in
Covenanting with him, was his sanctuary. His covenant with his people,
as that with Abraham, is a holy covenant. That his people may enter
into covenant renewedly, the Lord himself will sanctify them. His
Sabbath, the sign of his covenant, he gave them, that they might know
this.[562] This they will continue to experience. Many sware by those
that were no gods, but to his own people as swearing by his name he
promises, "Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord God; for the day
of the Lord is at hand: for the Lord hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath
bid (sanctified) his guests."[563] In this, ruin may be threatened to
his enemies; but in it, certainly, is implied his gracious procedures to
his saints. By the Holy Ghost they are sanctified, that they may
dedicate themselves to God, and thereafter serve him. "Putting you in
mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God, that I should be
the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of
God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being
sanctified by the Holy Ghost."[564] This offering up or oblation of the
Gentiles, was that urged in these terms,--"I beseech you therefore,
brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable
service."[565] And by the blood of the Everlasting Covenant are such set
apart to this. "Wherefore, Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people
with his own blood, suffered without the gate." "By him therefore let us
offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of
our lips, giving thanks to (or confessing) his name. But to do good, and
to communicate, forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well
pleased."[566]

To them belong the benefits of redemption that accompany and flow from
acceptance with God. These are,

Assurance of God's love. All believers may not enjoy this blessing; few
may attain to it in any comforting or satisfactory measure; yet it is
attainable. "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in
himself."[567] "Ourselves also, which have the first-fruits of the
Spirit."[568] "He that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will
love him, and manifest myself to him." "If a man love me, he will keep
my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and
make our abode with him."[569] It is provided. It is vouchsafed as a
provision of the Everlasting