Faith's plea upon God's covenant (3)

Faith's Plea upon God's COVENANT.

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SERMON

PREACHED

On a Preparation-day before deſpenſing the
Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, at King-
laſſie, upon Pſalm lxxiv. 20. Have reſpect
unto the Covenant.

By the late REVEREND
Mr. RALPH ERSKINE
Miniſter of the Goſpel at Dunfermline.

THE SIXTH EDITION:
G L A S G O W.
Printed by JOHN ROBERTSON
MDCCLXXII

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FAITH'S PLEA upon GOD'S COVENANT.

Pſalm lxxiv. 20. Have reſpect unto the Covenant, &c.

THE, Pſalmiſt, in pleading for the church and people
of God, and that he would appear for them againſt
in the cloſe of the preceeding verſe, there is ſomething he
pleads God may not Forget, Forget not the congregation
of thy poor for ever;' and the rather he uſes this argument
becauſe he had ſaid, Pſal. ix. 14. 'The needy ſhall not be
forgotten; the expectation of the poor ſhall not periſh for
ever.' There is, in this verſe, ſomething he pleads, that
God may Remember and have regard unto, 'have reſpect
unto the covenant.' Thou haft brought us into covenant
with thee, might he ſay, and though we are unworthy to
be reſpected; yet have reſpect onto the covenant of pro-
miſe. When God delivers his people, it is in remembrance
of his covenant, Lev. xxvi. 42.. Then will I remember
my covenant with Abraham, Iſaac and Jacob; and I will
remember the land.' We cannot expect he will remember
us, till he remember his covenant: hence, therefore, we
propoſe to illuſtrate the following truth.
DOCT." That one of Faith's ſtrong pleas with God, is,
" That he would have reſpect to the covenant."
If we would deal with God for mercy, or plead with him
for favour, or look to him for any good at this occaſion,
let us expect it only upon this ground, the reſpect he bath
to the covenant, and plead upon this argument.
The method we would obſerve, as the Lord ſhall aſſiſt,
for briefly handling this ſubject, ſhall be the following.
I Shew what Covenant it is he will have a reſpect to.
II. What it is for God to have a reſpect to the covenant.
III. What it is if the covenant he hath a respect to.
IV. What kind of reſpect he hath to it.
V. Why he hath reſpect to it, and ſo why it is a ſuita-
ble plea and argument in ſuing for mercy,
VI. Make ſome application of the whole.
I. We are then firſt to ſhew what covenant it is he will
have a reſpect to. The covenant here ſpoken of is the co-
venant of grace and promiſe, made in Chriſt Jeſus 'before
the world began,' and publiſhed in this goſpel to ſinners,

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Jer. 32. 39.40.' And I will give them one heart and one
way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them,
and of their children after them. And I will make an e-
verlaſting covenant with them, that I will not turn away
from them to do them good; but I will put my fear in their
hearts, that they ſhall not depart from me. Ezek. 36. 26.
A new heart alſo will I give you, and a new ſpirit will I
put within you; and I will take away the ſtony heart out
of your fleſh, &c. Jer. 31 33. But this ſhall be the cove-
nant that I will make with the houſe of Iſrael, after thoſe
days, faith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward
parts, and write it in their hearts, and I will be their God;
and they ſhall be my people.' And in Pſalm 89. through-
our. It is called a covenant of Grace; becauſe grace is
the beginning and the end, the foundation and top-ſtone
of it: even grace reigning thro' righteouſneſs. It is cal-
led a covenant of Mercy; becauſe therein mercy to the
miſerable is proclaimed thro' juſtice ſatisfying blood; for
there mercy and truth met together;' and all the ſure
mercies of David' are conveyed thereby. It is called a co-
venant of Peace and Reconciliation; becauſe it both treats
of peace with God, and makes it good. It is called a co-
venant of Promiſe; becauſe it lies in promiſes with refe-
rence to us, and there to be accompliſhed upon the condi-
tion already fulfilled in Chriſt's obedience and ſatisfaction;
and becauſe therein the faithfulneſs of God is pledged, for
making out all the promiſes to believers, and the children
of promiſe. It is called a covenant of Salt; becauſe it is
an incorruptible word, 'an everlaſting covenant, well or-
dered in all things and ſure.' In a word it is a covenant
of Help to poor, helpleſs ſinners, ſaying, "I lave laid help
upon one that is mighty. O Iſrael, thou haſ deſtroyed thy-
ſelf, but in me is thy help.' It is a covenant of Pardon to
the guilty, ſaying, 'I, even I, am be that blotteth out thy
tranſgreſſions for mine own fake, and I will not remember
thy sins. It is a covenant of Supply to the needy, ſaying,
' When the poor and needy ſeek water, and there is none,
and their tongue faileth for thirst, I, the Lord, will hear
them, I, the God of Iſrael will not forſake them.' It is
a covenant of Gifts wherein grace and glory are freely gi-
ven; and in the diſpenſation thereof, God ſays, come, and
take all freely, himſelf, his Chriſt, his Spirit, and all, Rev.
22. 17. Iſa. 55.1.

