e their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord
God."[675] But he had also been charged with the promise, "I will give
them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take
the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of
flesh; that they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and
do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God;"[676] and
was enjoined to give the prediction, "Nevertheless, I will remember my
covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and I will establish unto
thee an everlasting covenant."[677] But the glory of the God of Israel
meanwhile had appeared--that glory which was seen by him at first, "as
the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain."[678]
That his ministry was undertaken by the authority of a God in covenant
it signified; and announced the certain success which should follow his
labours, in the conversion of some to be won by offers of mercy, and
abiding tokens of reconciliation and peace.

The prophetic part of the Book of Revelation--unfolding the history of
the Church of God, from the days of the apostles till the end of time,
is introduced by a vision presenting this covenant sign--"A throne was
set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look
upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round
about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald."[679] To the whole
period, therefore, of the Church's later history, that sign was to
apply. The "four living creatures"--emblematical of the ministers of the
gospel, who are also presented in that vision, by this are encouraged to
exclaim, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is
to come;" and by this are they and the four and twenty elders, as a
people in covenant with God, led to adore the Lamb, saying, "Thou art
worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast
slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred,
and tongue, and people, and nation;" and to seek to be enabled, as a
race wholly devoted to God, truly to say, "Thou hast made us unto our
God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."[680]

And, finally, before the witnesses for Jesus, ordained to witness a good
confession, and in opposition to ignorance and sin in the world, to
abide by, yea even to renew, their confession and wonted vows, made by
all the solemnity of an oath, the same sign i