A Golden Key to Open Hidden Treasures, Text (9 of 9)

A Golden Key to Open Hidden Treasures · Text (9 of 9)

p. 339Firſt, let all believers know for their comfort, that in 1this Imputed Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, there is enough to ſatisfie the juſtice of God to the uttermoſt farthing, and to take off all his judicial anger and fury. The mediatory righteouſneſs of Chriſt, is ſo perfect, ſo full, ſo exact p. 340ſo compleat, and ſo fully ſatisfactory to the Juſtice of God, as that Divine Juſtice cries out, I have enough, and I require no more; I have found a ranſom, and I am fully pacified towards you. 'Tis certain that Chriſt was truly Ezek. 16. 61, 62, 63. Heb. 10. 10, 11, 12, 14. Iſa. 53. 4, 5, 6.Ezek 16:61Ezek 16:62Ezek 16:63Heb 10:10Heb 10:11Heb 10:12Heb 10:14Isa 53:4Isa 53:5Isa 53:6and properly, a ſacrifice for ſin; and 'tis as certain, that our ſins were the meritorious cauſe of his ſufferings, he did put himſelf into poor ſinners ſtead, he took their guilt upon him, and did undergo that puniſhment, which they ſhould have undergone; he did die, and ſhed his blood, Rom. 5. 6,—12.Rom 5:6that he might thereby atone God, and expiate ſin: and therefore we may ſafely and boldly conclude, that Jeſus Chriſt hath ſatisfied the juſtice of God to the uttermoſt; Heb. 7. 25.Heb 7:25ſo that now the believing ſinner may rejoyce and triumph in the juſtice, as well as in the mercy of God; for doubtleſs, the Mediatory righteouſneſs of Chriſt, was infinitely more ſatisfactory, and pleaſing to God, than all the ſins of believers could be diſpleaſing to him; God took more pleaſure and delight in the bruiſing of his ſon, in Iſa. 53. 10.Isa 53:10the humiliation of his ſon, and he ſmelt a ſweeter ſavour in his ſacrifice, than all our ſins could poſſibly offend him or provoke him: when a believer caſts his eyes upon his many thouſand ſinful commiſſions and omiſſions, no wonder if he fears and trembles; but then, when he looks upon Chriſt's ſatisfaction, he may ſee himſelf acquitted, and rejoyce; for if there be no charge, no accuſation aagainſt Rom. 8. 33, 34, 35, 36, 37.Rom 8:33Rom 8:34Rom 8:35Rom 8:36Rom 8:37the Lord Jeſus, there can be none againſt the believer: Chriſt's expiatory ſacrifice hath fully ſatisfied divine juſtice; and upon that very ground, every believer hath cauſe to triumph in Chriſt Jeſus, and in that righteouſneſs 2 Cor. 2. 14. Rev. 14. 4, 5.2 Cor 2:14Rev 14:4Rev 14:5of his, by which he ſtands juſtified before the Throne of God. Chriſt is a perſon of infinite tranſcendent worth and excellency, and it makes highly for his honour to juſtifie believers, in the moſt ample, and glorious way imaginable, &c. and what way is that, but by working out for, and then inveſting them with a righteouſneſs adequate to the Law of God; a righteouſneſs, that ſhould be every way commenſurate to the miſerable eſtate of fallen man, and to the holy deſign of the glorious p. 341God. 'Tis the high honour of the ſecond Adam, that he hath reſtored to fallen man a more glorious righteouſneſs, than that he loſt in the firſt Adam: and it would be high blaſphemy in the eyes of Angels and men, for any mortal to aſſert, that the ſecond Adam, our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, was leſs powerful to ſave, than the firſt Adam was to deſtroy. The ſecond Adam is able to ſave to the uttermoſt, all ſuch as come to God through him. The ſecond Adam is able to ſave to all ends and purpoſes perfectly, Heb. 7. 25. foreign, To the uttermoſt of time, at all times, and for ever, &c.Heb 7:25ſaith Beza: perpetually, or for ever, ſaith Tremel: in aeternum, ſaith Syrus: in perpetuum, ſaith the vulg. ad plenum, ſaith Eraſmus: ad perfectum, ſaith Stapulenſis: he is able to ſave to the uttermoſt obligation of the Law, preceptive as well as penal; and to bring in perfect righteouſneſs, as well as perfect innocency: he is able to ſave to the uttermoſt demand of divine juſtice, by that perfect ſatisfaction, that he has given to divine juſtice; Chriſt is Iſa. 63. 1.Isa 63:1mighty to ſave; and as he is mighty to ſave, ſo he loves to ſave poor ſinners, in ſuch a way, wherein he may moſt magnifie his own might; and therefore, he will purchaſe their pardon with his blood, and make reparation to divine 1 Pet. 1. 18, 19.1 Pet 1:181 Pet 1:19juſtice, for all the wrongs and injuries, which fallen man had done to his Creator, and his Royal Law; and beſtow upon him a better righteouſneſs, than that which Adam loſt; and bring him into a more ſafe, high, honourable, and durable eſtate, than that which Adam fell from, when he was in his created perfection. All the attributes of God, do acquieſs in the Imputed Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, ſo that a believer may look upon the holineſs, Pſal. 4. 8.Ps 4:8juſtice, and righteouſneſs of God; and rejoyce, and lay himſelf down in peace. I have read in ſtory, that Pilat being called to Rome, to give an account unto the Emperour, for ſome miſ-government, and male-adminiſtration, he put on the ſeamleſs coat of Chriſt; and all the time that he had that coat upon his back, Caeſar's fury was abated: Chriſt has put his coat, his Robe of righteouſneſs Iſa. 61. 10.Isa 61:10upon every believer, upon which account, all the Judicial anger, wrath, and fury of God, towards believers p. 342ceaſeth; Iſa. 54. 9. For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have ſworn that the waters of Noah, ſhould no more go over the earth, ſo I have ſworn, that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee: verſ. 10. For the mountains ſhall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindneſs ſhall not depart from thee, neither ſhall the covenant of my peace be removed ſaith the Lord that hath merey on thee. But,

Secondly, Know for your comfort, that, this imputed, 2this mediatory Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, takes away all your unrighteouſneſs, it cancels every bond, it takes Iſa. 53. 5, 6, 7. Coloſ. 2. 12, 13, 14, 15.Isa 53:5Isa 53:6Isa 53:7Col 2:12Col 2:13Col 2:14Col 2:15away all iniquity, and anſwers for all your ſins. Lord, here are my ſins of omiſſion, and here are my ſins of commiſſion; but the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, hath anſwered for them all: here are my ſins againſt the Law, and here are my ſins againſt the Goſpel, and here are my ſins againſt the offers of grace, the tenders of grace, the ſtrivings of grace, the bowels of grace; but the Rightcouſneſs of Chriſt hath anſwered for them all. I have read, that, when a Cordial was offered to a godly man that was ſick; Oh (ſaid he) the cordial of cordials which I daily take, is, that the blood of Jeſus Chriſt cleanſeth us from all our ſins. Oh ſirs. it would be high blaſphemy, for any to 1 John 1. 7.1 John 1:7imagine, that there ſhould be more demerit in any ſin, yea, in all ſin, to condemn a believer, than there is merit in Rom. 8. 1, 33, 34, 35.Rom 8:1Rom 8:33Rom 8:34Rom 8:35Chriſt's righteouſneſs, to abſolve him, to juſtifie him. The righteouſneſs of Chriſt, was ſhadowed out by the glorious Robes, and apparrel of the High Prieſt: That Exod. 30.Exod 30attire, in which the High Prieſt appeared before God, what was it elſe, but a type of Chriſt's righteouſneſs? The filthy garments of Joſhua (who repreſented the Church) were not only taken off from him, thereby ſignifying the removal of our ſins; but alſo a new fair garment Zach. 3. 4, 5.Zech 3:4Zech 3:5was put upon him, to ſignifie our being clothed with the wedding garment of Chriſt's righteouſneſs. If any ſhall ſay, how is it poſſible, that a ſoul that is defiled with the worſt of ſins, ſhould be whiter than the ſnow yea, Pſal. 51. 7.Ps 51:7beautiful and glorious in the cyes of God; the anſwer is p. 343at hand, becauſe, to whomſoever the Lord doth give the pardon of his ſins, which is the firſt part of our juſtification, to them he doth alſo impute the righteouſneſs of Chriſt, which is the ſecond part of our juſtification before God: thus David deſcribeth (ſaith the Apoſtle) the bleſſedneſs of Rom. 4. 6, 7.Rom 4:6Rom 4:7the man to whom the Lord imputeth reghteouſneſs without works; ſaying, bleſſed are they, whoſe iniquities are forgiven, and whoſe ſins are covered: Now to that man, whoſe ſins the Lord forgives, to him he doth impute righteouſneſs alſo: Take away the filthy garments from him (ſaith Zach. 3. 4.Zech 3:4the Lord of Joſhua) and he ſaid unto him, behold, I have canſed thine iniquity to paſs from thee, and I will cloth thee with change of raiment: and what was that change of raiment? ſurely, the perfect obedience and righteouſneſs of the Lord Jeſus, which God doth impute unto us; in which reſpect, alſo, we are ſaid, by juſtifying faith, to Rom. 12. 14. Gal. 3. 27.Rom 12:14Gal 3:27put on the Lord Jeſus; and to be clothed with him, as with a garment. And no marvel if, being ſo apparelled, we appear beautiful and glorious in the ſight of God. To her (that is, to Chriſt's Bride) was granted, that ſhe ſhould Rev. 19. 8.Rev 19:8be arrayed in fine linnen, clean and white, for the fine linnen is the righteouſneſs of ſaints: This perfect righteouſneſs of Chriſt, which the Lord imputeth to us, and wherewith (as with a garment) he clothed us, is the only righteouſneſs which the Saints have to ſtand before God with; and having that Robe of righteouſneſs on, they may ſtand with great boldneſs and comfort, before the judgmentſeat of God. But,

Thirdly, Know for your comfort, that this righteouſneſs of Chriſt, preſents us perfectly righteous in the ſight 3of God; He is made to us righteouſneſs. The Robe of innocency, 1 Cor. 1. 30.1 Cor 1:30like the veil of the Temple is rent aſunder: our righteouſneſs is a ragged righteouſneſs, our righteouſneſſes Iſa. 6…. 4.Isa 6:4are as filthy rags. Look, as under rags the naked body is ſeen, ſo under the rags of our righteouſneſs, the body of death is ſeen: Chriſt is all in all, in regard of righteouſneſs; Chriſt is the end of the Law, for righteouſneſs to Rom. 10. 4.Rom 10:4them that believe.

