The Mystery of the Marriage Song, Exposition · Verse 13
VERS. 13. The Kings Daughter is all glorious within, her clothing is of wrought Gold.
THe Church is here again called the Kings Daughter, as ſhe is elſe-where called his Spouſe, and his …iſter, Cant. 5.1. he being related to her all manner of wayes, as her Father, elder Brother, Huſband; and performing really and faithfully the duties of all Relitions, which no meer man doth, nor can do.
Obje. In this Verſe the Spirit of God ſeems to obviate and prevent an Objection which might occur: having Prophecied verſ. 12. that the daughter of Tyre, and the …ich among the people ſhal intreat the Churches ſavour, it might be objected, that we ſee no ſuch outward glory accruing to the Church; but rather ſhe is …oſſed with the tempeſts of affliction, Iſai. 54.11. no body regards her; the Daughter of Tyre, and the Kings of the earth generally are ſo far from honouring her, that they think her not worthy to have the leaſt …ooting in their Dominions.
Anſw: To this there is an implicite anſwer in the Text thus, that although the outward deliverance proſperity and glory of the Church be in a great meaſure yet to come, and ſhe for the moſt part afflicted and perſecuted, yet notwithſtanding ſhe is at preſent glorious, yea ſhe is all glorious within, and ado…ed with the fineſt gold. Glorious things are ſpoken of thee thou City of God, Pſalm 87.3 and upon all his glory (that is his Church) ſhal be a defence, Iſai. 4.5. he wil make the place of his feet glorious; Iſai. 60:13: ſhe is a glorious bride, ſhe is ſpiritually glorious.
I wil branch this into two particulars, and accordingly raiſe Obſervations from it.
Firſt, the Churches glory is internal [within] a… being oppoſite to that which is meerly external and without, as the pomp and glory of the world is; otherwiſe the Church (as hath been demonſtrated from many plain ſcriptures) ſhal alſo have an external beauty and apparent excellency, even in this life… and if we take Glory in general, it is nothing elſe bu… an apparent excellency: now the Church hath a divine excellency, and this her excellency ſhall be made apparent.
Secondly, the glory of the Church in this Text may be comſidered as a real ſubſtantial permanent glor… oppoſite to that vain glory which is but ſhaddowiſ… flitting, and tranſitory.
Whereas the Churches glory is internal in th… Inner man [ſhe is all glorious within.] Hence Note:The ſpiritual excellency of the Church is not diſcerned by the natural man.
That the true ſpiritual excellency of the Saints is … diſcerned by the natural man: Tis a glory within, an… not obvious to the outward ſenſes The world kno… not how to judge of the true glory of the Church … Chriſt.
Reaſ. 1 The firſt Reaſon is taken from the nature, ſoperation comforts, priviledges, obedience, ſervices, and victories … the true members of the Church, which are moſt … inward and ſpiritual; the kingdom of God is within …, Luke 17.21. They are ſtrengthned with might … the ſpirit in the inner man, Eph. 3.16. and are re…wed in the ſpirit of their minds, Eph: 4.23. He is a …e chriſtian which is one inwardly, whoſe heart and …it is circumciſed, Rom: 2.29. herein the ſpiritual … excels the formaliſt; he is glorious within; but … formaliſt makes only a glorîous ſhew without. … was for the natural man he looks only at the ſur…e and outſide of things, and doth not penetrate …o ſpiritual inward priviledges: he looks not into … which is within the vail, Heb. 6 19. neither doth … diſcern the things of the Spirit of God, nor can he, … they are ſpiritually dîſcerned, 1 Cor. 2.14, 15. his … is dazled with outward pomp and glory, he ſtum… at the Croſſe of Chriſt, and is offended with the …plicity of his Goſpel Worſhip and people, 1 Cor. … 19, 20, 21, 23, 26, 27, 28. This is the bitter fruit of … natural pravity and corruption.
