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4. IT was referved for David to complete the conqueft of Canaan; and to caufe Ifrael make various advances in reformation, fuperior to those which obtained in the days of the Judges. The greater part of the Judges appear to have been good men, as well as great generals; but ftill there were many palpable defects in the public ftate of religion under fome of the beft of them. The ark had been removed from Shiloh to the field of battle, juft before the death of Eli. It was taken by the Philistines; and, although they sent it back into the land of Ifrael, it does not appear that ever it was replaced all the days of Samucl and Saul. Thus the worship of the tabernacle was deranged, being deprived of its centre: but David had not only prepared a place for the ark; but alfo brought it up to the place which he had fitted up for it. He had alfo fettled the fervice of the Priefts, Levites, Porters, and Singers, in certain courfes; which continued, in fome measure, until the days of the Meffiah. The most effential fervice, however, which he did unto the Church was, his writing the greater part of the book of Pfalms; and appointing them to be used both in the public and private praifes of the Church of God, which practice has been continued even unto this time. Much about the fame time, to the five books of Mofes were added both the books of Samuel, and that of Ruth; as the book of Judges had been, probably, fome short

time before. Now, as thefe pieces of reformation had been attained under the ministry of David, as a prophet; and under his aufpices, as a king; fo it was proper for the congregation of Ifrael to feck them out; and, having found them, TO KEEP them continually, as was expreffed in the article of the covenant.

5. DAVID and the congregation of Ifracl were about to dedicate part of their fubftance unto the Lord. Now, it was fit, that the dedication of their perfons fhould precede that of their fubftance. It did fo in the Macedonian church: "Their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality: For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power, they were willing of themselves; praying us with much intreaty, that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowflip of the miniftering to the faints. And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own felves to the Lord*." David made a very liberal dedication of his fubftance at this time: He gave, for the house of his God, the prodigious fum of three thoufand talents of gold, and feven thousand talents of filver, of his own private property. The congregation followed the royal example. But that which added most beauty unto this dedication was, the willing mind and the grateful heart of the

2 Cor, viii. 2-5.

offerers.

offerers. David fpeaks of it in the flyle of admiration; "But who am I, and what is my people, that we fhould be able to offer fo willingly after this fort? for all things come of thee; and of thine own have we given thee."— "O Lord, our God, all this ftore that we have prepared to build thee an houfe for thine holy name, cometh of thine own hand, and is all thine own*."

6. DAVID was near his latter end: And covenant-renovation was highly neceffary for preferving that reformation which God had accomplished in his days;-for encouraging the young generation in the discharge of their duty. David forefaw the importance of that work which God had carved out for furvivers; wherefore, like Mofes and Joshua, he used covenanting when near his latter end, as a means of making them ftrengthen one another's hands, and encourage one another's heart in the execution of it †.

EIGHTHLY, The next thing is, The CoNFIRMATIONS of this Covenant. There are two folemnities for this purpose, marked in the facred text,

* 1 Chron. xxix. 14. 16.

A variety of other Occafions might have been fpecified; but, rather than fwell the work, I beg leave to refer the reader to Spanheim, F. F. Hift. V. T. p. 346, and 359. Leid. de Repub. Lib. VII. cap. vii.

1. DAVID

1. DAVID took the whole congregation witnefs against every individual in it, in cafe of violation: "Now, therefore, in the fight of all Ifrael, the congregation of the Lord *." The

whole congregation would rife up against the perfon who would dare to violate fuch an engagement. See alfo the preceding Covenant.

2. THIS Covenant was confirmed with the folemnity of an oath. It was adminiftered not only in the fight of all Ifrael; but alfo," in the audience of our God †." In the former Covenant, the ftones which Jofhua fet up are faid to hear: In this one, the Lord is faid to hear. The original phrase is, “IN THE EARS OF OUR GOD." Both the adminiftration and acceptance of this Covenant were in the ears of the Lord. When ears are afcribed to God, they denote his omnifcience. This manner of expreffion imports a folemn appeal to God, as the omnifcient witnefs and omnipotent, judge of his people.

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LASTLY, I fhall clofe this Differtation with an INFERENCE or two.

1. WE may fee, that God ufually makes ufe of one inftrument for the commencement, and another for the confummation and perfecting of his work. Mofes began Ifrael's journey to Canaan; Joflua finished it. David

pre

1 Chron. xxviii. 8.

↑ Ibid.

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pared

pared for the temple building and fervice; Solomon had the honour of completing both. Luther began the Reformation; Calvin was honoured to bring it to greater perfection, and nearer conformity to the pattern fhewed in the holy Scriptures.

2. A PUBLIC SPIRIT for the advancement of religion is perfectly confiftent with true Patriotifm. David was not only a good king, and great patriot; but also an eminent prophet, and a great faint. Thefe lineaments of his character difpofed him to prefer the settlement of the Church to that of the fucceffion of the Crown; the building of the temple to the building of the palace: In a word, the things of God to thofe of his kingdom and family. But he was by no means a-wanting as to his concern for the intereft of both his fubjects and children. He intended to bring their civil concerns into fubordination to their religious concerns: To advance them in that fubordination, not otherways: And it is only in this channel that we can expect civil concerns to.profper. Matters will never be right with us till the members of the Church be endued with his fpirit.

3. SOLEMN COVENANTING is a fuitable preparation for important fervices. Perfonal Covenanting fhould precede the entrance on perfonał fervice. Public Covenanting preceded the dedication of fubftance for temple building, as well as the work of temple building itself.

DISSER

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