p. 344That is, through Chriſt, we are as righteous, as if we Finis perſiciens nen interſic…ens: Aug.had ſatisfied the Law in our own perſons. The end of the Law, is to juſtifie and ſave thoſe which fulfil it; Chriſt ſubjected himſelf thereto, he perfectly fulfilled it for us, and his perfect righteouſneſs is imputed to us; Chriſt fulfilled the moral Law, not for himſelf, but for us, therefore Chriſt doing it for believers, they fulfil the Law in Chriſt; and ſo Chriſt by doing, and they believing in him that doth it, do fulfil the Law: or Chriſt may be faid to be the end of the Law, becauſe the end of the Law is perfect righteouſneſs, that a man may be juſtified thereby, which end we cannot attain of our ſelves, through the frailty of our fleſh, but by Chriſt we attain it, who hath fulfilled the Law for us. Chriſt hath perfectly fulfilled the Decalogue for us, and that 3 ways: 1. In his pure conception: 2. In his godly life: 3. in his holy and obedient ſufferings and all for us: for whatſoever the Law required that we ſhould be, do or ſuffer, he hath performed in our behalf. Therefore one wittily ſaith, that Chriſt Arctius.is Telos, the end or tribute; and we by his payment, Ateleis, Tribute free; we are diſcharged by him, before God. Chriſt, in reſpect of the integrity and purity of his nature, being conceived without ſin; and in reſpect of his life and Mat. 1. 18. Luk. 1. 35. 2 Cor. 5. 21. Cel. 1. 20.Matt 1:18Luke 1:352 Cor 5:21actions, being wholly conformed to the abſolute righteouſneſs of the Law; and in reſpect of the puniſhment which he ſuffered, to make ſatisfaction unto God's juſtice, for the breach of the Law: in theſe reſpects, Chriſt is the perfection of the Law, and the end of the Law, for righteouſneſs to them that believe. Jacob got the bleſſing in the garment of his elder brother; ſo, in the garment of Chriſt's righteouſneſs, who is our elder brother, we obtain Eph. …. 4.the bleſſing, yea, all ſpiritual bleſſings in heavenly places; we are made the righteouſneſs of God in him. The 2 Cor. 5. ult.2 Cor 5Church, ſaith Marlorat, which puts on Chriſt, and his righteouſneſs, is more illuſtrious than the air is by the ſun. The infinite wiſdom and power of dear Jeſus in reconciling the Law and the Goſpel, in this great myſtery of juſtification, is greatly to be magnified. In the bleſſed Scriptures, p. 345we find the righteouſneſs of Juſtification, to take its various denominations: In reſpect of the material cauſe, it is called the righteouſneſs of the Law: In reſpect of the efficient cauſe, it is called the righteouſneſs of Rom. 5. 17. 1 Cor. 1. 30. Rom. 3. 22. Phil. 3. 9. Phil. 3. 9. Rom. 3. 24. Titus. 3. 7.Rom 5:171 Cor 1:30Rom 3:22Phil 3:9Rom 3:24Titus 3:7Chriſt: in reſpect of the formal, It is called the righteouſneſs of God, he imputing of it: In reſpect of the inſtrumental cauſe, it is called the righteouſneſs of faith: And in reſpect of the moving and final cauſe, we are ſaid to be juſtified freely by Grace. The Law, as it was a Covenant of works, required exact and perfect obedience, in men's proper perſons; this was legal Juſtification. But in the new Covenant, God is contented to accept this righteouſneſs in the hand of a ſurety, and this is Evangelical Juſtification; this righteouſneſs preſents us in the ſight of God, as all fair; Cant. 4. 7. as complete; Coloſ. 2. 10. as without ſpot or wrinkle; Eph. 5. 27. as without fault before the throne of God; Rev. 14. 5. as holy, and unblameable, and unreproveable in his ſight; Coloſ. 1. 22. Oh the happineſs and bleſſedneſs, the ſafety and glory of thoſe precious ſouls; who, in the righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt, ſtand perfectly rightcous in the ſight of God. but,

Fourthly, know for your comfort, that this imputed 4righteouſneſs of Chriſt, will anſwer to all the fears, doubts and objections of your ſouls: How ſhall I look up to God? the anſwer is, in the righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt: how ſhall I have any communion with a holy God in this world? the anſwer is, in the righteouſn…ſs of Chriſt: How ſhall I find acceptance with God? the anſwer is, in the righteouſneſs of Chriſt: How ſhall I die? the anſwer is, in the righteouſneſs of Chriſt: How ſhall I ſtand before a Judgment ſeat? the anſwer is, in the righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt. Your ſure and only way, under all temptations, fears, conflicts, doubts and diſputes, is, by faith, to remember Chriſt, and the ſufferings of Chriſt, as your Mediator and Surety: and ſay, Oh Chriſt, thou art my ſin, in being made ſin for me; and thou art my curſe, being … Co…. 5. 21. …al. 3. 13.made a curſe for me: or rather, I am thy ſin, and thou art my rightcouſneſs; I am thy curſe, and thou art p. 346my bleſſing; I am thy death, and thou art my life; I am the wrath of God to thee, and thou art the love of God to me; I am thy hell, and thou art my heaven. Oh ſirs, if you think of your ſins, and of God's wrath; if you think of your guiltineſs, and of God's juſtice; your hearts will faint and fail, they will fear and tremble, and ſink into deſpair; if you do not think of Chriſt, if you do not ſtay and reſt your ſouls upon the mediatory righteouſneſs of Chriſt, The Imputed Righteouſneſs of Chriſt. The Imputed Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, anſwers all cavils and objections (though there were millions of them) that can be made againſt the good eſtate of a believer. This is a precious truth more worth than a world, that all our ſins are pardoned, not only in a way of truth and mercy, but in a way of juſtice. Satan and our own conſciences will object many things againſt our ſouls, if we plead only the mercy and the truth of God; and will be ready to ſay, oh but where is then the juſtice of God? can mercy pardon without the conſent of his juſtice? but now, whilſt we reſt upon the ſatisfaction of Chriſt, juſtice and mercy kiſs Pſal. 85. 10.Ps 85:10each other; yea, juſtice ſaith, I am pleaſed: in a day of temptation, many things will be caſt in our diſh, about the multitude of our ſins, and the greatneſs of our ſins, and the grievouſneſs of our ſins, and about the circumſtances and aggravations of our ſins; but that good word Chriſt, hath redeemed us from all iniquities, he hath paid Titus 2. 14.Titus 2:14the full price that juſtice could exact or require; and that good word, mercy rejoyceth againſt judgment, may James 2. 13.Jas 2:13ſupport, comfort and bear us up under all. The infinite worth of Chriſt's obedience, did ariſe from the dignity of his perſon, who was God-man; ſo that all the obedience of Angels and men, if put together, could not amount to the excellency of Chriſt's ſatisfaction. The righteouſneſs of Chriſt, is often called the righteouſneſs of God, becauſe it is a righteouſneſs of God's providing, and a righteouſneſs that God is fully ſatisfied with; and therefore, no fears, no doubts, no cavils, no objections, no diſputes can ſtand before this bleſſed and glorious righteouſneſs p. 347of Jeſus Chriſt, that is imputed to us. But,

Fifthly, know for your comfort, that the imputed righteouſneſs 5of Chriſt is the beſt title that you have to ſhew for a Kingdom that ſhakes not, for riches that corrupt not, Heb. 12. 28. 1 Pet. 1 3, 4, 5. 2 Cor. 5. 1, 2, 3, 4,Heb 12:281 Pet 1:31 Pet 1:41 Pet 1:52 Cor 5:12 Cor 5:22 Cor 5:32 Cor 5:4for an inheritance that fadeth not away, and for an houſe not made with bands, but one eternal in the heavens. 'Tis the faireſt certificate that you have to ſhew for all that happineſs and bleſſedneſs that you look for in that other world: The righteouſneſs of Chriſt is your life, your joy, your comfort, your crown, your confidence, your heaven, your all; oh that you were ſtill ſo wiſe, as to keep a fixed eye, and an awakened heart upon the mediatory righteouſneſs of Chriſt; for that's the righteouſneſs, by which you may ſafely and comfortably live, and by which you may happily and quietly die. It was a very ſweet and golden confeſſion, which Bernard made, when he thought Guliel. A…bas, in v…ta Bern. lib. 1. cap. 12.himſelf to be at the point of death: I confeſs, ſaid he, I am not worthy, I have no merits of mine own to obtain heaven by: but my Lord had a double right thereunto; an hereditary right as a ſon, and a meritorious right as a ſacrifice; he was contented with the one right himſelf, the other right he hath given unto me; by the vertue of which gift, I do rightly lay claim unto it, and am not confounded: ah, that believers would dwell much upon this, that they have a righteouſneſs in Chriſt; that is, as full, perfect and compleat, as if they had fulfilled the Law; Chriſt being the end of the Law for righteouſneſs to believers, inveſts believers with a righteouſneſs, every way as compleat, as the perſonal obedience of the Law, would Rom. 8. 3, 4.Rom 8:3Rom 8:4have inveſted them withal; yea, the righteouſneſs that believers have by Chriſt is, in ſome reſpect, better than that they ſhould have had by Adam: 1. Becauſe of the dignity of Chriſt's perſon, he being the ſon of God, his righteouſneſs is more glorious than Adam's was, his righteouſneſs is called the righteouſneſs of God; and we are made the 2 Cor. 5. 21.2 Cor 5:21righteouſneſs of God in him. The firſt Adam was a mere man, the ſecond Adam is God and man. 2. Becauſe the righteouſneſs is perpetual; Adam was a mutable perſon, p. 348he loſt his righteouſneſs (in one day ſay ſome) and all that glory which his poſterity ſhould have poſſeſſed, had he ſtood faſt in innocency: But the righteouſneſs of Chriſt cannot be loſt; his righteouſneſs is like himſelf, from everlaſting to everlaſting, 'tis an everlaſting righteouſneſs; when once this white rayment is put upon a believer, it D…n. 9. 24.can never fall off, it can never be taken off. This ſplendid glorious righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſts, is as really a Rev. 19. 8.Rev 19:8believers, as if he had wrought it himſelf. A believer is no loſer, but a gainer by Adam's fall; by the loſs of Adam's righteouſneſs, is brought to light, a more glorious and durable righteouſneſs, than ever Adam's was; and upon the account of an intereſt in this righteouſneſs, a believer may challenge all the glory of that upper world. But,

