d ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my
chosen: for the Lord God shall slay thee, and call his servants by
another name. That he who blesseth himself in the earth, shall bless
himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth, shall
swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten,
and because they are hid from mine eyes." But concerning these words, as
well as others that precede them, it is said by Him whose Spirit
dictated them, "Behold it is written before me."[587] How elevated is
the rejoicing of God's Covenant people! Theirs is a joy which the world
cannot give nor take away. With it a stranger cannot intermeddle; it is
unspeakable and full of glory! It is the joy of the Lord!

Increase of grace. The Covenant people are a remnant according to the
election of grace.[588] To that grace, therefore, which comes from the
free favour of God they were chosen by him. They are heirs of the grace
of life;[589] and, consequently, in God's purposes, according to his
Covenant, they were set apart to the enjoyment of grace that should be
progressive. They are planted in the house of God, and grow up and
flourish in his courts; and there they still bring forth fruit in old
age. They are the planting of the Lord; and according to his purpose, as
well as to his actual disposal of them and their own engagements to be
for Him, they stand there. Passing towards the heavenly temple, they go
on from strength to strength. In taking hold on him, in vowing and
swearing to him, they do so, and find that the Lord indeed is their
strength. And as they find thus that the Lord ordains strength for
them, they know that he had so ordained at first. To them that fear the
name of the Lord, and accordingly avouch him to be their God, is made
the promise, "But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of
Righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth,
and grow up as calves of the stall."[590] That promise, as well as every
other, is due to his immutable counsel.[591] Finally, the command is
given, "Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ."[592] To grow in grace is, therefore, co-ordinate with
increase in the knowledge of Christ--even of that knowledge which is
attained to in cleaving to his Covenant. And he himself teaches, that
fitness to do so was provided according to his purpose. "Ye have not
chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye s