We might here consider the covenant of grace as containing in it all the promises that respect the beginning, carrying on, or completing the salvation of his people; and these relate not only to what God will do for them; but what he will enable them to be, and do, in those things that concern their faithfulness to him, whereby they have the highest security that they shall behave themselves as becomes a covenant-people. Thus he assures them, that he will be to them a God, that is, that he will glorify his divine perfections in bestowing on them the special and distinguishing blessings of the covenant; and that they shall be to him a people, that is, shall behave themselves so as that they shall not, by apostacy from him, oblige him to disown his relation to them, or exclude them from his covenant. He has not only encouraged them to expect those great things that he would do for them, provided they yielded obedience to his law; but that he would _put his law into their inward parts, and write it in their hearts_, whereby they might be disposed to obey him: and when he says, that they _shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord_, he gives them to understand that they should not only teach or instruct one other in the knowledge of God, which respects their being favoured with the external means of grace; but that they _should all know him, from the least of them unto the greatest_. This not only denotes that they should have a speculative knowledge of divine truth, but a saving knowledge thereof; which is inseparably connected with _life eternal_, John xvii. 3. as appears from its being accompanied with, or flowing from forgiveness of sin, as it immediately follows; _for I will forgive their iniquity_; and this is expressed with a peculiar emphasis, which is certainly inconsistent with their falling from a justified state, when it is said, _I will remember their sin no more_, Jer. xxxi. 33, 34. And elsewhere, when God speaks of his _making an everlasting covenant_ with his people, chap. xxxii. 40. he promises that _he will not turn away from them to do them good_; and, inasmuch as they are prone, by reason of the deceitfulness of their hearts, to turn aside from him, he adds, _I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me_; it is not only said that he will not turn from them, if they fear him; but he gives them security in this covenant, that they shall fear him: can we therefore conclude that they, in whom this covenant is so far made good, that God has put his fear in their hearts, which is supposed in their being believers, shall not attain the other blessing promised, to wit, that of their not departing from him?