Sixthly, know for your comfort, that this imputed righteouſneſs of Chriſt, is the only true baſis, bottom and 6ground, for a believer to build his happineſs upon, his joy and comfort upon, and the true peace and quiet of his conſcience upon: what, though Satan, or thy own heart, or the world condemns thee; yet, in this thou maiſt rejoyce, that God juſtifies thee: you ſee what a bold challenge Paul makes, Rom. 8. 33. Who ſhall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect, it is God that juſtifieth? ſome read R…m. 8. 33. foreign, ſignifies in …s vecare, o call in o th… I am. It is a Law cuſtom to clear men by Proclaration, if one hath been indicted at the Aſſizes, and no Bill …roughtin againſt him, there is an Oh yes made, if any ha…e any thing to ſay againſt the priſoner at the bar, let him come forth, ſince he ſtands upon his freedom The application is eaſie.it queſtion-wiſe, thus, ſhall God that juſtifieth? no ſuch matter: and if the judg acquit the priſoner at the bar, he cares not, though the Jaylor, or his fellow priſoners condemn him; ſo here, there are no accuſers that a believer needs to fear, ſeeing that it is God himſelf, who is the ſupreme Judg, that abſolves him as juſt; God abſolves, and therefore it is to no purpoſe for Satan to accuſe us, Rev. 12. 10. nor for the Law of Moſes to accuſe us, John 5. 45. nor for our own Conſciences to accuſe us, Rom. 2. 25. nor for the world to accuſe us: God is the higheſt Judg, and his Tribunal-ſeat is the ſupreme Judgment-ſeat; therefore, from thence there is no appealing: As amongſt men, perſons accuſed or condemned, may appeal, till they come to the higheſt Court; but if, in the higheſt, they are abſolved and diſcharged, then they are free, and p. 349ſafe, and well, ſo the believer being abſolved before God's Tribunal ſeat, there is no further accuſations to be feared, all appeals from thence being void, and of no force: The conſideration of which ſhould arm us, and comfort us, and ſtrengthen us againſt all terrours of conſcience, guilt of ſin, accuſation of the Law, and cruelty of Satan; in as much as theſe either dare not appear before God, to accuſe us, or charge us; or if they do, it is but loſt labour. Ambroſe gives the ſence thus; None can or dare retract the judgment of God; for he confidently provoketh all adverſaries, if they dare come forth to accuſe; not that there is no cauſe, but becauſe God hath juſtified: It is God that juſtifieth, therefore it is in vain to accuſe them; and It is God that juſtifieth them, if God doth it, none can reverſe it, for there are none that are equal with God: Let all the accuſations, which ſhall come in againſt thee, from one hand or another, be true or falſe, they ſhall never hurt thee; for he, from whom there is no appeal, hath fully acquitted thee, and therefore no accuſation can endanger thy peace. Ah, what a ſtrong Cordial would this be to all the people of God, if they would but live in the power of this glorious truth, that It is God that judifies them, and that there lies no accuſations in the Court of Heaven againſt them! the great reaſon why many poor Chriſtians are under ſo many dejections, deſpondencies and perplexities is becauſe they drink no more of this water of life. It is God that juſtifieth: did Chriſtians live more upon this breaſt, It is God that juſtifieth, they would be no more Gen. 41. 1, 2, 3.Gen 41:1Gen 41:2Gen 41:3like Pharaoh's lean Kine, but would be fat and flouriſhing, did they but draw more out of this Well of ſalvation, It is God that juſtifieth; how would their ſpirits revive, and a new life riſe up in them, as did in the dead child, by 2 King. 4. 34, 35, 36, 37.2 Kgs 4:342 Kgs 4:352 Kgs 4:362 Kgs 4:37the Prophet Eliſha's applying himſelf to it. The Imputed Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, is a real, ſure and ſolid foundation, upon which, a believer may ſafely build his peace, joy, and everlaſting reſt; yea, it will help him to glory in Rom. 5. 1, 2, 3.Rom 5:1Rom 5:2Rom 5:3tribulations, and to triumph over all adverſities; Iſa. 45. 24. Surely, ſhall one ſay, in the Lord I have righteouſneſs and p. 350ſtrength. That which is the greateſt terrour in the world to unbelievers, is the ſtrongeſt ground of comfort to believers; that is, the juſtice and wrath of God againſt ſin. Look how it was when the Angel appeared at the reſurrection of our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt; The keepers were affrighted, Mat. 28. 4, 5.Matt 28:4Matt 28:5and became as dead men: but it was ſaid to the women, Fear not ye, for ye ſeek Jeſus of Nazareth, that was crucified: ſo it is much more in this caſe; when God's Juſtice is powerfully manifeſted, the ſinners of Sion and Iſa. 33. 14.Isa 33:14the world, are afraid and terrified: but yet poor believers ſeek for Chriſt who was crucified, ye need not fear any thing; yea, you may be wonderfully cheared at this and it is your greateſt comfort, that you have to deal with this juſt God, who hath already received ſatisfaction for your ſins. It is obſervable that the Saints triumph in the juſtice and judgments of God, that are moſt terrible to the enemies of God, in that which is the ſubſtance of the ſong of Moſes and the Lamb, Rev. 15. 3, 4, 5. ſo in that Luk. 26. 28. where the day of judgment is deſcribed (ſay ſome) and that in it, there ſhall be diſtreſs of nations, and men's hearts failing them for fear (viz. of the juſtice and wrath of God:) Why ſo? it is for looking after thoſe things that are to come upon the earth; for the powers of the earth ſhall be ſhaken, &c. But when theſe things begin to come to paſs; Then look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth near. This day is the moſt dreadful day that ever was in the world to all the ungodly, but the juſt and faithful, then ſhall be able to lift up their heads; to ſee all the world on a light fire about them, and all the Elements in terrible confuſion. But how dare a poor creature lift up his head in ſuch a caſe as this? They ſhall ſee the ſon of man, coming in a cloud, with power and great glory: here is enough to comfort the poor members of Chriſt, to ſee Chriſt, on whom they have believed, and who hath ſatisfied God's juſtice for them, and imputed his own righteouſneſs to them: to ſee him ſet upon his judgment ſeat, cannot but be matter of joy and rejoycing to them. Now they ſhall find the power of that word upon p. 351their ſouls; Iſa. 40. 1. Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, ſaith the Lord; ſpeak ye comfortably to Jeruſalem, and ſay unto her, that her warfare is accompliſhed, that her iniquity is pardoned; for ſhe hath received at the Lord's hand, double for her ſins: i. e. Their conflict with the wrath of God, is at an end, the puniſhment of their iniquity is accepted, they have received in their head and ſurety, Chriſt Jeſus, double for their ſins: i. e. Juſtice hath paſſed upon them, in their head, Chriſt Jeſus; and they are ſure that the judg of all the earth will do right, and will not puniſh their ſins twice: The exactneſs of Gods juſtice cannot do this, Job 34. 10. Far be it from God, that he ſhould do wickedneſs▪ and from the Almighty, that be ſhould commit iniquity: verſ. 12. Yea; ſurely God will not do wickedly; neither will the Almighty pervert judgment. It would be high injuſtice in a magiſtrate, to puniſh the ſame offence twice: and it would be high blaſphemy for any to aſſert, that ever God ſhould be guilty of ſuch injuſtice. Whilſt Chriſtians ſet up a righteouſneſs of their own, and build not upon the Rom. 10. 3.Rom 10:3righteouſneſs of Chriſt, how unſetled are they? how miſerably are they toſſed up and down, ſometimes fearing and ſometimes hoping, ſometimes ſuppoſing themſelves in a good condition, and anon ſeeing themſelves upon the very brink of hell? but now, all is quiet and ſerene with that ſoul that builds upon the righteouſneſs of Chriſt; for he being juſtified by faith, hath peace with God: obſerve Rom. 5. 1.Rom 5:1that noble deſcription of Chriſt, in that, Iſa. 32. 2. And a man (that is, the man Chriſt Jeſus) ſhall be as a hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempeſt, as rivers of water in a dry place, as the ſhadow of a great rock in a weary land, When a man is clothed with the righteouſneſs of Chriſt, who is God man, it is neither wind nor tempeſt, it is neither drought nor wearineſs, that can diſturb the peace of his ſoul; for Chriſt and his righteouſneſs will be a hiding place, a cover, and rivers of water, and the ſhadow of a great rock unto him: for, being at perfect peace with God, he may well ſay with the Pſalmiſt, Iſa. 26. 3. Pſal. 4. 6, 7, 8.Isa 26:3Ps 4:6Ps 4:7Ps 4:8I will lay me down in peace: The peace and comfort of an p. 352awakened ſinner, can never ſtand firm and ſtable, but upon the Baſis of a poſitive righteouſneſs: When a ſenſible ſinner caſts his eye upon his own righteouſneſs, holineſs, faſtings, prayers, tears, humblings, meltings; he can find no place for the ſole of his foot to reſt firmly upon, by reaſon of the ſpots, and blots, and blemiſhes, that cleaves both to his graces and duties; He knows that his prayers need pardon, and that his tears need waſhing in the blood of the Lamb, and that his very righteouſneſs needs another's righteouſneſs, to ſecure him from condemnation. If thou Lord, ſhouldſt mark iniquity, O Lord, who ſhall ſtand? Pſal. 130. 3. Pſal. 1. 5.Ps 130:3Ps 1:5that is, rectus in curia, ſtand, that is, in judgment: Extremity of juſtice he deprecateth; he would not be dealt with in rigour and rage: The beſt man's life, is fuller of ſins, than the firmament is of ſtars, or the furnace of ſparks; and therefore who can ſtand in judgment, and not fall under the weight of thy juſt wrath, which burneth as low as hell it ſelf, i. e. none can ſtand: were the faults of the beſt man alive but written in his forehead, he was never able to ſtand in judgment: when a man comes to the Law for Juſtification, it convinceth him of ſin; when he pleads his innocence, that he is not ſo great a ſinner as others are, when he pleds his righteouſneſs, his duties, his good meanings, and his good deſires; the Law tells him that they are all weighed in the ballance of the ſanctuary, and found Dau. 5. 27.too light; the Law tells him, that the beſt of his duties will not ſave him, and that the leaſt of his ſins will damn him; the Law tells him, that his own righteouſneſſes, are as filthy rags, do but defile him; and that his beſt ſervices do but witneſs againſt him; The Law looks for perfect and perſonal obedience, and becauſe the ſinner cannot come up to it, it pronounceth him accurſed; and though the Gal. 3. 10.Gal 3:10ſinner ſues hard for mercy, yet the Law will ſhew him none, no though he ſeeks it carefully with tears: but, Heb. 12. 17.Heb 12:17now, when the believing ſinner caſts his eye upon the righteouſneſs of Chriſt, he ſees that righteouſneſs to be a perfect and exact righteouſneſs, as perfect and exact as that of the Law, yea, it is the very righteouſneſs of the Law, p. 353though not performed by him, yet by his ſurety, the Lord his righteouſneſs; and upon this foundation he ſtands firm, and rejoyces with joy unſpeakable, and full of glory. The Saints of old have always placed their happineſs, peace, and comfort in their perfect and compleat Juſtification, rather than in their imperfect and incompleat ſanctification; as you may ſee by the Scriptures in the margent, with Jer. 23. 6. 1 Pet. 1. 8. Luk. 7. 48, 50. Rom. 4. 6, 8. cap. 5. 1, 3. Iſa. 38. 16, 17. cap. 45. 24, 25. Phil. 4. 7.Jer 23:61 Pet 1:8Luke 7:48Luke 7:50Rom 4:6Rom 4:8Isa 38:16Isa 38:17Phil 4:7many others that are ſcattered up and down in the bleſſed book of God. That text is worthy to be written in letters of Gold, Iſa. 61. 10. I will greatly rejoyce in the Lord (ſaith the ſound believer) my ſoul ſhall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of ſalvation, (He hath imputed and given unto me the perfect holineſs and obedience of my bleſſed Saviour, and made it mine) he hath covered me (all over, from top to toe) with the robe of righteouſneſs as a bride groom decketh himſelf with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth her ſelf with her jewels. Though a Chriſtian's inherent righteouſneſs be weak and imperfect, …maimed and ſtained, blotted and blurred, as it is; yet it affords much comfort, peace, joy, and rejoycing, 1 Chron. 29. 9. J…b. 27. 4, 5, 6. Neh. 13. 14, 22, 31. Iſa. 38. 3. Prov. 21. 14. 2 Cor. 1. 12. 1 Pet. 3. 3. 4. cap. 5. 4.1 Chr 29:9Neh 13:14Neh 13:22Neh 13:31Isa 38:3Prov 21:142 Cor 1:121 Pet 3:31 Pet 3:4as you may ſee, by comparing the Scriptures in the Margent together: Job was much taken with his inherent righteouſneſs, Job 29. 14. I put on righteouſneſs, and it cloathed me; my judgment was as a robe, and a diadem unto me. Look as ſober, modeſt, comely apparel, doth much ſet forth, and adorn the body in the eyes of men; ſo doth inherent grace, inherent holineſs, inherent righteouſneſs, when it ſparkles in the faces, lips, lives, and good works of the Saints, much more beautifie and adorn them in the eyes, both of God and man. Now, if this garment of inherent righteouſneſs, that hath ſo many ſpots and rents in it, will adorn us, and joy us ſo much, what a beauty and glory is that, which the Lord our God hath put upon us, in clothing us with the robe of his ſon's righteouſneſs; for by this means we ſhall recover more by Chriſt, than we loſt by Adam: the robe of righteouſneſs, which we have gotten by Chriſt, the ſecond Adam, is far more glorious, than that which we were deprived of, by the firſt Adam. But,