Reaſ. 2 Secondly, becauſe the Church of Chriſt is a myſtery … myſteries muſt be known by Revelation. Babylon … falſe Church is a myſtery in reſpect of her ſpiri…l deluſions, Rev: 17.5. and Jeruſalem the true …rch which is from above, Gal. 4.26, is alſo a myſte… reſpect of her ſpiritual enjoyments; this is a … myſterie; I ſpeak concerning Chriſt and the Church, … 25.32. Chriſt perſonal is a myſtery, 1 Tim. 3.16, and … Chriſt in his members; therefore the Church is …ed his myſtical body; as we cannot rightly judge of … one, ſo neither of the other, without a ſpiritual … Chriſt in the Saints the hope of glory is a glorious …ery Co. 1.26, 27. I am crucified with Chriſt (ſaith … Apoſtle) I live, yet not I, but Chriſt liveth in me, … 2.20. The outward covering of the Tabernacle was … of Badgers ſkins, a mean outſide, but within it … glorious, having in it the ark of the Teſtimony, …ty ſeat, &c. Exod. 26.14. Thus it is with belee… that beanty and glory which was in the Tabernacle, and Temple did but ſhadow forth, the ſpirit … myſtical Glory which is in Chriſt, and the Saints, w… are Gods Tabernacle, Rev: 21.3. his Temple, 1 Cor: … 17, 19. the habitation of God through the ſpirit, E…. 2.19, 20, 21, 22.
Ainſworth notes that ſome of the Jewiſh Writ… compare the heart or inward man of the Saints … ing renewed by the Holy Ghoſt to the moſt ho… place wherein was the Ark of the Covenant, Mer… ſeat, and Cherubims; ſo that not only propitiation a… pardon of ſin by the blood of Chriſt, but alſo our u… on with, and ſpiritual indwelling in God, 1 John 4. … was thereby prefigured.
Uſe. 1 Wonder not therefore to ſee men who are ignora… of ſpiritual myſteryes, (though having a form of go… neſs, and a fair outſide of religion) dore on car… worldly excellencies and glories, and ſet light by … inward ſpiritual priviledges of the Saints; Alas, Chr… and his goſpel, and his members, are all a myſtery a… riddle to them. We ſpeak the wiſdom of God i… myſtery, even the hidden wiſdom of God; which if … Princes of the world had known, they would not have c… cified the Lord of glory, 1 Cor: 2.6, 7. The rich Cabi… muſt firſt be opened and lookd into before we … know what Treaſure is in it; now the Spirit alone w… ſearcheth the deep things of God is that Key whi… unlocks the rich Cabinet of goſpel myſteryes, whe… by we look and (as it were) peep into them, 1 Pet. … 12. Though the ſun ſhine brightly, yet the blindem… cannot diſcern it. So neither can we ſpiritually d… cern the myſteryes of Chriſt, and his Church, unle… we be anointed with the eye-ſalve of the Spirit, R… 3:18.
Uſe. 2 Secondly, Hence we may be informed why it is th… Saints themſelves are no more ſenſible of their o… ſpiritual priviledges; though God hath derived mu… ſpiritual glory upon them, yet alas they are ſtil i… great meaſure under the vail, there is a world of ignorance and darkneſs in them: we have a ſpiritual glorious life, but this life is hid with Chriſt; when he appears it ſhal appear, Col: 3, 4. Tis altogether hid fro… the world, and in a great meaſure from the Saints themſelves, and 'tis hid with Chriſt in God; ſafe enough, though ſometimes it do not appear; As the life of the Plant in winter is hid in the root, ſo it is with Chriſtians who have their winter as wel as ſummer ſeaſons: The Bird doth not alwayes ſing in the boſom: ſometimes we are in darkneſs and ſee no light, Iſai. 50.10, but our God maketh darkneſs his ſecret pavilion, Pſalm 18.11. light and darkneſs are both alike to him, Pſalm 139.11, with whom there is no change, Mal. 3.6. A man that is in a ſwooning fit hath a principle of life in him, though the outward actions and motions thereof be at preſent ſuſpended; ſo 'tis here, I ſleep (ſaith the Spouſe) but my heart waketh, Cant. 5.2.
