Jehovah Our Righteousness, Sermon 2 (4 of 4)

Jehovah Our Righteousness · Sermon 2 (4 of 4)

p. 31411. Chriſt that is our Righteouſneſs, will be our Judge, Acts 17.31. and will he not clear, and acquit thoſe, that he hath already Juſtified, Iſa. 53.11. Chriſt now over-looks the Failings of his People, p. 315he calls the Church Ʋndefiled, when ſhe confeſſed her Infirmity, that ſhe Slept, Cant. 5.2. He ſaith to his Diſciples, you have abode with me in my Temptations, Luke 22.28. He might as truly have ſald, you are thoſe, that will preſently fly, and leave me in, and under my greateſt Temptation; but Chriſt paſſes over this in the great day he mentions; the Fruits of his Peoples charity to their honour, Matth. 25.35, 36, 37. He rips not up their failings and defects in Love, to their diſgrace. Is it likely, that he who is our Saviour, our Mediator, our Advocate, our Bridegroom, will bring forth to Light all our Sins? Will he not own his own Righteouſneſs imputed to them; Recognize his own Blood Sprinkled on them, and do Right to it? Will he not give forth the White Stone to them, that are cloathed with Linen white, and clean? Revel. 2, 17. Revel. 19.8. The new Covenant pardons, Jer. 31.34. Ezek. 36.25. And as there hath been Sententia Legis, the Sentence of the Law of Grace; ſo there ſhall be Sententia Judicis, the Sentence of the Judg, to confirm, and fully execute it. Sins ſhall be blotted out, not only out of God's Book, and out of p. 316our Conſciences, but alſo out of our conditions, that in them ſhall Remain no Footſtep of Sin, or mark of Wrath. Believers could not be ſafe, or ſet beyond danger, if he were not their Judge, who was made Sin, and a Curſe for them; and procured Reconciliation and Remiſſion, and Eternal Life to be beſtowed on them: The laſt Act of Chriſt is, not only a Kingly, but a Sacerdotal, or Prieſtly Act: After the Prieſt of the Law had offered Sacrifice and Burnt Incenſe, then he came forth and Bleſſed the people: For this Reaſon the people waited for the coming forth of Zechary the Prieſt, Luke 1.21. So our great High-Prieſt will Crown his Sacrifice and interceſſion with a Bleſſing, Matth. 25.34. Come ye Bleſſed of my Father, Inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the Foundation of the World.

5. Conſider the woful condition of thoſe, that are not Intereſted in this Righteouſneſs.

1. It is wiſhed as the worſt Curſe, and denounced as the greateſt Evil, for Men not to come into the Righteouſneſs of God; Add Iniquity to their Iniquity, and let them not come into thy Righteouſneſs, Pſal. 69.27. It was the Sin of the Jews, p. 317that they Submitted not to the Righteouſneſs of God, Rom. 10.3. and this is inflicted as a ſuitable puniſhment; Let them not come into thy Righteouſneſs. Their own choice is turned into a dreadful imprecation; for,

1. Such will add Iniquity to Iniquity: as it is expreſſed in the Pſal. 69.27. They will do nothing elſe but multiply provocations, increaſe guilt, heighten and inflame Wrath; run further from God, and harden themſelves more againſt God.

2. Such as Reject Chriſt, and his Righteouſneſs, are under the Law as a Covenant, Gal. 4.21. This is their choice, this is their deſire, they would be under the Law; and this is a bad ſtate; for,

1. The Law gives no ſtrength, or Life, John 1.17. The Law came by Moſes; but Grace and Truth by Jeſus Chriſt. It is only an urging Letter, an exacting Command; all the Grace to obey comes by, and from Jeſus Chriſt: The Law doth not quicken our dead Soules, it is only a ſound of words; it gives us no power. Therefore when the Iſraelites heard it they could not bear it, but deſired that the word ſhould not be ſpoken to them any more, Heb. 12.19.20. Hereby they p. 318confeſſed their guilt, impotency, inſufficiency, and utter deſpair of keeping the Law, as it ought to be obeyed. Hagar was a young Woman, and bare Iſmael by Natural ſtrength. So the Law ſuppoſes, that we ſhould have kept the ſtrength, that God beſtowed at our firſt Creation, and by it render perfect obedience to its Commands: But the new Covenant reſtores Life, and gives ſtrength. So Sarah, though ſhe was barren, and now paſt age, yet by Faith received ſtrength to conceive Seed, Heb. 11.11. But the Law gives no ſtrength, furniſhes us with no new ſtock to trade again with: It doth not change the Table of the Heart, it is ſtill a Stony, hard Rebellious Heart. The Law is weak as to its commands, becauſe our Luſts are ſo ſtrong, and its Promiſes are weak and ineffectual; becauſe our Fleſh is ſo powerful, and predominant, Rom. 8.3. Moſes did only hew, ſmooth, and plain the Tables, Exod. 34.1. but he did not make them ſoft, they ſtill remained Stone: So, however the Law may ſmooth, and poliſh Men's Converſations, yet their wills are ſtill perverſe, and obſtinate againſt its Spiritual Commands, Iſa. 48.4. I knew thou waſt obſtinate, and haſt an Iron ſinew. Moſes p. 319did Conquer the utmoſt Borders, and the out-skirts of Canaan, as the Country of Sihon, and Og the King of Baſhan; but did not pierce into the Heart of the Country, and ſubdue it: This was leſt to Joſhua, a Type of Jeſus Chriſt. The utmoſt the Law doth, is but to reſtrain Sin in the Converſations, and to Reform the Life; when Men ſerve in the oldneſs of the Letter; but Sin ſtill keeps its Throne in the Heart: Proud Hypocriſy, or raging Deſpair is uſually found in Legaliſts. Though the Iſraelites heard the Law given by God himſelf, ſaw his dreadful, terrible Majeſty, and Glory, in the giving of it, yet they preſently fell to Idolatry, Exod. 32.1.4, 5, 6. This Idolatry ſo ſoon Commited, did ſhew, that the Law gave no power to obey and fullfil its own Commands.

2. The Law abates nothing, remits nothing of its demands on the account of our weakneſs: It requires as much ſervice of Sick and weak Man, as if he were ſound, and ſtrong: It calls for as full payment of the poor Bankrupt Creature as if it were Rich: The Law makes no compoſition with, or allowance to decayed and inſolent debters; yea, though it doth Curſe us for our Diſobedience to, p. 320and Enmity againſt God, yet, at the ſame time it Requires us to Love God with all our Heart, Mind, Soul and Strength, Matth. 22.37.

3. The Law, by woful experience, is found to ſtir up Sin, when it's moſt pure and Spiritual Commands are urged upon the Conſcience: The motions of Sin are ſaid to be by the Law, Rom. 7.5. When the ſtrict Commands of the Law are preſſed on the Conſcience, indweling Sin rouſes up it ſelf; growes more Violent, and Outragious. A Bridge, ſet over, and giving ſome check to a ſtream, cauſes its ſmooth calm waters to rage, and make a noiſe; ſo Sin becomes more impetuous by that oppoſition that it meets withal from the Law of God. The Apoſtle Paul ſaith; That Sin taking occaſion by the Law deceived him, and ſo ſlew him, Rom. 7.7, 8, 9, 10, 11. When the Commandments came, Sin revived; raiſed up it ſelf more to reſiſt, and contradict the Law of God. This was very ſtrange, and ſurprizing to Paul, he was decived in this, he thought the Law would have repreſſed, beaten down, and mortified Sin; but it rather fortified it. As a Man that doth not know the Nature of Burning Lime, p. 321thinks, by pouring a little water on it, to quench it; but when he ſeeth that this water makes it to burn more vehemently and fiercely; How would he, as amazed, cry out, How am I deceived, that the water ſhould increaſe the Fire, that I thought would extinguiſh it? So, the Law doth not weaken Sin, but rather ſtrengthen it, and render it more violent.

4. The Law puniſhes every Sin with Death. Every Luſt is mortal, every wrong ſtep is fatal, and corrupt Fruit is pernitious, and deſtructive. Though Iſmael might be guilty of many other offences, yet for a weighty reaſon Moſes mentions but one, and that was his mocking at Iſaac, and for this he was caſt out, and caſt off, Gen. 21.8, 9, 10, 11. Iſmael was Hagar's Child, and, ſo, a Type of them that cleave to the Covenant of Works. The Law Curſes for every act of Diſobedience, Deut. 27. laſt. One offence according to the Covenant of Works, is enough to undo, and Ruin a Man to Eternity.

5. There is no acceſs to God by the Covenant of Works. When the Law was given, Bounds were ſet about Mount Sinai to keep off the people of Iſrael, p. 322they were charged not to break through. Death was denounced as the Puniſhment of thoſe that touched the Mountain, Exod. 19.12.13.21. The people therefore removed, and ſtood a-far off, Exod. 20.18. None of the other Prieſts, or Worſhiping Iſraelites might enter into the Tabernacle till Atonement was made for their Sins by Aaron the High-Prieſt, Levit. 16, 17. But after that Sacrifices were Slain, Offered, and their Blood Sprinkled on the Altar and the People; then Moſes, Aaron, and Seventy of the Elders of Iſrael aſcended Mount Sinai, and ſaw the Glory of the God of Iſrael, Exod. 24.4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Theſe Sacrifices were but Types of Chriſt's Death: he died, the Juſt for the Unjuſt, to bring us to God, 1 Pet. 3.18. elſe we are ſhut out of the Glorious Preſence of God, and cut off from all Gracious and Bleſſed Communion with him. God is not acceſſible: by the Covenant of Works guilty Creatures are kept off from him.

