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all the blessings of the eternal covenant are conveyed to the body。
Christ； in one word； is 〃the Surety of the covenant；〃 and through Him
believers receive its benefits。 This is the great covenant which David
had in view。
True Christians would do well to think about this covenant； remember
it； and roll the burden of their souls upon it far more than they do。
There is unspeakable consolation in the thought that the salvation of
our souls has been provided for from all eternity； and is not a mere
affair of yesterday。 Our names have long been in the Lamb's book of
life。 Our pardon and peace of conscience through Christ's blood； our
strength for duty； our fort in trial； our power to fight Christ's
battles； were all arranged for us from endless ages； and long before we
were born。 Here upon earth we pray； and read； and fight； and struggle；
and groan； and weep； and are often sore let and hindered in our
journey。 But we ought to remember that an Almighty eye has long been
upon us； and that we have been the subjects of divine provision though
we knew it not。
Above all； Christians should never forget that the everlasting covenant
is 〃ordered in all things and sure。〃 The least things in our daily life
are working together for good； though we may not see it at the time。
The very hairs of our head are all numbered； and not a sparrow falls to
the ground without our Father。 There is no luck or chance in anything
that happens to us。 The least events in our life are parts of an
everlasting scheme or plan in which God has foreseen and arranged
everything for the good of our souls。
Let us all try to cultivate the habit of remembering the everlasting
covenant。 It is a doctrine full of strong consolation； if it is
properly used。 It was not meant to destroy our responsibility。 It is
widely different from Mohammedan fatalism。 It is specially intended to
be a refreshing cordial for practical use in a world full of sorrow and
trial。 We ought to remember； amid the many sorrows and disappointments
of life； that 〃what we know not now； we shall know hereafter。〃 There is
a meaning and a 〃needs be〃 in every bitter cup that we have to drink；
and a wise cause for every loss and bereavement under which we mourn。
After all； how little we know！ We are like children who look at a
half…finished building； and have not the least idea what it will look
like when it is pleted。 They see masses of stone； and brick； and
rubbish； and timber； and mortar； and scaffolding； and dirt； and all in
apparent confusion。 But the architect who designed the building sees
order in all； and quietly looks forward with joy to the day when the
whole building will be finished； and the scaffolding removed and taken
away。 It is even so with us。 We cannot grasp the meaning of many a
providence in our lives； and are tempted to think that all around us is
confusion。 But we should try to remember that the great Architect in
heaven is always doing wisely and well； and that we are always being
〃led by the right way to a city of habitation〃 （Ps。 107：7）。 The
resurrection morning will explain all。 It is a quaint but wise saying
of an old divine； that 〃true faith has blight eyes； and can see even in
the dark。〃
It is recorded of Barnard Gilpin； a Reformer who lived in the days of
the Marian martyrdoms； and was called the Apostle of the North； that he
was famous for never murmuring or plaining； whatever happened to
him。 In the worst and blackest times he used to be always saying； 〃It
is all in God's everlasting covenant； and must be for good。〃 Towards
the close of Queen Mary's reign； he was suddenly summoned to e up
from Durham to London； to be tried for heresy； and in all probability；
like Ridley and Latimer； to be burned。 The good man quietly obeyed the
summons； and said to his mourning friends； 〃It is in the covenant； and
must be for good。〃 On his journey from Durham to London； his horse
fell； and his leg was broken； and he was laid up at a roadside inn。
Once more he was asked； 〃What do you think of this？〃 Again he replied；
〃It is all in the covenant； and must be for good。〃 And so it turned
out。 Weeks and weeks passed away before his leg was healed； and he was
able to resume his journey。 But during those weeks the unhappy Queen
Mary died； the persecutions were stopped； and the worthy old Reformer
returned to his northern home rejoicing。 〃Did I not tell you；〃 he said
to his friends； 〃that all was working together for good？〃
Well would it be for us if we had something of Barnard Gilpin's faith；
and could make practical use of the everlasting covenant as he did。
Happy is the Christian who can say from his heart these words；
〃I know not the way I am going；
But well do I know my Guide；
With a childlike trust I give my hand
To the mighty Friend by my side。
The only thing that I say to Him；
As He takes it； is 'Hold it fast；
Suffer me not to lose my way；
And bring me home at last。'〃
III。 Let us consider； lastly； what was King David's hope for the
future。 That hope； beyond doubt； was the glorious advent of the Messiah
at the end of the world； and the setting up of a kingdom of
righteousness； at the final 〃restitution of all things〃 （Acts 3：21）。
Of course king David's views of this kingdom were dim and vague
pared to those which are within reach of every intelligent reader of
the New Testament。 He was not ignorant of the ing of Messiah to
suffer； for he speaks of it in the 22nd Psalm。 But he saw far behind it
the ing of Messiah to reign； and his eager faith overleaped the
interval between the two Advents。 That his mind was fixed upon the
promise； that the 〃seed of the woman should〃 one day pletely 〃bruise
the serpent's head；〃 and that the curse should be taken off the earth；
and the effects of Adam's fall pletely removed； I feel no doubt at
all。 The Church of Christ would have done well if she had walked in
David's steps； and given as much attention to the Second Advent as
David did。
The figures and parisons which David uses in speaking of the advent
and future kingdom of the Messiah are singularly beautiful； and
admirably fitted to exhibit the benefits which it will bring to the
Church and the earth。 The Second Advent of Christ shall be 〃as the
light of the morning when the sun riseth； even a morning without
clouds； as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining
after rain。〃 Those words deserve a thousand thoughts。 Who can look
around him； and consider the state of the world in which we live； and
not be obliged to confess that clouds and darkness are now on every
side？ 〃The whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain〃 （Rom。 8：22）。
Look where we will； we see confusion； quarrels； wars between nations；
helplessness of statesmen； discontent and grumbling of the lower
classes； excessive luxury among the rich； extreme poverty among the
poor； intemperance； impurity； dishonesty； swindling； lying； cheating；
covetousness； heathenism； superstition； formality among Christians；
decay of vital religion；these are the things which we see continually
over the whole globe； in Europe； Asia； Africa； and America。 These are
the things which defile the face of creation； and prove that the devil
is 〃the prince of this world；〃 and the kingdom of God is not yet e。
These are clouds indeed； which often hide the sun from our eyes。
But there is a good time ing； which David saw far distant； when this
state of things shall be pletely changed。 There is a kingdom ing；
in which holiness shall be the rule； and sin shall have no place at
all。
Who can look around him in his own neighbourhood； and fail to see
within a mile of his own house that the consequences of sin lie heavily
on earth； and that sorrow and trouble abound？ Sickness； and pain； and
death e to all classes； and spare none； whether rich or poor。 The
young often die before the old； and the children before the parents。
Bodily suffering of the most fearful description； and incurable
disease； make the existence of many miserable。 Widowhood； and
childlessness； and solitariness； tempt many to feel weary of life；
though everything which money can obtain is within their reach。 Family
quarrels； and envies； and jealousies break up the peace of many a
household； and are a worm at the root of many a rich man's happiness。
Who can deny that all these things are to be seen on every side of us？
There are many clouds now。
Will nothing end this state of things？ Is creation to go on groaning
and travailing for ever after this fashion？ Thanks be to God； the
Second Advent of Christ supplies an answer to these questions。 The Lord
Jesus Christ has not yet finished His work on behalf of man。 He will
e again one day （and perhaps very soon） to set up a glorious
kingdom； in which the consequences of sin shall have no place at