d, the true Israel he acknowledges as
formed for, or set apart to, that high distinction by himself; and that
the Apostle had this in view, his quotations from the prophets here
given declare. It was of a people who should be objects of this promise,
"And it shall be at that day, saith the Lord, that thou shalt call me
Ishi, and shalt call me no more Baali,"[512] and on whom the privileges
thereafter described should be conferred, that was predicted the
blessedness, "I will call them my people, which were not my people; and
her beloved, which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass that in
the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall
they be called the children of the living God."[513] It is of those, to
whom Covenanting[514] with God, refers the promise, "The remnant of
Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more
again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the Lord, the
Holy One of Israel, in truth. The remnant shall return, even the remnant
of Jacob, unto the mighty God,"[515] that Esaias also crieth, "Though
the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a
remnant shall be saved."[516] And it was of those who, heirs of
Abraham's faith, which was counted to him for righteousness, were, as he
was, taken into covenant with God, and like whom none remained in the
cities of the plain when these were overthrown, that "Esaias said
before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as
Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha."[517]

The Covenant people of God are an appointed people. Even as a law was
appointed in Israel; even as an everlasting Covenant, ordered in all
things and sure, was appointed; so were they. "And who, as I, shall
call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I
appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall
come, let them shew unto them."[518] The same term, denoting to appoint,
in each of the three cases is used. It is used in original of the
passage, "He gave (appointed) to the sea his decree;" and in this
acceptation of it signifies, in sovereignty to ordain. The ancient
people included first the people of Israel;[519] and they are the
Covenant people of all nations, and of every age, members of that church
whose date is of ancient days. By the prophet who speaks of their
appointment, their practice as Covenanters vowing to the Lord, in a
familiar passage is e