So that God the Father in
sovereignty declares, I will put my fear in their hearts, and they shall not
depart from me. I will set up one shepherd over them, into whose hands I will
give my people, and he shall feed them with my pardoning love through his
redeeming blood; even my servant David, David's Lord and David's son; he shall
feed them, with the counsels of my heart as seen in his person, with the purposes
of my mind as known in his life, with the honors of my law as discovered in his
death, and with the glory of my designs as exhibited in his exaltation. I will
make with them a covenant of peace, in their covenant head, the Shepherd who
shall feed them, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land, will
cause the reigning power of indwelling corruption to cease,
so that it may annoy but shall not destroy my true-born children; they shall dwell safely
in the wilderness, notwithstanding their enemies, conflicts, and dangers; and sleep
in the woods I will occasionally indulge them with my smile upon earth, and as
the effect thereof, they shall repose upon my bosom while traveling a waste howling
wilderness.
Thus we see the blessings of the
gospel given in sovereignty, and not one word can be found about the gift of
these unspeakable blessings depending upon any act, skill or worth of the
creature.
(By William Tant 1837 – An Offering of the
Gospel)
