The Eternal Covenant of Grace and Peace

Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.—Psalm 119:165

All inward peace and tranquility of mind arise from the knowledge and love of the law of the Lord. But hath not the apostle told us, "the law worketh wrath?"—Rom. 4:15. Have not believers experienced a sense of wrath in the conscience, through "the knowledge of sin by the law?" Yes, verily. But this law, the moral law, is subservient to the everlasting law of love, the eternal covenant of grace and peace; therefore in time "it was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made;" even Jesus, the seed of the woman, in whom the law of peace and salvation centered; of whom the ceremonial law was a shadow; and by whose holy life, the moral law received perfect obedience to all its demands, and a full satisfaction for all its curses and penalties by his sin-atoning sacrifice.

This eternal law, or purpose of God, was manifested by promise from Jehovah himself to the sin-convicted pair immediately after their fall; and confirmed again both by promise and oath to Abraham and his seed, which is Christ. "This law or covenant that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect."—Galatians 3:17. No; this law of life, by promise, is "sure to all the seed." It is immutable, it is unchangeable, therefore not one of them can perish. Hence this law of salvation is the delight of believers. They have great peace from it. For with Paul, they know "the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made us free from the law of sin and death."—Romans 8:2. Hence with David they say, "O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day." Though many things from within and without grieve and offend them, yet nothing from the law of grace and truth which came by Jesus Christ shall. Christ is not "a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence to them; they stumble not at the word of his grace." They are not offended because it teacheth that salvation is all of grace, according to election, through the blood and righteousness of Christ; applied to their souls in faith by the Holy Spirit. No; all this is their consolation and joy. The commands of Jesus do not offend them, they are all in love: "His commandments are not grievous."—1 John 5:3. Thus, all their joy and rejoicing is in Christ Jesus only, while they confidently and comfortably hope for eternal life, by God's purpose and grace, according to the everlasting law of love, and his free gift by Jesus Christ.— Romans 6:23.

- William Mason, A Spiritual Treasury for the Children of God, Volume 1, August 9