Again, whereas the Church is here deſcribed to be all glorious within, if we conſider this Glory as indeed it is, a real ſubſtantial permanent glory oppoſite to that which is vaniſhing and tranſitory,
We may then Obſerve,
Obſ. 2 That all the gliſtering pomp and glory of this world is but a meer ſhadow, The glory of this world is but a meer ſhadow.a vapour in which there is no ſubſtance or reality.
All the glory of this world, if it be compared with that of the Saints who are really glorious is but a fancy, a dream; All that gliſtering pomp that attended Agrippa and Bernice was no better then a fancy or ſhadow, Acts 21.23.Demonſtrated in three conſiderations.
This Doctrine may be further inlarged and proved by theſe three following Conſiderations.
Conſid. 1 Firſt, That the pomp and glory of this world is but for a little while; the time is but ſhort, very ſhort, 1 Cor. 7.29. It is folding up apace as a ſail or curtain into a very narrow room: God is winding up, and putting a period to the glories of the Kingdoms of this world (as they are now conſtituted:) the faſhion of theſe things wil ſhortly paſs away.
A Pageant makes a fair ſhew for a while, but it preſently vaniſheth: The wicked flouriſh like a green Bay-tree, but are preſently cut down, Pſalm 37.35. In great pomp and bravery they act their parts upon the ſtage of this world, but within a little while they are turned off. What is become of many great Galants who within theſe few moneths ruffled it in their ſilks and ſattins, gold and ſilver? are they not gone to their place, and do not their Carkaſſes lie ſtinking in the grave? What is become of the ſplendor and glory of the moſt amous Cities, Babylon, Nineveh, Tyre, Carthage, old Rome, yea Jeruſalem it ſelf the City of God? are they not as if they had never been? Are not the Four great Monarchies of the world in a manner moldered to duſt, with their four great Princes, Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus, Alexander, Caeſar. Thus one Generation paſſeth, and another cometh, Eccleſ: 1.4. and he that was yeſterday is not to day. I have ſeen an end of all perfection (ſaith the Pſalmiſt) but thy Commandment is exceeding broad, Pſalm 119.96.
Conſid. 2 Secondly, The riches and Glory of this world are the portion of the vileſt men, Dan: 11.21. a poor pittance the Lord knows… let not my ſoul be numbred among ſuch as have their portion in this life, Pſalm 17.14. Remember (ſaith Abraham to Dives) that thou in thy life time receivedſt thy good things, and Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and thou art tormented Luke 16.25. The Soul was created by God and redeemed by Chriſt, that it might enjoy higher things then theſe. Luther uſed to ſay that the glory and riches of the vaſt Empire of the Turks was but a poor Cruſt which the great Lord and Maſter of the Family caſt to his doggs; and for his own part he would not be put off with ſuch poor and low things as theſe.
Conſid. 3 Thirdly, All outward things wil not give a man true content: the eye is not ſatisfied with ſeeing, nor the ear with hearing; the ſoul of man is more worthy then all outward things, and deſireth that infinite good in which is all good, whereas creatures are but finite: come to a man afflicted in conſcience, though he have the honours of the world, ſutable relations, and proſperity in his outward eſtate, yet all theſe enjoyments are ſo far from comforting him that they add to his ſorrow: The creature of it ſelf can neither make us happy nor miſerable: Outward proſperity cannot truly comfort, nor adverſity deject the heart of man uneſs the favour or anger of God be minged therewith: A poor man (if contented) with roots and cold water is more happy even in this world then the greateſt Prince (if diſcontented:) nor doth contentment lie in abundance. Outward things reach not the ſoul; they are without us, and cannot make a man truly happy What a man is indeed, he is within, he is between God and his own ſoul; the Church is all glorious within. SolonA Heathen adviſed that we ſhould cal no man happy (though great and rich in the world) before death; that doth truly enrich a man which remains with him after death: all worldly things wil ſhortly leave us, and what ſhall we cleave unto them? let not him therefore boaſt that puts on his armour as he that puts it off, 1 Kings 20.11. Let not the wiſe man glory in his wiſdom, nor the ſtrong man in his ſtrength, nor the rich man in his riches; but he that glorieth let him glory in the Lord, Jer. 9.23, …4.