6. The Law genders to Bondage, Galat. 4.22. a Spirit of Bondage to Fear attends it, Rom. 8.15. as Hagar and Iſmael had a ſlaviſh Fear of Abraham, as a Maſter, rather than a Conjugal Love p. 323to him as a Husband, or a Filial Love to him as a Father. Thoſe under the Covenant of Works are ſtill doubting of God's Favour, queſtioning his Love, dreading of his Wrath: They do not know whither Death will carry them, and where Judgment will fix them; and therefore, through the Fear of Death, they are all their Life-time ſubject to Bondage, Heb. 2.15. the fear of the evil that is future doth embitter to them all preſent Good. The Law was given in ſuch a Manner, that it was deſigned to ſtrike Fear and Terror into Sinners. The Iſraelites were then alone with God in the Wilderneſs, ſeparated from all other Nations. This might intimate, that God and the Sinner ſhall be alone together, and all pleaſing Company and delightful Enjoyments ſhall be ſhut out. The Thunder did roar in their Ears, and the Lightning did flaſh and flame in their Eyes, and the Earth did tremble under their Feet, Exod. 19.16, 18. Whither ſhall a Guilty Sinner betake himſelf, when the Heavens do threaten Vengeance over his head, and the Earth ſeems ſinking under his feet. The Mountain did burn with fire, Exod. 19.16, 18. with Deut. 5.23. this p. 324did repreſent the fiery Throne of God, and his burning Wrath, wherewith, as a Judge, he is Armed, to puniſh and deſtroy thoſe that truſt in their Works, and will have to do with God according to the Covenant of Works. But though the Mountain did burn, yet it was not conſumed. So, guilty Creatures ſhall burn in the fire of God's Wrath, yet never be conſumed, or ceaſe to be. There was Blackneſs, Darkneſs and Tempeſt, Heb. 12.18. Theſe pointed at the perplexed ſtate of a Sinner, the horrour and conſternation of the Soul, when God, the Judge, doth ſhew his Juſtice and Wrath for the Violation of the Condition of the Covenant of Works. O what black darkneſs will cover Sinners! O what a Terrible Storm and Tempeſt will one day be raiſed in, and fall upon their Souls. The ſound of the Trumpet, that was exceeding loud, Exod. 19.19. Heb. 12.19. did ſignifie, that Sinners muſt be cited to, and preſented before the Tribunal of God; neither can any decline, or avoid appearing before God's Juſtice-Seat: Yet the Apoſtle calls this Mount Sinai, a Mountain, that was in it ſelf Tangible, or might be touched, that ſo it was an Earthly and Material p. 325Mountain, becauſe the Diſpenſation of the Law, and Covenant of Works, is but a low Diſpenſation: A Natural Man may Touch, and Reach this; that God will inflict evil on thoſe that rebel and do evil. When as the Covenant of Grace is a Spiritual, and Inviſible Mountain, far above the reach and comprehenſion, above the ſight and ken of a Natural Man. And what did all this Terror, in giving the Law, tend to, but to raiſe a Spirit of Bondage in ſinners, and, by Fear, to drive and force ſinners to ſome External Obedience to the Letter of the Law, which yet they perform with Regret and Reluctancy, and not with Love and delight.

7. There is no enjoyment of the Eternal Inheritance by the Law; the Bond-woman and her Son were to be caſt out, Galat. 4.20, 21. Gen. 21.8.10. Iſmael was not admitted, or allowed to be an Heir with Iſaac. He did not Inherit Abraham's Rich Eſtate. Moſes could not bring the Iſraelites into, or give them poſſeſſion of the Land of Canaan; this, Joſhua, the Type of Chriſt, did. Hagar and Iſmael were turned out with a ſmall pittance: they had but a few Loaves, and a Bottle of Water. It may p. 326ſeem ſtrange, that Rich Abraham ſhould provide no better for his Wife and Child; but there was a Myſtery in it: it ſerved to inſtruct us, that thoſe that are of the works of the Law, cannot be Heirs of Heaven: cannot poſſeſs any Spiritual Riches, or an Eternal portion in Glory; but are put off with Temporary, Momentary Comforts and Enjoyments. What are the beſt things that this World affords? What are Earthly Riches, Honours or Pleaſures, compared with an Eternal Happineſs? they are but as a few Loaves of Bread, and a Bottle of Water. When Hagar and Iſmael were turned out, they wandered in a Wilderneſs, Gen. 21.14. O what a difference was there between the plenty and abundance of Abraham's Family, and the wants of a Barren Wilderneſs? The World it ſelf is but a Wilderneſs, compared with the Paradiſe of God, Revel. 2.7. A Legal ſtate under the Covenant of Works, What is it but a wretched Barren Wilderneſs? In our fleſh dwells no good, Rom. 7.18. and therefore the Law promiſes us no good. And may not this ſtate be fitly compared to a Wilderneſs, in which we are deſtitute of all good.

p. 3278. Though the Law be Ancient, yet it is not Abrogated, but ſtill ſtands in full Force againſt thoſe that are out of Chriſt. Though Moſes was old, yet his Eye-ſight did not decay, neither did his Natural Force and Vigour abate, Deut. 34.9. This ſeems to point at the Perpetual Strength and ſtanding Obligation of the Law. Mens Laws grow abſolete, and out of date: by age they are ſilently Abrogated and Repealed: but it is not ſo with God's Law. As God required Moſes's his Life when he was in full ſtrength; and then Buried him, Deut. 34.5, 6. So Chriſt puts an end to the Law, as a Covenant of Works, and Buries its Curſe, when it was in its full ſtrength. As many as are of the Works of the Law, are under the Curſe, Gal. 3.10. though they are not groſly wicked, but ſeemingly obedient to the Letter of it, yet they cannot decline, or avoid the Curſe, it will take hold of them, and be executed on them.

It is dreadful to be under the Law, tho' ſome inconſiderately deſire to be under it, Gal. 4.21. Dr. Addiſon, in his Book of the Cuſtoms of the Jews in Barbary, cap. 2. tells us of a proud Jew that ſaid, He would ſtand upon his own Legs: p. 328he would not be beholding to any to Fulfil the Law for him, or to ſatisfie for his ſins, but he would do it for himſelf, and go to Heaven on his own Feet. How many are there of the ſame mind with this Inſolent and Ignorant Rabbi? But thoſe that ſtick to the Covenant of Works do put on themſelves a Yoke, Acts 15.10. that they are never able to bear: they bind on themſelves a Weighty Burden, that will make their Backs to bow down alway, Rom. 11.10. and cauſe their Loyns to ſhake, Pſal. 69.23. Can you pay your Debt of Obedience, or endure when God ſhall inflict upon you that Debt of Puniſhment that he owes you? Can you ſtand, when he doth mark your Iniquities? Pſal. 130.3. Can your hands be ſtrong? Can your hearts endure in the day that God ſhall have to do with you? Ezek. 22.14. and contend with you? Job 9.3. Tho' you are now ſecure, Will not your Peace then end in War? Your Calm iſſue in a Storm? your preſent ſilence terminate in the Loud Thunder of Wrath and Vengeance.

3. If you are not Intereſted in this Righteouſneſs, and ſo not Pardoned; God can take no Good out of his Treaſury p. 329to give you in Mercy, Hoſ. 14.2. Theſe two things are joyned together to take away Iniquity, and make Good that which our Tranſlators have rendred, Receive us graciouſly, it is in the Original foreign, and take Good; that is, take it out of thy Treaſury to beſtow it on us. Good cannot be taken, and given to us, till Iniquity be taken from us. Guilt is that mighty Damm, that ſtops the Current of God's Goodneſs: It is a Lock on God's Treaſury it is a Seal on the Fountain of Life: it ſeparates between God and us, and hinders Good things from us, Iſa. 59.2. Jer. 5.25. Do any find a Drought of Mercy, a Famin of Bleſſings, let them thank their Iniquities for it? theſe are the great Impediment, the grand obſtruction of Good things.

4. God accepts no Service, or Worſhip with Good Will from Perſons Unjuſtified. God's eye muſt firſt be opened on the Perſon, as accepting him; before his Ear is opened to his Prayer, as regarding and approving it: It may ſeem a ſtrange expreſſion, that God's eye ſhould be open to a Supplication, yet this phraſe is uſed, 1 Kings 8.52. It intimates, that God's eye muſt firſt be opened p. 330on the Perſon, before his ear is opened and enclined to hear his Prayer. God firſt had reſpect to Abel, and then to his Offering, Gen. 4.4. but God had no reſpect to Cain, or to his Offering, Gen. 4.5. it is very probable at leaſt, that God's rejecting Cain, and his Offering, was plainly to be diſcerned by ſome outward viſible Sign, or Token. When God, of old, accepted a Sacrifice, he did ſend Fire from Heaven to conſume it, Levit. 9. laſt. 1 King. 18.38. but it ſeems God did ſend no Fire from Heaven to conſume Cain's Offering, and ſo to Teſtifie that he was well-pleaſed with it, and did accept of it. Cain might take it away again, and imploy it to a common uſe, God did not value or regard it. The main Ingredient that is requiſite to ſeaſon acts of Worſhip, and to render them ſavoury to God, was wanting. Faith, in the Promiſed Seed, was neceſſary to endear the Perſon, and commend the Offering to God; but, where this is not found, God ſaith to Worſhippers, I have no pleaſure in you, neither will I accept an Offering at your band, Mal. 1.10.

5. All their Bleſſings are Curſed to them, Mal. 2.2. Their proſperity doth p. 331deſtroy them, Prov. 1.32. Honour heightens their Pride; Riches Fetter and Chain their Minds and Hearts: The Cares of the World are as an Over-burden, or Lading to a Ship, that hinders them from Sailing towards the Port of Heaven; and ſinks their Souls into Perdition: Cares and Luſts are as Thorns that choak the good Seed of the Word, and hinder it from bringing any Fruit to perfection, Matth. 13.22. The Pleaſures of the World do fuel their Luſts, increaſe their Senſuality, and exceedingly Carnalize their Minds and Affections.

6. Every Attribute of God is terrible to them; God's Holineſs loathes them as unclean, God's Juſtice hates them as Rebels and Enemies, that preſs all the Creatures to take up Arms againſt their Maker; but they themſelves are Volunteers in this wicked Warfare. Infinite Wiſedom doth deviſe devices againſt them, Jer. 18.11. doth invent meanes to puniſh, and deſtroy them; for God is wiſe in Heart, and mighty in ſtrength, Joh 9.4. Infinite Power executes, what Infinite Wiſedom hath contrived. God lives to Eternity to pour out the Vials of his Wrath on them, p. 332and to meaſure out the Revenges of his Juſtice to them. A Contending time will come, Job 9.3. God's angry Face will be unvailed, and his puniſhing Arm be made bare: his Fury will come up in his Face, Ezek. 38.18. and will be terribly Executed by his Hand, Pſal. 21.8. His eares will be ſtopt againſt their cries: His Bowels be ſhut, his Heart be hardened againſt their miſery. They ſhall never ſee the Light, Pſal. 49.19. They ſhall never ſee Life, John 3. laſt. They ſhall never taſt of Chriſt's Supper, Luke 14.24. Worms that die ſhall prey on their Bodies, the worm that never dies ſhall feed on their Souls.

