Nine Sermons, Sermon 1
SERMON. I.
The Lord our Righteouſneſs.
JER. xxiii. 6.
—The LORD our Righteouſneſs.
WHOEVER is acquainted with the Nature of Mankind in general, or the Propenſity of his own Heart in particular, muſt acknowledge, that Self-righteouſneſs is the laſt Idol that is rooted out of the Heart.—Being once born under a Covenant of Works, it is natural for us all to have recourſe to a Co… venant of Works for our everlaſting Salvation▪ And we have contracted ſuch a deviliſh Pri… by …ur Fall from …, that w… would, … yet in, … leaſt, glory in being … Cauſe … Salvation. We …ry out again … and that very juſtly; but … at leaſt I am ſure we are … Nature▪ and therefore no wonder … Natural Men embrace that Scheme. Its … we diſclaim the Doctrine of Merit, are aſhamed directly to ſay we deſerve any Good at the Hands of God; therefore, as the Apoſtle excellently well obſerves, we go about, we fetch … Circuit, to eſtabliſh a Righteouſneſs of our own, and, like the Phariſees of old, will not wholly ſubmit to that Righteouſneſs, which is of God thro' Jeſus Chriſt our Lord.
This is the ſoreſt, tho' …! the moſt common Evil that was ever yet ſeen under the Sun. An Evil, that in any Age, eſpecially in theſe Dregs of Time wherein we live, cannot … be inveighed againſt.—For, as it is with the People, ſo it is with the Prieſts; and it is to be feared, even in thoſe Places where once the Truth, as it is in Jeſus, was eminently preached, many Miniſters are ſo ſadly degenerated from their pious Anceſtors, that the Doctrine of Grace, eſpecially the perſonal, all-ſufficient Righteouſneſs of Jeſus, is but too ſeldom, too ſlightly mentioned. Hence the Love of many waxeth cold; and I have often thoug…, was it poſſible, that this ſingle Conſideration would be ſufficient to raiſe our venerable Forefathers again from their Graves.
The Righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt is one of thoſe great Myſteries the Angels deſire to look …, and ſeems to be … of the … Leſſons that … taught Men after … Fall. For what were the Coats that God made to put on our firſt Parents, but Tpyes of the Application of the Mer… or Righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt to Believers Hearts? We are told▪ that … were made of Skins of Beaſts, and as Beaſts were not then Food for Men, we may fairly infer, that thoſe Beaſts were ſlain in Sacrifice, in Commemoration of the great Sacrifice Jeſus Chriſt hereafter to be offered. And the Skins of thoſe Beaſts thus ſlain being put on Adam and Eve, they were hereby taught how their Nakedneſs was to be covered with the Righteouſneſs of the Lamb of God.
This is it which is meant, when we are told Abraham believed on the Lord, and it was counted to him for Righteouſneſs. In ſhort, this is it of which both the Law and all the Prophets have ſpoken, eſpecially Jeremiah in the Words of the Text—The Lord our Righteouſneſs.—
I propoſe through Divine Grace
I. To conſider who we are to underſtand by the Word Lord.
II. How the Lord is Man's Righteouſneſs.
III. I'll conſider ſome chief Objections that are generally urged againſt this Doctrine.
IV. I ſhall ſhew ſome very ill Conſequences▪ that flow naturally from denying this ….
V. Shall conclude with an …, all to come to Chriſt by Faith, that they may be enabled to ſay with the Prophet in the Text, The Lord our Righteouſneſs.
I am to conſider who we are to … Word Lord—The Lord our ….