Uſe. 1 Firſt, It informs us that the Gallants of our times who greedily gape after the glory and honours of this world do but feed on winde and chaffe, which though it may go down (the Devil ſugering the pil, and putting a fair gloſs upon it) as a ſweet and pleaſant morſel, yet it wil prove bitterneſs in the end. Ephraim feedeth on winde, and daily increaſeth lies, Hoſ: 12.1.
Uſe. 2 Secondly, Let this admoniſh us to look on things as God looks on them, and repreſents them in his word, yea and in his works too, ſpecially of late, God having broken down that which was built, and plucked up that which was planted. Is it now a time for men, for good men to ſeek great things for themſelves? Jer. 45.4, 5. O that we would learn at length to look on things with a right eye as God looks upon them, on ſpiritual things as real & ſubſtantial, Faith being the evidence of things not ſeen, & the ſubſtance of things hoped for, Heb. 11.1. and on earthly things as ſhadowiſh and Temporal: we look not at the things which are ſeen (ſaith the Apoſtle) but at the things which are not ſeen: for the things which are ſeen are temporal, but the things which are not ſeen are eternal, 2 Cor. 41.8. O that the Lord would realize the glory of Heaven to us; This is our great error; We look on things preſent as certain, and at that which is to come as uncertain. 'Tis hard to live on God in a naked promiſe: we are apt to conclude (according to the Proverb) that a Bird in the hand is better then two in the buſh; hence it is (even from this bitter root of unbelief) that we depart from God, and adhere to the Creature, Heb: 3.12; hence it is that men have ſuch a high eſteem of the ſhadowiſh honours and aiery Titles of this world; a ſign that they are carnal, and do not rightly conſider the Lords deſign, who hath purpoſed to ſtain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth, that his glory may be exalted, Iſai: 2.11. Iſai: 23.9.
Let us now proceed to the latter part of the Verſe, where the beauty of the Kings Daughter is further illuſtrated and deſcribed.
[Her clothing is of wrought Gold.]
Some read it, purled works, or cloſures of Gold, enameld gold, ſuch as pretious ſtones were ſet in, which were exceeding ſplendid and glorious; ſuch were the clothes of ſervice in the Tabernacle, and the garments and robes of the High Prieſt which ſhaddowed forth Chriſts Righteouſneſs, Exod: 28.11, 14. Exod: 39.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, &c.
This clothing of wrought gold mentioned in the Text is no other but the glorious Robes of Chriſts righteouſneſs, and the garments of ſalvation, Rev. 6.11. Iſai. 61.10. In this excellent clothing we are preſented to God without ſpot and blemiſh, Eph. 5.27. Col 1.22. altogether fair, Cant. 4.7. By reaſon of this clothing of wrought gold, the Lord wil ſee no iniquity in Jacob, nor perverſeneſs in Iſrael, Numb. 23.21. 'Tis true, the Church is glorious within, ſhe hath a glory in reſpect of the indwelling of the Holy Ghoſt, who himſelf as wel as his gifts dwel in her as in a ſpiritual Temple, Eph. 2, 21. Rom. 8.9, 11. But ſhe is much more glorious and perfect in reſpect of her juſtification by the glorious righteouſneſs of Chriſt repreſented by this clothing of wrought Gold.