7. Conſider how bad it will be with thoſe in a dying hour, that have no Intereſt in Chriſt's Righteouſneſs: If Men are not Judicially blinded, and hardened, they cannot but be ſomewhat concerned about their Future ſtate, when they walk on the Borders, and ſtand on the Brink of Eternity. How much are Men diſmayed, and terrified at the Thoughts of Death? Therefore they are very unwilling to ſtep beyond Death in their thoughts, or to Travel into Eternity in their Meditations. They Fear to meet with a terrible Hoſt of Sins, an Ocean of p. 333Wrath, a Lake of Fire and Brimſtone. They bode no good to themſelves at their departure out of this World. God the great Creditor Records their debts, and Conſcience, his Officer, doth ſometimes charge them, and arreſt their Souls: They have no Spiritual Balſom then to heal their wounds; No arm to lean on, to ſupport their Souls: None to roll away the Burden of their Guilt, to pacify, or quiet their accuſing and condemning Conſcience: To Bail them when they are arreſted for a debt of Ten thouſand Talents; they cannot look inward, but they ſee an Evil Treaſure, and a Conſcience loaded with Dead Works: They cannot look upward, but they ſee God's frowning Face, and Fiery Throne: They cannot look forward, but they ſee a deep pit, a dark Priſon, and Revenging Juſtice armed for their deſtruction. The Covenant of Works is a continual Root of doubts and feares; Legaliſts are ſtill queſtioning, and asking, Who ſhall deſcend into the Deep, to ſatisfy them? That the Gates of Hell are ſhut, that they ſhall not enter by, and paſs through them into the Regions of Darkneſs, and Miſery: Or, they inquire, Who ſhall aſcend up p. 334to Heaven, to aſſure them that the Doer of Heaven is open, to let them into Glory? Rom. 10.6, 7. They have ſtill perplexed minds, and anxious thoughts, they cannot ſee themſelves ſecured from a Miſerable, or aſſured of a Bleſſed Eternity: They fear they ſhall make a ruining, and undoing change; be totally Shipwrackt, and caſt away, Body and Soul for ever. They cannot totally ſuppreſs the thoughts of Eternity, or Comfortably entertain them: They can neither ſtupify nor pacifie Conſcience. How often are Sinners terribly awakened, and alarm'd when Death looks them in the Face? O! what a bitter cry of Deſtruction do they then lift up, Iſa. 15.5. All their Sins (as the adverſaries of Zion once did) Lam. 1.31. do overtake them between the Straits, when they walk through the narrow Valley of the ſhadow of death; as Jeſus Chriſt himſelf was in an Agony near his end, Luke 22.44. When he ſaw what an Hoſt of Infernal Enemies he muſt Fight through, what an Ocean of Wrath he muſt Swim through, this put him into a Bloody ſweat: When he beheld the Frowning Face of God, the Fiery Throne, and the Flaming Sword of Juſtice, this drew p. 335ſtrong Cryes and Teares from Chriſt, Heb. 5.7. So if Sinners be not ſtupified, if they ſee themſelves going to an Eternal execution, that they will be ever Suffering, and never die: That there will ſtill be Food for an Everlaſting Worm, and Fuel for an Eternal Fire; This will fill them with Conſternation and Horrour. Condemned Tranſgreſſors muſt bear their Iniquities, yet cannot ſtand, or bear up under this load: They cannot ſtay, yet dare not to depart; they cannot hide, yet are not fit to appear; they muſt ſtand before the Judgement Seat of Chriſt, Rom. 14.10. yet cannot ſtand in the Judgement, Pſal. 1.5. They muſt appear before that Tribunal, Cor. 5.10. where yet they cannot Confidently, or Comfortably appear, 1 Pet. 4.18. They dread the next ſtep they ſhall take, when out of the Body: where their Lot will fall, and what their Treatment will be to Eternity. Beleivers indeed do confidently commit, and commend their Soules into the Hands of their Redeemer, Pſal. 31.5. But wicked Men full ſorely againſt their wills muſt fall into the Hands of an angry Creditor, and of an inexorable Judge, Heb. 10.31. They muſt anſwer for their own Sins; p. 336there is no other to pay their Debts, Satisfie for their Offences, Plead for their Reconciliation: All their Iniquities will overtake them in another World, and meet them at the Tribunal of God: None of them are blotted out, or paſſed over. God hath Sworn by himſelf he will never forget any of them, Amos 8.7. God will open the Treaſury of his Wrath, and ſhut up the Bowels of his Mercy; he will remember Iniquity, and therefore forget to be Gracious: God will enter into Judgement with Sinners, and ſtand up to plead againſt them, Iſa. 3.13, 14. Delinquents muſt appear, Criminals muſt be brought unto Judgement, Eccleſ. 11.9. and all their thoughts, words and actions muſt appear, and be brought into Judgement, Eccleſ. 12. laſt. God will paſs a Juſt Condemning Sentence, and terribly Execute it on them. As the Sun was Eclypſed, and darkneſs covered the Earth, when Chriſt Died; ſo the Gracious Countenance of God will be Eternally Eclypſed towards Sinners. Chriſt met with Affronts, Indignities, Blowes before the Tribunal of Men; And what muſt Sinners look for at the Tribunal of God? Jeſus Chriſt was denied any refreſhment when he thirſted; So p. 337Sinners ſhall not obtain a drop to cool their ſcorched tongues, Luke 16.22, 23, 24, 25. As the Waters did perſue all, that were out of the Ark, till they were drowned; So, Sin ſhall hunt, perſue, find out and overtake Sinners for their Eternal Deſtruction, Pſal. 140.11. Ezek. 35.63. Numb. 2.23. All that is grateful, and ſweet in the being of Sinners ſhall be conſumed; yet they themſelves ſhall ſtill exiſt to ſuffer more Puniſhment and Torment. God's Controverſie with Sinners will never be at an end: His Sword will never be ſheathed: The dreadful ſtorm of Vengeance will never ceaſe. God's Eternity will be dreadful, for he ever lives to puniſh: and the Soul's own Immortality will be terrible to it; For it ſhall ever exiſt to be puniſhed: So that Sinners would rather ſleep in the duſt for ever, than to have a Reſurection to Condemnation, John 5.28. and had rather be annihilated, than ſuffer the Vengeance of Eternal Fire. If departing Souls did ſee whither they were going, and know what they muſt ſuffer, Would not their Chambers ſound with theſe dreadful words? We muſt dwell with Everlaſting Fire! we muſt inhabit with Eternal Burnings!

p. 3388. It is bad not to have Chriſt to be our Righteouſneſs; if we conſider how many fooliſh devices ſinners ſeek out to quiet and eaſe their Conſciences; and yet, by all theſe, they do but delude and cheat their Souls. Some Faſt often, eat courſe Food, wear Hair-cloth, Whip themſelves ſeverely, lie on the Ground. Thoſe that have not reſt in Chriſt, they are foreign, ſuch as are ſtill walking about in devices, and inventions of their own, Heb. 13.9. to pacifie God the Judge, and to bribe Conſcience his Officer. How woful is the Caſe of ſome ignorant Proteſtants, of the blind Papiſts, of the deluded Jews, the deceived Mahumetans and Heathens? Papiſts think, by ſeverity, and cruelty to their Bodies, to expiate the ſins of their Souls: Some go in Pilgrimage to the Images of Saints; ſome build Churches and Chappels, and appoint Prieſts to Pray for their Souls, while they live in Senſual Pleaſures, and ſerve their Luſts. Some endow Religious Houſes with Lands, that Maſſes may be ſaid, and Supplications made for their Souls. **Dr. Addiſon of the Cuſtoms of the Jews in Barbary.The Jews, in the begining of the New Year do p. 339run into Rivers, and there think to waſh away their Sins: if they ſee a fiſh in the water, they will ſhake themſelves, and, as it were, endeavour to unlade their ſins on the Fiſh, that he may ſwim away with them. On the day of Atonement, the Men break the neck of a Cock, and the Women of a white Hen; as if thoſe Birds ſhould bear and expiate their Sins. Some of the Jews, as Buxtorf relates in his Synagoga Judaica, do offer this Cock to the Devil to Bribe him, that he may not Accuſe them, or hinder their Prayers. When a Jew is ſick, and dying, the Rabbi changes his Name, and then Prays for him; that if God were offended with one that did bear the firſt Name, that yet he would be pacified towards him that now paſſes under a New Name: as if the change of a Sick Perſon's Name, did make him another Perſon. Indeed, the Sinner muſt change his Name, that he may be Pardoned; but it is Chriſt's New Name that muſt be put on him, that he may be Juſtified, 1 Cor. 6.11. Yet theſe things do not quiet the Minds of the Jews; but, when they come to die, they Pray to God, That their Death may be the Expiation of all their Sins. But, p. 340how fooliſh is this, to put their own Death in the room and place of Chriſt's Death. Yet this doth not allay their Fears; they further own, that all, or many of them, muſt ſuffer pains in another World, for Eleven or Twelve Moneths; and that they need the help of their Living Friends to Pray them out of this place and pains. The Bannians, in the Eaſt-Indies, are Baptized in the River Ganges, for the cleanſing away of their Sins (as Mr. Lord relates in his Hiſtory) ſome do bring the Dead Bodies of their Friends ten days Journey, or more, to waſh them in the River Ganges, that they may be purified from guilt; others do ſtand in painful poſtures, with one Leg up; others do Vow they will never eat any thing but what they find on the High-way. There is a Tree in the Eaſt-Indies, which the Natives do call Adam's Tree; on the Boughes of it they do hang up ſharp Irons, much like ſuch as our Butchers do hang dead Beaſts on; the Boughs of the Tree being low, they leap up with their Naked Bodies againſt theſe Iron Hooks, and if they do take hold of their Fleſh, they hang on them till the weight of their Bodies doth tear them off from p. 341theſe Iron Hooks: this they do, as they pretend, to Expiate Adam's Sin, in eating of the Forbidden Fruit. Theſe things Tavernier Relates in the Hiſtory of his Travels in the Eaſt-Indies. The Mahometans do Faſt, go on Pilgrimage to Mecha, to Mahomet's Tomb; they draw Water out of a Well there, and in the Water of it they think they Waſh away all their ſins.

Many more of ſuch Fooliſh Inventions and Practices I could Inſtance in, at what painful, or coſtly ſervice, or ſuffering, will an Awakened Sinner ſtick, to pacifie God's Wrath, and to be rid of the Fear of Eternal Torments. But there is no other Shadow for Scorched, or Reſt for Weary Souls, but in Jehovah our Righteouſneſs.

I ſhall now give ſome Directions how Perſons may be driven to ſeek Righteouſneſs in Chriſt, and partake of it through him.

