on the hope set before us; which hope we have as an anchor to the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the vail." (Heb. vi. 16-19.) A promise confirmed by an oath, is the highest security that can be given by one man to another and yet even this doth not put the matter beyond all doubt, or possibility of failure; for "men of high degree are vanity, and men of low degree are a lie," and there is no dependance upon any of them but, "let God be true, though all men are liars." When God condescends to swear to any thing, the performance is certain: he could as soon cease to be, as go from his word, "Every good and perfect gift cometh down from above, from the Father of lights, in whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." (James i. 17.) Yea, and as if this were not enough, he hath appointed his own eternal Son a surety of this covenant, and to become bound for the performance of the promises: and we know that he is "the Amen, the faithful and true Witness;" "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever."

"Why art thou cast down then, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance and my God." Once I thought "my mountain stood strong, and could never be moved;" but, alas! it hath been terribly shaken; and the pillars on which my worldly hopes were built are most of them mouldered away: nevertheless," the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his.' David rested his soul here, and set it in the balance

against all his troubles. This blessed covenant is indeed a rich storehouse of promises, a repository of the choicest cordials, suitable to all conditions, applicable at all times, and of universal and neverfailing efficacy.-But this brings us to the next general: viz.

II. That a personal interest in the covenant of grace is a sure relief under the greatest family . troubles..

It is a fact too common to be concealed, that family afflictions are among the trials which some of the best and dearest of God's people have been exercised with. David was one that looked well to the state of his household; and resolved to walki before them with a perfect heart, and to discountenance and put away all that walked disorderly: and yet his house was not so with God as might be desired and expected; neither so faultless, nor so flourishing. Those who are most conscientious: and exemplary, cannot always promise themselves. domestic felicity. Something or other will be perpetually happening to draw tears from their eyes, and give pangs to their hearts. Will you allow me to hint at two or three of those things, which parents, and heads of houses, do most frequently and most bitterly lament?

1. Offences against God.

Who can shut the door so close as to keep out sin? or, when once admitted, prevent its sometimes breaking out, to the dishonour of God and the disturbance and disgrace of the family? David, with all his prudence and piety, unhappily failed here. He had the mortification to have an incestuous Amnon, a rebellious Absalom, a proud and muti

nous Adonijah, belonging to his house; which no doubt made him many a night to "water his couch with his tears." But he could not lay all the blame upon his children: he himself was guilty of crimes as black as any of them. Instances are lamentably frequent of the violation of relative duties by parents, as well as children, in families professedly religious. I was going to mention Noah, Lot, Aaron, Eli, as fearful examples of it: but, alas! we need not go so far back: we are compassed about with a eloud of witnesses; and it is a common thing to hear pious heads of families, in the anguish of their spirits, crying out, Oh that ever God should be dishonoured in my house! that ever any belonging to me should prove enemies to God! that there should be any sin; especially that there should be so much sin, under this roof, where, considering our obligations and our profession, nothing should be seen among us but holiness and praise! Woe is me; I am afraid the Lord will write " Ichabod" over my door, and give me an awful and a speedy proof that "the glory is departed," and that he hath deserted the house where he hath been so grossly offended.

A heavy trial this, no doubt; but, still, a wellordered covenant is a sure relief under a disordered family. With respect to his own sins, there is no room for hesitation: what can be more express than that declaration in Jeremiah (xxxi. 34), " I will forgive their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more?" And with respect to the sins of others, that text in Ezekiel (xviii. 20,) gives no small encouragement: "The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity

of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him." Where heads of families are accessary to the sin, they are more especially called to humiliation and penitence; but, still, if they are interested in the covenant, they have this consolation, and great consolation it is, that they shall not finally perish; though for the present they may be justly and severely punished: "And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord: and Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die: Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die." (2 Sam. xii. 13, 14.)

2. Afflictive providences.

That was a dreadful threatening: "Now, therefore, the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife." (2 Sam. xii. 10.) Dismal tidings! But David found them true. Nor was he singular in his sufferings: God doth frequently follow the houses of his covenanted people with a train of temporal calamities. He cuts off one branch after another, till there is hardly any thing to be seen but death and desolation. As in Job's case; from being surrounded with a numerous, flourishing family, how suddenly was he reduced to a most deplorable solitude!-And yet, even as to those afflictive strokes, there is full relief in the covenant of grace; as it informs us that such trials are consistent with the love of God, and that our truest and best interest is safe, above the reach of any

afflictive evil whatsoever. What is the loss of father or mother, husband, wife, or child, houses and lands, health and life? What trifles are they all, compared with spiritual and eternal blessings ! There are better things left than any you have lost. You have lost a parent, or a partner; but you have Christ still. The world fails, but grace flourishes. Creatures change, but God's mercies are everlasting, and his truth endureth throughout all generations. Nay, such is the wondrous virtue of this covenant, that it converts the most formidable and destructive evils into real and invaluable blessings; so that the apostle only spoke the experience of every tried Christian when he said, " And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose." (Rom. viii. 28.) Family losses may make you converse more with the spirits of just men made perfect: they may make you commune more with your own heart, and make diligent search into your past conduct, to find out wherefore it is that the Lord thus contendeth with you: they may make you more humble and circumspect in your future walk, that you may not provoke God to deprive you of your few remaining comforts; they may even force your affections from this dying, deceiving world, and fix them on things above !—a happy exchange! for then there will be more room in the heart for Christ, and a better relish for heaven.

3. A distressing concern about the eternal state of living or dead relations.

This was probably David's case, when he grieved so piteously for Absalom: "And the King was