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II. We are to ſnew what it is for God to have reſpect
to the covenant.
I. God hath reſpect to the covenant when he remembers
it, and ſo remembers us, as in that forecited, Lev. 26. 42.
'I will remember my covenant, and then will I remember
the land.' This Pſal. 109. 5. He hath given meat to them
that fear him.' Why, he will ever be mindful of his co-
venant, if he come to give us meat to feed our fouls at
this occaſion, the ground will be, he will be mindful of
his covenant, mindful of his promiſe.
2.God may be ſaid to have reſpect to his covenant, when
he regards it. He hath no reaſon to have reſpect or regard
to us, but he fees reaſon to have a regard to his covenants
he puts honour upon it, for reaſons that I ſhall afterwards
ſhew, only I ſhall ſay here, his honour is engaged therein,
therefore he ſays, My covenant will I not break, nor al-
ter the thing that is gone out of my lips,' Pſalm 89.34.
He hath more regard to it than he hath to heaven and earth:
for he ſays heaven and earth ſhall paſs away, but my
words ſhall not paſs away.' He hath ſuch regard to it, that
he will never break it, but ever keep it.
3. He hath reſpect to his covenant, when he eſtablishes
it. And when we pray, that he would have reſpect to the
covenant,' we not only pray he would remember the cove-
nant, and regard the covenant, bar eſtabliſh the covenant
betwixt him and us, as be laid to Abraham, Gen. 17. 7.
' I will eſtabliſh it between me and thee, and thy feed af-
ter thee.' He ſhews reſpect to the covenant, when he makes
the covenant take hold of us, and makes us take hold of
the covenant; for then he makes us pus reſpect upon him,
and upon his covenant.
4. He hash reſpect to the covenant, when he performs the
covenant-promiſe, according to Micah 7.20 Thou wilt
perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham,
which thou haft ſworn to our fathers from the days of old :'
and he does this, when be acts according to the covenant,
or according to the mercy that made the promiſe, and the
truth that is engaged to make out the promiſe.
In ſhort the ſum of this prayer, as it concerns the import
of the word Respect, Have reſpect to the covenant,' is,
' Lord, remember the covenant, and ſo remember me;
Lord, have regard to the covenant, and let me be remem-
bered on this ground, when there is no reaſon why I ſhould

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be regarded: Lord, eſtabliſh thy covenant with me, and ſo
put honour upon thy name manifeſted in that covenant.
and do to me according to the promiſe of the covenant,
Cauſe me hope in thy word, and then remember thy word
on which thou hast cauſed me to hope and deal with me
not according to my sin and deſert, but according to thy
covenant and mercy in Chriſt Jeſus.
III. We are next to ſhew what it is in the covenant he
hath a reſpect to, or that we ſhould plead upon,
1. Have reſpect to the covenant;' that is, to the Me-
diator of the covenant. Tho' thou oweſ, no reſpect to me,
yet doſt thou not owe reſpect, and halt thou not a great re-
ſpact to the Mediator of the covenant, even to him whom
thou hast given to be a covenant of the people?' For his
sake let me be pitied; have reſpect to the relation he bears
to the covenant, even to him who is the Mediator, Teſta-
tor, Witneſs, Meſſenger, Surety, and all of the covenant.
Have reſpect to his offices, and let him get the glory of
his ſaving offices. It is a ſtrong plea to plead with God
upon the reſpect he bears to Chriſt; God cannot win over
ſuch a plea as that. He muſt own his regard and reſpect
to Chriſt, who hath paid ſuch a reſpect to him, and 'fi-
niſhed the work he gave him do.'
2. Have reſpect to the covenant, by having reſpect to
the blood of the covenant. The blood of Christ, that is re-
preſerted in the ſacrament of the ſupper, it is the blood
of the covenant,' called, 'the new Teſtament in his blood:
becauſe all the promiſes are ſealed therewith, and ſo ' yes
and amen in Chriſt:' this is the condition of the now co-
venant. The covenant of works had only the active obedi-
ence of the firſt Adam for its condition: but the condition
of the covenant of grace properly, is both the active and
paſſive obedience of the Second Adam, his doing and dy-
ing. Now, Lord, have reſpect to that blood that ſealed the
covenant ; Since the condition is fulfilled to thy infinite
ſatisfaction let the promiſed good be conferred upon me.
3. Have reſpect to the covenant, by having reſpect to
the oath of the covenant, Heb. vi. 17. The promiſe is
confirmed with the covenant of God;. That by two im-
mutable things wherein it is impoſſible for God to lye, we
might have ſtrong conſolation, &c.' Now, Lord, wilt thou
not have reſpect to thine own oath? Haſt thou not ſworn
by thy holineſs, thou wilt not lye unto David ?'

