well safely; and this is his name whereby he
shall be called, The Lord our Righteousness. Therefore, behold, the days
come, saith the Lord, that they shall no more say, The Lord liveth,
which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; but,
The Lord liveth, which brought up, and which led the seed of the house
of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had
driven them."[547] And this duty the Gentile nations also shall perform.
"Thou shalt swear, The Lord liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in
righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him
shall they glory."[548]

The Lord hath chosen his people to the adoption of sons. "Having
predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to
himself, according to the good pleasure of his will."[549] In that
character they individually, and also in a social capacity, vow to the
Lord, and keep his covenant. To manifest that that relation recognises
the necessity of self-dedication unto him, he says to each one called to
his service, "My son, give me thine heart."[550] That Israel might be
led into the wilderness, and thence to Canaan, not merely to give
continual obedience to his law, but at certain seasons, as a people, to
enter into solemn covenant with God, Pharaoh had addressed to him the
message, "Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my first-born: and
I say unto thee, let my son go, that he may serve me."[551] In terms
which describe the everlasting covenant between the Father and the
Surety of sinners, the covenant of royalty which God made with David is
also commemorated.[552] In that covenant Solomon was interested, and,
standing in such a relation, was the object of the promise, "I will be
his father, and he shall be my son."[553] Jacob, described as the Lord's
servant, and Israel as his elect, and who are represented as vowing and
swearing to the Lord, are acknowledged as his sons. "Thus saith the
Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come
concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye
me."[554] Israel, by falling into idolatry, manifestly disregarding the
solemn covenant obligations that had descended upon them, were reminded
of their sin, by a representation of that filial relation to God in
which their fathers stood, but to which many, notwithstanding their
professions, through unbelief, never attained. "When Israel was a child,
then I lo