November 17

"His seed shall endure for ever." Psalms 89:36.

DAVID was peculiarly related to the Messiah. He wrote much concerning him; he yielded the most varied and complete type of him ever exhibited; he was at once his Lord and his son. Hence the name of the former is often applied to the latter, and what is spoken of the one is often to be extended to the other. It must be so applied to do any thing like justice to the force of the language. And in this case we are more than justified by numerous appropriations of men in the New Testament, who spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Upon this principle, the words before us insure the perpetuation of his people: "His seed shall endure for ever." We shall say nothing of their number, though if we were asked the question, "Are there few that shall be saved?" we could boldly answer, No. Ignorance and bigotry have always diminished them; but they shall be found, when gathered together, a countless multitude.

But why are they called his seed? Because they derive their being, as new creatures, from him. "Every one that doeth righteousness is born of him." In such a relation we look for resemblance. This, indeed, is not invariably the case with regard to children. Some of them have little of the father's likeness, either in features or in temper. But all Christians resemble Christ. They bear the image of the heavenly. If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. The relation infers duty. It does away indeed with all servilemess, but not with service. "A seed shall serve him." "And I will spare them," says he, "as a man spareth his own son that serveth him." "A son honoreth his father." Every Christian, therefore, will ask, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" The relation confers honor. His seed are descended from One who is higher than the kings of the earth, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and whose holiness and goodness are infinite. Such honor have all his saints.

But what a privilege does it bespeak! There is an amazing instinct in brute creatures towards their offspring. It seems to transform the very nature of some of them. The timid sheep and the fearful bird become bold and daring on behalf of their young. As to man, if he were not to provide for his own, he would be contemned by all around him; and were he a pretender to religion, he would be considered as denying the faith, and be deemed worse than an infidel. Will the Lord Jesus neglect his offspring? Will he suffer them to want any good thing? Will he not educate them; chastise them; resent every injury that is done them; acknowledge them; defend them?

Observe not only their relation to him, but their perpetuity: "They shall endure for ever." They die as well as others; they often die earlier; yet, consistently with this obvious and undeniable fact, they shall continue for ever in three senses. First, in the succession of their race to the end of the world. It will never be cut off. "The church in danger!" What church? "Upon this rock," says he, "I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Yea, his people shall continue to increase in number and excellency. We shall leave the world better than we entered it, and so will our children, till Jerusalem shall be established, and be made a praise in the whole earth.

Secondly, in their religious character to the end of their own life. If left to themselves, we could not be sure of their persevering to the end of a day or an hour. But they are kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation. He upholdeth them with his hand. They shall hold on their way. In all their dangers they shall be more than conquerors. Thirdly, in their glorified state through eternal ages. The world passeth away, and the lusts thereof, but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. All other greatness is only for life; it is frequently less durable; at death it ends. But then the Christian's greatness—I will not say begins; for it began the moment he prayed—but then it continues, increases, and is perfected. Death only affects one part of him; the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is life because of righteousness. And even the body shall be revived and improved, and made like the Saviour's own glorious body, and be as immortal as the soul. Every thing here is variable, fading, perishing.

"All, all on earth is shadow; all beyond Is substance—the reverse is Folly's creed— How solid all, where change shall be no more!"

Where we shall have not only endless existence, but endless existence beatified; where, if we have treasure, moth and rust will not corrupt, nor thieves break through and steal; where, if we have a house, it will not be a house made with hands, but eternal in the heavens; where, if we have a crown of glory, it fadeth not away; where, if we have friendships, we shall part no more; where we shall be FOR EVER WITH THE LORD.