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4. Have reſpect to the covenant, by having a reſpect
to the properties of the covenant. This would be a large
field; I ſum it up in a few words. Have reſpect to the co-
venant; that is, Lord have reſpect to the fulneſs of the co-
venant; and let me be ſupplied, for there is enough there;
it contains all my ſalvation and all my deſire.' Have re-
ſpect to the freedom of the covenant, and let me, however
unworthy, ſhare of the grace that runs freely thence. Have
reſpect to the ſtability of the covenant, and let me, be pi-
tied, though unſtable as water, and infirm, yet the cove-
nant ſtands faſt; remember thy word that endures for e-
ver.' Have reſpect to the order of the covenant, that is
well ordered in all things, as well as ſure. Though my
houſe be not ſo with God,' says David, yet he hath made
with me an everlaſting covenant, well ordered in all things
and ſure.' Though my houſe be out of order, and heart
out of order, and my frame out of order, and all be in
confuſion with me, yet ſee, according to thy covenant, to
order all well.
IV. We proceed to ſhew what kind of a reſpect he hath
to the covenant, that we may be the more engaged to
plead upon it.
1. He hath a great and high reſpect to the covenant. It
is the covenant of the great God, with his great and eter-
nal Son, for the honour and glory of his great name; and
therefore, he cannot but have a great and high reſpect un-
to it. His great name is manifeſted in it; and therefore,
when we plead his reſpect to the covenant, we plead in
effect, ſaying, What wilt shou do for thy great name?'
2. He hath a dear and lovely reſpect to the covenant, for
it is the covenant of his grace and love, wherein he ſhews
his infinite love to Chriſt, and thro' him to a company of
wretched ſinners. It is a covenant of kindneſs, Isa. 54.10.
My kindneſs ſhall not depart from thee, neither ſhall the
covenant of my peace be removed, faith the Lord, that
hath mercy on thee;' intimating, his covenant of peace is
a covenant of kindneſs, wherein he manifeſts his deareſt
love; therefore he hath a dear reſpect to it.
3. He hath a full reſpect to the covenant, a reſpect to
every promiſe, of it they are all yea and amen, to the
glory of God,' 2 Cor. 1. 20. He hath a reſpect to all of
them becauſe they are all yea and amen, and becauſe
they are all thus ratified in Chriſt, to the glory of God.

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He hath reſpect to every article of the covenant, not a
jot ſhall fall to the ground.
4. He hath an everlaſting reſpect to the covenant; there-
fore it is called an everlaſting covenant,' it is ſecured by
an everlaſting righteouſneſs; it is made between everlaſting
parties; it is repleniſhed with everlaſting bleſſings; it is
rooted in his everlaſting love: therefore he is ever mindful
of his covenant, and will never ceaſe to have reſpect to it.
Well then, ſay you, what need we pray and plead, that
he would have reſpect to his covenant? Why, if it be ſure
that he hath, and will for ever have, a reſpect to the cove-
nant, then we may pray with the more aſſurance and confi-
dence; ſo that there is here ſtrong footing for our prayer:
but beſides, when we pray, and fay; Have reſpect unto
the covenant,' we ſeek, that he would thew the reſpect
that he hath unto it, that he would ſhew and make it ma-
nifeſt unto us, that we may have the faith of it, and enjoy
the fruits of it, and the bleſſed effects of that reſpect to it
in our participation of the bleſſings thereof.
V. The next thing was, to ſhew why lie will have re-
ſpect to his covenant; and conſequently, whence it is ſuch
a ſuitable plea and argument for us. Why,
1. When he hath reſpect to the covenant, he hath reſpect
to himſelf; the framer of it he owns himſelf to be, Pſalm
89 3. I have made a covenant with my choſen. Why
then the ſtrength of the plea is, ' have reſpect unto the co-
venant,' and ſo have reſpect to thyſelf, and thy own glori-
ous name and attributes, and let them be glorified, in ſhew-
ing regard to the covenant, Have reſpect to thy wiſdom
that lines in the contrivance of the covenant, the mani-
fold wiſdom of God; yea, the wiſdom of God in a myſte-
ry' that here appears. Have reſpect to thy power that ſhines
in the efficacy of the covenant, not only for over-power-
ing principalities and powers, but overcoming thyſelf, and
the power of thine own wrath, by the power of thy love.
Have reſpect to thy holineſs, that shines in the holy cash
of Jehovah, by which it is confirmed, and the holy obedi-
ence of Jeſus, by which it is fulfilled; ſo that, as by
the Sinful diſobedience of one many were made ſinners, by
the Holy obedience of another Glorious One, many are
made righteous.' Have reſpect to thy juſtice, that ſhines
in the blood of the covenant, the ſacrifice by which juſtice
hath condign and infinite ſatisfaction. Have reſpect to thy

