Covenant. "The secret of the Lord is with
them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant."[570] Those who
enjoy it know that to it they were elected. "Knowing, brethren beloved,
your election of God."[571] And from the invitation to enter upon
eternal life, that will be given to the righteous by the glorious Judge
of all on his high throne, it is manifest that from the days of
eternity, that blessing, preparatory for the final glory, was secured to
them. He will say, "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom
prepared for you from the foundation of the world."[572] Among the
benefits introductory to the final glory, which, not less than that
glory, were laid up for them, appears the earnest of the Spirit. "In
whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel
of your salvation: in whom also, after that ye believed, ye were sealed
with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our
inheritance."[573]

Peace of conscience. It is according to the purpose of God that faith is
exercised. "Unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ,--to believe on
him."[574] And by that faith, through which justification, a fruit
itself of the Divine counsels, is bestowed, and which is in exercise in
Covenanting, peace with God is enjoyed. "Therefore, being justified by
faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."[575]
Righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost are all vouchsafed to
the believer; all of them are covenant blessings. The arrangements of
Divine mercy secure righteousness, and therefore all of these. The new
creature, born from above, ranks among the Israel of God, who are by
covenant engaged to his service; and on such the peace of God is
invoked. "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing,
nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to
this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of
God."[576] God, in covenant, is the God of peace. Believers say
concerning Christ, "He is our peace."[577] The Covenant of God is a
covenant of peace;--peace of conscience: peace with Himself: peace in
all its manifestations. And that peace, which Christ came to secure,
which he preached, and which he commanded, as his best blessing, to
descend upon his people, proceeded from that counsel whence came all the
displays of God's love--the Counsel of Peace.

Joy in the Holy Ghost. "The kingdom of God is not meat and drin