Obſerve therefore,
Obſ. 3 That although the Saints have in them gratious and ſpiritual diſpoſitions and qualifications, The Saints need the righteouſneſs of Chriſt notwithſtanding their gratious dipoſitions. Reaſons hereof.yet they need the glorious garment of Chriſts righteouſneſs, (this garment of wrought gold) to cover all their imperfections, and to render them perfectly beautiful & glorious in the ſight of God.
The Reaſons hereof are two.
Reaſ. 1 Firſt, Becauſe the great Jehovah is of purer eyes then to look on iniquity with approbation, Hab. 1.13. the righteous God wil not delight in that perſon who is not perjectly righteous. The ſinner cannot dwel with that God who is purity and holineſs it ſelf; nor can we plead with him, nor ſtand before his righteous Tribunal in our inherent graces, or ſpiritual actings which are but imperfect.
Reaſ. 2 The ſecond Reaſon is taken from the Holy Ghoſt, being a free arbitrary agent: though he dwel in the Saints, yet he is pleaſed to work in them gradually; to breathe and blow upon them, and to perfect ſanctification in them by degrees, as the light ſhines forth more and more to the perfect day, ſee Jo: 3.8. 2 Cor. 7.1. Cant. 4.16. 1 Theſ. 3.10. and therefore we ſtil ſtand in need of this clothing of wrought gold, which though it be bought without money, and without price, and coſt us nothing, Iſa: 55.1. Rev: The excellency of this clothing, 1 Tis of Gods contriving.22.17. yet it is exceeding rich and glorious, Rev, 3.18. For
Firſt, It is a garment and clothing of Gods own make and contrivance; he found it out and wrought it himſelf without the help of men or Angels. Iſai. 63.5. Heb: 1.3. Righteouſneſs looked down from Heaven, Pſalm 85.11. he brought in everlaſting righteouſneſs, Dan: 9.24, he is called the Lord our righteouſneſs, Jer. 23.6. and this righteouſneſs the righteouſneſs of God. Rom: 3.21, 22; and we are made the righteouſneſs of God through Chriſt, 2 Cor: 5. laſt verſ.
Secondly, It is of ſuch a high and excellent nature that the faith, love,2 Our faith, love, &c. is no part of it. joy of the Saints in their moſt ſpiritual refined acts are not any part or piece of this garment of wrought gold, not ſo much as a ſtitch or thread in it; all and every part thereof is only of God in Chriſt, 2 Cor: 5.18, 19. no part of it in us; In deed faith is ſaid to be imputed for righteouſneſs, Rom: 4 5, 9. But then it is to be objectively and relatively conſidered as relating to him that juſtifieth the ungodly, whom faith doth apprehend: It is not properly the palſie hand that enricheth a man, but the gold which the hand receiveth.3 The Lord himſelf clothes us with this garment.
Thirdly, the Lord himſelf clothes us, and puts this garment upon us; he commands that our ſilthy Garments ſhould be taken off, and that we ſhould be clothed with this, Zach: 3.4. Iſai 61.12. Ezek. 16.8. It is the Lord that juſtifieth the ſinner, and imputes his righteouſneſs to him; the ſinner doth not juſtifie himſelf: We read that as many as are Baptized into Chriſt have put on Chriſt, Gal. 3.27. But if the Lord himſelf did not put this garment upon us, and clothe us with it, we ſhould never have benefit by it.
Fourthly,4 God himſelf cannot find the leaſt fault with it. It is ſuch a beautiful rich garment that God himſelf cannot find the leaſt ſault with it though he look upon it with the eye of ſtrict Juſtice; but doth fully accept thereof in behalf of the greateſt ſinners, for whom the ſame îs provided: God accepteth it for them, and they are accepted for it, Mat. 3.17. Eph. 1.6.