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mercy and grace, that reigns through that righteouſneſs to
eternal life. Have reſpect to thy truth and faithfulneſs, that
ſhines in accompliſhing all the promiſes of the covenant,
upon the ground of Chriſt's having fulfilled the condition.
Have reſpect unto thy eternity and immutability, in the
unchangeableneſs of the covenant; ſhew that thou art God,
and changeſ nor. Thus have reſpect to thyſelf.
2. When he hath reſpect to the covenant, he hath reſpect
to his Son, Chriſt, the center of it, and in whom it ſtands
ſalt as he owns, Pſal. 89. 28. My covenant ſhall ſtand faſt
with him. Why then, the ſtrength of the plea is, have re-
ſpect to the covenant,' and ſo ſhew reſpect to thy Son: have
reſpect to him in his perſon, as he is thy Son and our Savi-
our; Emmanuel, God man; in his divinity, wherein he is
equal with God; in his humanity, wherein he is the Ma.
fer-piece of God's works. Have reſpect to him in his pur-
chaſe, which is the ſubſtance of the covenant bought with his
blood. Have reſpect to his death and reſurrection; for thou
loveſt him on this account. John 10. 17. Therefore doth
the Father love me, becauſe I lay down my life, that I may
take it up again;' where we ſee that Chriſt, as dying and
riſing in the room of his people, is the object of the Father's
love, delight, and eſteem. Have reſpect unto his interceſſion,
wherein he prays for all the bleſſings of the covenant that
he hath purchaſed : doth not the Father hear him always?
Have reſpect to his commiſſion, which is ſealed by thee;
for 'him hath God the Father ſealed,' appointed, and au-
thorized unto all ſaving offices, relations, and appearances,
let him get the glory of all theſe. O ſtrong plea!
3. When he hath reſpect to the covenant, he hath reſpect
to his Spirit, the great applier of the covenant-bleſſings, and
executor of the Teſtament, ſealed with the blood of Chriſt,
and by whom covenant love is ſhed abroad upon the heart,
Rom. v. 5. Why then, the ſtrength of the plea is, shave
reſpect to the covenant;' that is, have reſpect to thy own
Spirit, that he may get the glory of applying by his power,
what Chriſt hath purchaſed by his blood. Have reſpect to
the Promiſe, of the Spirit that thou haſt made, that when
he is come, he ſhall convince the world of sin, righteouſ-
neſſ, and judgment,' and teſtify of Chriſt, and glorify
Chriſt, by ſhewing the things of Chriſt. Have reſpect to
the offices of the Spirit, as he is a convincer, ſanctiſier,
and comforter, according to the order and method of the