p. 354Seventhly, Then know for your comfort, that you 7. Gal. 6. 14.Gal 6:14have the higheſt reaſon in the world to rejoyce and triumph in Chriſt Jeſus; Phil. 3. 3. For we are the circumciſion, which worſhip God in the ſpirit, and rejoyce in Chriſt Jeſus: we rejoyce in the perſon of Chriſt, and we rejoyce in the righteouſneſs of Chriſt, 2 Cor. 2. 14. Now, thanks be to God, which always cauſeth us to triumph in Chriſt; Deo gratias was ever in Paul …s mouth, and ever in Auſtin's mouth, and ſhould be ever in a Chriſtians mouth, when his eye is fixed upon the righteouſneſs of Chriſt: Every believer is in a more bleſſed and happy eſtate, by means of the righteouſneſs of Chriſt, than Adam was in innocency, and that upon a three-fold account; all which are juſt and noble grounds for every Chriſtian to rejoyce and triumph in Chriſt Jeſus: 1. That righteouſneſs which Gen. 3. chap. Pſal. 8. 5. E…cleſ. 7. 29.Gen 3Ps 8:5Adam had, was uncertain, and ſuch, as it was poſſible for him to loſe; yea, he did loſe it, and that in a very ſhort time: God gave him power and freedom of will, either to hold it, or loſe it; and we know, ſoon after, upon choice, he proved a Bankrupt: but the righteouſneſs that we have by Jeſus Chriſt, is made more firm and ſure to us: it is that good part, that noble portion, that ſhall never be taken from us, as Chriſt ſaid to Mary. Adam Luk. 10. 42.Luke 10:42ſinned away his r…ghteouſneſs, but a believer cannot ſin away the righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt: It is not poſſible … John 3. 9. R…m. 8. 35, 39.John 3:9for the Elect of God, ſo to ſin, as to loſt Chriſt, or to ſtrip themſelves of that robe of righteouſneſs, which Chriſt hath put upon them. The gates of …ell ſhall never be able Mat. 16. 18.Matt 16:18to prevail againſt that ſoul, that is intereſted in Chriſt, that is clothed with the righteouſneſs of Chriſt: Now, what higher ground of joy and triumph in Chriſt Jeſus, can there be than this. But Secondly, the righteouſneſs that Adam had was in his own keeping, the ſpring and root of it was ſounded in himſelf, and that was the cauſe why he loſt it ſo ſoon: Adam (like the Prodigal ſon) had Luk. 15. 12. 13.Luke 15:12Luke 15:13all his portion, his happineſs, his …olineſs, his bleſſedneſs his righteouſneſs, in his own hands, in his own keeping; and ſo quickly loſt ſtock and block, as ſome ſpeak it: O p. 355but now, that bleſſed righteouſneſs that we have by Jeſus Chriſt, is not in our own keeping, but in our father's keeping. Look, as our perſons, graces and inherent righteouſneſs are kept (as in a Garriſon) by the power of God 1 Pet. 1. 5. foreign, the original is a military word, and ſignifies ſafe keeping… kept as with a Guard, or in a Garriſon, that is well fenced with walls and works, and ſo is made impregnable.1 Pet 1:5unto ſalvation; ſo that righteouſneſs that we have by Jeſus Chriſt, is kept for us by the mighty power of God, unto ſalvation; God the father is the Lord Keeper, not only of our inherent righteouſneſs, but alſo of the imputed righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt unto us: My ſheep ſhall never periſh (ſaith our Saviour, John 10. 28, 29.) neither ſhall any pluck them out of my hand; my father that gave them me, is greater than all, and none is able to pluck them out of my father's hands. Though the Saints may meet with many ſhak…gs and toſſings in their various conditions in this world; yet their final perſeverance, till they come to full poſſ…ſion of eternal life, is certain: God is ſo unchangeable in his purpoſes of love, and ſo invincible in his power; that neither Satan, nor the world, nor their own fleſh, ſhall ever be able to ſeparate them from a Crown of righteouſneſs, 2. Tim. 4. 7, 8. A Crown of life, Rev. 2. 10. A Crown of glory, 1 Pet. 5, 4.. The power of God is ſo far above all created oppoſition, that it will certainly maintain the Saints in a ſtate of Grace. Now, what a bottom and ground for rejoycing and triumphing in Chriſt Jeſus, is here. But Thirdly, Admit, that the righteouſneſs that Adam had in his Creation, had been unchangeable, and that he could never have loſt it; yet, it had been but the righteouſneſs of a man, of a mere creature, and what a poor, low righteouſneſs would that have been, to that high and glorious righteouſneſs that we have by Jeſus Chriſt, which is the righteouſneſs of ſuch a perſon as was God as well as man; yea, that righteouſneſs that we have by Jeſus Chriſt, is a higher righteouſneſs, and a more excellent, tranſcendent righteouſneſs, than that of the Angels; though the righteouſneſs of the Angels be perfect and compleat in its kind, yet it is but the righteouſneſs of mer… creatures; But the righteouſneſs of the Saints, in which they ſtand clothed before the throne of God, is the righte p. 356ouſneſs of that perſon, which is both God and man. Look as the ſecond Adam was a far more excellent perſon, than the firſt Adam was: The firſt man was of the earth, earthy; 1 Cor. 15. 47. Look, as Adam conveighs his guilt to all his children, ſo Chriſt conveighs his righteouſneſs to all his: he was caput cum foedere, as well as the firſt Adam.1 Cor 15:47(as the Apoſtle ſpeaks) The ſecond was the Lord from heaven (not for the matter of his body, for he was made of a woman, but for the original and dignity of his perſon; whereof you may ſee a lively and lofty deſcription in Heb. 1. 2, 3.) ſo his righteouſneſs alſo, muſt needs be far more excellent, abſolute, glorious, and every way all-ſufficient to ſatisfie the infinite juſtice of God, and the exact perfection of his holy Law, than ever Adam's righteouſneſs, could poſſibly have done. Remember ſirs, that that righteouſneſs that we have by Jeſus Chriſt, is called the righteouſneſs of God: He made him to be ſin for us, who knew no ſin; that we might be made the righteouſneſs of God in him, ſaith the Apoſtle, in 2 Cor. 5. 21. Now, that righteouſneſs that we have by Jeſus Chriſt, is called the righteouſneſs of God: 1. becauſe it is ſuch a righteouſneſs as God requires: 2. As he approves of, and accepts: 3. As he takes infinite pleaſure, and delight, and ſatisfaction in. The Righteouſneſs the Apoſtle ſpeaks of in that Scripture laſt mentioned, is not to be underſtood of the eſſential righteouſneſs of Chriſt, which is infinite, and no ways communicable to the creature, unleſs we will make a creature a God; but we are to underſtand it, of that righteouſneſs of Chriſt, that is imputed to believers, as their ſin is imputed to him. Now, what a Well of ſalvation is here? what three noble grounds, and what matchleſs bottoms are here, for a Chriſtian's joy and triumph in Chriſt Jeſus? who hath put ſo glorious a Robe, as his own righteouſneſs upon them. Ah Chriſtians, let not the conſolations of Job 15. 11.Job 15:11God, be ſmall in your eyes; why take you no more comfort and delight in Chriſt Jeſus? why rejoyce you no more in him? not to rejoyce in Chriſt Jeſus is a plain breach of that Goſpel command; Rejoyce in the Lord alway (that is, Phil. 4. 4.Phil 4:4rejoyce in Chriſt) and again I ſay rejoyce, ſaith the Apoſtle; he doubleth the mandate, to ſhew the neceſſity and excellency of the duty: ſo Phil. 3. 1. Finally, my brethren, rejoyce p. 357in the Lord. Now, in ſome reſpects, the breach of the commands of the Goſpel, are greater than the breach See Heb. 2. 2, 3. 8. 6. 10. 28, 29.Heb 2:2Heb 2:3Heb 2:8Heb 2:6Heb 2:10Heb 2:28Heb 2:29of the commands of the Moral Law; for the breach of the commands of the Goſpel carrieth in it a contempt and light eſteem of Jeſus Chriſt. Men's not rejoycing in Chriſt Jeſus, muſt flow from ſome dangerous humour, and baſe corruption or other, that highly diſtempers their precious ſouls. If all created excellencies, if all the privileges of God's people, if all the kingdoms of the earth, and the glory of them, were to be preſented at one view, they would all appear as nothing, and emptineſs, in compariſon of the excellency and fulneſs that is to be found in Chriſt Jeſus: and therefo…e, the greater is their ſin, who rejoyce not in Chriſt Jeſus. Do you ask me where be Plutarch in Phocione.my Jewels? my Jewels are my Husband, and his Triumphs, ſaid Phocion's wife: do you ask me, where be my ornaments? my ornaments are my two ſons, brought up in vertue and learning, ſaid the mother of the Gracchi. Do you ask me where be my Treaſures? my Treaſures are my friends, ſaid Conſtantius, the father of Conſtantine: but now, if you ask a child of God (when he is not clouded, tempted, deſerted, dejected) where be his Jewels, his Treaſures, his Ornaments, his comfort, his joy, his delight; he will anſwer with that Martyr, none but Chriſt, none but Chriſt: Oh! none to Chriſt, none to Chriſt; Chriſt is all in all unto me, Coloſ. 3. 11. Aeterna erit exultatio, quae bono laetatur aeterno: That joy laſts for ever, whoſe object remains for ever: ſuch an object is our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and therefore the joy of the ſaints ſhould ſtill be exerciſed upon our Lord Jeſus Chriſt; ſhall the worldling rejoyce in his barns, the rich man in his bags, the ambitious man in his honours, the voluptuous man in his pleaſures, and the wanton in his Dalilahs; and ſhall not a Chriſtian rejoyce in Chriſt Jeſus, and in that robe of righteouſneſs, and in thoſe garments of ſalvation, with Iſa. 61. 10.Isa 61:10which Chriſt hath covered him. The joy of that Chriſtian that keeps a fixed eye upon Chriſt and his righteouſneſs, cannot be expreſſed, it cannot be painted, no man p. 358can paint the ſweetneſs of the honey-comb, nor the ſweetneſs of a cluſter of Canaan, nor the fragrancy of the Roſe of Sharon: As the being of things cannot be painted, ſo the ſweetneſs of things cannot be painted: The joy of the Holy Ghoſt cannot be painted, nor that joy that ariſes in a Chriſtian's heart, who keeps up a daily converſe with Chriſt and his righteouſneſs, cannot be painted, it cannot be expreſſed: who can look upon the glorious body of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt; and ſeriouſly conſider, that even every vein of that bleſſed body did bleed to bring him to heaven, and not rejoyce in Chriſt Jeſus? who can look upon the glorious righteouſneſs of Chriſt, imputed to him, and not be filled with an ex…berancy of ſpiritual joy in God his Saviour? There is not the pardon of the leaſt ſin, nor the leaſt degree of grace, nor the leaſt drop of mercy, but coſt Chriſt dear, for he muſt die, and he muſt be made a ſacrifice, and he muſt be accurſed, that pardon may be thine, and grace thine, and mercy thine: and oh how ſhould this draw out thy heart to rejoyce and triumph in Chriſt Jeſus. The work of redemption ſets both Angels and Saints Rev. 5. 11, 12, 13, 14. Rev. 1. 5, 6. cap. 5. 8, 9, 10.Rev 5:11Rev 5:12Rev 5:13Rev 5:14Rev 1:5Rev 1:6a rejoycing and triumphing in Chriſt Jeſus; and why not we, why not we alſo, who have received infinite more benefit by the work of Redemption, than ever the Angels have? A beautiful face is at all times pleaſing to the eye; but then eſpecially, when there is joy manifeſted in the countenance. Joy in the face puts a new beauty upon a perſon, and makes that which before was beautiful, to be exceeding beautiful, it puts a luſtre upon beauty; ſo does holy joy and rejoycing in Chriſt Jeſus, put (as it were) a new beauty and luſtre upon Chriſt. Though the Romans puniſhed one that feaſted, and looked out at a Plin. 1. c. 7.window, with a Garland on his head, in the ſecond Punick war: yet, you may be ſure, that God will never puniſh you for rejoycing and triumphing in Chriſt Jeſus, let the times be never ſo ſad or bad, in reſpect of war, blood or miſery. But,

