promise of the faithful God. It is everlasting, because the One in whom the promise was made, has "abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light." He magnified the law, and made it honourable. It is everlasting, because it is established. Heb. viii. 6. It is everlasting, because it can never decay or wax old, therefore it is emphatically called the "New Covenant." Heb. viii. 8. It is everlasting, because it is sealed by the blood of the Great Shepherd of the sheep-that blood which has perfectly satisfied Divine justice, and cleanseth us from all sin. Lastly, it is everlasting, because Christ is risen from the dead having borne all the condemnation and wrath due to His people, both the Shepherd and the sheep are free; and the Holy Ghost now says, "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth." &c.

The terms of the new covenant are briefly comprehended in God's "I will." This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, "I WILL put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts. I WILL be to them a God, and THEY SHALL be to me a people. I WILL be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." Heb. viii. 10-12. Thus we see, that while bondage, guilt, curse, wrath, condemnation and death, are the results of the first covenant; love, liberty, justification and redemption, are the blessed accompaniments of the second. The Lord Jesus Christ

effected our full deliverance from the law, "that we might receive the adoption of sons." Gal. iv. 5.

On this ground of glorious liberty, God exhorts us to "STAND FAST ;" and warns us against being "entangled again with the yoke of bondage." Gal. v. 1. Well has the Apostle said "by faith ye stand;" for the moment we cease to exercise faith on God's promise in Christ, and lean to our "own understanding," our souls occupy a different position, sacrifice the enjoyment of the freedom Christ has made for us, and become entangled with perplexity and bondage. Peace cannot long be maintained in our souls, without, in some measure, thus apprehending our redemption from the law, and liberty of sonship; which blessed truth, instead of inclining those who sincerely receive it to practical ungodliness, (as the enemy would suggest,) will be realized as indispensably necessary to holy and happy service.

Failure is the sad experience of us all, and the neverfailing promise of the everlasting God alone can renew our consolation and strength. This all God's people prove. Here it was that the aged man after God's own heart found a peaceful shelter at the close of his pilgrimage; "Although," said David, "my house be not so with God; YET HE hath MADE with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure." 2 Sam. xxiii. 5. Beloved, "Let us hold fast (see margin) grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear." Heb. xii. 28.

JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN AFTER JACOB'S

DEATH.

Genesis 1. 15–21.

WHEN Jacob died and was buried, a great discovery was made respecting the state of Joseph's brethren. It then appeared that they had not trusted in Joseph himself, as they had been called to do; that they had not committed themselves to him, as he had deserved at their hands; that they had not as yet understood his grace, his heart, as it really was towards them.

There had been a common point between him and them, and they were really rejoicing in that. It was Jacob's presence, and not Joseph's heart, that was the object of their trust.

This came short of simple faith in Joseph. This was real ignorance of grace. They had not boldness by reason of what Joseph was, and of what he had done for them but they trusted in a circumstance, or in a certain condition of things, and that was Jacob's presence.

This was unbelief. And when the circumstance is changed, their hearts betray this unbelief.

They had been guilty of no new offence against

Joseph; had they, they might well have feared, till by confession and repentance, they regained the liberty of his presence. But this was not so; and therefore, their want of boldness was the sure witness that their apprehension of Joseph himself, had not been the ground of their previous rest and confidence. Precious, though searching! We may ask, what do we say if alone with God? Suppose that countenance is withdrawn from us, that fellowship and light in which once we dwelt and delighted be withdrawn, and we are left to ourselves with God, will it be found that our confidence had been all along with Him? that we had so learnt His grace, so read the heart of Jesus, that the clouding or withdrawal of a Jacob's presence changes not,-clouds not, the atmosphere in which we have been living? These are healthful enquiries. Joseph wept when he discovered that he had been so treated. But though he wept, they lost nothing. They had failed in their simple confidence in him, but he had in no way changed in his truthful love to them. He wept, but they lost nothing. He establishes their souls by fresh assurances of his love, though he grieves that through unbelief they should ever have needed this.

A VOICE OF WARNING.-Eve, Achan, and David, all fell through the lust of the eye. Gen. iii. 6. Josh. vii. 21. 2 Sam. xi. 2. Hold Thou me up, and I shall be safe!

THE BELIEVER'S ANCHOR.

"Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil." Heb. vi. 19.

WHAT a volume of mercy our covenant God and Father has unfolded in these few words, for the consolation and support of His dear people! The foregoing verse assures us of His desire that we might have a "strong consolation," by the immutability of His counsel, and its confirmation by oath; while in this verse, He would have us rest with perfect composure of spirit, as those whose anchor is cast, and whose souls are fixed on an immoveable, and unfailing foundation. "We which have believed, do enter into rest." Heb. iv. 3.

The symbol of an anchor is used, to teach us the reality, certainty, and fixedness of our salvation in Christ, who is " for us entered" within the veil. "Because I live," said He, "ye shall live also." The fact that the Lord Jesus has been raised from the dead, is the sure proof that He has been accepted for us.

Thus we find