… if any Arians or … are drawn by … to hear what the … has to ſay, let them be aſhamed of …enying the Divinity of that Lord that has bought poor Sinners by his … Blood.—For the Perſon mentioned in the Text under the Character of the Lord, is Jeſus Chriſt.—Behold, (ver. 5.) the Days c…me, ſaith the Lord, that I will raiſe unto David a righteous Branch, a King ſhall reign and proſper, ſhall execute Judgment and Juſtice in the Earth.—In … Day… (ver. 6.) Judah ſhall be ſaved, and Iſrael ſhall dwell ſafely, and this is his Name whereby he ſhall be called, "The Lord our Righteouſneſs."—By the righteous Branch, all agree that we are to underſtand Jeſus Chriſt.—He it is that is called the Lord in our Text. If ſo, if there were no other Text in the Bible to prove the Divinity of Chriſt, that is ſufficient. For if the Word Lord may properly belong to Jeſus Chriſt, He … be God. For as you have it in the Margins of your Bibles, the Word Lord is in the Original Jehovah, which is the Eſſential Title of God himſelf. Come then, ye Arians, kiſs the Son of God, low down before him, and honour him, even as you honour the Father. Learn of the Angels thoſe Morning Stars, and worſhip him as … God.—For otherwiſe you are as much Idolaters, as thoſe that worſhip the Virgin Mary. And as fo… you▪ Socinians, who ſay Chriſt was a …er Man, and yet profeſs that he was … Saviour, according to your own Principles you are accurſed. For, if Chriſt be a … Man, then he is only an Arm of Fleſh.—And it is written, Curſed …; he that truſteth on an Arm of Fleſh.
—But I would hope there are no ſuch Monſters here. At leaſt, that after theſe Conſiderations, they would be aſhamed of broaching ſuch monſtrous Abſurdities any more.—For it is plain, that by the Word Lord, we are to underſtand the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who here takes to himſelf the Title of Jehovah, and therefore muſt be very God of very God, or, as the Apoſtle devoutly expreſſes it, God bleſſed for ever more.
How the Lord is to be Man's Righteouſneſs comes next to be conſider'd.
And that is, in one Word, by Imputation.—For it pleaſed God, after he had made all Thing; by the Word of his Power, to create Man after his own Image. And ſo infinite was the Condeſcenſion of the high and lofty One, who inhabiteth Eternity, that tho' He might have inſiſted on the everlaſting Obedience of him and his Poſterity, yet' He was pleaſed to oblige Himſelf, by a Covenant or Agreement made with his own Creatures, upon Condition of an unſinning Obedience, to give them Immortality and eternal Life.—For when it is ſaid, the Day thou eateſt thereof, thou ſhalt ſurely die," we may fairly infer, ſo long as … continued obedient, and did not eat thereof▪ he ſhould ſurely live.—The 3d of Geneſis gives us a …ail, but mournful Account, how our firſt Parents broke this Covenant, and thereby … Need of a …etter Righteouſneſs than … in order to procure their future … God.—For what muſt they do? They were as …ch under a Covenant of Works, as ever. And, tho' after their Diſobedience they were without Strength, yet they were obliged not only to do, but continue to do all Things, and that too in the moſt perfect Manner which the Lord had required of them.—And not only ſo, but to make Satisfaction to God's infinitely offended Juſtice, for the … they had already been guilty of.—Here then opens the amazing Scene of Divine Philanthropy—I mean God's Love to Man—For behold, what Man could not do, Jeſus Chriſt, the Son of his Father's Love, undertakes to do for him. And that God might be juſt in juſtifying the Ungodly, tho' He was in the Form of God, and therefore thought it no Robbery to be equal with God, yet he took upon him the Form of a Servant, even human Nature.—In that Nature He obeyed, and thereby fulfilled the whole moral Law in our ſtead—And alſo died a painful Death upon the Croſs, and thereby became a Curſe for, or inſtead of, thoſe whom the Father had given him.—As God, He ſatisfied at the ſame Time that He obeyed, and ſuffered as Man; and being God and Man, in … Perſon, wrought out a full, perfect and ſufficient Righteouſneſs for all to whom it was to be imputed.