Eighthly, The Imputed Righteouſneſs of Chriſt may 8ſerve to comfort, ſupport, and bear up the hearts of the p. 359people of God, from fainting and ſinking under the ſenſe of the weakneſs and imperfection of their inherent righteouſneſs. The Church of old have lamentingly ſaid, we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteouſneſs Iſa 64. 6.Isa 64:6is as filthy rags: when a Chriſtian keeps a ſerious eye upon the ſpots, blots, blemiſhes, infirmities, and follies, that cleaves to his inherent righteouſneſs, fears and tremblings ariſe, to the ſadding and ſinking of his ſoul; but when he caſts a fixed eye upon the righteouſneſs of Chriſt imputed to him, then his comforts revive, and his heart bears up; for though he hath … righteouſneſs of his own, by which his ſoul may … …ccepted before God, yet he hath Gods righteouſneſs, which infinitely tranſcends his own, and ſuch as, in God's account, goes for his, as if he had exactly fulfilled the righteouſneſs which the Law requires; according to that of the Apoſtle, Rom. 9. 30. What ſhall we ſay then? the Gentiles which followed not after righteouſneſs, have attained to righteouſneſs, even the righteouſneſs which is of faith. Faith wraps it ſelf in the righteouſneſs of Chriſt, and ſo juſtifieth us. The Gentiles ſought righteouſneſs, not in themſelves, but in Chriſt; which they apprehending by faith, were by it juſtified in the ſight of God, and the Jews ſeeking it in themſelves, and thinking, by the goodneſs of their own works, to attain to the righteouſneſs of the Law, miſſed of it; it being in no man's power, perfectly to fulfil the ſame, only Chriſt hath exactly fulfilled it, for all that, by faith, cloſe ſavingly with him. Oh ſirs, none can be juſtified in the ſight of God, by a righteouſneſs of their own making: but whoſoever will be juſtified, muſt be juſtified by the righteouſneſs R…m. 3. 20, 28. cap. 10. 2. Gal. 2. 16. T…. 3. 5.Gal 2:16of Chriſt through faith. The Gentiles, by faith attain the righteouſneſs of the Law, therefore the righteouſneſs of the Law, and of faith, are all one; viz. in reſpect of matter and form, the difference is only in the worker; The Law requires it to be done by our ſelves; the Goſpel mitigates the rigour of the Law, and offers the righteouſneſs of Chriſt, who performed the Law, even to a hairs breadth. The right way to righteouſneſs for p. 360juſtification is by Chriſt, who is the way, the door, the truth, and the life; becauſe we want a righteouſneſs of our own, God hath aſſigned us the righteouſneſs of Chriſt, which is infinitely better than our own, yea, better than our very lives, may I not ſay, yea better than our very ſouls. The branch Chriſt Jeſus is called Jehovah Tſidkenu, the Lord our righteouſneſs, Jer. 23. 6. And this is his name, whereby he ſhall be called, THE LORD OƲR RIGHTEOƲSNESS: Where note, firſt, to be called by this name, is to be ſo really, for Chriſt is never called what he is not: and ſo he is, to the ſame purpoſe, elſewhere Mat. 1. 23.Matt 1:23called Immanuel, God with us; that is, he ſhall be ſo indeed, God with us; ſo here he ſhall be called, the Lord our righteouſneſs; that is, he ſhall be ſo indeed. Secondly, obſerve this is one of his glorious names, that is, one of his Attributes, which he accounts his excellency, and his glory. Now all the attributes of Chriſt are unchangeable, ſo that he can as eaſily change his nature as his name. Now remember, that this imputed righteouſneſs of Chriſt, procures acceptance for our inherent righteouſneſs: when a ſincere Chriſtian caſts his eye upon the weakneſſes, infirmities and imperfections, that daily attend his beſt ſervices, he ſighs and mourns; but if he looks upward, to the Imputed Righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt, that ſhall bring forth his infirm, weak and ſinful performances, perfect, ſpotleſs and ſinleſs, and approved according to the tenour of the Goſpel, ſo that they become ſpiritual ſacrifices, he cannot 1 Pet. 2. 5.1 Pet 2:5but rejoyce. For as there is an imputation of righteouſneſs to the perſons of believers, ſo there is alſo, an imputation to their ſervices and actions: As the fact of Pſal. 106. 31.Ps 106:31Phineas, was imputed to him for righteouſneſs; ſo the imperfect good works that are done by believers, are accounted righteouſneſs, or (as Calvin ſpeaks) are accounted for righteouſneſs, they being dipped in the blood of Chriſt: (tincta ſanguine Chriſti) i. e. they are accounted righteous actions; and ſo ſincere Chriſtians ſhall be judged Rev. 11. 18. cap. 20. 12. Mat. 25. 34, 35, 36, 37.Rev 11:18Matt 25:34Matt 25:35Matt 25:36Matt 25:37according to their good works, though not ſaved for them. And 'tis obſervable in that famous proceſs of the p. 361laſt judgment, that the ſupreme judge makes mention of the bounty and liberality of the Saints; and ſo beſtows the Crown of life, and the eternal inheritance upon them; ſo that, though the Lord's faithful ones have eminent cauſe to be humbled and afflicted, for the many weakneſſes that cleaves to their beſt duties; yet, on the other hand, they have wonderful cauſe to rejoyce and triumph, Heb. 13. 20, 21. 1 Cor. 6 11. Mal. 4. 2.Heb 13:20Heb 13:211 Cor 6:11Mal 4:2that they are made perfect through Jeſus Chriſt, and that the Lord looks at them (through the righteouſneſs of Chriſt) as fruits of his own ſpirit. The Sun of Righteouſneſs hath healing enough in his wings, for all our ſpiritual Maladies: The Saints prayers, being perfumed with Rev. 8. 3, 4.Rev 8:3Rev 8:4Chriſt's odours, are highly accepted in heaven: Upon this bottom of Imputed Righteouſneſs, believers may have exceeding ſtrong conſolation, and good hope through grace; that both their perſons and ſervices do find ſingular acceptation with God, as having no ſpot or blemiſh at all in them: Surely Righteouſneſs imputed, muſt be the top of our happineſs and bleſſedneſs, Rom. 4, 5, 6. But,

Ninthly and laſtly, know for your comfort, that Imputed Righteouſneſs will give you the greateſt boldneſs 9before God's Judgment-ſeat. There is an abſolute, and indiſpenſible neceſſity of a perfect Righteouſneſs, wherewith to appear before God: The holineſs of God's nature, the righteouſneſs of his Government, the ſeverity of his Law, and the terrour of wrath, calls aloud upon the ſinner for a compleat Righteouſneſs; without which, Pſal. 1. 5.Ps 1:5there is no ſtanding in judgment. That Righteouſneſs only, is able to juſtifie us before God, which is perfect, and that hath no defect nor blemiſh in it, ſuch as may abide the tryal before his Judgment-ſeat; ſuch as may fitly ſatisfie his juſtice, and make our peace with him; and conſequently ſuch, as whereby the Law of God is fulfilled. Therefore it is called the Righteouſneſs of God; ſuch a Rom. 10. 3.Rom 10:3Righteouſneſs as he requires, as will ſtand before him, and ſatisfie his juſtice: ſo the Apoſtle ſaith, The righteouſneſs Rom. 8. 4.Rom 8:4of the Law muſt be fulfilled in us. Now there is no other Righteouſneſs under heaven, whereby the Law p. 362of God was ever perfectly fulfilled, but by the righteouſneſs of Chriſt alone; no righteouſneſs below the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, was ever able to abide the tryal at God's judgment-ſeat; and fully to ſatisfie his juſtice, and pacifie his wrath. A gracious ſoul triumphs more in the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt Imputed, than he would have done, if he could have ſtood, in the Righteouſneſs, in which he was created. This is the crowning comfort to a ſenſible and underſtanding ſoul, that he ſtands righteous before a Judgment-ſeat, in that full, exact, perfect, compleat, matchleſs, ſpotleſs, pearleſs, and moſt acceptable Righteouſneſs of Chriſt imputed to him: The Righteouſneſs R…m. 3. 21, 22. cap. 10 3. …hil. 3. 9.of Chriſt, is therefore called the Righteouſneſs of God; becauſe it is it, which God hath aſſigned, and which God doth accept for us in our juſtification; and for, and in which, he doth acquit, and pronounce us righteous before his ſeat of Juſtice. There is an indiſpenſible neceſſity that lies upon the ſinner, to have ſuch a Righteouſneſs to his juſtification, as may render his appearance ſafe and comfortable in the day of Judgment. Now, there is no righteouſneſs that can abide that day of fiery tryal, but the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt imputed to us: Paul, that great Apoſtle, had as fair and as full a Certificate to ſhew Phil. 3. 4, 5, 6. Act. 23 6. 2 Cor. 11. 22.Phil 3:4Phil 3:5Phil 3:6Acts 23:62 Cor 11:22for a legal Juſtification, as any perſon under heaven had; but yet he durſt not ſtand by that righteouſneſs, he durſt not plead that righteouſneſs, he durſt not appear in that righteouſneſs, before the dreadful Judgment-ſeat: But oh, how earneſt, how importunate is he, that he may be found (in that great day of the Lord) in the Mediatory Righteouſneſs Phil. 3. 9, 10.Phil 3:9Phil 3:10of Chriſt, and not in his own perſonal righteouſneſs, which he looked upon as filthy rags, as droſs, dung, dogs meat: the great thing that he moſt ſtrongly inſiſts up on is, that he might be clothed with the Robe of Chriſt's Righteouſneſs; for then, he knew that the Law could not ſay, black was his eye, and that the Judge upon the Bench, would pronounce him righteous, and bid him enter into the joy of his Lord, a joy too great to enter into Mat. 25. 21, 23, 24Matt 25:21Matt 25:23Matt 25:24him, and therefore he muſt enter into that: when the p. 363match is made up between Chriſt and the ſoul, that ſoul bears her ſovereigns name. The ſpouſe of the firſt Adam, and her husband, had both one name; God called their Gen. 5. 2.Gen 5:2name Adam, in the day that he made them: ſo the Spouſe of the ſecond Adam, in the change of her condition, from Chriſt and Chriſtians are nameſakes. caput & corpus, unus eſt Chriſtus. Aug. The head is called Chriſt, and the members are called Chriſt, … Cor. 12. 12. Chriſt is called Solomon, Cant. … …. cap. 3. 1…. in Hebrew Sh…lom…h of peace, and the Church is called Shulamite, by he… Bride-grooms name; Cant. 6. 13.Song 6:13a ſingle, to a married eſtate, with Chriſt the Lamb; had a change of her name: The head is called, The Lord our righteouſneſs, Jer. 23. 6. and ſo is the Church, Jer. 33. 16. In thoſe days ſhall Judah he ſaved, and Jeruſalem ſhall dwell ſafely: and this is the name, wherewith ſhe ſhall be called, The Lord our righteouſneſs: here is a ſameneſs of name. As Chriſt is called The Lord our righteouſneſs, ſo his ſpouſe is called, The Lord our righteouſneſs: Oh happy tranſnomination, Chriſt's Bride being one with himſelf; and having his Righteouſneſs imputed to her, is called, The Lord our righteouſneſs: and therefore they may, with the greateſt chearfulneſs and boldneſs bear up, in the great day of account, who have the perfect Righteouſneſs of Chriſt imputed to them; eſpecially if you conſider, 1. That this Righteouſneſs is of infinite value and worth: 2. That Dan. 9. 24.Dan 9:24it is an everlaſting righteouſneſs, a righteouſneſs that can never be loſt: 3. That it is an unchangeable Righteouſneſs; Though times change, and men change, and friends change, and providences change, and the Moon Mal. 4. 2.Mal 4:2change, yet the Sun of Righteouſneſs never changes, J…mes 1. 17.in him is no variableneſs, neither ſhad…w of turning: 4. That it is a compleat and unſpotted Righteouſneſs, an unblameable Righteouſneſs, and unblemiſhed Righteouſneſs; and therefore God can neither in Juſtice, except or object againſt it: In this Righteouſneſs the believer lives, in this Righteouſneſs the believer dies, and in this Righteouſneſs believers ſhall ariſe, and appear before the judgment-ſeat of Chriſt, to the deep admiration of all the elect Angels, and to the tranſcendent terrour and horrour of all Reprobates, and to the matchleſs joy and triumph of all on Chriſt's right hand, who ſhall then ſhout and ſing, Iſa. 61. 10. I will greatly rejoyce in the Lord, my ſoul ſhall be joyful in my God: for he hath clothed me with the garments p. 360duplicate page p. 361duplicate page p. 362duplicate page p. 363duplicate page p. 364of ſalvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteouſneſs, as a bride-groom decketh himſelf with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth her ſelf with jewels. Oh, how 2 Theſ. 1. 10.2 Thess 1:10will Chriſt, in this great day, be admired and glorified in all his Saints, when every Saint wrap'd up in this fine Linnen, in this white Robe of Chriſt's Righteouſneſs, ſhall ſhine more gloriouſly than ten thouſand Suns. In the great day of the Lord: when the Saints ſhall ſtand before the Tribunal of God, clothed in the perfect Righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt; they ſhall then ſtand, recti in curiâ; they ſhall then be pronounced righteous, even in the Court of Divine Juſtice; which ſentence will fill their ſouls with comfort, and the ſouls of ſinners with aſtoniſhment: Suppoſe Rev. 20. 12. cap. 12. 10.Rev 20:12we ſaw the believing ſinner, holding up his hand at God's Bar: the books opened, the accuſer of the brethren preſent, the witneſſes ready, and the Judg on the Bench, thus beſpeaking the ſinner at the Bar; Oh ſinner, R…m 7. 12, 14, 16. G…l. 3. 10.ſinner, thou ſtandeſt here indicted before me, for many millions of ſins of commiſſion, and for many millions of ſins of omiſſion, thou haſt broken my holy, juſt and righteous Laws, beyond all humane conception, or expreſſion, and hereof thou art proved guilty: What haſt thou now to ſay for thy ſelf, why thou ſhouldſt not be eternally caſt? Upon this, the ſinner pleads guilty; but withal, he earneſtly deſires, that he may have time and liberty to Mat. 25. 41.Matt 25:41plead for himſelf, and to offer his reaſons, why that dreadful ſentence, Go you curſed, &c. ſhould not be paſſed upon him: The liberty deſired, being granted by the Judg: The ſinner pleads, that his ſurety, Jeſus Chriſt, hath, by his blood and ſufferings, given full and compleat ſatisfaction to Divine Juſtice, and that he hath paid down upon Heb. 10. 10, 14.Heb 10:10Heb 10:14the nail the whole debt at once, and that it can never ſtand with the holineſs, and unſpotted juſtice of God, to demand ſatisfaction twice. If the Judge ſhall farther object, Gal. 3. 10.Gal 3:10I but ſinner, ſinner, The Law requireth an exact and perfect Righteouſneſs in the perſonal fulfilling of it; now ſinner, where is thy exact and perfect righteouſneſs? Upon which the believing ſinner, very readily, chearfully, p. 365Iſa. 45. 24.Isa 45:24humbly and boldly replies, my righteouſneſs is upon the Bench, In the Lord have I Righteouſneſs, Chriſt my Surety, hath fulfilled the Law on my behalf. The Laws Righteouſneſs conſiſts in two things: 1. In its requiring perfect conformity to its commands: 2. In its demanding ſatisfaction, or the undergoing of its penalty, upon the violation of it, Now Chriſt, by his active and paſſive obedience, hath fulfilled the Law for Righteouſneſs, and this active and paſſive obedience of Jeſus Chriſt is imputed to me; his obeying the Law to the full, his perfect comforming to its commands, his doing as well as his dying obedience, is by grace made over and reckoned to me in order to my juſtification and ſalvation; and this is my plea, by which I will ſtand before the Judg of all the world: Upon this the ſinners plea is accepted as good in Law, and accordingly he is pronounced righteous; and goes away, glorying and rejoycing, triumphing and ſhouting it out, ſla. 45. 25.Righteous, Righteous, Righteous, Righteous; In the Lord ſhall all the ſeed of Iſrael be juſtified, and ſhall glory. And thus you ſee that here are nine ſprings of ſtrong conſolation, that flow into your ſouls, through the Imputation of Chriſt's Righteouſneſs unto you. But,

