ovenant of the Lord, caused David to swear again
because he loved him,[658] the Lord causes his people, whom by his love
he had drawn to himself, to swear by his name. "I have loved thee with
an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn
thee."[659] "I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love."[660]
Hence,

In conclusion. The observing of the other duties of God's Covenant, as
well as the taking hold of it, is a privilege. Whatever is enjoyed in
communion with God is inseparably associated with good to follow. As in
the keeping of his commandments there is a great reward, so the
blessedness of high privilege is enduring. The strength afforded for
duty is a manifestation that privilege has been enjoyed. And the
bringing forth of the fruits of righteousness, no less than the high
enjoyment which fitted for causing them to abound, is a special
blessing. If it is a privilege to vow to God, it is a privilege to
observe the vow. If his mercy is seen in the giving of a heart to make
it, certainly it is manifest in the granting of spiritual vigour fully
to perform its promise. If it is a blessedness to commune with Him of
all that is within the heart, can it be else to realize, throughout the
whole period of the performance of engagements solemnly made to him, the
promise of his Covenant,--"I will instruct thee and teach thee in the
way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye."[661]

FOOTNOTES:

[617] John i. 11, 12.

[618] Ps. cxlviii. 14.

[619] 1 Sam. ii. 30; see also John xii. 26.

[620] Is. xxix. 13.

[621] Ps. lxxiii. 27, 28.

[622] Eph. ii. 12, 13.

[623] Heb. x. 22; see also ver. 19, 23.

[624] 2 Kings xxiv. 20.

[625] Is. viii. 14.

[626] Exod. xxxiii. 14.

[627] Ps. lxviii. 8.

[628] Num. vi. 24-26.

[629] Ps. xcv. 2.

[630] Ps. cxl. 13.

[631] 1 Tim. vi. 16

[632] Exod. xxxiii. 20.

[633] 2 Cor. iv. 6.

[634] Is. xlv. 22; see also ver. 23, 24.

[635] Page 222.

[636] The former occurs in the original of Is. xxviii. 15, and the
latter in that of Is. xxxviii. 18.

[637] Ezek. x. 13; and Rev. iv. 8.

[638] Is. xxix. 10-12.

[639] Is. xlii. 17, 18.

[640] Rev. v. 10.

[641] Is. xlii. 6.

[642] Gal. iv. 8, 9.

[643] Num. xii. 6.

[644] Ps. xxv. 14.

[645] 1 Chron. xxviii. 9.

[646] John xvii. 3.

[647] Ps. iv. 5, 6.

[648] Is. xlv. 19; see also Rom. xii. 1; xv. 16.

[649] Jer. xliv. 26.

[650] Jer. iv. 2.

[651] Hag. ii. 5.