Fifthly, In the aſſurance of our intereſt in this clothing of wrought gold (the Lord by his Spirit revealing, applying, and ſealing the ſame to our hearts and conſciences in the promiſe of grace Rom: 1.17. Eph. 1.13. Eph. 4.30.) we have peace that paſſeth underſtanding, and joy unſpeakable and ful of glory, Rom. 14.17: Rom. 15; 13. 1 Pet: 1.18. Heb. 7.2. Pſalm 85.10. And therefore it is an excellent rich clothing.5 In the aſſurance hereof we have true peace and joy.
Do the Saints need this clothing of wrought gold notwithſtanding their inherent graces and holineſs; Then let them highly prize this clothing: hovv many in our daies are affected with rich attire for the body? they cannot have their garments fine, and faſhionable enough; O vvhat vanity is therein apparel, vvhat conformity to vain faſhions. even in the moſt eminent profeſſors! But (beloved) here is a garment of a higher nature, a Garment that wil never vvear out, nor wax old; a garment for every day, for every place and condition; a garment for every Sex and age, a garment for the poor as wel as the rich; a garment that wil clothe, and beautifie, and keep thee warm from top to toe, Rev. 6.11. Rev 7.9, 14. Surely they that minde other garments much …o minde this but a little O be thou crucified to thy ſilken garments, thy gold and ſilver lace, thy vain faſhions: Take no thought for raiment: let not thy heart run our after apparel for the body, Mat. 6.28, 29, 30. Conſidering what a rich clothing of wrought gold the Lord hath prepared for thy ſoul; here is a compleat garment that needs no mending, piecing, patching, whereas it may be ſaid of our beſt righteouſneſs that the bed is ſhorter then that a man can ſtretch himſelf on it, and the covering narrower then that he can weap himſelf in it, Iſai. 28.20.
Uſe. 2 Secondly, Let the hearts of the poor afflicted Saints rejoyce and be comforted in the thoughts of this Rich clothing. What though you be poor in this world, and your outward raiment vile and ragged, (whereas the wicked have their gold rings, and goodly apparel,) yet remember that you have a more excellent Garment, a clothing of wrought gold. God hath choſen the poor of this world rich in Faith, and Heirs of his Kingdom, James 2.2, 5. Chriſt made himſelf poor to make you rich, 2 Cor. 8.9, he is the richeſt man that makes moſt uſe of this ſpiritual clothing: ye may well ſay with Mephiboſheth, let the wicked take all the vvorld, I have enough ſeeing Chriſt is mine; The King hath ſet his love on me, and clothed me vvith the garments of ſalvation, Iſai. 61.10. Did but Chriſtians more improve this clothing, they vvould not be ſo much upon the faſhions, complements, pomp and glory of this vvorld. Take a poor Saint in his lovveſt eſtate, and he vvould not change his condition vvith a vvicked man in his greateſt proſperity: perhaps the gueſt at the Feaſt had finer clothes, more money in his purſe, and greater parts then many of the other gueſts; Oh but he wanted the wedding Garment of Chriſts righteouſneſs, and therefore was but a poor miſerable man, Mat. 22.11, 12. and ſo the Merchant (notwithſtanding all his rich commodities) was but a poor man til he had found the pearl of great price, in the poſſeſſion whereof he was truly rich (though he parted with all his other commodities) becauſe he was ſo eſteemed by God, who judgeth righteouſly, Mat: 13.45, 46.
