Finally. By his love the Lord constrains his people to take hold on his Covenant. Because of the love of God, his chosen are called at once to duty and privilege. Duty they perform through the influence of his love shed abroad in their hearts; and they enjoy privilege by his love extending to them. The Lord Jesus said to his disciples, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." The injunction extends to the command regarding the commemoration of his death,--"This do in remembrance of me."[655] And his people, under the influence of love to him, obey. "For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again."[656] But in drawing near to God in the ordinance of the Supper, and in other explicit acts of Covenanting, they enjoy the manifestations of his love. "He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love."[657] Even as Jonathan, after David and he had entered into a covenant of the Lord, caused David to swear again because he loved him,[658] the Lord causes his people, whom by his love he had drawn to himself, to swear by his name. "I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee."[659] "I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love."[660] Hence, In conclusion. The observing of the other duties of God's Covenant, as well as the taking hold of it, is a privilege. Whatever is enjoyed in communion with God is inseparably associated with good to follow. As in the keeping of his commandments there is a great reward, so the blessedness of high privilege is enduring. The strength afforded for duty is a manifestation that privilege has been enjoyed. And the bringing forth of the fruits of righteousness, no less than the high enjoyment which fitted for causing them to abound, is a special blessing. If it is a privilege to vow to God, it is a privilege to observe the vow. If his mercy is seen in the giving of a heart to make it, certainly it is manifest in the granting of spiritual vigour fully to perform its promise. If it is a blessedness to commune with Him of all that is within the heart, can it be else to realize, throughout the whole period of the performance of engagements solemnly made to him, the promise of his Covenant,--"I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye."[661] FOOTNOTES: [617] John i. 11, 12. [618] Ps. cxlviii. 14. [619] 1 Sam. ii. 30; see also John xii. 26. [620] Is. xxix. 13. [621] Ps. lxxiii. 27, 28. [622] Eph. ii. 12, 13. [623] Heb. x. 22; see also ver. 19, 23. [624] 2 Kings xxiv. 20. [625] Is. viii. 14. [626] Exod. xxxiii. 14. [627] Ps. lxviii. 8. [628] Num. vi. 24-26. [629] Ps. xcv. 2. [630] Ps. cxl. 13. [631] 1 Tim. vi. 16 [632] Exod. xxxiii. 20. [633] 2 Cor. iv. 6.