莱尔主教upper_room-第58章
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thought he would have liked the child to live； and he fasted and
mourned till all was over。 Yet； when the last breath was drawn； he
said； with strong assurance of seeing the child again； 〃I shall go to
him； but he shall not return to me〃 （2 Sam。 12：23）。 But when； on the
contrary； Absalom died in battle…Absalom the beautiful Absalom the
darling of his heartbut Absalom who died in open sin against God and
his father； what did David say then？ Hear his hopeless cry； 〃 O
Absalom； my son； my son； would God I had died for thee！〃 （2 Sam。
18：33）。 Alas！ we none of us know when it is best for ourselves； our
children； and our friends to die。 We should pray to be able to say； 〃My
times are in Thy hands；〃 let it be when Thou wilt； where Thou wilt； and
how Thou wilt （Ps。 31：15）。
II。 Let us consider； secondly； what was the source of David's present
fort in life。 He says； 〃Though my house is not as I could wish； and
is the cause of much sorrow； God has made with me an everlasting
covenant； ordered in all things； and sure。〃 And then he adds； 〃 This is
all my salvation； and all my desire。〃
Now this word 〃covenant〃 is a deep and mysterious thing； when applied
to anything that God does。 We can understand what a covenant is between
man and man。 It is an agreement between two persons； by which they bind
themselves to fulfil certain conditions and do certain things。 But who
can fully understand a covenant made by the Eternal God？ It is
something far above us and out of sight。 It is a phrase by which He is
graciously pleased to acmodate Himself to our poor weak faculties；
but at best we can only grasp a little of it。
The covenant of God to which David refers as his fort must mean that
everlasting agreement or counsel between the Three Persons of the
Blessed Trinity which has existed from all eternity for the benefit of
all the living members of Christ。
It is a mysterious and ineffable arrangement whereby all things
necessary for the salvation of our souls； our present peace； and our
final glory； are fully and pletely provided； and all this by the
joint work of God the Father； God the Son； and God the Holy Ghost。 The
redeeming work of God the Son by dying as our Substitute on the
cross；the drawing work of God the Father by choosing and drawing us
to the Son；and the sanctifying work of the Holy Ghost in awakening；
quickening； and renewing our fallen nature；… are all contained in this
covenant； besides everything that the soul of the believer needs
between grace and glory。
Of this covenant； the Second Person of the Trinity is the Mediator
（Heb。 12：24）。 Through Him all the blessings and privileges of the
covenant are conveyed to every one of His believing members。 And when
the Bible speaks of God making a covenant with man； as in the words of
David； it means with man in Christ as a member and part of the Son。
They are His mystical body； and He is their Head； and through the Head
all the blessings of the eternal covenant are conveyed to the body。
Christ； in one word； is 〃the Surety of the covenant；〃 and through Him
believers receive its benefits。 This is the great covenant which David
had in view。
True Christians would do well to think about this covenant； remember
it； and roll the burden of their souls upon it far more than they do。
There is unspeakable consolation in the thought that the salvation of
our souls has been provided for from all eternity； and is not a mere
affair of yesterday。 Our names have long been in the Lamb's book of
life。 Our pardon and peace of conscience through Christ's blood； our
strength for duty； our fort in trial； our power to fight Christ's
battles； were all arranged for us from endless ages； and long before we
were born。 Here upon earth we pray； and read； and fight； and struggle；
and groan； and weep； and are often sore let and hindered in our
journey。 But we ought to remember that an Almighty eye has long been
upon us； and that we have been the subjects of divine provision though
we knew it not。
Above all； Christians should never forget that the everlasting covenant
is 〃ordered in all things and sure。〃 The least things in our daily life
are working together for good； though we may not see it at the time。
The very hairs of our head are all numbered； and not a sparrow falls to
the ground without our Father。 There is no luck or chance in anything
that happens to us。 The least events in our life are parts of an
everlasting scheme or plan in which God has foreseen and arranged
everything for the good of our souls。
Let us all try to cultivate the habit of remembering the everlasting
covenant。 It is a doctrine full of strong consolation； if it is
properly used。 It was not meant to destroy our responsibility。 It is
widely different from Mohammedan fatalism。 It is specially intended to
be a refreshing cordial for practical use in a world full of sorrow and
trial。 We ought to remember； amid the many sorrows and disappointments
of life； that 〃what we know not now； we shall know hereafter。〃 There is
a meaning and a 〃needs be〃 in every bitter cup that we have to drink；
and a wise cause for every loss and bereavement under which we mourn。
After all； how little we know！ We are like children who look at a
half…finished building； and have not the least idea what it will look
like when it is pleted。 They see masses of stone； and brick； and
rubbish； and timber； and mortar； and scaffolding； and dirt； and all in
apparent confusion。 But the architect who designed the building sees
order in all； and quietly looks forward with joy to the day when the
whole building will be finished； and the scaffolding removed and taken
away。 It is even so with us。 We cannot grasp the meaning of many a
providence in our lives； and are tempted to think that all around us is
confusion。 But we should try to remember that the great Architect in
heaven is always doing wisely and well； and that we are always being
〃led by the right way to a city of habitation〃 （Ps。 107：7）。 The
resurrection morning will explain all。 It is a quaint but wise saying
of an old divine； that 〃true faith has blight eyes； and can see even in
the dark。〃
It is recorded of Barnard Gilpin； a Reformer who lived in the days of
the Marian martyrdoms； and was called the Apostle of the North； that he
was famous for never murmuring or plaining； whatever happened to
him。 In the worst and blackest times he used to be always saying； 〃It
is all in God's everlasting covenant； and must be for good。〃 Towards
the close of Queen Mary's reign； he was suddenly summoned to e up
from Durham to London； to be tried for heresy； and in all probability；
like Ridley and Latimer； to be burned。 The good man quietly obeyed the
summons； and said to his mourning friends； 〃It is in the covenant； and
must be for good。〃 On his journey from Durham to London； his horse
fell； and his leg was broken； and he was laid up at a roadside inn。
Once more he was asked； 〃What do you think of this？〃 Again he replied；
〃It is all in the covenant； and must be for good。〃 And so it turned
out。 Weeks and weeks passed away before his leg was healed； and he was
able to resume his journey。 But during those weeks the unhappy Queen
Mary died； the persecutions were stopped； and the worthy old Reformer
returned to his northern home rejoicing。 〃Did I not tell you；〃 he said
to his friends； 〃that all was working together for good？〃
Well would it be for us if we had something of Barnard Gilpin's faith；
and could make practical use of the everlasting covenant as he did。
Happy is the Christian who can say from his heart these words；
〃I know not the way I am going；
But well do I know my Guide；
With a childlike trust I give my hand
To the mighty Friend by my side。
The only thing that I say to Him；
As He takes it； is 'Hold it fast；
Suffer me not to lose my way；