Uſe. Thirdly, Do the Saints themſelves notwithſtanding their gratious diſpoſitions (flowing from the indwelling of the Holy Ghoſt) ſtand in need of this clothing of wrought gold, without which they cannot ſtand before God; Paul himſelf deſireth to be found in Chriſt, & not in his own righteouſneſs, Phil. 3.8. how then ſhould this make ſinners look about them, who have no gratious diſpoſitions or qualifications at all; not a dram of true holineſs; The Lord convince thee that there is an abſolute neceſſity of putting on this garment of wrought gold: It is the Office of the Spirit of God to convince of ſin and righteouſneſs, John 16.8. how doſt thou think (poor ſinful ſoul) to appear before the juſt and holy God! The Lord is King of peace to none but thoſe to whom he is firſt King of Righteouſneſs: Art thou poor, blinde, miſerable, and naked? the Lord … make thee truly ſenſible thereof: haſt thou no righteouſneſs of thine own, nothing to cover thy nakedneſs? I offer thee here freely a Garment of wrought Gold, not ſurreptitiouſly taken as Achan took away the goodly Babyloniſh garment, Joſhua 7 21. But procured for ſinners upon very honorable tearms by Chriſt our ſurety who performed as much as the Law required. Accept therefore of this Garment which wil cover the ſhame of thy nakedneſs, Rev: 3.18. and wil defend thee againſt all ſtorm and tempeſts which may ariſe from the Law of God, from Satan, the world, or thine own heart. This garment wil be a ſhadow from the heat, a place of Refuge, and a covert from ſtorm and rain, Iſa: 4.6.
If the Malefactor who is condemned to dye could but produce a pardon, it would be matter of exceeding joy to him; but to the true chriſtian a pardon is not only granted, and the attainder of high Treaſon taken off, but the perfect righteouſneſs of Chriſt is alſo communicated to him, and he raiſed to greater honours and dignities then he ſhould have had if Adam had ſtood.
Object. 1 Is it not ſufficient that Chriſt hath ſatisfied for us by his death, and that our ſins are not imputed Pſalm 32.1, 2. unleſs the active Juſtice of Chriſt be alſo imputed to us?
Anſw. If God wil not only free us from ſin and guilt, but alſo clothe us with the Robes of his righteouſneſs, that therein we may appear before him (as Jacob in the garments of his Elder Brother Eſau) and ſo obtain the bleſſing, let us rather thankfully acknowledg and improve this great favour, then ſubtilly diſpute our ſelves and others out of it: Now this (I conceive) is plainly held forth in the words of the Text,That we are juſtiified by Chriſts active righteouſneſs, proved by five Concluſion, her clothing is of wrought gold. This truth wil further appear in theſe following Concluſions.
Concl: 1 Firſt, man cannot be perfectly inſtified in the ſight of God without a perfect Righteouſneſs, every way commenſurable to Gods holy Law which is the Rule of righteouſneſs; do this and thou ſhalt live: nor can we have communion with the righteous God who loveth Righteouſneſs, pſalm 11.7. til we be thus perfectly righteous; and to ſpeak properly, true Juſtice conſiſts in actual iobedience, Deut. 6.25.
Concl: 2 Secondly, In Juſtification there is not only an amotion of evil, but a collation of good upon the perſon juſtified. It is one thing to deſcribe eternal life privatively, and another thing to deſcribe it poſitively. God having delivered us from ſin and guilt might have choſe whether he would have inveſted us with a Right to eternal life: he might have pardoned our ſins, and yet not have given us Righteouſneſs: though remiſſion of ſins and imputation of Righteouſneſs be inſeperable in reſpect of the ſubject, or perſon juſtified, yet they are two diſtinct benefits, and ſo to be conſidered.
Concl: 3 Thirdly, the moral Law is not abrogated, no nor diſpenſed with as to obedience, Rom, 10.3. Gal. 3.10. for though the works of the Law as performed by us be excluded from Juſtification, yet not as performed by Chriſt for us: either Chriſt performed actual obedience for himſelf, or in our ſtead and behalf; but it was not for himſelf but for us that he ſuffered and obeyed: whatſoever he did in the whole courſe of his Obedience, he did it as our ſurety, and in our ſtead. As we maintain againſt the Socinians, that the God of Juſtice would not diſpenſe with the penalty of the Law without ful ſatisfaction; ſo it is as true that he would not diſpenſe with the command of the Law without perfect obedience.
