in

my last record. I write it under the influence of the Spirit, and let others read it to the end of time, that whatever be the state of my family, here is my comfort, He hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure: THAT shall prosper, whatever state my family may be. Though it does not grow up before my eyes, I will hold fast the truth: I will look to the covenant, and find it to be all the desire of my heart, and all my salvation."

66

My

Let us first attend to David's COMPLAINT, house is not so with God: I see nothing growing." 2dly, To David's CONSOLATION. "Though I have not my house as I could wish, yet there is a rest for my soul: there is consolation: there is an everlasting

covenant."

After having discoursed on these two points, I shall lead you to a few GENERAL REMARKS on the subject. Here is set before us, for our instruction,

if

I. The groanings of David's heart for his family: his COMPLAINT. "My house, my family is not so with God. Of what consequence is it what it is, if it is not right with God? What advantage would it be, every one of my sons was a king, and if they were far more successful than I myself have been? It were all nothing to me, if they were not so with God. They are not so as I would wish them to be: they are not so as I pray they may be; nor so as I fain would make them; and I have but little hope that they will be so when I am gone. And, what is more than all, when I consider that a man's state and condition is exactly that which it is before God, what a painful scene do I see before me!" With what mournful recollection, as well as bitter weeping, must he think of Absalom-a very accomplished young man, a beautiful young man, who could steal the hearts of Israel! What then? He was not so with God.

Oh, that parents would think of this, when they are setting their hearts on their children, on their beauty,

their accomplishments, their prospects in the world! Oh, that they would stop themselves and ask, "But what are they before God? How do they appear in his eyes?" For, unless they are built on the Rock of Ages, they will be soon swept away as the chaff beforethe wind: while, if their spirits are quickened of God, they shall stand and grow for ever. "Now,"

says David, "it is my complaint, that I see nothing grow. I have prayed and waited, and I see nothing springing up. They are looking at the splendour of my kingdom: they are wishing for my place; wishing to take my crown and sceptre before my death; entering into plots and conspiracies against my government: I see nothing grow." Growth depends on grace: the husbandman may plough and sow: it is his duty so to do: but, except the Lord send his sun to shine on his labour, nothing will grow. Has not this been the case in the hearts of many of your children? After all that you can say or do, there is still a drawing back they are running after every folly; stupid as the deaf adder, with respect to the charming voice of the gospel. Our children can imitate our errors and our sins: they can grow in what is wrong, and will ruin them, because corruption, not grace, runs in the blood. Yet we are to hold on our way, and to do our duty to the best of our ability, that their blood may not be required at our hands. In the morning, we must sow our seed; and in the evening not withhold our hand. We are to look up to God, who has changed our own hard hearts; and beg him to turn them from darkness to light, from Satan to God. It is our duty, while using the means, to remember that abounding mercy of God, which has brought any thing of a saving nature into our own hearts.

Do you ask me, what is to be our support, what is to bear you and me up, as Fathers, and Masters of Families; to keep us steady-riding at anchor-prepared to meet every thing which may befall us?-I answer,

It must be something out of this world; something better than this world can supply: and we will now turn to the consideration of it.

From David's COMPLAINT, in the words of our text, we turn,

II. To his CONSOLATION: Although my house be not so with God, yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure, for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.

What is a covenant? It is a Disposition of things,a Settlement,- -a Constitution: whether it come before us in the form of a testament or legacy, or in the nature of a bargain or agreement. Whatever form it assumes, it is a Disposition, a Settlement, a Constitution of things; and the Everlasting Covenant, here spoken of, is of this kind. It is a constitution under which a sinner is called to believe and trust in Christ; denominated everlasting, because from everlasting in the contrivance, and to everlasting in the continuance.

On this covenant David could build his hope. It is called, in another part of Scripture, the sure mercies of David. This covenant is ordered in all things: thereon, therefore, we may rest safely. It is not of our making: God contrived, established, and ratified it, to advance his own glory; to set forth the honour of his Son; and for the comfort, security, and holiness of his people.

This covenant differs from that made with Adam, which was soon to pass away. In this covenant, whatever is required is promised. Has God declared that his people must have a new heart and a right spirit? he has promised this new heart and this right spirit, pardon of sin, strength for obedience, grace and glory. And this covenant shall not fail, like that of Adam, for a transgression, because it is secured in Christ. It is sure:-sure in its proposals; sure in every step of it; and sure in the issue.

VOL. II.

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"Now," says David, "he has made this covenant with me: he has enabled me to rest on its promises by faith he has taught me to build on the only foundation that he has laid in Zion. And this is all my salvation: it all depends on it: all things are contained in it: it is founded on the best promises, everlasting and unchangeable, and therefore it is all in all. What can I have more? What can I wish more? What are my chief desires? Man is a weak and ignorant creature: I have said, 'Give me this,' and 'Give me that:' I have gone to broken cisterns, as well as other men: I have leaned on earth, like other men ; and it has proved a broken reed, and oft a spear, and wounded my hand,—and shall I still idolize it? Away with my fond and childish desires: they are unworthy the man who can grasp the mercies of an everlasting covenant; and therefore, now that I am come to die, and to speak my right sentiments in my right mind, I say that this is not only all my salvation, but all my desire. If I am told, therefore, that I must walk sorrowfully, in a narrow way, in a puzzling road; that I must be accepted in a better righteousness; that I must even travel by myself in this road to heaven, I answer, "So be it: I am satisfied.'”

We have seen, then, that David, as well as we, had great complaints to make; but he espies, flies to, and embraces the only sure, firm, permanent dependance and foundation. He hath made with ME an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure.

III. I will not detain you longer on this point, but would rather come still nearer to your bosoms, in the REMARKS that I would make. upon the passage.

1. WHATEVER BLESSINGS A PIOUS MAN RECEIVES ON THE ROAD, AS HE TRAVELS THROUGH THE WILDERNESS; YET HE FINDS THAT HE IS NOT AT HOME.

Abraham enjoyed many mercies; but he was not yet at home: and, therefore, he looked, not at his children, nor at his cattle, his lands, his goods, or his

three hundred servants, but to the house eternal in the heavens. He looked through temporal blessings to his possessions in glory; as a man looks across his neighbour's fields to his own estate.

says,

Jacob, when he came to stand before Pharaoh, "Few and evil have the days of the years of my pilgrimage been: I am only a poor pilgrim going home: I am not yet there!"

David, in the midst of the splendour of his court, tells you, 66 I am not at home: that is above: my family is distressing to me: sin has entered it, driven out the peace and comfort of it, and poisoned it; but blessed be God, there is a house above, there is a covenant in which I can wrap up all my hopes and all my desires."

My dear hearers, till you learn to look beyond your houses here, and build on better comforts than this world can afford, you are under an impositon. You are deceived. You are seeking the living among the dead. Instead, therefore, of murmuring, and repining, and desponding, because present things are uncomfortable, rather thank God that he will not suffer you to rest in them, nor make a portion of them; that there is a voice in them, such as Abraham heard, "Begone! Go to an everlasting covenant! Go to unchangeable promises! Go to that which shall grow: Think not to find a home and a rest here!"

I speak not these things to render you melancholy and gloomy. For while I would prevent your building on the sand, I would warn you, that, though a good man feels he is not at home, yet he is still satisfied with what he finds on the road. The Christian is not a misanthrope, who says there is no good in the world, and quarrels with every thing around him. A Christian, when he finds he is not at home, is satisfied, on the whole, because he finds many blessings by the way; and knows that his Lord is bringing him by a right road through all his troubles, to a city of habi