lory, and the express
image of his person? By all enabled to behold his glory, is he received
as an enduring token of good, yea, as the abiding reality of all good.
All his people shall so receive him. In covenant, the heathen were given
to him for an inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his
possession. And the darkness which covers the earth, the gross darkness
that covers the people, shall be dispelled, and all ends of the earth
shall see the salvation of God. The sun was placed in heaven for a sign.
The Sun of Righteousness has arisen with healing in his beams. As an
everlasting sign, he shall throughout all ages point out his covenant
for his people. Their sun shall no more go down; the Lord shall be their
everlasting light.

And He is a token that the duties of God's Covenant had been performed,
and that, moreover, they would still be discharged. He himself fulfilled
the conditions of that covenant; and because of his righteousness
alone, the services of his people in all ages, are accepted. Their
acceptance implies that these were enjoined. In faith in a Saviour to
come, the saints in Old Testament times, while they waited on God's
ordinances, or were employed about the things of the world, endeavoured
to give obedience; and in faith thereafter, his people looking to him,
still attempt to obey him. His work was approved, and hence their faith
was not in vain; and these services were received as faithful attempts
to perform their obligations. That the Saviour hath overcome, is a token
to his people that they also shall overcome. And hence, in imitation of
Him who, as his Father's covenanted Servant, fulfilled his will, they
put forth their efforts to perform what he requires; and their
conviction is expressed by an apostle,--"I can do all things through
Christ which strengtheneth me."[737] To Him, for grace to give
obedience, all are commanded, and many are privileged, to look. "Thus
saith the Lord unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live:
but seek not Beth-el, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to
Beer-sheba."[738] To seek places where heathen deities were worshipped,
was to sacrifice unto those idols, and to swear by them. To seek the
Lord, accordingly, was to wait upon his ordinances, whether in
presenting offerings unto him, in vowing or otherwise calling on his
name. And hence appears the nature of the exercises to which both Jews
and Gentiles are called, when to them is realiz