Vol. 2

CHAPTER I.•295that of an earthly king :since it all consists in humiliation,abasement, poverty, weakness, &c.*'TO. As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets,which have been since the world began ;"All the saints are so many witnesses of God'sfaithfulness in his promises."71. That we should be saved from our enemies,and from the hand of all that hate us ;"The devil, death, and sin, are the enemies whichChrist came to conquer. Sin is the most dangerousand properly the only enemy we have to fear.of all,The devil is without us; death is only in our flesh;sin is in our will : and to destroy this last there, analmighty Saviour is necessary. Lord, be thou theSaviour and Deliverer of my will, and exert upon itthe omnipotence of thy saving hand !" 72. To perform the mercy promised to ourfathers, and to remember his holy covenant,"The old covenant is the figure of the union oralliance of the Word with our nature in the incarnation,and of the church with God by and in JesusChrist. An alliance all of mercy, both in the promiseand in the performance, and that in respect bothof the patriarchs and of Christians. The virtue ofChrist's mysteries extends even back to all past ages;and it is in the incarnation that Abraham and theother fathers receive the mercy and the covenantpromised to them, and eternal salvation." 73. The oath which he sware to our fatherAbraham,"How great is the goodness of God, to oblige himselfto his creatures by oath ! But how great theinfidelity of his creatures, who do not believe even