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covenant. Have reſpect to the honour of the Spirit, who
is the all in all of the covenant in point of power, and
powerful manifeſtation, communication, and operation.
Have reſpect to the relations, of the Spirit, as he is the
Spirit of the Father and of the Son, the Spirit of the co-
venant, and of all the covenant ſeed. Hence,
4. When he hath reſpect to the covenant, he hath reſpect
to his people on the account of the covenant of promiſe ;
for they, as Iſaac was, are the children of promiſe,' Gal iv.
28. Why then, the ſtrength of the plea and argument here
is Lord,'have reſpect to the covenant,' and ſo ſhew regard
and reſpect to us. We have no confidence to claim any
reſpect at thy hand, but merely upon the account of the re-
ſpect thou haft to thy covenant. Have reſpect to our per-
tons on this ground, ſince the covenant provides acceptance
in the beloved,' Eph. i. 6. Look upon us in the face of
thine anointed, and in the glaſs of the new covenant. Have
reſpect to our prayers and performances on this ground,
ſince the covenant hath provided much incenſe to perfume
the prayers and offerings of all saints, upon the golden als
far that is before the throne, Rev. viii. 3. Have reſpect to
our tears, when we ſigh and groan, and mourn, and weep
before thee, sins the covenant provides a bottle for out
tears, Pſalm lvi. 8. Put thou my tears in thy bottle.'
Have reſpect to our needs on this ground, when we are
hardened, that we can neither pray nor weep, nor ſhed a
tear, fine the covenant provides ſupply to the poor and
needy, Philip. iv. 19. My God ſhall ſupply all your need,
according to his riches, in glory, by Chriſt Jeſus.'
VI. I would now proceed to make ſome application of
the ſubject in theſe four words.
1. Hence fee a mark and character of true believers, that
are sit for a communion table, they are of God's mind;
he hath a reſpect to the covenant, and they have a re-
ſpect to the covenant; and hence they know what it is
to plead with God upon the reſpect that he hath to the co-
venant; they could not do ſo, if they had not a high re-
ſpect to it themſelves ; they have ſuch a reſpect to the co-
venant in kind as God hath. They have a great reſpect to
it ſo as they eſteem it more than all things in a world, they
would not give one promise of it, on which they have
been cauſed to hope for all the gold of Ophir. They have

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a dear and kindly reſpect to it, as all their ſalvation and all
their deſire: yea, and all their delight alſo. The word of
grace is ſweeter to them than honey and the honey comb.'
They have a full and univerſal reſpect to it, and to all the
promiſes of it; they reſpect the promiſe of purity as well as
the promiſe of pardon: she promiſe of ſalvation from ſin
as well, and as much, as the promiſe of ſalvation from hell;
the promiſe of holineſs as well as of happineſs. As they
have a reſpect to all God's commandments, ſo they have a
reſpect to all his promiſes; and particularly as David had
his golden Pſalms, ſo they have their golden promiſes that
they are made to hing upon. Yea, they have an everlaſting
reſpect to the covenant and to the promiſes thereof; even
when their frame fails them, when their ſweet enjoyments
fail then, yet their reſpect to the covenant remains and their
reſpect to the maker of the covenant, to the Mediator of
the covenant, to the blood and oath of the covenant, to
the Spirit of the covenant, and to the bleſſings and benefits
of it. They have an everlaſting reſpect to the grace of the
covenant of grace; they are adorers and admirers of free
grace. They have an everlaſting reſpect to, and remembe-
rance of the words of the covenant, particularly theſe words
that have been let in with any life and power upon their
ſoul, or that they have been cauſed to hope upon; what-
ever they forget, they can never forget ſuch a word that
brought life to their souls ; I will never forget thy words,
says David : for by them thou haſt quickened me. They
have ſuch an everlaſting reſpect to the covenant, that, when
they have nothing in the world to trust to; they will rely
on the covenant, and confide in ſuch a promiſe, and plead
upon it, ſaying, Lord, 'Have reſpect to the covenant.'
2 Hence we may ſee the miſery of theſe that are unbe-
lievers, and remain ſtrangers to the covenant of promiſe,'
and have no reſpect to the covenant. It is miſery enough,
that God hath no reſpect to you: no reſpect to your per-
sons nor prayers, as it is ſaid, To Cain and his offering
God had no reſpect,' Gen. iv. 5. So God hath no reſpect
either to your perſons or performances ; they are an abo-
mination to him. Your prayers to him are but like the howl-
ing of a dog, if you have never taken hold of his covenant,
nor ſeen the reſpect that God hath to the covenant You have
no reſpect to God, while you have no reſpect to that
which he reſpects ſo highly. And as he hath no reſpect to