Concl: 4 Fourthly, the actions and ſufferings of Chriſt make but up one entire and perfect obedience to the whole Law; nor had he been a compleat and perfect Saviour if he had not performed what the precept required, as wel as ſuffered the penalty which the Law inflicted: nay the ſufferings of Chriſt had not been properly obedience, if they had not been in ſome ſort active; for in ſuffering Chriſt obeyed, and in obeying he ſuffered: and theſe two benefits anſwer to our two-fold miſery, namely, the guilt of ſin and damnation, and the deject of Juſtice.
Concl: 5 Fifthly, the plain ſcriptures confirm this truth that we are juſtified by the active righteouſneſs of Chriſt as wel as his ſufferings, elſe how can theſe Texts be anſwered; he is the Lord our righteouſneſs. As by the diſobedience of one many were made ſinners, ſo by the obedience of one many ſhall be made righteous: We are compleat in Chriſt. He was made ſin for us, that we might be made the righteouſneſs of God in him. He hath ſpread his skirt over us, and clothed us with the garments of ſalvation, Jer: 23.6. Rom: 5.19. Col: 2.10. 2 Cor: 5.21. Ezek: 16.8, 10. Iſai. 61.10. He hath not only privatively made an end of ſin, but poſitively he hath brought in an everlaſting Righteouſneſs, and clothed us therewith, Dan: 9.24. having ab…iſhe… death, and brought life and immortality unto us 2 Tim: 1.10.
This active Juſtice of Chriſt was ſhadowed out by the glorious Robes and apparel of the High Prieſt, Exod: 39. That attire in which the High Prieſt appeared before God, what was was it elſe but a …pe … this clothing of wrought Gold? The filthy Garments of J…ſhua, (wh… repreſented the Church) were not only taken off from him, thereby ſignifying the removal of our ſins, but alſo a new fair …arment wa… put upon him to ſignifie our being clothed with the Wedding Garment of Chriſts righteouſneſs, Zach: 3.4, 5.
Objection.
Object: 2 But if we have perfect Righteouſneſs and life eternal by the active Juſtice of Chriſt, and by being clothed with this garment of wrought gold, then his ſufferings were in vain?
Anſwer.
Anſw: Not ſo, for though our ſalvation was the common end both of his active obedience and ſufferings, yet there was ſomething proper to each: the peculiar end of his ſufferings was our freedom from e…il; but the peculiar end of his active Juſtice was the …veſting us with a right to, and giving us poſſeſſion of Heaven.
Objection.
Object: 3 But if Chriſt did perfectly obey and fulfil the Law for us, and in our ſtead, then we our ſelves need not yeild obedience to it.
Anſwer.
Anſw: 1 The like Objection is made by the Socinians againſt Chriſts paſſive obedience. If (ſay they) Chriſt ſuffered and dyed for us, and in our ſtead as our ſurety, …hen it wil follow that we ſhould not ſuffer at all.
But Secondy, there is one end of Chriſts obedience, …nd another of ours: the end of his was to merit and impetrate life and ſalvation for us; but the end of ours is to manifeſt our gratitude for our deliverance and redemption already wrought: Chriſt obeyed and fulfilled the Law for us as a Covenant of works; but we are dead to the Law as a Covenant, Gal: 2.19. and made conformable to the matter of the Law by the Spirit of Grace writing the Law in our inward parts, and conſtraining us to obedience by the ſenſe of the love of Chriſt, 2 Cor. 5.14.
To conclude, if we grant not that the Saints are clothed with Chriſts active righteouſneſs (ſince they muſt have a poſitive righteouſneſs for their Juſtification before God) we ſhal unavoidably fall upon the act of beleeving, or ſome other work of the creature, and aſcribe thereunto that honour which only belongs to this clothing of wrought gold; and upon this rock many ſplit themſelves, affecting a ſingular way of their own in the handling of this great Doctrine of Juſtification; ſurely it muſt needs be the ſafeſt way to take in the whole obedience of Chriſt from firſt to laſt.