1. We muſt conſider, that we have to do with God. We muſt appear before his Tribunal, and be weighed in his Ballance: we muſt not, as Hypocrites, only look at the Eye, Judgements and Praiſe of Men, Luke 16.15. Ye are they which juſtifie your ſelves before Men, p. 342ſought honour one of another, John 5.44. but it is to God that you ſtand or fall; he weigheth Spirits, Prov. 16.2. He ſearcheth the heart, and trieth the reins, Jer. 17.10. Men may commend a fair Shew, a Beautiful Tomb of out-ſide Religion, when God ſeeth the Dead Souls and rotten hearts that is underneath, Mat. 23.27. Acquaint your ſelves with the Holineſs, Purity and Juſtice of God; God is a pure Light as he is Holy, and a conſuming Fire as he is a Juſt God. He takes pleaſure in Uprightneſs, he hates Iniquity, the Fooliſh ſhall not ſtand in his ſight, Evil ſhall not dwell with him, Pſal. 5.45. An Hypocrite ſhall not come before him, Job 13.16. He will not clear the Guilty, Exod. 34.61.17. or Juſtifie the Wicked, Prov. 17.15. He not only weighs the Actions, 1 Sam. 23. but he alſo weighs the Spirits of Men, Prov. 16.2. He hath Eyes that are exceeding pure, Hab. 1.13. His eyes alſo are as a flame of Fire, Revel. 2.18. to eſpy the ſecret filth of Hypocrites. God is Jealous of his Honour and Glory, Nahum. 1.2. He is a conſuming fire to Impenitent Unbelieving Sinners. We have to do with God, are to p. 343preſent our ſelves in his ſight, and at his Tribunal. The Righteous Judge of the World cannot be blinded, will not be Bribed or Byaſſed: Shall I count them pure with the wicked Ballances? Micaah 6.11. Should I receive comfort in theſe corrupt, Idolatrous Services? Iſa. 57.6. God will not pervert Judgment, accept or approve what Sinners would impoſe, and obtrude upon him. Will God allow a Faulty and Defective Righteouſneſs? Will he admit, and impute it for a Full, Perfect and Satisfactory Righteouſneſs? Will any other Righteouſneſs but our Saviour Chriſt's pleaſe God's Eye, weigh in his Ballance, or be pleaded at his Tribunal? Thoſe that have not this Righteouſneſs will be rejected as Reprobate Silver, Jer. 6. laſt.

2. Study the Purity, Spirituality, and Perfection of the Law of God. The Law of the Lord is perfect, Pſal. 19.7. The Word of God is very pure, Pſal. 119.140. The Commandment is exceeding broad, Pſal. 119.96. Though we may find out the utmoſt perfection that is in the Creature, yet we cannot diſcover the depth, and breadth of the Law of God. We cannot ſay we have found out the utmoſt of Duty that the Law requires, p. 344or the utmoſt of that Tranſgreſſion and Iniquity that the Law forbids and condemns: it obliges to the height, of Love to God, and forbids the leaſt and loweſt Luſt to the prejudice of Men, Matth. 22.37, 39. Rom. 7.7. The firſt and laſt Commands do eminently diſcover the admirable purity, and perfection of the Law of God: Can you Anſwer, Obey, Stand before this perfect Law of God? Should not the Terrible Trumpet of the Law (Exod. 19.16.) cauſe you to prize, and long for to hear the ſweet Trumpet of the Jubilee, Levit. 25.9. The Law was not given to ſtop or detain us, in it ſelf, but to drive us to Chriſt. This was the Glory of the Law, yet this Glory of it was Vailed and hidden from the Jews: This was intimated by the Vail on Moſes his Face. The Jews did not ſee God's end in giving the Law, 2 Cor. 3.13. God did not intend to Juſtifie us, but to Accuſe and Condemn us by by the Law. By the Law is the Knowledge of our Sin, not of our Righteouſneſs, Rom. 3.20. It diſcovers nothing but Sin in us, ſhuts up all of ours under Sin, Gal. 3.22. all the inward Operations of our Souls, and all the Outward Acts of our Bodies it Condemns: p. 345we are (as it were) put in Priſon, and ſhut up, under Condemnation, by the Law; and all this is to cauſe us to find our need of, and to make us Sigh, and ſeek for a Redeemer to open our Priſon-door, and give Liberty to our Souls, Iſa. 42.7. Iſa. 49.9. Iſa. 61.1. The Law, if rightly underſtood, drives us from it ſelf. I, through the Law (ſaith Paul) am dead to the Law, Gal. 2.19. As the Glorious Light that did ſhine in Moſes his Face did Terriſie the Iſraelites, and drive them from him, diſcourage, or deter them from coming near to him, Exod. 34.30, 32, 33. So, that Glorious Purity and Holineſs, that Impartial and Severe Juſtice, that ſhines in the Face of the Law, ſhould drive us from Reſting in, or truſting on the Law for Righteouſneſs, and deſpair of ever being pronounced Righteous by it. Shall the Law, that was intended but for a School-Maſter, to direct us unto Chriſt, (Gal. 3.24.) be made a Father, to give us an Inheritance of Righteouſneſs? But how many have groſly erred, and grievouſly miſtaken about this? they have Enervated, and Diſpirited the Law of God: they have pared off a p. 346great deal of its Purity, cut off much of its Spirituality, and made it to look like the Civil Law of Man, as if it were given to check words and reſtrain outward acts, but was not preſcribed to the heart: but the Law is like the Law-giver: as he ſeeth the Motions of the Mind and Will; ſo, his Law forbids all evil Thoughts, and Vile Affections, and on this account it is called Spiritual, Rom. 7.14. But the Jews, eſpecially the Phariſees, did think the Law of God did not reach to Regulate, or Condemn thoſe Evils, that were the meer Creatures of the Heart. How elſe could the Elder Brother, ſignifying the Phariſee, ſay to God his Father, Lo theſe many years have I ſerved thee, neither at any time have I tranſgreſſed thy word, Luke 15.28. Paul, when a Phariſee, thought himſelf, as touching the Righteouſneſs of the Law, to be blameleſs, Phil. 3.6. Theſe accounted themſelves to be ſuch Juſt Men, that they needed no Repentance, Luke 15.7. To theſe the Goſpel is Fooliſhneſs, 1 Cor. 2.14. Is it not folly to ſpeak of Reconciliation, Healing, Liberty, to thoſe that never thought themſelves to be Enemies to God, to be Sick, Priſoners, or Captives? How doth the Papiſts at this p. 347day pervert, and corrupt the Law of God? they call the moſt Spiritual part of it, not a Command, but a Counſel: to Love God ſincerely, ſome of them will allow to be a Command; but, to Love him with all the Mind, Soul, Heart and Strength, this they aſſert to be but a Counſel, and not a Command. And without this Wicked Opinion, they cannot Maintain their other Errors, that Men may be perfect in this Life, and truly fulfil the whole Law of God. Thus Men do at this day by their Corrupt Gloſſes, Falſe Diſtinctions, Perverſe Interpretations of the Law of God, Undermine its Purity, Spirituality and Perfection; and ſo clap a Vail on Moſes his Face, that the Law may not be Terrible to them, but that they may draw near to it, and truſt on it for their Juſtification. Thus Men go about to eſtabliſh their own Righteouſneſs by derogating, and detracting from the Extent and Obligation of the Law: they Lower the Law, that they may Heighten and Exalt their own Righteouſneſs.

3. Come to, and deſcend into your ſelves, that you may find out that evil Treaſure, that Root of Bitterneſs, that p. 348Fountain of Iniquity, that is in your ſelves. Abraham, as touching the Fleſh, did not find a Righteouſneſs in himſelf to boaſt of, and Glory in; And can we find that in our ſelves, that Abraham could not find in himſelf? Rom. 4.1, 2. If we cannot find Righteouſneſs in our ſelves, do we not need to be found in Chriſt, Phil. 3.9. To ſtay, and truſt on that Righteouſneſs which is of God by the Faith of Chriſt, we muſt deſire God (as Luther ſaith) not only to turn away his Eyes from our Sins, but alſo from our Services; not only to forgive our wrong ſteps out of the way; but alſo our ſlow ſteps in it; when we are bought with ſo great a price, and encouraged to run with ſo Glorious a Prize ſet before us. We may ſee enough in our ſelves to Condemn us. We are Children of Wrath, by nature, and Children of Diſobedience by practice. Every faculty is diſeaſed, and perverted, every Work of ours is corrupted and defiled. God threatens the Jews to ſpread the dung of their Solemn Feaſts on their faces, Mal. 2.3. The Beaſts that were brought into the Courts of the Temple on the Feaſt-days, did dung in them. God ſeems to compare the faults and failings in the p. 349Jews Spiritual Sacrifices to the dung of thoſe Beaſts that were Offered up in Sacrifice. Perhaps Paul may allude to this expreſſion, when he accounts his own Righteouſneſs and priviledges to be but Dung, there is ſome of the Dung of the Old Man that is vented in, and mixed with our beſt performances; that doth ſtain, defile, and, in part at leaſt, render them unſavoury before God. Sin dwells in us, is preſent with us: We can never ſhake it off, ſhut it out, or totally leave it behind us, when we draw near to God: We cannot put God in mind of one perfect duty, but he can put us in mind of Thouſands of defective Services performed by us. If we dwell at home, and truſt in our ſelves, Revenging Juſtice will break in upon us, and deſtroy us: If we ſtay abroad, do not fly to, and Houſe our ſelves in Chriſt, a ſtorm of Fire and Brimſtone will be Rained on us, Pſal. 11.6. We needed Chriſt's Death on Earth, and we want his Interceſſion in Heaven, that the Iniquity of our Holy things may not be charged on us for our Condemnation and deſtruction.