Here then we ſee the Meaning of the Word Righteouſneſs. It implies the active, as well as paſſive Obedience of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, We generally, when talking of the Merits of Chriſt▪ only mention the latter, viz.—His Death, where▪ the former, viz. his Life and active Obedience is equally neceſſary. Chriſt is not ſuch a Saviour as becomes us, unleſs we join both together.—Chriſt not only died, but lived; not only ſuffered, but obeyed, for or inſtead of poor Sinners. And both theſe jointly make up that compleat Righteouſneſs which is to be imputed to us, as the Diſobedience of our firſt Parents was made ours by Imputation. In this Senſe, and no other, are we to underſtand that Parallel which St. Paul draws in the 5th of the Romans, between the firſt and ſecond Adam. This is what he elſewhere terms our being made the Righteouſneſs of God in Him. This is the Senſe wherein the Prophet would have us to underſtand the Words of the Text; therefore Chap. xxx. ver. 16. She, i. e. the Church it ſelf ſhall be called (having this Righteouſneſs imputed to her) the Lord our Righteouſneſs.—A Paſſage, I think, worthy the profoundeſt Meditation of all the Sons and Daughters of Abraham.
Many are the Objections which the proud▪ Hearts of fallen Men are continually urging againſt this wholeſome, this divine, this ſoul-ſaving Doctrine.—I come now, in the third Place, to anſwer ſome few of thoſe which I think the m…ſt conſiderable.
And firſt, they ſay, becauſe they would appear Friends to Morality, that the Doctrine of an imputed Righteouſneſs is deſtructive of good Morality and …eads to Licentiouſneſs … …octrine of an … are the Perſons, that generally the Ground. … Are they Men full of But ſurely the really concerned for Good Works? th… … never … few Exceptions there may be, if … Diſcourſ… all, it's notorious they are generally Men of corrupt Minds, reprobate concerning the Faith. The beſt Title I can give them is, that of prophane Moraliſts, or Moraliſts falſely ſo called. For I appeal to the Experience of the preſent, as well as paſt Ages, if Iniquity did and does not moſt abound where the Doctrine of Chriſt's whole perſonal Righteouſneſs is moſt …ied down, and moſt ſeldom mentioned,—Arminian being Antichriſtian Principles, always did, and always will lead to Antichriſtian Practices. And never was there a Reformation brought about in the Church, but by the Preaching the Doctrine of an imputed Righteouſneſs.—This, as that Man of God Luther calls it, is Articulus Stantis aut Cadentis Eccleſiae, the Article by which the Church ſtands or falls.—And tho' the Preachers of this Doctrine are generally branded by thoſe on the other Side with the opprobious Names of Antinomia…s▪ Deceivers, and what not? yet, I believe, if the Truth of the Doctrine on both Sides was to be judged of by the Lives of the Preachers and Profeſſors of it, their's on our Side the Queſtion▪ would have the Advantage every way.
It's true, this, as well as every other Doctrine of Grace, may be abuſed. And perhaps the …nchriſtian Walk of ſome, who have talked of Chriſt's imputed Righteouſneſs, Juſtification by Faith, and the like, and yet … the Merits of puted to their own Souls, has give viz.—His of the Lord thus Cauſe to blaſphe… his Life and is a very unſafe, as well as a very▪ … Chriſt is arguing.—The only Queſtion ſhou… unleſs we or no this Doctrine of an imputed Righteouſneſs does in itſelf cut off the Occaſion of good Works, or lead to Licentiouſneſs? No, in no wiſe. It ex…des Works indeed from being any Cauſe of our Juſtification in the Sight of God.—But it requires good Works as a Proof of our having this Righteouſneſs imputed to us, and as a declarative Evidence of our Juſtification in the Sight of M…n. And then how can the Doctrine of an imputed Righteouſneſs, be a Doctrine leading to Licentiouſneſs?
Its all … ▪ —St. Paul introduces an Infi… making this Objection in his Epiſtle to the Romans.—And none but Infidels, that never felt the Power of Chriſt's Reſurrection upon their Souls, will urge it ever again—And therefore, notwithſtanding this Objection, with the Prophet in the Text we may boldly ſay, the Lord is our Righteouſneſs.