The ſixth Plea that a believer may form up, as to the ten Eccl f, 11. 9. cap. 12. 14. Mat 12. 14. cap. 18. 23. Luk. 16. 3. Rom. 14. 10. 2 Cor. 5. 10. Heb. 9. 27. c…p. 13. 17. 1 Pet. 4. 5.Matt 12:14Luke 16:3Rom 14:102 Cor 5:10Heb 9:271 Pet 4:5Scriptures in the Margent, that refer… to the great day of account, or to a man's particular account, may be drawn from the conſideration of Chriſt, as a common perſon, a repreſentative head, one that repreſents another man's perſon, and acts the part of another, according to the appointment of the Law, the acceptation of the Judg: ſo that what is done by him, the perſon is ſaid to do; whoſe perſon he doth repreſent. And ſo was Adam a common perſon, and that by an act of God's Sovereignty; appointing him, in making a covenant with him ſo to be, Rom. 5. 15, 16 17, 18, 19. We were all i… Adam, as the whole Countrey is in a Parliament-man. An although w… choſe not, ye… God choſe for …sRom 5:15Rom 5:16and he did repreſent all Man-kind: And hence it comes to paſs, that his ſin is imputed unto us, and made ours; ſo in our Law, an Attorney appears in the behalf of his Client; and ſo Chriſt is ſaid to be gone to heaven, as our Attorney, to appear in the preſence of God for us, Heb. p. 3669. 24. foreign, To appear as a Lawyer appears for his Client; opens the cauſe, pleads the cauſe, and carries it. The word appear, is verbum forenſe, an expreſſion borrowed from the cuſtom of humane Courts: for in them, when the Plaintiff or Defendant is called, their Attorney appeareth in their behalf: ſo, 1 John, 2. 1. you know that the Levitical Prieſt was wont to appear before God, in the peoples name: Now, he was but a figure, in Chriſt is the ſolid truth, and full effect of the figure: Or as taking Poſſeſſion, Livery and Seizing by an Attorney, is all one, as if done by the perſon himſelf, who is repreſented, and is valid: ſo the Lord Jeſus, he is a common perſon, by an act of God's Soveraignty, repreſenting the perſons of all the Elect of God, being deſigned and appointed by God, to be a ſecond Adam: And as the firſt Adam did repreſent all in him, ſo the ſecond Adam does repreſent all in him alſo; and therefore, as Judgment came upon all in the firſt Adam, ſo Righteouſneſs comes upon all in the ſecond Adam: we all tranſgreſſed the Royal Law in Adam, we were all in Adam's Loyns; what he was, we were; what he did, we did. Although we did not, in our own perſons, either talk with the Serpent, or put forth Gen. 3.Gen 3our hands to take the fruit; yet we did eat the forbidden fruit as well as he, and ſo broke the holy Law, and turned aſide in him: for he was not a ſingle perſon, ſtanding for himſelf alone; but a publick perſon, ſtanding in the room of all man-kind: therefore, his ſin being not merely the ſin of his perſon, but of the whole nature of man, is juſtly imputed to us all. If Adam had ſtood faſt in his uprightneſs, in his primitive purity, glory and excellency, Eccleſ. 7. 29.Eccl 7:29we ſhould all have ſhared in his happineſs and bleſſedneſs; but he falling, and forfeiting all, we muſt all ſhare with him in his loſs and miſery: ponder upon Rom. 5. 12. In whom all have ſinned. As the Murrain infects the whole flock, ſo ſin and the curſe ſeizeth upon all the whole world, as well as upon Adam and Eve: and verſ. 19. By one man's diſobedience, many are made ſinners: Many, is here put for All, as All elſewhere is put for Many, 1 Tim. 2. 3. p. 367All ſinners are tainted with Adam's guilt and filth. Adam was the head, all his poſterity the members; if the head plot and practice treaſon againſt the ſtate, is not this judged the act of the whole body? He was the tree, we the branches; when the tree falls, all the branches fall with it: when Chriſt died on the Croſs, he did ſtand in our room, and place, and ſtead; for he did lay down his life for us as a Ranſom: now when one dies for another, in way of Ranſom, he does not only die for the benefit and profit of the ranſomed; but in the place, and room, and ſtead of the ranſomed: and thus Chriſt died for us, as himſelf teſtifies, The ſon of man came, to give himſelf a Mark, 10. 45. foreign.ranſom for many: Chriſt roſe as a common perſon, repreſenting all his Elect; and Chriſt was ſanctified as a common perſon repreſenting all his Elect; and Chriſt was juſtified as a common perſon, repreſenting all his Elect. Look, as we we were condemned in Adam, as he was a common perſon; ſo we are juſtified by Chriſt, as in a common perſon alſo: ſo that every believer may well look upon him ſelf as acquitted, in his juſtification, from the guilt of his Heb. 9. 28.Heb 9:28ſins, they being laid upon the head of his ſurety. It is a very great part of a Chriſtian's wiſdom, to be often looking upon Chriſt, as a repreſentative head, as one in whom Eph. 2. 6.Eph 2:6he died, in whom he roſe, in whom he is ſanctified, and in whom he is juſtified: how would ſuch a daily eyeing of Chriſt, ſeatter a Chriſtian's fears, arm him againſt temptations, ſupport him under afflictions, weaken his ſins, ſtrengthen his graces, cheer his ſoul, and mend his life.