4. We muſt beware of unbelief, as to God's threat'nings, and take heed of Carnal ſecurity. Sinners are too apt to p. 350take the ſhield of unbelief, and to quench all the Fiery Darts of God's threat'nings, which he caſts at them. How prone are preſumptuous Sinners to give God the lie? He ſaith, There is no peace to the Wicked, Iſa. 48. laſt. yet Sinners do promiſe themſelves peace, though they walk in the Imaginations of their own evil Hearts, Deut. 29.19. God ſaith of an ungodly Man, That his eyes ſhall ſee his Deſtruction, and he ſhall drink of the Wrath of the Almighty, Job 21.20. yet he flattereth himſelf with vain hopes, as thoſe, Jer. 5.12. Evil ſhall not come on us, neither ſhall we ſee Sword or Famin. How dreadful is it when a Spiritual Lethargy is added to other diſeaſes? and foreign, the Spirit of ſlumber falls on Men, Rom. 11.8. Some conceive that the Apoſtle alludes to thoſe that are bit wit an Aſp; if that Serpent doth prick them they doze ſlumber, and die away. The Old Serpent did not only Poyſon us by his bite, but alſo ſtupifie us, that we might not be ſenſible of our danger. Some are ſo deep aſleep, that though they are pricked, yet it will not rouſe them up, even ſo, many are in ſuch a profound ſleep, that though God pricks them daily with his Threat'nings, yet they are not awakened to a ſerrious Conſideration, p. 351and dread of approaching deſtruction: God threatens it as a ſore Judgement to the Jews, that the Prophet Ezekiel ſhould be dumb, and that he ſhould not be a Reprover to them, Ezek. 3.26. And how long was he dumb? it was till Jeruſalem was taken, and ſmitten, Ezek. 33.21, 22. It was but the Evening before a Meſſenger came with theſe bad tidings, that Ezekiel's mouth was opened, and he was no more dumb: Ezekiel was dumb till the Judgement denounced was executed on the Jews, and then it was too late to warn and Reprove them. And wilt thou provoke God to lay thee under ſuch a Spiritual Judgment? Shall Conſcience be dumb, and not Reprove thee, til Divine Vengeance fall on thee for thy deſtruction? Take heed that thou doſt not fortify, and intrench thy ſelf in Natural Religion, Morality, and Formal Duties, and ſo bear the Siege, and ſtorm of powerful Preaching. God complains of the Jews, by Zechary, that they made their Hearts as an Adamant Stone, leaſt they ſhould hear the Law. The word, foreign, Signifies a Stone that keeps it ſelf from being broken, though it have knocks, yet it preſerves it ſelf: Even ſo the Heart of Sinners keeps it ſelf p. 352from being broken under the many Admonitions, and Reproofs of the Word. Beware, that ſuch a Heart be not found in thee: Do not make light of, or a mock at, Sin. Do not put the thoughts of thy Iniquity, and of God's Wrath far from thee. Sin lies at the door, if not ſooner, it will arreſt thy Soul when it goes out of the Body, Gen. 4.7. Solomon ſaith, That he that rolleth a Stone it ſhall return upon him, Prov. 26.27. So if you Preſumptuouſly roll away your Sins from you, God will Righteouſly return them upon you. God's Threat'nings are not an empty ſound: Sinners ſhall know, to their coſt, that God hath not ſaid in vain, That he would poure out his Fury on them, Ezek. 6.10. The day of Vengeance is in God's Heart, Iſa. 63.4. The Cup of Fury is in his Hand, Pſal. 75.8. Though there be a mixture of all fatal and deadly ingredients, yet it is without any mixture of Mercy, Rev. 14.10. The ſtorm of Vengeance hangs over the Heads of Sinners. Though it is ſaid, that now God's Judgments are far above out of the ſight of Sinners, Pſal. 10.5. yet they ſhall be ſo viſible, that their eyes ſhall ſee their Deſtruction, Job 21 20. thy breath is in thy Noſtrils, Iſa. p. 3532. laſt. and may ſoon go forth; the Judge ſtands at the door, and may quickly enter in, James 5.9. Wilt thou run on the point of God's Sword? Wilt thou venture into Eternal Burnings?

5. Beware and take heed of Carnal Reaſon; that is enmity to God, and to the Righteouſneſs of God. As the Iſraelites ſlighted the Bread that God gave them from Heaven, did account it as no Bread, Numb. 21.5. There is no Bread; and then they call it light Bread; as if there were nothing ſolid in it; or, as if it did afford no ſubſtantial nouriſhment: yea, Numb. 11.6. they complain; that their Souls was dried away: as if they did grow lean, weak and feeble, by reaſon of this poor and low ſort of Food. So Carnal Reaſon miſrepreſents the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, as if it were nothing ſolid or ſubſtantial. The Blaſphemous Papiſts call Imputed Righteouſneſs, Putative Righteouſneſs as if it did only ſpring up in, and were born from the Fantaſies of Proteſtants. Proud Nature thinks the Righteouſneſs that is wrought, and brought forth by our ſelves, to be the only ſubſtantial and valuable Righteouſneſs; but the Spiritual-minded (as Paul) do account the p. 354Righteouſneſs of God; the Righteouſneſs that is by the Faith of Chriſt, to be the moſt Rich Poſſeſſion, and valuable Food of the Soul, Phil. 3.8, 9. My fleſh, (ſaith Chriſt) is Meat indeed, and my Blood is drink indeed, John 6.55. This is the true Bread, John 6.32.

6. Beg the Spirit to convince thee of ſin, John 16.8, 9. to cut thy ſtock, that the Graft of the Free Promiſe of Righteouſneſs may be let into thy heart, to raiſe a Storm in thy Soul, that all thy Carnal Confidence and Fleſhly Righteouſneſs may be Ship-wrackt. In a great and dangerous Storm, Mariners will throw Silks and Satins over-board, rather than periſh themſelves. Confidence in thy beſt Works muſt be caſt out, that thy Soul may be preſerved, and brought to the deſirable Haven of Chriſt's Righteouſneſs: As the Angel, that was the Son of God, Wreſtled with Jacob, and put his Thigh out of Joynt, Gen. 32.25. even ſo Chriſt, by his Spirit muſt powerfully Wreſtle with us, to Mortiſie our Carnal Confidence, and put our Thigh out of Joynt. We are apt to truſt in our ſelves, that we are Righteous, as thoſe, Luke 18.9. While we thus truſt in our ſelves, our Bone is in p. 355Joynt, we are at eaſe, and have a Carnal Feace; but our Bones muſt be put out of Joynt, that we may have no confidence in the fleſh, Phil. 3.3. Our Heaven of Religion, and our Earth of Morality muſt be ſhaken to pieces, before we will come to Chriſt, Hag. 2.6, 7. we muſt ſee our ſelves caſt away, or elſe we will not enter into Chriſt as an Ark of Salvation.

7. We muſt fly to, and truſt on Chriſt for Juſtification, Gal. 2.16, 17. as God is ſaid to pardon Iniquity, Tranſgreſſion and Sin, Exod. 34.67. ſo it is ſaid of Chriſt, That he came to finiſh the Tranſgreſſion, to make an end of Sins, and to make Reconciliation for Iniquity. God Pardons, but it is through Chriſt: He remembers Iniquity no more, Jer. 31.34. but it is becauſe the clean Water of Chriſt's Blood is ſprinkled upon us, Ezek. 36.25. We muſt look off from our ſelves, and look only to Chriſt: there is not any thing Inherent in us, or performed by us, that is our Righteouſneſs: we are not Juſtified by what we find in our ſelves, but by what we know in Chriſt, Iſ. 53.11. not by what we have done, but by what the p. 356Lord Jeſus Chriſt hath ſuffered. Chriſt's Obedience and Righteouſneſs is contradiſtinguiſhed from, and oppoſed to our Inherent Righteouſneſs, Phil. 3.8, 9. we are not to ſtay in our ſelves, but to be found in him; We are to be made the Righteouſneſs of God in him, 2 Cor. 5.21. Chriſt did not Merit or procure that we ſhould have a Righteouſneſs of our own, and in our ſelves to be Juſtified by. We are to renounce our own Righteouſneſs as filthy rags, and to truſt only on Chriſt's Righteouſneſs, as our next, immediate and only Righteouſneſs for Juſtification. Chriſt is not only the Meritorious cauſe of our Juſtification, but the very matter of our Righteouſneſs. The Iſraelites did not look to the Brazen Serpent in part, and partly to a Plaiſter of their own providing, for help againſt the Bite of the Fiery Serpents, but wholly took off their eye from themſelves, and Fixed it only on God's Remedy. The Man that brought a Sacrifice, was to lay his hand on the head of it, Levit. 1.4. The Hebrew word foreign, is rendred Fulciet, he ſhall, prop up his hand, by leaning ſtrongly on the Head of the Sacrifice: the ſame word is uſed of Aaron laying or leaning his hand p. 357ſtrongly on the Head of the Scape-Goat, Levit. 16.21. So we muſt truſt ſtedfaſtly on Chriſt our Sacrifice; we muſt ſtay our ſelves from ſinking and falling, by leaning on the Obedience and Righteouſneſs of Chriſt; this muſt be our only ſupport. The Names of the Twelve Tribes of Iſrael were put and carried on the two ſhoulders of the High-Prieſt, Exod. 28.12. to point at theſe ſweet Truths, that we muſt be born on the Shoulders of Chriſt our Great High-Prieſt, that we may not fink down to Hell, but be carried up to Heaven by him. We muſt therefore greedily catch at, and ſtrongly take hold of the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt. It is ſaid of the Gentiles, foreign, Took hold of the Righteouſneſs that is by Faith, as a Racer that graſps, and holds faſt the Prize. We muſt ſtrike the Root of Faith deep into the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt. An Anchor will not hold a Ship faſt, if it only ly on the ground, and do not pierce deep into it: So Faith will not eſtabliſh our hearts, if it doth not penetrate, and pierce deep into Chriſt. We muſt Marry Jeſus Chriſt, 2 Cor. 11.2. that he may ſpread his Skirt over us, p. 358Ezek. 16.8. and cover our Nakedneſs: that he may ſecure us from our Debts: and protect us from God's Arreſt. By Faith we muſt Feed on; and eat Chriſt, and be Incorporated into him, John 6.53, 54, 57. Surely then, Chriſt's Righteouſneſs will Cloth and Cover his own Body. We muſt be engrafted into Chriſt as our Stock, and then we ſhall partake of Chriſt's Righteouſneſs as the Fruit that this Noble Vine doth bear: as we partake of the Vital Sap of Chriſt for our Sanctification, ſo we feed on the Food of Chriſt, his Active and Paſſive Obedience, for our Juſtification. If the Guilt of Sin doth not ſet cloſe to, and preſs hard on our Conſciences; the Hand of Faith will not preſs, and lean hard on the Head of Jeſus Chriſt our Atoning Sacrifice.