But Satan, (and no wonder that his Servants imitate him) often transforms himſelf in an Angel of Light. And therefore (ſuch perverſe' Things, … ill Infidelity and Arminianiſm, make Men ſpeak) in order to dreſs their Objections in the beſt Colours. Some urge, that our Saviour preached no ſuch Doctrine—that in his Sermon upon the Mount, He mentions only Morality; and conſequently the Doctrine of an imputed Righteouſneſs falls wholly the Ground.
But ſurely the Men, who urge this Objection, … never read, or never underſtood our Lord's … Diſcourſe, wherein the Doctrine of an imputed Righteouſneſs▪ … plainly taught, that … that … that ſee, may read.
Indeed our Lord does recommend Morality and good Works (… all faithful Miniſters will do) and clears the moral …aw from many corrupt … put upon it by the l…tter-learned Phariſee…. … But then, before He comes to …, it's remarkable, He talks of inward Piety, ſuch as Poverty of Spirit, Meekneſs, … Mourning▪ Purity of Heart—eſpecially hung…ing and … after Righteouſneſs; and … recommends good Works, as an Evidence of our having his Righteouſneſs imputed to us, and theſe Graces and Divine Tempers wrought in our Hearts.—Let your Light, (that is, the Divine Light I before have been mentioning) ſhine before Men, in a holy Life, that they, ſeeing your good Works, may glorify your Father which is in Heaven.—And then immediately adds, Think not that I am come to deſtroy the moral Law—I came not to deſtroy▪ to take away the Force of it as a Rule of Life, but to fulfil, to obey it in its whole Latitude, and give the compleat Senſe of it.—And then he goes on to ſhew, how exceeding broad the moral Law is. So that our Lord, inſtead of diſanulling of an imputed Righteouſneſs in his Sermon upon the Mount, not only confirms it, but alſo anſwers the foregoing Objection urged againſt it, by … good Works a Proof and Evidence of its being imputed to our Souls.—He therefore that h…s Ears to hear, let him hear what the Prophet ſay in the Words of the Text—"The Lord o… Righteouſneſs."
But as Satan not only quoted … ▪ …ut alſo backed one Temptation with it, after …, when he attacked Chriſt▪ Perſon in the Wilderneſs; ſo his Children generally take the ſame Method in treating his Doctrine. And therefore they urge another Objection againſt the Doctrine of an imputed Righteouſneſs, from the Example of the young Man in the Goſpel.
We may ſtate it thus:—The Evangeliſt St. Mark, ſay they, Chap. x. mentions a young Man that came to Chriſt, running and aſking him, what he ſhould do to inherit eternal Life? Chriſt, ſay they, referred him to the Commandments, to know what he muſt do to inherit eternal Life. It is plain therefore, Works were to be partly at …, the Cauſe of … Juſtification; and conſequently the Doctrine of an imputed Righteouſneſs in unſcriptu… ▪ —This is the Objection in its full Strength▪ and little Strength in all its Fulneſs▪ —For, was I to prove the Neceſſity of an imputed Righteouſneſs, I ſcarce know how I could bring a better Inſtance to make it good.
Let us take a more intimate View of this young Man, and our Lord's Behaviour towards him. Mark x. 17. the Evangeliſt tells us, that when Chriſt was gone forth into the Way, there came one running (it ſhould ſeem it … ſome Nobleman, a Rarity indeed, to ſee ſuch a One running to Chriſt▪ ) and … only ſo, but he kneeled to him tho' perhaps many of his Rank ſcarce know the Time when they kneeled to Chriſt) and aſking him, ſay… ▪ Good Maſter, what ſhall I do, that I … inherit eternal Life▪ —Then Jeſus, to … whither or not he believed him to be what … really was, truly properly God, ſaid unto him, Why c…lleſt thou me Good? There is … good but one, that is God.—And that he might directly anſwer his Queſtion; ſays he, Thou knoweſt the Commandments: Do not commit Adultery, Do not bear falſe Witneſs, Defraud not, Honour thy Father and thy … This, I ſay, was a direct Anſwer to his Queſtion; namely, that eternal Life was not to be attained by his Doings.—For our Lord, by referring him to the Commandments, did not, (as the Objecte…s inſinuate) in the leaſt hint, that his Morality would recommend him to the Favour and Mercy of God.—But he intended thereby to make the Law his Schoolmaſter to bring him to himſelf; that the young Man, ſeeing how he had broken every one of theſe Commandments, might thereby be convinced of the Inſufficiency of his own, and conſequently the abſolute Neceſſity of looking out for a better Righteouſneſs, whereon he might depend for eternal Life.