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your perſons or performances, he hath no reſpect to your
tears; they never flowed from faith's views of a pierced
Chriſt. He hath no reſpect to your ſouls, the redemption
therefore ceaseth for ever,' becauſe you have no due re-
ſpect to the Redeemer's blood and righteouſneſs. He hath
no respect to your communicating; nay he diſapproves,
of it, and diſcharges you to fit down at his table, on peril
of eating and drinking your damnation. God hath no re-
gard nor reſpect to your ſalvation, becauſe you have no re-
gard nor reſpect to the Saviour he hath provided and of-
fered. God thinks as little to damn you, as you think little
to diſhonour him. God thinks as little of you, as you think
little of sin, and he hath as little reſpect to you, as you have
to Chriſt and to the covenant. Wo to you, if you remain
in this caſe, for the day is coming wherein God will, be-
ſore all the world, ſhew no more reſpect to you, than to
say to you, 'Depart from me ye curſed, into everlaſting
fire, prepared for the Devil and his angels!' But,
3. Hence we may ſee the happineſs of believers, that
have ſuch a reſpect to the covenant, as I was ſpeaking of,
a great, dear, full, and perpetual reſpect to it, and the Me-
diator of it, who have taken hold of the covenant thro'
grace, and know what it is to take hold of God in the co-
venant, to take hold of God in a promiſe, and to hold him
by his word, and rely upon him in it, ſaying, Lord, Have
reſpect to the covenant;' here is your great happineſs,
God hath reſpect to you: what reſpect? Even to your per-
sons and offerings, as it is ſaid of Abel, Gen.iv. 4. God bad
a reſpect to him and to his offering. Tho' you be ſaying
in your heart, oh! how can he have a reſpect to me, black
and vile, and guilty me? Why ? not for your sake indeed,
be it known unto you, but for his covenant's sake, and his
name's ſake. He hath a reſpect to your praying, and praiſ-
ing, and communicating ; becauſe he hath a reſpect to the
covenant. He hath a reſpect to your name; tho' the name
of the wicked ſhall rot, your name shall be in everlaſting
remembrance;' for God hath put his name; in you; ſome-
thing of Christ in you, ſomething of the covenant in you.
Some obſerve, when Abram's name was turned to Abraham,
there was ſome of the letters of the name Jehovah put in
Abram's name. Indeed, God gives the believer a new name,
that he hath a reſpect unto, he hath a reſpect to your ſuits
and ſupplications; "I have heard Ephraim bemoaning

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himſelf. O my dove, that art in the cleft of the rock, in
the ſecret places of the stairs; let me bear thy voice; let
me ſee thy countenance, for ſweet is thy voice, and thy
countenance is comely.' He hath a reſpect to his doves,
when pouring out of their heart before him; that voice that
the world laughs at, God hath a reſpect to it. He hath a
reſpect to your blood, precious in his fight is the blood of
his saints. He hath a reſpect to your ſouls; and hence he
gave his blood to be a ranſom for them, and when your ſouls
languiſh, he sends his Spirit to reſtore them, and when you
die, he will find his angels to bring them to heaven. He
hath a reſpect to your bodies; you ought, being bought with
a price, to glorify him in your souls and bodies, which are
his. When your body goes to the duſt, he will take care
of that duſt, and loſe nothing of you, but raiſe you up at the
laſt day, and make your vile bodies like unto his glorious
body; and ſo ſhall ye ever be with the Lord. He hath a
reſpect to you, ſuch a reſpect that he puts honour upon you,
'Since thou waſ precious in my fight, thou haft been ho-
nourable.' He hath made you kings and prieſts to your God
Jacob was crowned a prince on the field of battle, the field
of prayer, when he wreſtled with the angel and prevailed,
as a prince. The poor wreſtling man is a prince, and the
poor wreſtling woman a princeſs, in God's sight: This is
the honour of all the saints. They have power with God,
and therefore no wonder that they have 'power over the
nations, to rule them with a rod of iron', 'they judge and
torment them that dwell upon the earth, even here; and
'know you not that hereafter the saints ſhall judge the
world?' God hath a reſpect to you, and he will ſhew is in
due time becauſe be hath a reſpect to the covenant and
billed your heart with reſpect to it alſo.
4. Hence ſee the duty incimbent upon us in pleading with
God for his favour, prefernce, and blessing: let us go to him
both in ſecret prayer, and in clean approaches to his table,
crying Lord, 'have reſpect to thy covenant. I know not
a caſe you can be in but the covenant exhibits a cure, and
you are allowed to plead it, Ezek. xxxiv. 27. After many
precious new covenant prom les, it is ſaid, For this will
I be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them,'
and how are we to enquire, but by pleasing the reſpect he
hath to the covenant? Have you a polluted heart, with the
filth of ſin; a polluted conſcience, with the guilt of ſin?

