the shadow of death. Farewell, empty, polluted world, welcome the immediate presence of my covenant God; I am going from a prison to a palace, from sorrow to solace, from sin to the sweet enjoyment of God; and the only foundation of my hopes is this gospel covenant. A poor dying miser, ready to breathe out his unhappy soul, got a Jacobus piece of gold, and clapped it to his breast saying, "I will die with this cordial at my heart;" but at last plucked it away saying, “it will not do, alas it will not do." No; gold itself is no cordial, it cannot disarm death, nor arm against it, it loses its virtue; nothing but God's covenant will stand in stead; the dying child of God is like the standardbearer, who when the battle was lost, wrapped himself in his colours and therein was safe, he marches boldly through armies of enemies, uninjured into his father's palace. O happy soul that enjoys and improves this covenant!

The context tells us, that these are the last words of David, not absolutely as though he breathed his last, after he had uttered them (for there were several expressions and transactions after) but comparatively, they were uttered towards the latter end of David's life. Now the dying words of pious men are gracious, serious, and ponderous; they use not to spend their breath about trifles.

In the context, we have, the introduction, and the excellency of the gospel covenant.

First, In the introduction we have the penman, instrument, or amanuensis, who spoke these words, David; and the Author who dictated them.

1. The penman or instrument, David, is described by his natural descent, "the son of Jesse;" his royal dignity, "raised up on high;" his divine unction, "anointed of God;" his employment or exercise, “sweet

Psalmist of Israel," whose breath is sweet to this day.

2. The Author that dictated to David: The Holy Ghost, "Spirit spake by me; God the Father, "the God of Israel;" Jesus Christ, the mediator of the covenant, called here "the rock of Israel," as he is called, 1 Cor. x. 4.

Secondly, In the expressions which David employs, there are also two things considerable: the nature of David's government, and the excellency of the cove

nant.

1. The former which unfolds to us the nature and properties of David's kingdom, as the type, and of Christ's as the antitype, contains four particulars.

(1.) The holiness of it, "he that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God;" a fine cha

racter.

(2.) The happiness of it, "he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, a morning without clouds."

(3.) The increase of it, “as the tender grass springing out of the earth, by clear shining after rain."

(4.) Here is an uncomfortable exception with reference to David's family and kingdom, in these words, "Although my house be not so with God."

2. Here is an excellent description of the nature, properties, and suitableness of the gospel covenant, in these four particulars: The durableness of it, "everlasting;" the order of it, " ordered in all things;" the sureness, or certainty of it; and its suitableness to David's circumstances with respect to his present desires in this world, and his eternal salvation hereafter.

You see the text is a full storehouse, a rich treasury, a blessed magazine, whence we may fetch both meat

and medicine, work and reward, all things that concern grace and glory.

The text then presents to us David's case and his cure. His case is presented negatively, “Although my house be not so with God." And his cure positively, which is "the covenant," that is a balm for every wound, a remedy for every disease, a supply for every

want.

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I am not ignorant, that some give the words a different sense, in this manner, Although my house be not so with God," that is, my house is not such an unstable, inconstant thing, to alter and change as the weather, from a glorious sunshine morning, to a dark, cloudy, gloomy evening, so as to prove a stormy, rainy day; no, no, my house and family is fixed, settled, splendid, and complete, if not in my outward affairs at present, yet in the Messiah to come out of my loins in the fulness of time; his kingdom will appear, and shine most gloriously, and break in pieces all other kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever; so we read, Dan. ii. 44.

But though that be a great truth, I am apt to incline to those interpreters, that take this as a concession, concerning the defects and imperfection of piety and tranquillity in David's family, as if he had said, I must needs confess, that neither I nor my children have lived so exactly, or ruled so uprightly in the fear of God as we ought; we have had our faults and folly, which have clouded our consciences and reputation, and therefore we have not enjoyed such uninterrupted prosperity as we might, had we walked more closely and circumspectly, and therefore sad clouds and storms have darkened and disturbed our heaven, yea oft benighted our state, domestic, political, and ecclesiastical, as well as personal; my children have not been like tender grass, springing up to maturity, but some of

them cut off in the prime of their days; I have been banished from my throne and family, not suffered to build God a house, nor abide in his sanctuary, my wounded spirit hath sighed out many heavy groans, God hath oft withdrawn his grace, hid his face, and left my soul on the brink of despair; yet for all this I can, when most depressed cast my eye upon the gospel covenant, and fetch relief from that in my lowest state, inward or outward.

Many inferences may be drawn from this important passage of scripture.

1. That it is a singular mercy to be entrusted with a family. This is implied and owned by David, 1 Chron. xvii. 16-25. God, setteth the solitary in families, Psal. lxviii. 6.

2. Householders must regard the state of their families. So doth David here, and Psalm ci. 2, 3; he had a large family, and had state affairs on his hands, yet he prays with his family, 2 Sam. vi. 20, and puts it not off to stewards or chaplains; see Prov. xxvii. 23.

3. A religious family is to be with God. "Although my house be not so with God," he earnestly desires all the members of his family might be with God, and laments the contrary, for the Lord is with them that are with him, 2 Chron. xv. 2.

4. The best families have their defects and imperfections. David's family for all his care, may be far from the rule, not only as to individual members, but as to the complex body of a family; there were disorders even in Christ's own family.

5. Family faults bring family calamities, family defects produce family afflictions. God will not spare offending families, though dear to him, nay, they shall smart soonest and sorest, Amos iii. 2, "You only have

I known of all the families of the earth, therefore I will punish you."

6. Family miscarriages do greatly trouble gracious householders. He speaks of it with painful feelings. O what bitterness is it to a godly father or master, to find disorders in such as are under his charge!

7. The covenant of grace is extensive and comprehensive. Pious persons have much comfort and content from it, with reference not only to themselves, but their houses and families.

8. The covenant of grace is everlasting. It is from all eternity, being connected with the covenant of redemption, betwixt the Father and Son, Tit. i. 1, 2; and endures for ever, Psal. cxi. 9.

9. There is a beautiful and admirable order in the gospel covenant. An order of persons, in the Father's election, the Son's redemption, the Holy Ghost's application, and the believer's reception. An order of things; supreme, and subordinate causes; means, instruments, promises, privileges, principles, and practices; all keep their places, they do not interfere or thwart one another.

10. The gospel covenant is sure and stable. Things are not left at uncertainties, nor do they depend on the mutable will of man, as of old it was with Adam; but they are the sure mercies of David, Isa. lv. 3, and liv. 9, 10.

11. There is that in the covenant which answers a Christian's desires. As the Christian's desire is mainly carried towards it, so there is that in it which answers and satisfies those desires; desires are vast and immense, but the blessings of the covenant run parallel, and are every way adequate to just desires.

12. A Christian's salvation is wrapt up in the gospel covenant. Upon this may a child of God venture