This was what our Lord deſigned.—The young Man being Self-righteous, and willing to juſtify himſelf, ſaid, All theſe have I obſerved from my Youth. But had he known himſelf, he would have confeſſed, All theſe have I broke … Youth.—For ſuppoſing he had not actually committed Adultery, Had he never luſted … a Woman in his Heart? What? if he had … really killed another; Had he never been … without a Cauſe, or ſpoken unadviſedly with his Lips? If ſo, by breaking one of the leaſt Commandments in the leaſt Degree, he became liable to the Curſe of God: For Curſed is he (ſaith the Law) that continueth not to do all Things that are written in this Book.—And therefore, as I obſerved before, our Lord was ſo far from ſpeaking againſt, that he treated the young Man in that Manner, on purpoſe to convince him of the Neceſſity of an imputed Righteouſneſs.
But perhaps they will reply, it is ſaid, Jeſus beholding him loved him. And what then? This he might do with a human Love, and at the ſame Time this young Man have no Intereſt in his Blood.—Thus Chriſt is ſaid to wonder—to weep over Jeruſalem, and ſay— Oh that thou hadſt KNOWN, &c. But ſuch like Paſſages are to be referred only to his human Nature. And there is a great deal of Difference between the Love wherewith Chriſt loved this young Man, and that wherewith he loved Mary, Lazarus, and their Siſter Martha.—To illuſtrate this by a Compariſon.—A Miniſter of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, ſeeing many amiable Diſpoſitions, ſuch as a Readineſs to hear the Word, a decent Behaviour at publick Worſhip, a Life outwardly ſpotleſs in many, cannot but ſo far love them. But then …ere is much Difference betwixt that Love which … Miniſter feels for ſuch, and that Divine Love, that Union and Sympathy of Soul, … feels for thoſe that he is ſatisfied are really born again of God.—Apply this to our Lord's Caſe, as a … Illuſtration of it.—Conſider what has been ſaid upon the young Man's Caſe in general, and then, if before you were fond of this Objection, inſtead of triumphing, with him you will go ſorrowful away.—Our Saviour's Reply to him more and more convinces us of the Truth of the Prophet's Aſſertion in the Text, viz. that the Lord is our Righteouſneſs.
But there is a fourth and grand Objection yet behind, and that is taken from the 25th Chapter of St. Matthew, where our Lord is deſcribed, as rewarding People with eternal Life, becauſe they fed the hungry, clothed the naked, and ſuch like.—Their Works therefore were a Cauſe of their Juſtification; conſequently, the Doctrine of imputed Righteouſneſs is not agreeable to Scripture.
This I confeſs is the moſt plauſible Objection that is brought againſt the Doctrine inſiſted on from the Text. And in order that we may anſwer it in as clear and brief a Manner as may be, we confeſs, with the Article of the Church of England, that albeit good Works do not juſtify us, yet they will follow after Juſtification, as Fruits of it; and tho' they can claim no Reward in themſelves, yet foraſmuch as they ſpring from Faith in Chriſt, and a renewed Soul, they ſhall receive a Reward of Grace, tho' no… of Debt; and conſequent … the mere we abound in ſuch good Works, the greater will be our Reward when Jeſus Chriſt ſhall come to Judgment.
