sam. xii. 10.) Dismal tidings! But David found them true. Nor was he singular in his sufferings: God doth frequently follow the houses of his covenanted people with a train of temporal calamities. He cuts off one branch after another, till there is hardly any sething to be seen but death and desolation. As in Job's case; from being surrounded with a numerTous, flourishing family, how suddenly was he reduPriced to a most deplorable solitude!-And yet, even as to those afflictive strokes, there is full relief in the covenant of grace; as it informs us that such trials are consistent with the love of God, and that our truest and best interest is safe, above the reach of any