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Why, here is an article of the covenant: 'I will ſprinkle
clean water upon you, and ye ſhall be clean, from all your
filthineſs, and from all your idols will I cleanſe you.' ver.
25. O then, go to God for cleanſing, and plead, ſaving. O
Lord, 'Have reſpect to the covenant.' Have you the old
hard ſtony heart ſtill within you, and would you have it re-
newed and ſoftened? Here is an article of the covenant. A
new heart will I give you, and a new ſpirit will I put with
in you: I will take away the Stony heart out of
and I will give you an heart of fleſh.' O then, go to God,
and plead it ſaying, Have reſpect to the covenant. Are
you deſtitute of the Spirit ; ſenſual, not having the Spirit?
Do you find ſuch a want of the Spirit, that you cannot
walk in God's way? Well, there is an article of the cove-
nant here, ver. 27. 'I will put my Spirit within you, and
cauſe you to walk in my ſtatutes.' O plead for this great
bleſſing, and ſay, Lord, Have reſpect to the covenant.'
In a word, when you conſider what kind of a ſinner you
are, conſider alſo what kind of a covenant this is; it is e-
nough to ſay, that it is a covenant of grace, of all ſort of
grace; for all ſorts of ſinners that are out of hell. Are you.
under dreadful guile? Here is a covenant of pardoning grace,
I will blot out thy ſin as a cloud and thy tranſgreſſion as
a thick cloud : return to me for I have redeemed thee,' Isa.
xliv. 22. O then plead he may have reſpect to the cove-
nant.' Are you under fearful pollutions? O here is a
covenant of purifying grace, ſaying, "There is a fountain
opened to the houſe of David and the inhabitants of Jeru-
ſalem for an and for uncleanneſs.' O then plead be may
have reſpect to the covenant. Are you in darkneſs and ig-
norance, having no knowledge of God? O here is cove-
nant or enlightning grace, ſaying, “They ſhall be all taught
of God.' O then plead it, ſaying, Lord. Have reſpect to
the covenant.' Are you under deadneſs, and like dead and
dry bones? O here is covenant of quickening grace, ſay-
ing, I am come to give life, and to give more abundant-
Iv. The hour cometh when the dead ſhall hear the voice of
the Son of God, and they that hear ſhall live,' O then,
plead that he may have reſpect to the covenant. Are you
in confuſion, and know not what way to take? O here is
a covenant of directing grace, ſaying, I will bring the
blind by a way they know not; I will lead them in paths
that they have not known; I will make darkneſs light be

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fore them, and crooked things ſtraight. Are you under
fad plagues and ſoul diſeaſes, over-run with sores, from the
crown of the head to the ſole of the foot ? O here is a co-
venant of healing grace, ſaying, “The Sun of Righteouſ-
neſs ſhall ariſe with healing in his wings. I am the Lord
that healeth thee; I will heal your backſlidings." O then,
plead, ſaying, Lord, 'Have reſpect to the covenant. Are
you in extreme danger of hell and damnation, becauſe of
your sin and guilt? O here is a covenant of delivering
grace, ſaying, Deliver his foul from going down to the
pit, for I have found a ranſom. O then plead it, and ſay,
Lord, Have reſpect to the covenant Are you in bond-
age unto sin, Satan, and the world, a captive unto luſts,
and ſhut up in unbelief as in a priſon? O here is a cove-
nant of liberating grace ! proclaiming liberty to the cap-
tives, and the opening of the priſon to them that are
Bound.' Are you a ſtupid ſoul that cannot move toward
God, nor ſtir heaven-ward, by reaſon of a backward will
like a brazen gate that reſiſts all the force of moving
means? Well, but, O! here is a covenant of drawing
grace, ſaying, "When I am lifted up, I will draw all men
after me.' As the power and virtue of the load ſtone
draws iron, ſo the virtue of an exalted Chriſt draws the
iron bar of the will. Thy people ſhall be willing in the
day of thy power,' then, plead it, ſaying, Lord, ' Have
reſpect to the covenant.
What other concerns have you?- Are you concerned
for your children, that they may be partakers of covenant
bleſſings, and ſaved of the Lord ? o here is a covenant of
extenſive grace intailing bleſſings on us and our offspring,
ſaying, I will be thy God, and the God of thy seed.' O
then, look to God in behalf of your children, ſaying,
Lord, Have reſpect to the covenant. Are you concern-
ed for the church, and the dangerous circumſtances ſhe is
into by reaſon of cruel enemies? This ſeems to be the
great concern of the pſalmiſt here, as appears from the
body of the pſalm, and the words following the text:
For the dark places of the earth are full of the habita-
tions of cruelty. There that live in darkneſs of igno-
rance and error, and in the works of darkneſs, are full of
cruelty againſt the church and people of God, and they
are ſurrounded with them, inſomuch that the church is
like a lily among thorns,' or a ſheep among wolves,'