Take theſe Conſiderations along with us, and they will help us much to anſwer the Objection now before us.—For thus St. Matthew.— Then ſhall the King ſay to them on his Right-hand, Come ye bleſſed Children of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the Foundation of the World.—For I was an hungry, and ye gave me Meat. I was thirſty, and ye gave me Drink. I was a Stranger, and ye took me in. Naked, and ye cloathed me. I was ſick, and ye viſited me. I was in Priſon, and ye came unto me. I will therefore reward you, becauſe you have done theſe Things …ut of Love to me, and hereby have evidenced yourſelves to be my true Diſciples.—And that the People did not depend on th…ſe good Actions for their Juſtification, in the Sight of God, is evident. For when ſaw we thee a hungry, ſay they, and fed thee? or thirſty, and gave thee Drink? When ſaw we thee a Stranger, and took thee in? Or naked▪ and clothed thee? Or when ſaw we thee ſick, or in Priſon, and came unto thee?—Language and Queſtions quite improper for Perſons relying on their own Righteouſneſs for Acceptance and Acquittance in the Sight of God.
But then they reply againſt this.—In the latter Part of the Chapter, ſay they, it is plain that Jeſus Chriſt rejects and damns the others for not doing theſe Things. And therefore, if he damns thoſe for not doing, he ſaves thoſe for doing; and conſequently the Doctrine of an imputed Righteouſneſs is good for nothing.
But that is no Conſequence at all—For God …ay juſtly damn any Man for omitting the …eaſt Duty of the moral Law, and yet in himſelf is not obliged to give any one any Reward, ſuppoſing he has done all that …e can. We are unprofitable Servants, we have done not near ſo much as it was our Duty to do, muſt be the Language of the … holy Souls living; and therefore from, or in our ſelves, cannot be juſtified in the Sight of God.—This was the Frame of the devout Souls juſt now referr'd to.—Senſible of this, they were ſo far from depending on their Works for Juſtification in the Sight of God, that they were filled, as it were, with a holy Bluſhing, to think our Lord ſhould condeſcend to mention, much more to reward them for their poor Works of Faith and Labours of Love. I am perſuaded their Hearts would riſe with a holy Indignation againſt thoſe, who urge this Paſſage as an Objection againſt the Aſſertion of the Prophet in the Words of the Text, that the "Lord is our Righteouſneſs."—
Thus I think we have fairly anſwered theſe grand Objections, which are generally urg'd againſt the Doctrine of an imputed Righteouſneſs.—Was I to ſ…ep here, I think I might ſay, we are made more than Conquerors, through him that loved us.—But there is a Way of arguing which I have always admired, becauſe I have thought always very convincing, viz. by ſhewing the Abſurdities that will follow from denying any particular Propoſition in Diſpute.
This is the next Thing that was propoſe… … And never did greater or more Abſur… flow from the denying any Doctrine, than … flow from denying the Doctrine of … imputed Righteouſneſs.
And firſt, if we deny this Doctrine, we turn the Truth, I mean the Word of God, as much as we can, into a Lie, and utterly ſubvert all thoſe Places of Scripture, which ſay, that we are ſaved by Grace; that it is not of Works, le…t any Man ſhould boaſt.—That Salvation is God's free Gift—and that he that glorieth, muſt glory only in the Lord.—For, if the whole perſonal Righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt be not the ſole Cauſe of my Acceptance with God, if any Work done by or foreſeen in me, was in the leaſt to be joined with it, or looked upon by God as an inducing, impulſive Cauſe of acquitting my Soul from Guilt, then I have ſomewhat whereof I may glory in my ſelf. Now Boaſting is excluded in the great Work of our Redemption. But that cannot be, if we are Enemies to the Doctrine of an imputed Righteouſneſs.—It would be endleſs to enumerate how many Texts of Scripture muſt be falſe, if this Doctrine be not true.—Let it ſuffice to affirm in the general, that if we deny an imputed Righteouſneſs, we may as well deny a Divine Revelation all at once.—For it is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End of the Book of God.—We muſt either diſbelieve that, or believe what the Prophet hath ſpoken in the …, that this Lord is our Righteouſneſs.
But farther.—I obſerved at the Beginning of this Diſcourſe, that we are all Arminians and Papiſts by Nature;—for, as one obſerves, Arminianiſm is the back way to Popery. And here I venture further to affirm, that if we deny the Doctrine of an imputed Righteouſneſs, whatever ever we may ſtile ourſelves, we are really Papiſts in our Hearts, and deſerve no other Title from Men.
