de his chosen ones to know him. Proofs
of His gracious regard to them He has in all ages given. In the earlier
part of the history of time, their bodily senses he addressed: in all
time their souls, by the inhabitation of his Holy Spirit, experienced
the goodness of His grace. What He records of His transactions with His
people is after the manner of beings possessed of material qualities, as
well as gifted with undying spirits. Though not possessed of bodily
organs, He spake to men; though not material, He hears and sees them;
and He testifies to their deeds and thoughts. Unchanging, He acts not
nor thinks as men do. But through the illimitable resources of His
perfect character He has dealt with them as if He were possessed of the
faculties not merely of an infinite, but of a perfect material, being.
And what in the language of metaphor He has taught, or what He has
presented before the bodily organs and minds of all, they are called to
receive as bearing the character of truth. When His people, in vowing or
swearing to Him, take hold on Him, He covenants with them. Receiving
their various services offered to Him, He acknowledges them as covenant
children. They vow unto Him; He made promises to them. They swear unto
Him; He has sworn unto them. They avouch Him to be their God; He
avouches them to be His people.

On occasions of Covenanting, God has actually made promises, and sworn
to men. To Noah, to Abraham, to Isaac, to Jacob; to the whole people of
Israel at Sinai; to David and others in these circumstances He spake. To
Noah once and again with enlargement the promise of His covenant He
uttered. Abraham had addressed to Him the promise on various occasions
of this nature, by the Lord holding converse with him as a friend. With
the people of Israel the Lord talked face to face in the Mount, out of
the midst of the fire. To Jacob he spake in a vision of the night at
Bethel. And a covenant of royalty with David he made in like manner. And
the oath of God at such seasons was given. He sware to Noah. Though the
first inspired historian does not mention the fact, it is recorded.
"This is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the
waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I
would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee."[116] To Abraham he
sware,--"For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by
no greater, he sware by himself, saying, Surely blessing I will ble