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And religion continued to flourish for fome time after his death. Both his doctrine and example were fucceeded with the divine bleffing: And religion brought to as flourishing a condition as at any time before the miniftry of the Baptift. There was not only much religion among thofe whom Mofes trained up by his ministry, which continued all the days of Jolhua; but it allo retained its vigour all the days of thofe Elders who were his cotemporaries: "The people ferved the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the Elders that outlived Joshua."

4. As all divine fervice is founded on the nature of God; fo a fpecial confideration of his infinite perfections is greatly requifite unto the right performance of obedience. The ho linefs of God marks the nature of our fervice: The jealoufy of God excludes every, the fmalleft, degree of hypocrify from it: The rectoral juftice of God fets his intereft and that of his rivals at eternal odds; fo that none may dream of uniting them with impunity. The mercy of God encourages the miferable to approach him; and the divine plan of atonement opens a door of accefs unto the guilty. On the other hand, a great part of the corruption which creeps into the worship of God originates in miftaken notions of divine perfections, or inattention unto them. Defection and apoflacy

ufually

ufually begins in imagining God to be fuch a one as ourselves; then it is not difficult to imagine that he will approve of what we execute or devife. Perfons giving fcope to their own inventions, in the worship of God, are usually mightily pleased with them; and they conclude, that God cannot be difpleafed with these things which are fo pleafing to themfelves. At any rate, if persons do not change the glory of the incorruptible God into their own likenefs; it is neceffary for them to hide various divine perfections from their view, if they continue in rebellion against him; fuch as his jealoufy, his holiness, his faithfulness and truth, as well as his righteoufnefs and juftice. Nor are finners more difpofed, by nature, to truft his mercy, for their encouragement, than to contemplate his majefty for their awakening.

DISSER

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and 1 Chron. xvii. 7-27.

DILIGENT attendance unto the peculiar circumftances of the Jewish Church is greatly requifite unto the right understanding of this Transaction. I fhall,-I. Confider the glorious Party to whom they engaged.—II. Attend unto the Character of the Party engaging. III. The Covenant between God and David. IV. The Connection between this Covenant and that Tranfaction.-V. David's Miniftration in this Tranfaction.-VI. The Matter of this Covenant.-VII. The Occafions of it.-VIII. The Confirmations of it.-And then deduce a few Inferences from the whole.

FIRST, I fhall confider the glorious PARTY unto whom the covenanters engaged in this Tranfaction. He is denominated, "Our God," and "the Lord your God." When Ifrael covenanted with God, in the days of Mofes, he is ftyled, "the Lord God of Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob;" nor was that character forgotten on this occafion: Said David, "O Lord God of Abraham, Ifaac, and Ifrael, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of this people, and prepare their heart unto thee*. This was an intimation, not obfcure, that he was a God in covenant with them previous unto their perfonal engagements unto him: That he was still accomplishing his promife made unto thefe patriarchs; faying, "I will be a God unto thee, and to thy feed after thee." It must be obferved, however, that he ftood in the relation of GOD UNTO THAT CONGREGATION, when they covenanted with him at this time. The covenant between God and Ifrael as a congregation, being later than that between him and the patriarchs. The Spirit of God directed David to take up with that character which belonged unto the latest tranfaction, to flew that the Church fhould take up with the latest state of that teftimony which belongs unto her; and profecute the ends of it in her covenantengagements.

* 1 Chron. xxviii. 8. compared with chap. xxix. 18. SECONDLY,

SECONDLY, The various claffes of covenanters are enumerated in the beginning of the chapter*. The reafon why the officers of state are enumerated is, becaufe they were affembled to fettle the fucceffion unto the throne and kingdom, as well as to renew their covenant with God: But it was under the exprefs confideration of their being the CONG REGATION OF THE LORD, that they covenanted at this time; they were the Congregation of the Lord, as they enjoyed privileges peculiar to his people,—as they obferved ordinances of his appointment, and were under folemn obligations to ferve him all the days of their life.

THIRDLY, I fhall attend unto the Cov ENANT between GoD and DAVID. There are many hints concerning it in various places of Scripture. The greater part of the difficulties which attend it may be obviated by anfwering the following questions :-What Character did David fuftain in this Tranfaction?--

* Chron. xxviii. 1. See what we have faid above, Differt. VI. and VII. as to thefe various orders of perfons fpecified; but Mofes feems to view them in their civil, and this hiftorian in their military character. See upon the whole, LowMAN on the Civil Government of the Hebrews, chap. v.

+ 2 Sam. vii. 4-29. 1 Chron. xvii. 3-27. Pfal. lxxxix. &c. See, for an explication of thefe, Ball on the Covenant of Grace, chap. ix. Dr Owen on Heb. i. 5.

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