'Tis very obſervable, that in the Levitical expiatory Sacrifices; there was the ſubſtitution of them, in the place and ſtead of the offenders themſelves; the peoples ſin, and the puniſhment due to them thereupon, was laid upon the poor Beaſts that died for them. I might multiply Scriptures to evidence this; but I ſhall only hint at one or two plain pregnant T…xts to clear it. Take that, Levit. 17. 11. For the life of the fleſh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar, to make an p. 368atonement for your ſouls; for it is the blood that maketh uſtin Martyr obſerves the great mercy of God to mankind, in that, …co hominis in …ie…d of man he cauſed beaſts to be ſacrificed.atonement for the ſoul: Mark here, the blood is to make atonement for the ſouls of the people of Iſrael, that is, in the room and ſtead of their ſouls, and accordingly it did make atonement for their ſouls: ſo that in the blood ſacrificed (which was a Type of the Blood of Chriſt) there was ſoul for ſoul, life for life; the ſoul and life of the ſacrifice, for the precious ſoul and life of the ſinner. Now here you ſee ſubſtitution of the one in the room of the other. The transferring of the guilt and puniſhment of the peoples ſins, over to their ſacrifices in thoſe days, was the reaſon, Levit. 16. 22. cap. 10. 17, &c.Lev 16:22why the ſacrifices were ſaid to bear the iniquities of the people: And it is obſervable, that at the great Expiation, Aaron was to lay both his hands upon the head of the live Goat, and to confeſs over him all the ſins of the children of Iſrael, &c. By this Ceremony Levit. 16. 21.Lev 16:21of impoſition of hands, is ſignified the transferring of their ſins upon the Goat; herein to type out ſi. 53. 6.Chriſt, upon whom God did lay the iniquity of us all. Certainly the main thing that is held forth by this Rite (viz. Aaron's laying both his hands upon the head of the live Goat) is the tranſlation of the ſinners guilt to the ſacrifice, and the ſubſtitution of it in his ſtead: Typically, the very ſins of the people were impoſed upon the Goat, who herein was a type of Chriſt Maimomdes.which did himſelf bear our ſins. Yea, the Hebrews themſelves hold, that the Scape goat made atonement for all their ſins, lighter and greater, preſumptuouſly and ignorantly committed. Certainly the Scape goat was a moſt lively Type of our bleſſed Saviour; 1. In that the Lord laid upon him the iniquity of us all, as the ſins of Iſrael were laid upon the head of the Goat: 2. As Iſa. 4. 2. a…. 53. 8.Isa 4:2the Goat was carried away, ſo Chriſt was cut off from the land of the living; his life was taken from off the earth: 3. As Acts 9. 33. Heb. 9. 14. 2 Pet. 3. 13Acts 9:33Heb 9:142 Pet 3:13this Goat was not killed, ſo Chriſt through the eternal Spirit offered up himſelf, whereby he was made alive after death: Though Chriſt Jeſus died for our ſins, acording to his p. 369his Humanity, yet death could not detain him nor overcome him, nor keep him priſoner, but by vertue of his impaſſible Deity, he riſes again, and triumphs over Hoſ. 13. 14.Hos 13:14death and the grave, and over principalities and powers. Col. 2. 13.Col 2:134. As this Goat went into an inhabitable place, ſo Chriſt went into heaven; whither I go ye cannot come. Chriſt Joh. 13. 33.John 13:33ſpeaks this, not to exclude his Diſciples out of heaven, Verſ. 36.but only to ſhew, that their entrance was put off for a time. Saints muſt not expect to go to heaven and reſt with Chriſt, till they have fought the good fight of faith, 2 Tim. …. 7, 8. Heb. 12. 1. 1 Cor. 9 24. Act. 13. 30.Heb 12:11 Cor 9:24Acts 13:30finiſhed their courſe, run their race, and ſerved their generation: Chriſt's own children, by all their ſtudies, prayers, tears and endeavours, cannot get to heaven, unleſs, Joh. 14. 1, 2, 3.John 14:1John 14:2John 14:3Chriſt come and fetches them thither: Chriſt's own ſervants cannot get to heaven preſently nor of themſelves, no more than the Jews could do. Now if you pleaſe to caſt your eye upon the Lord Jeſus, you will find and exact correſpondency between the Type and the Antitype, the one fully anſwering to the other. Did they carry ſubſtitution in them? that eminently was in Chriſt, he indeed ſubſtituted himſelf in the ſinners room, he took our guilt upon him, and put himſelf in our place, and died in our ſtead, he died that we might not die; Whatever we ſhould have undergone, that he underwent in his body and ſoul; he did bear (as our foreign) all the puniſhments and torments that were due to us: Chriſt's ſuffering, dying, ſatisfying in our ſtead, is the great Article of a Chriſtian's Faith, and the main prop and foundation of the believers hope: It is bottomed as an eternal and unmovable truth, upon the ſure Baſis of the bleſſed Word. Subſtitution, in the caſe of the old ſacrifices, is not ſo evidently held forth in the Law, but ſubſtitution with reſpect to Chriſt and his ſacrifice, is more evidently ſet forth in the Goſpel. Ponder ſeriouſly upon theſe Texts: Rom. 5. 6. For when we were yet without ſtrength, in due time Chriſt died for the ungodly: verſ. 8. But God commendeth his love towards us, in that while we were yet ſinners Chriſt died for us. Herein p. 370God lays naked to us the tendereſt bowels of his fatherly This ſhews us the greatneſs of mans ſin and of Chriſts love, of Satans malice and of Gods Juſtice; and it ſhews us the madneſs and blindneſs of the Popiſh Religion, which tell… us that ſome … are ſo light & …enial, as that the ſprinkling of holy water and aſhes will p…rge them away.compaſſions, as in an Anatomy. There was an abſolute neceſſity of Chriſt's dying for ſinners: for 1. God's Juſtice had decreed it; 2. His Word had foretold it; 3. The Sacrifices in the Law had prefigured it; 4. The foulneſs of mans ſin had d…ſerved it; 5. The Redemption of man called for it; 6. The glory of God was greatly exalted by it: So 1 Pet. 3. 18. For Chriſt alſo hath once ſuffered for ſins, the juſt for the unjuſt. To ſee Chriſt the juſt, ſuffer in the ſtead of the unjuſt, is the wonderment of Angels, and the torment of Devils: 1 Pet. 4. 1. Foraſmuch then as Chriſt hath ſuffered for us in the fleſh, &c. that is, in the humane nature, for the exp…ation and taking away of our ſins: 1 Pet. 2. 21. Becauſe Chriſt alſo ſuffered for us; Joh. 10. 11. I lay down my life for the ſheep; this good Shepherd lays down life for life, his own dear life for the life of his ſheep: Joh. 11. 50. Nor conſider that it is expedient for us, that one man ſhould die for the people, and that the whole nation periſh not, that is, rather than the whole nation ſhould periſh. Caiaphas took it for granted, that either Chriſt or their Nation muſt periſh, and, as he fooliſhly thought, that of two evils he deſigned the leaſt to be choſen, that is, that Chriſt ſhould rather periſh, than their Nation: but God ſo guided his tongue, that he unwittingly by the powerful inſtinct of the Spirit, propheſied of the fruit of Chriſt's death, for the reconciliation and ſalvation of the elect of God. Heb. 2. 9. That he by the grace of God ſhould taſte death for every man, foreign, or for every creature: who all theſe be the Context ſheweth; 1. Sons that muſt be led unto glory; ver. 10. 2. Chriſt's Brethren, ver. 11. 3. Such children as are given by God unto Chriſt, ver. 13. In all which Scriptures, the prepoſition foreign is uſed, which moſt commonly notes ſubſtitution, the doing or ſuffering of ſomething by one in the ſtead and place of others, and ſo 'tis all along here to be taken. But there is another prepoſition, foreign, that proves the thing I am upon undeniably, Matth. 20. p. 37128. Even as the Son of man came not to be miniſtred unto, Matth. 20. 28.Matt 20:28but to miniſter, and to give his life a ranſom for many (foreign.) foreign ſignifies a Redemptory price, a valuable rate; for it was the Blood of God wherewith the Church was purchaſed, 1 Tim. 2. 6. Who gave Acts 20. 28.Acts 20:28himſelf a ranſom (foreign) for all: the Greek word ſignifies a counterprice, ſuch as we could never have paid, but muſt have remained everlaſting priſoners to the wrath and juſtice of God. O ſirs! Chriſt did not barely deliver poor captive ſouls, but he delivered them in the way of a ranſom; which ranſom he paid down upon the nail; when their ranſom was ten thouſand talents, Matth. 18. 24.Matt 18:24and they had not one farthing to lay down, Chriſt ſtand up in their room and pays the whole ranſom. Every one knows, that foreign, in compoſition, ſignifies but two things, …ither oppoſition and contrariety, or ſubſtitution and …autation: So that the matter will thus iſſue; 1 Joh. 2. 18. Rom. 1…. 17. Matth. 5. 38.1 John 2:18Rom 1:17Matt 5:38That ei…her we muſt carry it thus, That Chriſt gave himſelf a ranſom againſt ſinners (than which nothing can be more abſurd and falſe;) or elſe thus, That he gave himſelf a ranſom in the room and ſtead of ſinners, which is as true as truth it ſelf. Certainly no head can invent, no heart can conceive, nor no tongue can expreſs, more clear, plain, pregnant and appoſit words and phraſes, for the ſetting forth of Chriſt's ſubſtitution, than is to be found in that golden Chapter of Iſai. 53. In this Chapter, as in a holy Armory, we may find, had I time to go through it many pointed daggers, and two-edged ſwords and ſhields of braſs, to arm us againſt the corrupt notions and opinions of the blinded and deluded Socinians, who fight with all their might againſt the Doctrine of Chriſt's ſubſtitution. (Ver. 4.) Surely he hath born our griefs, and carried our ſorrows, &c. (ver. 5.) The chaſtiſement of our peace was upon him, and with his ſtripes we are healed: (ver. 6.) The Lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us all; (or) the Lord hath made the iniquity of us all to meet on him: (ver. 7.) He was oppreſſed and he was aflicted, &c. or (as the words are rendred by p. 372ſome) It was exacted and he anſwered: (ver. 8.) For the tranſgreſſion of my people he was ſtricken: (ver. 11.) For he ſhall bear their iniquities: (ver. 12.) And he bare the ſin of many. All men of worth and weight conclude, that all this is ſpoken of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. Now what more clear and evident proofs can there be of Chriſt's ſuſception of the ſinners guilt, and of his bearing the puniſhment due for it. The Prieſts of old you know are ſaid to bear the iniquity of the people, Levit. 10. 17. God hath given it you to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the Lord. The ſinner bears his iniquity ſubjectively, the Prieſt typically, and the Lord Chriſt really: Exod. 28. 38. That Aarib may bear the iniquity of the holy things. Herein the high Prieſt was a Type of Chriſt; anſwerable to which, the Prophet Iſaiah tells us, that Chriſt (our high Prieſt) had Heb. 4. 14, 15.Heb 4:14Heb 4:15the iniquities of all believers laid upon him, and that he bare them in his own perſon; ſo the Apoſtle, Heb. 9. 28. So Chriſt was once offered to bear the ſins of many, &c. foreign. 'Tis an alluſion to the Prieſts, who carried up the ſacrifice (and with it the ſins of the people) to the Altar: Chriſt our Prieſt did carry up the ſins of his people upon the Croſs, and there made ſatisfaction for them (in their room or ſtead) by the ſacrifice of himſelf; and that Scripture is more worth than the Indies, viz. 1 Pet. 2. 24. Who his own ſelf bare our ſins in his own body on the tree—foreign, he bare them Col. 2 13, 14, 15.Col 2:13Col 2:14Col 2:15aloft, viz. when he climbed up his Croſs, and nailed them thereunto: Chriſt in the Humane nature when he was upon the Croſs, did ſuffer all the puniſhments and torments that were due to our ſins; he cancelled all bonds, annihilated the curſe; in which reſpects he is ſaid to bea… our ſins in his own body on the tree. But to prevent prolixity, I ſhall produce no more Scriptures (though many more might have been produced) to prove Chriſt a common Perſon, a repreſentative Head of all his Elect; and that he did really ſubſtitute himſelf in their room, and took upon himſelf their guilt, and p. 373put himſelf in their place, and did undergo whatever they ſhould have undergone.

Now from all theſe Conſiderations, a Child of God Eccleſ. 11. 9. c 12, 14. Ma…h. 12. 14. cap. 18. 2…. Luk 16. 3. Ro…. 4. 10. 2 C…r. 5 10. H…b 9 27 cap. 13 17. …. 4. 5.Eccl 11:9Luke 16:3may form up this Sixth Plea, as to the Ten Scriptures in the Margin, that refer to the great day of account, or to a man's particular account. O bleſſed God, Jeſus Chriſt was a common Perſon, a repreſentative Head: I am to be conſidered in him, who is my Surety, and therefore he is bound to pay all my debts: and as he is a common perſon and ſtood in my ſtead; ſo the ſatisfaction that is made unto thy Juſtice by him, is in Law to be accounted mine, as really as if my Attorney ſhould pay a debt for me: And therefore I muſt reſt ſatisfied that the debt is paid, and in Law ſhall never be exacted of me; though it was not paid by my ſelf in perſon, but by another, who did perſonate me in that act, and did it for me, and in my behalf. Chriſt was a common Perſon, perſonating as a ſecond Adam, the firſt Adam and all his poſterity; offering the ſame Nature for ſin, which fell by ſin from the pattern of perfection, God himſelf. By man came death, and by man came the reſurrection from the dead: 1 …o. 15 21.man for man, perſon for perſon, nature for nature, and name for name. There are two roots out of which life and death ſprings. 1. As all that die receive their deaths wounds by the diſobedience of the firſt Adam; ſo all that live receive life from the obedience of the ſecond Adam. 2. As all die who are the ſons of the firſt Adam by natural Generation; ſo all live, who are the ſons of the ſecond Adam through ſpiritual Regeneration. O holy and bleſſed God, thou haſt ſet up Jeſus Chriſt as a common perſon, as the repreſentative Head of all thy Elect, and I am to be conſidered in that common Head; and all that he has done as my Head, and in my ſtead and room, is to be reckoned to me, as if I had done it in my own perſon; and by this Plea I will ſtand, rejoyce and triumph: upon this God accepts of the Plea, as ſound and good, and ſaith to him that pleads it, Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord, Matth. 25. 21.

