FOURTHLY, I fhall now attend unto the CONNECTION between God's Covenant with David and that between God and Ifrael. And it is evident that the covenant between God and Ifrael was founded on the Davidic one.

1. As David was confidered as a public perfon, when the fe promifes were made to him; and, as in right he might, fo, in fact, he did underftand them as a confirmation and renova

tion

they, it is granted covenanting was practifed under the firft Teftament; but then it was a typical covenant, refpecting temporal and earthly privileges. Wherefore, promifcs, precepts, or examples, taken from that teftament have no force in the Gofpel Church. But who granted them, that all the promifes, and precepts of the Old Testament were typical? Or have they proved that they are? David, as fome think, was the greatest type: In this covenant made with him there were certainly many things typical; but by what canon of common fenfe, Logic, Theology, or Criticifm does it appear, that all things in it were typical? Surely David understood it quite otherways: Said he, "He hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and fure; for this is all my falvation, and all my defire."

2. That true defires to advance the work of God in his Church, are evidences of perfons being in the way to profperity. David greatly defired to build God's houfe: God affares him, that he must first build David's houfe. David preferred the building of God's houfe unto his own accommodation; but the returned captives the reverfe. The latter were fharply reproved; the former was applauded and rewarded: Said God to them, "Is it time for ye, O ye, to dwell in ceiled houfes, and this houfe to ly wafte? Ye looked for much, and lo it came to little and when ye brought it home I did blow upon it. Why, faith the Lord of hofts? Becaufe of mine

houfe

nal word, and according to thine own heart, haft thou done all thefe great things.

2. THE promises of this covenant were made once, if not oftener, to David himself, by the infpiration of the Holy Ghoft. This is evident from his ufing the prophetic ftyle. But the word of the Lord came unto me faying, &c.

IV. How was this covenant confirmed?

1. By the reiteration of the promises of it. Every renovation of the promifes were a ratification of the foregoing ones. The repetition

of them to himfelf was a folemn confirmation of what had been announced to Nathan.

2. By the oath of God, as is often declared. The divine example is worthy both of his and our imitation.

3. THEY were ratified by a partial accomplishment of them to David and his feed, which was a pledge of the full accomplishment of them in due time *.

FOURTHLY,

From this fubject we may learn,-1. The abfurdity of imagining there can be nothing fpiritual in covenants really typical. The greater part of the Glafite reafoning against the duty of Covenanting in the times of the New Teftament, proceed upon this principle. Say

they,

them, as the foundation of their access to God in this duty. There were no new promifes made to them at this time; but only a repetition of the Davidic ones, with fuch others as fuited their peculiar circumstances: "And he faid unto me, Solomon, thy fon, he fhall build my house, and my courts: for I have chofen him to be my Son, and I will be his father. Moreover, I will establish his kingdom for ever. -Now, therefore, in the fight of all Ifrael, the congregation, and in the audience of our God," &c. Now, THEREFORE; that is, because of all these promifes, ye are bound, by ties of gratitude, to keep all God's command

ments.

FIFTHLY, I fhall next confider the MINISTRY OF DAVID in this Tranfaction; and it was a prophetic adminiftration. It is not to be doubted but David gave fome proofs of royalty on this occafion: For the congregation was affembled for the purpofe of fettling the fucceffion to the crown, as well as for entering into a religious covenant with God. But even in this declaration, refpecting the kingdom, he acted the prophet rather than the prince ;— unvailing the purpose of heaven in setting all his fons afide from the throne, except Solomon: "GOD SAID unto me, Thou shalt not build me an houfe," &c. "And he SAID UNTO ME, Solomon thy fon, he fhall build my houfe,"

tion of former covenants: "For thou haft CONFIRMED to thyfelf thy people Ifrael, to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, Lord, art become their God. And now, O Lord God, the word which thou haft fpoken concerning thy fervant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou haft faid*." It was ufual, in God's difpenfations with fallen men, to give out promifes unto fome illuftrious perfon, as a head; fuch as Abraham, David, &c. This method of revelation was a representation of the making of the Covenant of Grace with its ftill more illuftrious head,-thefe perfons being figures of him who was to come.- That David confidered thefe promises as a renovation of former covenants is evident from the language he ufed, in which he not only refers unto the words of one of them t; but alfo mentions the RATIFICATION of it.

2. THESE promifes were alfo announced to Ifrael, when this covenant was difpenfed unto

house that is wafte, and ye ran every man to his own houfe."3. God fometimes approves of the intentions of his people, and rewards them, when he does not approve of the prefent execution of them; nor permits them to be fulfilled in the circumstances intended. David was rewarded for his intention to build an house for the name of the Lord, while the building must be referved for Solomon.

* 2 Sam. vii. 24, 25.

See Differt. VI. on Deut xxix. 10-15. Where the phrafes are explained which are ufed by David.

them,

them, as the foundation of their access to God in this duty. There were no new promifes made to them at this time; but only a repetition of the Davidic ones, with fuch others as fuited their peculiar circumstances: "And he faid unto me, Solomon, thy fon, he fhall build my house, and my courts: for I have chofen. him to be my Son, and I will be his father. Moreover, I will establish his kingdom for ever. -Now, therefore, in the fight of all Ifrael, the congregation, and in the audience of our God," &c. Now, THEREFORE; that is, because of all thefe promifes, ye are bound, by ties of gratitude, to keep all God's command

ments.

FIFTHLY, I fhall next confider the MINISTRY OF DAVID in this Tranfaction; and it was a prophetic adminiftration. It is not to be doubted but David gave fome proofs of royalty on this occafion: For the congregation was affembled for the purpofe of fettling the fucceffion to the crown, as well as for entering into a religious covenant with God. But even in this declaration, refpecting the kingdom, he acted the prophet rather than the prince ;unvailing the purpofe of heaven in fetting all his fons afide from the throne, except Solomon: "GOD SAID unto me, Thou shalt not build me an houfe," &c. "And he SAID UNTO ME, Solomon thy fon, he fhall build my houfe,"