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what ſhall become of it? Why, here is a covenant of de-
fence, and of defending and protecting grace, ſaying,
'Upon all the glory there ſhall be a defence;' therefore
even when enemies, break down the carved work with
axes and hammers.' ver. 7. When they are ſaying, 'Let
us deſtroy them together,' ver. 8. Yea, when it ſhall come
to this, that a bloody ſword, that is raging abroad, ſhall
come over to us, and that foreign domeſtic enemies, or
both, ſhall devour and deſtroy, and may be burn up all
the ſynagogues of God in the land,' as it is, ver. 8. And
when we ſhall not ſee our ſigns, and there is no more
any prophet, nor any among us that know the time how
long,' ver. 9. In all ſuch caſes, what courſe ſhall we take
but that of the Pſalmiſt here? Lord, Have reſpect to
the covenant.'
Are you concerned about inward enemies, ſpiritual ene-
mies, and moleſted with the powers of darkneſs? Is your
heart full of the habitations of cruelty, and fearfully in-
habited with cruel devils, cruel luſts, cruel corruptions that
maſter and conquer, and prevail againſt you ſo as you
may ly many a time wounded and dead at the enemy's
feet? O here is a covenant of fin conquering grace, not
only a covenant of mercy to your ſoul, but of vengeance
to your luſts, ſaying, 'The day of vengeance is in mine.
heart, the year of my redeemed is come,' Isa. Ixiii. 4.
O then cry down the promiſed vengeance on all your
cruel ſoul enemies, ſaying, Lord, 'Have reſpect to the co-
venant.
Are you concerned about your ſoul poverty and indi-
gency, not only oppreſſed with enemies without, and with-
in, but alſo oppreſſed with wants and neceſſities, being
abſolutely poor and needy deſtitute of all good? O here
is a covenant of soul ſupplying grace, and of all needful
proviſion, ſaying,. When the poor and needy ſeek water,
and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirſt, I
the Lord will hear them, I the God of Jacob will not for-
sake them; I will pour water upon him that is thirſty, and
floods upon the dry ground,' then, plead the covenant
as the Pſalmiſt here in the following verſe, 'O let not the
oppreſſed return aſhamed, let the poor and needy praiſe
thy name. Have reſpect unto the covenant.'
In a word let your caſe be the worſt out of hell this co-
venant contains all ſalvation as a covenant of grace, of

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all grace, of ail ſort of cures for all ſort of caſes; and if
you can get yourſelf wrapt within the bond of this cove-
nant by believing and pleading it; then you draw God up-
on your intereſt, ſo that your concern is his concern your
intereſt is his intereſt, your cauſe is his cauſe' as the
Pſalmiſt ſhews here. ver. 22. Ariſe, O God, plead thine
own cauſe.' Stand ever upon his honour, and he will do
his own work in his own time. If ever you got grace to
draw a bill upon God as a covenanting, promiſing God in
Chriſt, and have any bills lying tabled before the throne,
and are ſometimes unable to plead and purſue the bill, with,
Lord, Have reſpect into the covenant, you have the
Strangest encouragement to wait on him and expect his
unswering the bill in due time; for he will rather work mar-
vellouſly, and create new worlds, rather turn all things to
nothing than quit his concern in, or give up with his re-
ſpect unto the covenant.
Are you concerned for the advancement of the kingdom
of Chriſt in the earth as you ought to be? Here is a co-
venant of grace to the Jews, and grace to the Gentile: ;
grace to the Heathen nations, ſaying, "I will give thee the
Heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of
the earth are thy poſſeſſion. Are you concerned about gene-
rations to come, about the rising generation, when there
is little hope of the preſent? O! here is a covenant of grace
to ſucceeding generations till the end of the world, I will
make thy name to be remembered in all generations; there-
fore ſhall the people praiſe thee for ever and ever.'
Are you-concerned about your latter end, and how it
halt fare with you when in the ſwellings of Jordan; how
you will fight the battle? O here is a covenant of death
conquering grace, ſaying, 'Death ſhall be ſwallowed up in
victory: of death, I will be thy plague ; O grave, I will
be thy deſtruction. Are you concerned about a goſpel.
miniſtry, and thoughtful whether it ſhall be continued ?
There is many a word in this covenant about it; but cſpe-
cially that, Chriſt is exalted to maintain and ſupport a
gospel diſpenſation to the end of the world, Mat. xxviii.
20. Whatever ſpot of the earth he chuſe or refuſe, he hav-
ing aſcended on high bath received gifts for men, yea,
for the rebellious alſo, that the Lord God might dwell a-
mong them,' Pſalm lxxviii. 18.

F I NI S.