p. 374The ſeventh Plea that a believer may form up, as to the ten Scriptures formerly cited, that refer to the great day of account, or to a mans particular account, may be drawn from the conſideration of Chriſt's Surety ſhip: Our Engliſh Tranſlation hath it, Of a be…ter Teſtam…nt, but not ſo fitly, becauſe properly, a Teſtament neither uſeth nor needeth to have a Suret…, as a Covenant doth. Beza there… …re juſtly blameth both Erajmus and the Vulgar Tranſlation, for rendring it Teſtament; for that a Surety is not added in Teſtaments, And ſhould it be added, how can the ſame be both a Teſtator and a Surety? So that this word, Surety, hath reference properly to a Covena…t, and not to a Teſtament.Chriſt is called a Surety, Heb. 7. 22. By ſo much was Jeſus made a ſurety of a better teſtament. The Greek word foreign, Sponſor, Fidejuſſor, Praes, a Surety, a Pledger, is very ſignificative, being derived, as ſome think, from foreign, an hand, as it were foreign, in hands, becauſe the ſecurity or pledge is given in hand. A Surety is properly one that willingly promiſeth, and undertakes to pay and diſcharge the debt if the debtor fail, and be not able to make ſatisfaction himſelf. Thus Paul willingly and ſpontaneouſly, from the love he had to his new Convert Oneſimus, promiſed and undertook to make ſatisfaction to Philemon, for any wrong that Oneſimus had done him, Phil. 18, 19. If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put it upon mine account; I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it, i. e. account Oneſimus his debt to Paul, and Paul's ſatisfaction or payment to Oneſimus; which anſwers the double imputation in point of Juſtification, that is, of our ſins or debts to Chriſt,, and of Chriſt's ſatisfaction to us. Conſider Chriſt as a Surety, and ſo he hath fully paid all our debts, and ſet us perfectly free for ever. A Surety is one that enters into bond, and engages himſelf for the debt of another; and ſo Chriſt is become our Surety; therefore he was bound by our bond, and engageth himſelf for the debt of another: for our debt he was made under the Law, and ſo as a ſacrifice, he ſtood in the ſtead of a ſinner, and the ſacrifice was to be offered for the man; and ſo ſome expound that place, He was made ſin for us, 2 Cor. 5. 21. that is, a ſin-offering; therefore he doth take our ſins upon him as his own, Iſa. 53. and ſo the Lord doth impute them and lay them upon him as his own: ver. 6. He did make to meet upon him the iniquities of us all: the original word here uſed comes from foreign pagang, which word in its native propriety intends a kind of force or p. 375violence, impetum fecit, they met with all their violence upon him, and therefore he was made ſin for us, that is, as a Surety in our ſtead; he did bear our ſins in his body upon the tree; he was delivered for our tranſgreſſions: our Surety hath paid all our debts. The chaſtiſement of our peace Iſa. 53. …, 10.Isa 53was upon him, and it pleaſed the Father to bruiſe him; the original word ſignifies to break him to pieces as in a mortar: By the great things that our Surety has done for us, and the great things that he hath ſuffered for us: he hath given moſt perfect and complete ſatisfaction both to his Fathers Law, and to his Fathers Juſtice; and this pleaſed the Father. W…igh well that, Col. 2. 14. He Some by the hand writing do underſtand the Covenant of God with Adam. Beza and Calvin do underſtand it of the Ceremonial Law: But ſaith Ch…ſ…tom; It is meant not only of the Ceremonial Law, but alſo of the Moral Law, as a Covenant of w…rks Occumen…us, Jer…me and others are of the ſ…re opinion: B…t, ſ…ith Zan…hy, th… is ſ… len… … the … wr… were … un …rtie …inonial …n.blotted out the hand-writing of ordninances that was againſt us, that was contrary unto us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his Croſs: Chriſt hath croſſed out the black lines of our ſin with the red lines of his own blood. The Greek word foreign, i. e. the hand-writing, ſome do take here for a writing written with God's own hand in Tables of ſtone, as the Law of the Ten Commandments were, Exod. 34. 1. and this is by them underſtood of the moral Law, or of the Ten Commandments, which are ſaid to be againſt us, in reſpect of their ſtrict requiring of perfect obedience, or in default thereof, by reaſon of its curſe, which Chriſt as our Surety hath born for us on the Croſs, and delivered us from it, Gal. 3. 10, 13. But others by this hand-writing do underſtand the Law of the Ceremonies of the Old Teſtament. In the general, it was ſomething that God had againſt us; to ſhew or convince, or prove, that we had ſinned againſt him, and were his debtors. I ſuppoſe that this hand-writing was principally the Moral Law, obliging us unto perfect obedience, and condemning us for the defect of the ſame, and likewiſe thoſe Ceremonial Rites, which (as Beza obſerves) were a kind of publick confeſſion of our debts: Now theſe were againſt, and contrary unto us, in as much as they did argue us guilty of ſin and condemnation which the Moral Law threatned, and ſentenced, &c. but ſaith the Apoſtle, Chriſt hath blotted out the hand-writing, and p. 376hath taken it out of the way and nailed it to his croſs (that is) Jeſus Chriſt hath not only abrogated the Ceremonial Law, but alſo the damnatory power of the Moral Law (as our Surety) by performing an act of obedience which the Law did require, and by undergoing the puniſhment which the Law did exact from the trangreſſors of it: And ſo Chriſt doing and ſuffering, what we were bound to do and to ſuffer, he did thereby blot out the Hand-writing, and cancelled it; and therefore we may ſafely conclude, that the Creditor is fully ſatisfied, when he gives in h…s Bond to be cancelled. There are two ways of cancelling a Bond, laceratione & liturâ; here it is blotted out, and can be read no more than if it had never been; the obligatory power of the Law as a Covenant is taken away. God delivered his people from Pharaoh by force, and from Babylon by ſavour; but that deliverance that Chriſt (as our Surety) hands out to us, from ſin, from wrath, from hell, from the curſe, and from the moral Law as it is a Covenant of works, is obtained juſto pretio ſoluto, by paying a full price; by which one becomes ſatisfied, and another thereupon delivered: Heb. 9. 26. He hath appeared to put away ſin by the ſacrifice of himſelf: to put away ſin, is to aboliſh or make void the guilt or obligation …a…. 9. 24. ſi. 38. 17. …. 7. 19.of ſin, whereby it binds over unbelievers to condemnation; to put away ſin is to abrogate it, it is to bind it up in a bundle, to ſeal it up in a bag, to caſt it behind him, as cancelled obligations; it is to blot out the black hand-writing with the red lines of his blood drawn over it: ſo that ſin has no force, no power to accuſe or condemn, or ſhut ſuch poor ſouls out of heaven, who have that Jeſus for their Surety, that made himſelf a ſacrifice to put away ſin. Chriſt as our Surety laid down a ſatisfactory price, not only for our good, but alſo in our ſtead or room: 1 Pet. 3. 18. Chriſt alſo hath ſuffered for ſin, the juſt for the unjuſt, that he might bring us to God: What the unjuſt ſinner ſhould have ſuffered, that the juſt Chriſt ſuffered for him: 1 Cor. 5. 21. He was made ſin for us: (that is) an offering, a ſacrifice, in our ſtead, for the p. 377expiation of our ſins. Chriſt was made a curſe for us, Gal. 3. 13. Now Chriſt's becoming a curſe for us ſtands in this, That whereas we are all accurſed by the ſentence of the Law, becauſe of ſin; he now comes into our room, and ſtands under the ſtroke of that curſe, which of right belongs to us: ſo that it lies not now any longer on the backs of poor ſinners, but on him for them, and in their ſtead; therefore he is called a Surety, Heb. 7. 22. The Surety ſtands in the room of a debtor, malefactor, or him that is any way obnoxious to the Law: Such is Adam and all his poſterity. We are by the doom of the Law evil doers, tranſgreſſors, and upon that ſcore we ſtand indebted to the juſtice of God, and lie under the ſtroke of his wrath: Now the Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſeeing us in this condition, he ſteps in and ſtands between us and the blow; yea he takes this wrath and curſe off from us unto himſelf, he ſtands not only or meerly after the manner of a Surety among men in the caſe of debt; for here the Surety enters bond with the Principal, for the payment of the debt, but yet expects that the debtor ſhould not put him to it, but that he ſhould diſcharge the debt himſelf, he only ſtands as a good ſecurity for the debtor; no, Chriſt Jeſus doth not expect that we ſhould pay the debt our ſelves, but he takes it wholly upon himſelf. As a ſurety for a murtherer or traytor. or ſome other notorious malefactor, that hath broken priſon and is run away; he lies by it body for body, ſtate for ſtate, and undergoes whatſoever the malefactor is chargeable withal for ſatiſfying the Law. Even ſo the Lord Jeſus ſtands Surety for us runagate malefactors, making himſelf liable to all that curſe that belongs to us, that he might both anſwer the Law fully, and bring us back again to God: As the firſt Adam ſtood in the room of all mankind fallen; ſo Chriſt, the ſecond Adam, ſtands in the room of all mankind that are to be reſtored, he ſuſtains the perſon of all thoſe which do ſpiritually deſcend from him, and unto whom he bears the relation of a Head. When God appointed his deareſt Son to be a Surety for us, and charged p. 378all our debts upon him, and required an exact ſatisfaction to his Law and Juſtice; inſomuch that he would not abate the Son of his love one farthing token of the debt; he did demonſtrate a greater love to Juſtice, than if he had damned as many worlds as there are men in the world, O let us never caſt an eye upon Chriſt's Suretyſhip, but let us ſtand and wonder, yea let us be ſwallowed up in a deep admiration of Chriſts love and of his Fathers impartial juſtice! Ah what tranſcendent wiſdom alſo does here: appear in reconciling the riches of Mercy and infinite Juſtice both in one, by the means of a Surety. If all the Angels in heaven and all the men on earth had been put to anſwer theſe Queſtions: How ſhall ſin be pardoned? how ſhall the ſinner be reconciled and ſaved? how ſhall the wrath of God be pacified? how ſhall the Juſtice of God be ſatisfied? how ſhall the Redemption of Man be brought about, in ſuch a way whereby God may be moſt eminently glorified? they could never have anſwered the queſtions: But God in his infinite Wiſdom, hath found out a way to ſave ſinners, not only in a way of Mercy and Grace, but in a way of Juſtice and Righteouſneſs; and all this by the means of Chriſt's Suretyſhip, as hath been already declared.

Now from the conſideration of Chriſt's Suretyſhip, a believer may form up this Seventh, ſafe, comfortable and bleſſed Plea, as to the ten Scriptures formerly cited, that refer to the great day of account, or to a man's particular account. O bleſſed Father, remember that thine own Son was my Ranſom, his blood was the price; he was my Surety, and undertook to anſwer for my ſins. I know, O bleſſed God, that thou muſt be ſatisfied, but remember When a man matries a woman, with her perſon he takes her debts and ſatisfaction too; ſo does Chriſt, when he takes us to be his he takes our ſins alſo to be hi….my Surety has ſatisfied thee; not for himſelf, for he was holy and harmleſs, a Lamb without a ſpot; but for me: They were my debts he ſatisfied for; and look over thy Books, and thou ſhalt ſind that he hath cleared all accounts and reckonings between thee and me; the guilt of all my ſins have been imputed to my Surety, who did preſent himſelf in my ſtead to make full p. 379payment and ſatisfaction to thy Juſtice, as Paul ſaid to Philemon, Philem. ver. 18. concerning his ſervant Oneſimus, If he hath wronged thee or oweth thee any thing, put it upon my account. So ſaith Chriſt to the penitent and believing ſoul, If thou haſt any guilt, any debt to be anſwered for unto God, put them all upon my account; if thou haſt wronged my Father, I will make ſatisfaction to the uttermoſt; for I was made ſin for thee, 2 Cor. 5. 21. Iſa. 53. 12.Isa 53:12I poured out my ſoul for thy tranſgreſſions; it coſt me my hearts blood to reconcile thee to my Father, and to Acts 20. 28. Gen. 27. 13.Acts 20:28Gen 27:13ſlay all enmity. And as Robeckah ſaid to Jacob in another caſe, Ʋpon me, my ſon, be the curſe, ſo faith Chriſt to the believing ſoul, why, thy ſins did expoſe thee unto the curſe of the Law, but I was made a curſe for thee. I did Gal. 3. 13.Gal 3:13bear that burthen my ſelf upon the Croſs, and upon my ſhoulders were all thy griefs and ſorrows born: I was Iſa. 53. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. 10. Eph. 1. 7.Isa 53:4Isa 53:5Isa 53:6Isa 53:7Isa 53:8Isa 53:10Eph 1:7wounded for thy tranſgreſſions, and I was bruiſed for thy iniquities; and therefore we are ſaid to have redemption and remiſſion of ſins in his blood. O bleſſed God! thou knoweſt that a ſurety-doth not pay the debt only for the debtors good, but as ſtanding in the debtors ſtead, and ſo his payment is reckoned to the d…btor. And thus the caſe ſtands between Chriſt and my ſoul; for as my Surety, he hath paid all my debts, and that very payment that he hath made, in honour and juſtice thou art obliged to accept of, as made in my ſtead. Oh deareſt Father! that Jeſus who is God-man as my Surety, he hath done all that the Law requireth of me, and thereby he hath freed me from wrath to come, and from the curſe that 1 Theſ. 1. ult.1 Thess 1was due to me for my ſins: This is my plea, O holy God, and by this plea I ſhall ſtand. Hereupon God declares, this plea I accept as juſt and good, and therefore enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.

Chriſtian Reader, I have gone as far in the opening and clearing up of thoſe Grand Points of the Goſpel that have fallen under our conſideration as I judge meet at this time. By the Title-page thou mayeſt ſafely conclude, p. 380that I have promiſed much more than in this Treatiſe I have performed; but be but a little patient, and by divine aſſiſtance, I ſhall make ſure and full payment. The Covenant of Grace, and the Covenant of Redemption, with ſome other Points of high importance, I ſhall preſent to thee in the Second Part, which will be the Laſt Part. In this Firſt Part I don't offer thee that which coſt me nothing. I deſire that all the intereſt thou haſt in heaven may be ſo fully and duly improved, that this Firſt Part may be ſo bleſt from on high, as that Saints and Sinners may have cauſe to bleſs God to all Aeternity, for what is brought to hand; and beg hard, that the other Part, which is drawn up and fitted for the Preſs, may alſo be crowned with many bleſſings: Hereby thout wilt put a high obligation upon the Author, to do all he can, to be yet a little further ſerviceable to thy ſoul and others, to thy ſalvation and others, before he goes hence and ſhall be ſeen no more.

FINIS.