8. We muſt be Humble and Repent.

1. We muſt be Humbled. We think our ſelves to be Rich, and to want nothing, Rev. 3.17. till the Spirit doth (as it were) ſue out the Statute of Bankrupt againſt us, and ſhew us our Poverty, that we are nothing, have nothing, can do nothing that is Spiritually Good, till Chriſt doth quicken us, and live in us. We have a Mountain of Pride, and p. 359Carnal Confidence that muſt be levelled, Iſa. 40.4. Men are naturally ſo high and ſtout, that they are not willing to ſtoop, ſubmit, and be beholding wholly to the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, Rom. 10. v. 3. The Iſraelites in the Wilderneſs did Murmur, and Complain, becauſe it was no place of Seed, Numb. 20.5. But did they not receive Bread in a more eaſie way? Was it not Rained down from Heaven on them? yet they ſpeak as if they had rather to go to Plow, Sow, earn and get their Bread by their own Labour, than to receive it of God's free gift. God is ſaid to humble them, and feed them with Manna, Deut. 8.3. they did not get their Bread by the Sweat of their Face, but received it as a daily Almes from God; and, in this ſenſe, God humbled them, when he fed them with Manna. Proud Sinners, (like the Iſraelites) had rather Plow, Sow, raiſe Bread and Righteouſneſs out of themſelves, than to receive it as a Gift from Heaven. But this Tympany of Pride muſt be prickt, our Rags, our Figleaves, our Plaiſters muſt be pluckt away, that our Shame, Nakedneſs and Sores may appear. We muſt come to God in the moſt ſubmiſſive manner: A p. 360Begger muſt not Cloath himſelf with Satins, or Silks, or put on Rings, or Chains of Gold; this is a Garb that contradicts his Requeſts as a Begger, and will fruſtrate his deſign. We muſt come to God in the moſt humble way to beg an Alms, and ſue for the gift of Righteouſneſs, Rom. 5.17. we muſt not boaſt of any Righteouſneſs, or plead any Works of ours; but acknowledge our Sores, Nakedneſs and Poverty.

2. We muſt Repent, and turn from Sin. If thou wilt not renounce the filth and dominion of ſin, God may juſtly retain the Guilt of it, and bind it on thee. We muſt not love what we ſhould loath; retain that, which we ſhould caſt away; continue in that which we ſhould break off from. We muſt feel the weight, and taſt the bitterneſs of ſin. Chriſt only did bear our ſins for Expiation, but we muſt bear them by Remorſe and Godly ſorrow; Ephraim ſaid, When he Repented, he bear on him the Reproach of his Youth, Jer. 31.19. We muſt take our fins to us, charge and bind them on us, before Jeſus Chriſt will put them away: if we ſee but little evil that we have committed, we ſhall account that God had but few Faults of ours to lay on Jeſus p. 361Chriſt; and ſo we ſhall make light of Chriſt's Sorrows and Sufferings. How can we deſire God to put away our ſins, 2 Sam. 12, 13. if we will keep ſin, and not put it away? Job 20.12, 13. Iſa. 1.16, 17. Jer. 44.15, 16, 17. Was Chriſt's Body broken for ſin? 1 Cor. 11.24. And ſhall not our hearts be broken for it, and from it? Pſal. 51.17. A broken heart will ſet a price on, and be a meet Patient for a bleeding and broken Chriſt. Chriſt hath little Practice, and few Patients in the World, becauſe Men are ſo hard-hearted, and ſo few are broken in heart. We muſt caſt out our Luſts, as Jonah, that we may not be drowned in Perdition: we muſt ſuffer in our fleſh, that is, in our corrupt Nature, 1 Pet. 4.1. that we may not ſuffer in our Souls and Bodies to Eternity. Tho' God will be Reconciled to Sinners, yet not to Sin: though Chriſt came to ſhew Mercy to Offenders, yet his deſign is to exerciſe Severity on the Devil's Work in us, and to deſtroy Iniquity, 1 John 38. yet it is not Repentance, but Faith, that receives God's Gift and Chriſt's Righteouſneſs, Rom. 5.17. Acts 26.18. yea, Repentance being Chriſt's Gift, Doth not Faith receive it? Some ſay, there p. 362cannot be a Fiducial act of Faith before Repentance. But muſt we not truſt, on God, through Chriſt, for a new heart of fleſh to be given to us? Ezek. 36.26. And is not this a Fiducial Act of Faith? Can we truſt on Chriſt for any Spiritual Grace or Good, till we truſt on the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, by which we procured and receive all good things.

2d. Branch of the Ʋſe of Exhortation: Is Jehovah become our Righteouſneſs? O! admire Grace in it, and bleſs God and Chriſt for it, that you have ſuch a Foundation to Build on; ſuch a Sacrifice to Feed on; ſuch a Pretious Remedy to be Healed by; ſuch an Excellent Fountain to Waſh in; the Clefts of ſuch a Rock to dwell in. Our Juſtification ſeemed impracticable, yea impoſſible; we could not raiſe up our low Valley, or fill up the wide Breach that our Iniquities had made; we had not wrought that Righteouſneſs, or performed that obedience that the Law requires: We could neither make a Preſent to God's Holineſs, or pay a Ranſom to his Juſtice; yet God compares the Rejection of his People, to that which is to us impoſſible, Jer. 31.37. Thus ſaith the Lord, p. 363If Heaven above can be meaſured, and the foundations of the Earth be ſearched out beneath, I will alſo caſt off the Seed of Iſrael for all that they have done, ſaith the Lord. O! how wonderful is this? that when the Reception of Sinners might have been compared to things impoſſible, their Rejection is compared with things impoſſible to us. Hath God covered us with the Robe of Righteouſneſs? Iſa. 61.10. This ſhould be a garment of Praiſe: when we put it on, we ſhould break out into the ſweeteſt Songs, and higheſt Praiſes of God and Chriſt: Meditate ſeriouſly on theſe following particulars;

1. We live in the laſt days of the World, and in the beſt days of the Goſpel. And this is the very ſeaſon, and time, when this Scripture ſhould be moſt eminently fulfilled, that Jehovah ſhould be called our Righteouſneſs. The excellency of Chriſt's Obedience, and the efficacy of his Sacrifice is now ſignally manifeſted. This Name of the Meſſiah is now moſt eminently known, his Glorious Titles and ſtyle Blazon'd; we are plainly told that Chriſt hath condemned Sin, Rom. 8.3. and that God Juſtifies the ungodly, becauſe Chriſt Died for p. 364them, Rom. 4.5. Rom. 5.6. Not only Sins are blotted out, Iſa. 43.5. but Names are written in Heaven, Luke 10.20. Things were more dark in the times of the Law, though God promiſed remiſſion of Sins; yet there was a daily remembrance of Sin in the Sacrifices Offered up, Heb. 10.3. The day of the Law was God's forbearing time, Rom. 3.25. but the day of the Goſpel was Chriſt' bearing time, 1 Pet. 2.24. Who himſel bare our Sins in his own Body on the Tree And Chriſt did ſo bear them, that he did bear them away. He died for our Sins and he Roſe again for our Juſtification Rom. 4. laſt. he purged and put away Sin Heb. 13. Heb 9.26. Though God promiſed of Old to be the God of his people Gen. 17.7. yet the Vail ſtood up in the times of the Law, as if Men ſhould be ſhut out from Heaven, from God and his Glorious preſence, but the Vail is now Rent, and the way laid open to the Heavenly Sanctuary, therefore we have more matter of, and motives to Praiſe, than the Church of God had of Old.

2. That we are Juſtified freely by God's Grace, Rom. 3 24. O! what a wonder is this that we that were called Tranſgreſſors from the Womb, Iſa. 48.8. p. 365ſhould call Jehovah our Righteouſneſs to Eternity; That we that have not wrought Righteouſneſs, yet ſhould be made the Righteouſneſs of God in Chriſt, 2 Cor. 5.21. That we ſhould be Juſtified without the Law! Rom. 3.21. That our Sins, that are our own, ſhould not be imputed, but that the Righteouſneſs, that is not our own ſhould be imputed. We have peace with God, not becauſe we have committed no Treſpaſſes, but becauſe they are not imputed, 2 Cor. 5.19. There is much in our Hearts and Lives, that is Odious and Abominable before God, only it is hid and covered, Pſal. 32.1, 2. We have contracted a vaſt debt, but it is remitted, Pſal. 103. c. 1. v. 2 We have committed Heinous Crimes, but they are not charged on us. There is that dwelling in us, and done by us, that exceedingly diſpleaſes God's eye and provokes his anger; but this is not remembred againſt us, or put to our account. The Law imputes nothing to us, but what is our own, is inherent in us, or done by us; but here is the Righteouſneſs of another given, and therefore imputed to us: it doth not grow in us, or ſpring out of us, but is rained on us. As God commended p. 366his Goodneſs to Iſrael, that he brought them into Canaan, to poſſeſs Houſes they never built, Vineyards they never planted, Wells they never digged, Dout. 6.11.12. So God commends his Grace to us, that he gives us a Righteouſneſs that we never wrought our ſelves: The Gentiles that did not follow after Righteouſneſs, yet attained to Righteouſneſs by Faith, Rom. 9.30. O what aſtoniſhing Grace is this, That we that have not run the race of Obedience, ſhould yet win, and attain the prize of Righteouſneſs! Though Abraham was an Idolater, Joſh. 24.2. yet he is ſtyled Righteouſneſs in the abſtract, by reaſon of his Juſtification; who hath called Righteouſneſs (ſo it is in the Hebrew) from the Eaſt, Iſa. 41.2.

