hepherd--"and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant."[704] The
good promised to those who keep the sabbath, whether viewed as positive
privilege, or as a disposition and fitness to obey Divine injunctions,
is most extensive; while the evil threatened for the desecration of it
is appalling indeed. What less than the highest privileges of the saints
on earth is offered in the promise, "And it shall come to pass, if ye
diligently hearken unto me, saith the Lord, to bring in no burden
through the gates of this city on the sabbath-day, but hallow the
sabbath-day, to do no work therein; then shall there enter into the
gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David,
riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their princes, the men of
Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and this city shall remain for
ever. And they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the places
about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, and
from the mountains, and from the south, bringing burnt-offerings, and
sacrifices, and meat-offerings, and incense, and bringing sacrifices of
praise, unto the house of the Lord"? And how dreadful the threatening,
"But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath-day, and not
to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the
sabbath-day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it
shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be
quenched"?[705] But as a sign of God's covenant, we are called to
contemplate also,

The Priesthood. A people in covenant with God, and a nation of priests
are one. "Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my
covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people:
for all the earth is mine. And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests,
and an holy nation."[706] At a period long posterior to the days of
Moses, and in reference even to gospel times, was applied the same
character, "Ye shall be named the priests of the Lord; men shall call
you the ministers of our God."[707] The apostle Peter, addressing the
people of Israel scattered throughout sundry regions, thus also
describes them,--"Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual
house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable
to God by Jesus Christ.... Ye are a chosen generation, a royal
priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth
the prais