me? Yea, there is no
God, (literally, rock.) I know not any."[76] This approval has been
explicitly declared in this exercise. To invite to the performance of
this act, there were used the words, "Return, ye backsliding children,
and I will heal your backslidings." And in Covenanting individually, not
less than socially, accepting the invitation, these said, "Behold, we
come unto thee, for thou art the Lord our God. Truly in vain is
salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains;
truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel."[77] The making of
this approval has been commemorated. Certainly not less in taking hold
on God's Covenant did David express his satisfaction in it, than in the
pleasing record given by him in these words, "He hath made with me an
everlasting Covenant, ordered in all things and sure: for this is all my
salvation, and all my desire."[78] And in all those circumstances in
which, by performing this act, the believer will declare himself to be
on the Lord's side, this approval will be made. "Then said Jesus unto
the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord,
to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life."[79]

Secondly. This is a solemn act of accepting Christ and all his benefits.
It has been performed by many who had previously known the grace of
God. The nation of Israel, when about to enter the promised land, were
generally a people who feared God.[80] They had heard of the promise
made to Abraham, "In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be
blessed," and by faith must have been looking forward to the Messiah
thus foretold. But on the occasion of their renovation of God's Covenant
in the land of Moab, they were exhorted through Moses to make a _choice_
of Him as their life, and of that life which comes by Him alone.
"Therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: that thou
mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and
that thou mayest cleave unto him; (for he is thy life, and the length of
thy days;) that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto
thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them."[81]
David illustrating the practice of many, in special exercises performed
this. Take his record of one of these. "O my soul, thou hast said unto
the Lord, Thou art my Lord."--"Their sorrows shall be multiplied that
hasten after another god: their drink-offerings of