3. That yet it ſhould coſt Chriſt ſo dear to be The Lord our Righteouſneſs: How greately did the Soul of Chriſt Travel, Iſa. 53.11. that our pardon and peace might be born? As he was God, he ſuffered much in our commiſſion of Sin; he was greived, wearied, vexed, preſſed under our Iniquities, as a Cart is preſſed under the ſheaves, Amos 2.13. and that, after this, he ſhould ſuffer ſo much more for the Expiation of them; He was wounded, pierced, bruiſed, Iſa. 53.10. p. 367O how wonderful is this, that Chriſt, ſo freely, and without our ſollicitation, did ſo readily undertake to be a Surety! Pſal. 40.6, 7, 8. Lo I come! I delight to do thy will, O my God! yet this was the will of God, that the Body, Heb. 10.10. yea, the Soul of Chriſt, ſhould be Offered up, Iſa. 53.10. God himſelf ſeems to ſpeak of this undertaking of Jeſus Chriſt with Admiration. Jer. 30.21. Who is this that ingageth his Heart to approach to me? It was no ſmall matter to approach to God as Prieſt, and to be a Sacrifice, to draw near to God that was a Jealous God, and Furious, as it is expreſſed, Nahum 1.2. To approach to God, ſitting on a Fiery Throne, holding of a Flaming Sword, Cloathed with the Garments of Vengeance: If Chriſt's Love had not been Fervent, and his purpoſes fixed, he would never have engaged his Heart to draw near to a God ſo terrible, and to undertake ſo hard a ſervice, to make Reconciliation with an angry, and to make reſtitution to a wronged God. O how amazing is this Fruit of Chriſt's undertaking, that we may draw nigh to God, that is a conſuming Fire, and yet not to be hurt, but be refined by him! This was a great p. 368Miracle that Daniel's three Companions walked in the midſt of the Fiery Furnace, and yet had no hurt, but good; for their Bonds were broken, or conſumed, Dan. 3.23.25. And is it not as great a Miracle of Grace, that Believers walk with God, that is a conſuming Fire, Heb. 12. laſt. and yet have no hurt, but good? God is for them, Rom. 8.31. How low did Jeſus Chriſt ſtoop, that he might be the Lord our Righteouſneſs? He thus repreſents his own Sufferings, Pſal. 22.14. I am poured out like water; this ſeems to point at his Bloody Sweat on the ground; All my bones are out of Joint: This did intimate, that Chriſt's Body was ſo ſtretched out; and extended on the Croſs, that all his bones were put out of Joint. He further complains, that his Heart was melted as wax within him; and this was by the ſence he had of the Heat, and Fire of Gods Wrath. The Manna which came down from Heaven was ground in a Mill, or beaten in a Mortar, and then baked in a pan to be Food for the Iſraelites, Numb. 11.8. So Jeſus Chriſt was Bruiſed, Iſa. 53.10. as Manna, in the Mill, or Mortar; yea, this Lamb of God was roſted in the Fire of his Father's Wrath, Exod. 12.8, 9. p. 369The Sacrifices of the Law were not only killed, but burnt afterwards; which was a kind of ſecond death to them, Levit. 1.13. yea, there were whole burnt Offerings, Pſal. 51.19. and this whole Burnt-Offering did ſignifie not only that Chriſt's Body was wounded; but his Soul did ſuffer, and was made an Offering for Sin, Iſa. 53.10. The ſenſe that Jeſus had of his Fathers diſpleaſure; and forſaking of him, was a kind of ſecond death to Chriſt. As Adam was a Criminal, caſt out of paradice; ſo Chriſt was as a priſoner led out of the Garden to ſuffer Death; He became a Servant, that he might Juſtifie us, Iſa. 53.11. O how would this affect our Souls, that where we deſerved all the Creatures ſhould be withdrawn, and ſhould ſerve us no more, as God threatens! Hoſ. 2.8, 9, 10. That when the Lord of Glory ſhould take on him the form of a ſervant, 2 Phil. 6.7, 8. we deſerved that the Flower, and the Wine-preſs would feed us no more, Hoſ. 8.2. yet that then the Son of God ſhould come down from Heaven to feed us with his Fleſh, and chear us with his Blood, John 6.53, 54, 55.57. Fleſh is weak, and becauſe of this, Chriſt is ſaid to be Crucified through weakneſs, p. 3702 Cor. 13.4. yet this Fleſh of Chriſt is ſet forth by bread that ſtrengthens Man's Heart, Pſal. 104.15. Chriſt's Blood is figured by Wine in his laſt Supper. Though the Blood of Chriſt was ſhed with unexpreſſible Anguiſh and Pain, yet this is ſet forth by Wine that chears Man's Heart, Pſal. 104.15. Our ſtrength comes out of the weakneſs, our comfort comes out of the Sorrow of Chriſt. Chriſt was the true Rock ſmitten by the Rod of Moſes, the Curſe of the Law: As that Rock being ſmitten did cleave, ſo Chriſt being ſmitten with the Curſe, his Soul and Body did part, that water of Life might flow forth to us, and that we might enter in, and dwell ſafely in him, Cant. 2.14. O my Dove, that art in the clefts of the Rock. We had vaſtly run in debt with God, and that God ſhould pay himſelf out of the Sufferings and Blood of his Son: We had proudly exalted our ſelves againſt God, and that Chriſt ſhould debaſe himſelf ſo low to ſatisfie for our pride; and that his Selfdenial ſhould make a Recompence to God for our Self-ſeeking. We diſhonoured God, Reproached, Blaſphemed him, as a poor portion, as a hard Maſter, as a Righteous Law-giver: And how p. 371wonderful is, that the Reproaches, wherewith we Reproached God, ſhould fall on Chriſt, Rom. 15.3.

4. Though we are Juſtified ſo Freely, yet ſo Righteouſly. The Mercy-ſeat that covers the Curſe of the Law, is ſprinkled with Chriſt's Blood, Levit. 16.13, 14. We are Juſtified through the Redemption that is in Chriſt, Rom. 3.24. The priſon is opened to them that were bound, becauſe the Life of Chriſt is given as a Ranſom, Matth. 20.28. Chriſt died as a Teſtator, that we might not be executed as Criminals, and Malefactors. When Chriſt became a Teſtator, he ſtript himſelf (as it were) of all good, Peace, Liberty, and expoſed himſelf to all Evil, to Sufferings, Pain, Reproaches, and Death it ſelf, and all this was to enrich us, 2 Cor. 8.9. and that all good things might come to us in a Righteous way, that all Bleſſings might Swim to us in the Blood of our Teſtator. Chriſt would have had nothing to give to us, if he had not bought off our Tranſgreſſions from us, and purchaſed all good for us. As Moſes lifted up his Rod over it, and the Red Sea was divided, Exod. 14.16.21. So we may by Faith lift up the Croſs of Chriſt over the p. 372deep Sea of the Wrath of God, and it will divide, and give us paſſage to the Heavenly Canaan; Grace ſhall Reign through Chriſt's Righteouſneſs to Eternal Life, Rom. 5. laſt.

5. What Praiſe doth this call for, that God and Chriſt do ſo often call us, and ſo earneſtly invite us to come into this Righteouſneſs of the Son of God? Come to me all ye that Labour, and are heavy Laden, and I will give you reſt, Matth. 11.28. Look unto me, all the ends of the Earth, and be ſaved, Iſa. 45.22. Chriſt tells us, that, This is the Work of God, that you Believe on him whom he hath ſent, John 6.29. This is the great Work that God requires, and is beſt pleaſed with. It is a pleaſure to Chriſt to ſee his Seed, and to behold the Travel of his Soul, Iſa. 35.11. This ſatisfies Chriſt when he ſeeth Souls Feed on the Bread that he gives, to waſh in the Fountain he hath opened, and to uſe Remedies he hath provided, and to put on the garment of Righteouſneſs he hath prepared. He hungers after the Juſtification, and Salvation of Men; and he is ſatisfied when Sinners truſt on him for Juſtification, and look to him for Salvation. That Chriſt doth thruſt forth Labourers p. 373into his Harveſt to reap periſhing Sinners, though they are under many fears, difficulties, dangers, diſcouragments, yet Chriſt thruſts them out into his Harveſt, Matth. 9. laſt. And then doth charge his ſervants by their earneſt importunity to compel gueſts to come in, Luke 14.23. God's pleaſure hath been fulfilled in Bruiſing of Chriſt, and now it is God's pleaſure that Men ſhould liſten to, and obey his call, and run to Chriſt. O that it ſhould be the pleaſure of God to Bruiſe Chriſt, and to Heal us, to Condemn Chriſt, and to Juſtifie us! O that it ſhould be the pleaſure of the Lord to exerciſe Severity on Chriſt, and extend Mercy to us. Chriſt charges his Servants, by their earneſt importunity, to compel Gueſts to come into his Feaſt, Luke 14.23. Famiſhing Sinners do not feel their wants, and they do not preſs into Chriſt's Houſe: but the Servants are commanded by urgent and continual Solicitations, to compel them. Chriſt would have his Houſe filled with Gueſts, and his Proviſions eaten by them; Chriſt counts it an Honour to him when we come to feed at his Table, and Feaſt on his Righteouſneſs, then his Name is Glorified in us, 2 Theſ. 1.11, 12.

p. 3746. What Grace is this, that Jeſus Chriſt ſhould not only prepare, and bring Righteouſneſs, but alſo apply it; as Parents provide Clothes for their little Children, and alſo put them on. Chriſt is God's Righteous Servant, that Juſtifieth many, Iſa. 53.11. Chriſt's Righteouſneſs Merits the very Faith that applyes it; that ſenſe ſeems to be offered by Peter's words, as they ly in our Tranſlation, We obtain pretious faith through the Righteouſneſs of God, even our Saviour Chriſt, 2 Pet. 1.1. this procures the Spirit to plant and work Faith. Jeſus Chriſt, by his Spirit, draws us to himſelf, John 12.32. he not only opens the Fountain, but alſo waſhes Souls in it, Zech. 13.1. Revel. 1.5. he not only provided the Medicine, but alſo dreſſes the Wound, and binds up the broken in heart, Iſa. 61. Chriſt preſents his Sacrifice and Sufferings continually before God, which is his Burning Incenſe in the Heavenly Sanctuary, Revel. 8.3. his Blood ſpeaks in Heaven, Heb. 12.24. and by the Spirit (as the Finger of our Great High-Prieſt, Levit. 16.14.) it is continually, without intermiſſion, according to the Promiſes, ſprinkled on the Conſciences of Believers on Earth, Ezek. 36.25.

p. 3757. O Bleſs God for the admirable effects, the excellent fruits that are joyned with, or do follow after Chriſt's being made Righteouſneſs to us. 1. That there is not only Peace, but Good-will, Luke 2.14. not only Enmity is quenched, but Love burns. Sin's place, and the Believing Sinner's too is changed. Sin was before God's Face, Hoſ. 7.2. but is now caſt behind his back, Iſa. 25.17. and Reconciled perſons are ſet before his Face, Pſal. 41.12. This is matter of Praiſe, that there are ſuch admirable effects, or conſequences of Chriſt's being made the Lord our Righteouſneſs. 1. That though the Curſe do fall on the Creatures for our ſakes, yet it falls not on thoſe that are Juſtified. When God made a Promiſe of Chriſt to Adam, he does not ſay, Curſed art thou; but Curſed is the Ground for thy ſake, Gen. 3.15.17. God ſpeaks to Cain (a Reprobate) in other Language; Now thou art Curſed, Gen. 4.11. God may Curſe the Creatures for our Sin, yet the Curſe may not light on our perſons and Souls. 2. That we are not only pardoned for the preſent, but ſecured for the future; God did not only preſerve Noah from being drowned by the Flood, but doth aſſure p. 376him that his Sins and the World's, ſhould not provoke him to ſend a Second Flood on the World, Gen. 8.10.21. Gen. 9.11. So here, Chriſt ſtands in the breach, to keep out an Inundation, and Flood of Venegance, and appears at the Bar to prevent the going forth of a Condemning Sentence: As God doth ſee his Rainbow in the Clouds, and looks on it, and remembers his Covenant, Gen. 9.13, 14, 15. So Chriſt is a Rain-bow round about the Throne, to ſecure us from future ſtorms, and Floods of Evils. That God doth not only hide his Face from our Sins, but alſo blot out our Iniquities; that they may not, cannot be ſeen, or read for the time to come, Pſal. 51.9. 3. That not only God pronounces a Juſtifying Sentence in the Court of Heaven; but the Spirit alſo pronounces this Sentence in the Court of Conſcience: Cauſing the penitent Believer to hear the voice of Joy and Gladneſs, Pſal. 51.8. and ſheds abroad the Love of God in the Heart, Rom. 5.5. and ſeals him unto the day of Redemption, Epheſ. 4.30. 4. As Jeſus did Engage his Heart to come nigh to God as a Surety, and Prieſt, Jer. 30.21. ſo he now came, and doth bring us near to God, as Freinds, p. 377Supplicants and Worſhippers, 1 Pet. 3.18.5. That there is not only Peace; but alſo Good-will, Luke the 14. There is Grace to Eſtabliſh our Hearts againſt the dread of Vengeance, and the horrours of Eternal Death, Heb. 13.9. It is ſweet when no ſtorm of Vengeance hovers and hangs over the Sinners Head; no matter of Accuſation ſprings up in his Heart, to make him a burden to himſelf, and a terrour to others; O what ſore Temptations are guilty Creatures, in the anguiſh of their minds expoſed to! Sometimes they could wiſh there were no God; or deſire themſelves rather to be annilalated, then to ſee his frowning Face, and feel his puniſhing Hand to Eternity: But the Grace of God guards, and Eſtabliſhes the Heart againſt ſuch dreadful wiſhes as theſe.

2. That we are precious in God's eyes, Iſa. 48.4. Though we are vile in our ſelves, yet we are preſented to God as Pretious Stones on the Shoulders and Breſt-plate of our High-Prieſt, Exod. 28.12, 21, 28, 29.

3. Though we are unclean in our ſelves, yet by virtue of Chriſt's Righteouſneſs we are undefiled. The Church confeſſes her Infirmity, and acknowledges p. 378her Sin, yet Chriſt calls her Undefiled; no ſpot or blemiſh did cleave, to her, becauſe She had put on Chriſt for Righteouſneſs, Cant. 5.2.

4. Jeſus Chriſt gives an Inherent Righteouſneſs, as well as an Imputed Righteouſneſs; as God gives us for our Cloathing both Flax and Wooll, to cover our Nakedneſs, Hoſ. 2.9. Flax is for inward, and Wool for outward Garments. Inherent Righteouſneſs may be compared to Flax, this is near to, and dwells in the Soul: Imputed Righteouſneſs may be compared to Wool, as it is a warm upper-Garment. We need Chriſt's Righteouſneſs, as a Garment, over all our Graces, to cover the Imperfection and Defects that are in them. Our own Righteouſneſs is compared to a Breaſtplate, Epheſ. 6.14. foreign, yet above all, over all, or upon all, we are bid to take the Shield of Faith, Epheſ. 6.16. Faith that takes hold of Chriſt's Righteouſneſs is compared to a Shield; this is a Guard, and Defence for all the other Pieces of Armour. We are liable to many Accuſations, becauſe of the weakneſs of, and the defects that are in our Breaſt-plate of Righteouſneſs. This may be pierc't by Satan's Darts, p. 379and our Souls be wounded with Trouble and Terrour; but it is the Shield of Faith, taking hold of the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, that muſt Ward our Accuſations, and Guard us from Terrors. Surely, ſhall one ſay, in the Lord I have Righteouſneſs, Iſa. 45.24. in the Hebrew it is, I have Righteouſneſſes, in the Plural Number. We have a Robe of Righteouſneſs, Iſa. 61.10. this is Righteouſneſs Imputed; and we have a Breaſt-plate of Righteouſneſs, Epheſ. 6.14. and this is Righteouſneſs Imparted. When we call the Lord our Righteouſneſs, then we our ſelves are called Trees of Righteouſneſs, Iſa. 61.3. as we cannot ſtand alone, but are carried on the Shoulders of Chriſt our High-Prieſt, Exod. 28.12. and in the Arms of Chriſt our Shepherd, Iſa. 40.11. ſo we do not grow alone by our ſelves, but, as Branches, on Chriſt our Root and Vine, John 15.1.5.

5. 'Tis a great Mercy that our Sins are blotted out, Iſa. 43.25. and God will not enter into the City, Hoſ. 11.9. it is an Alluſion to the Angels entring into Sodom, to find out matter of Accuſation againſt the Sodomites, Gen. 19.3.5.18, But as God blots out Sin for the preſent, ſo he ſeeks not out occaſions p. 380for the future: but when God blots out our Tranſgreſſions, only our Good Deeds are Remembred and ſhewed, Mal. 3.16, 17. A Book of Remembrance was Written for Good Thoughts, Words, Actions, when Sins are expunged, and forgotten for ever. Our ſins are removed far from us, as far as the Eaſt is from the Weſt, Pſal. 103.12. but our Good Works do follow us, to teſtifie our Sincerity, and to obtain a Reward, Revel. 14.13. God will never remember our Iniquities, Jer. 31.34. but he will never forget his People, Iſa. 49.14, 15. nor forget the leaſt of their Services: If it be but a Cup of cold Water given to a Diſciple of Chriſt, it ſhall not be forgotten, but Rewarded, Matth. 10. laſt. the greateſt Sins are forgotten, and not Revenged on us; the leaſt Service is Remembred and Rewarded in us, John 5.29. They that have done good ſhall come forth to a Reſurrection of Life. Tho' they did many evil things, yet they ſhall be blotted out, and covered, and they ſhall be pardoned as if they had only done good, and nothing but good. God is Righteous to forgive us our Sins, 1 John 1.9. But God is not unrighteous to forget our Labour and Service of Love, Heb. 6.10.

p. 3816. What Praiſe doth this deſerve, that our Juſtification is ſo inſeparably joined with Glorification, Rom. 8.30. Whom he hath Juſtified, them alſo he Glorified. Juſtified perſons cannot miſcarry, or Periſh. The Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, is called Everlaſting, Dan. 9.24. and this Everlaſting Righteouſneſs is the Foundation of an Everlaſting Covenant, Heb. 13.20. Becauſe the Blood of Chriſt is ſtill freſh, therefore the Covenant of Grace, and the way to the Heavenly Sanctuary is ſtill new, Heb. 6.8. Heb. 10.19. they that do waſh their Robes white in the blood of the Lamb, do enter into the Heavenly Sanctuary, and are before the Throne, Rev. 7.14.15. As Jeſus Chriſt being firſt Juſtified, Iſa. 50.8. 1 Tim. 3.16. was ſoon after Glorified, John 17.5. And now Father glorifie me with thy own ſelf. So ſin being blotted out, what remains to ſhut out Juſtified Perſons from the Kingdom, and Glory of God? Not to ſee God, is the greateſt loſs and penalty. Where Sin is Forgiven, How can ſuch a Penalty remain?

7. Bleſs God that Jeſus Chriſt is Revealed to thee, and beſtowed on thee as the Lord thy Righteouſneſs. How many p. 382Thouſands of Perſons, yea, how many Nations do not hear of this Glorious Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, are utter ſtrangers to this pretious Name of his, and have no Intereſt in this Righteouſneſs of Chriſt. The Soldiers took Chriſt's Coat, and four of them did caſt Lots for it, but only one of the four did obtain it, John 19.23, 24. So I may truly ſay, that ſcarce one in four of thoſe, that are called Chriſtians, do get this Spiritual Garment of Chriſt's Righteouſneſs to put on, and wear. It as a ſweet Expreſſion of Auguſtin's on Pſal. 31. Ego Sorte perveni ad tunicam Chriſti. I by Lot came to the poſſeſſion of Chriſt's Coat: O happy Souls on whom the Lot of free Grace falls, and that get and poſſeſs this Coat of Chriſt's Righteouſneſs; Epheſ. 1.11. in whom (that is in Chriſt) we have obtained an Inheritance: In the Greek it is, foreign, that is, we obtained an Inheritance in Chriſt by Lot. The Apoſtle doth humble himſelf, and other Chriſtians, and Magnifie God: he did not deſerve a Portion in Chriſt, but the Lot of Grace fell on him. The Epheſians did not earn any thing, but the Lot of Grace fell on them. O Admire God, Glorifie Chriſt, that you ſhould p. 383ſit under the ſhadow of his Righteouſleſs, when others are expoſed to the Schorching heat of the Wrath of God: that your Iniquities ſhould be covered, when the Sins of others are naked, and open before God: that your Tranſgreſſions ſhould be blotted out, when all the Wickedneſs of others ſtands upon record againſt them till the Judgement of the great day. That you (as Noah) and his Family, ſhould be born up, and carried above the Waters, when others, like the Men of the Old World, do ſink into the deep, and Bottomleſs Sea of the Wrath of God. O what Mercy is it that God ſhould Cloth thee with the Garment of Salvation, and cover thee with the Robe of Righteouſneſs! Iſa. 61.10. when others have no Ragg to hide their Shame, but will be abhorred by God, be loathed by Angels, and Saints to Eternity. O what Grace is it, that thou, like Aaron, art hid in a Cloud of Chriſt's Incenſe, Levit. 16.13. when others Stink in God Noſtils, and ſhall be covered with a black ſtorming Cloud of anger for ever! O that Jeſus Chriſt ſhould die for you as a Lamb, and then ſeek you out as a Shepherd, to Cloath you with the Fleece of his Righteouſneſs, and to feed you p. 384with the Fleſh of his Sacrifice, when others Famiſh their Souls by the Neglect of Chriſt's Feaſt, and Poyſon their Souls by doting on, and glutting themſelves with Carnal dainties, Senſual, and Sinful delights! O what Grace is this, that Jeſus Chriſt ſhould, as a Surety, undertake for your debts, and as a Sacrifice bear, and bleed for our Sins: That as a Fore-runner ſhould take up, poſſeſs, and prepare a place for you in the higheſt Heavens; that by your Iniquities deſerved a place in the loweſt Hell. Worthy is the Lamb that was Slain to receive Bleſſing, Honour, Glory, and Praiſe, Revel. 5.9. Debters are the Redeemed Reconciled, and Juſtified to Render, and aſcribe it to his and Time and to Eternity.