Sirs, What think you?—Suppoſe I was to come and tell you, that you muſt intercede with Saints, for them to intercede with God for you,—would you not then ſay, I was juſtly reputed a Popiſh Miſſionary by ſome, and deſervedly thruſt out of the Synagogues by others?—I ſuppoſe you would. And why? Becauſe you would ſay, the Interceſſion of Jeſus Chriſt was ſufficient of itſelf, without the Interceſſion of Saints; and that it was blaſphemous to join theirs with hi…, as tho' it was not ſufficient.
Suppoſe I went a little more round about, and told you, that the Death of Chriſt was not ſufficient, without our Death being added to it; that you muſt die as well as Chriſt, join your Death with his, and then it would be ſufficient.—Might you not then, with a holy Indignation, throw Duſt in the Air, and juſtly call me a ſetter forth of ſtrange Doctrines? And now then, if it be not only abſurd, but blaſphemous, to join the Interceſſion of Saints, with the Interceſſion of Chriſt, as tho' his Interceſſion was not ſufficient, or our Death with the Death of Chriſt, as tho' his Death was not ſufficient; judge ye, if it be not equally abſurd, equally blaſphemous, to join our Obedience, either wholly or in part, with the Obedience of Chriſt, as if that was not ſufficient. And if ſo, what Abſurdities will follow the denying that the Lord, both as to his active and paſſive Obedience, is our Righteouſneſs?
One more Abſurdity I ſhall mention, that will follow from the denying this Doctrine, and I have done.
I remember a Story of a certain Prelate, who, after many Arguments in vain, urged to convince the Earl of Rocheſter of the inviſible Realities of another World, took his Leave of his Lordſhip with ſome ſuch Words as theſe:—W…l, my Lord, ſays he, if there be no Hell, I am ſafe;—but, if there ſhould be ſuch a Thing, my Lord, as Hell, what will become of you? I apply this to thoſe that oppoſe the Doctrine now inſiſted on. If there be no ſuch Thing as the Doctrine of an imputed Righteouſneſs, thoſe that hold it, and bring forth Fruit unto Holineſs, are ſafe. But if there be ſuch a Thing, (as there certainly is) what will become of you that deny it? It is no difficult Matter to determine.—Your Portion muſt be in the Lake of Fire and Brimſtone for ever and ever, ſince you will rely upon your Works, by your Works you ſhall be judged.—They ſhall be weighed in the Ballance of the Sanctuary.—They will be found wanting.—By your Works therefore ſhall you be condemned; and you, being out of Chriſt, ſhall find God to your poor, wretched▪ Souls, a conſuming Fire.—
The great STODDARD of Northampton in New-England, has therefore well intitled a Book which he wrote (and which I would take this Opportunity to recommend) The Safety of Appearing in the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt. … For why ſhould I lean upon a broken Reed, … I can have the Rock of Age… to ſtand … never can be moved?
And now, before I come to a more particular Application, give me Leave, in the Apoſtles Language, triumphantly to cry out, Where is the S…ribe? Where the Diſputer? Where is the reaſoning Infidel of this Generation? Can any Thing appear more reaſonable, even according to your own Way of arguing, than the Doctrine here laid down? Have you not felt a convincing Power go along with the Word? Why then will you not believe on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that ſo he may become the Lord your Righteouſneſs.
But it's Time for me to come a little cloſer to your Conſciences.
Brethren, tho' ſome may be offended at this Doctrine, and may account it Fooliſhneſs; yet, to many of you, I doubt not but it is precious, it being agreeable to the Form of ſound Words, which from your Infancy has been deliver'd to you: And coming from a Quarter, you would leaſt have expected it, may be received with more Pleaſure and Satisfaction. But give me Leave to aſk you one Queſtion, Can you ſay, the Lord our Righteouſneſs?—I ſay, the Lord our Righteouſneſs. For entertaining this Doctrine in your Heads, without receiving the Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſavingly by a lively Faith into your Hearts, will but encreaſe your Damnation.—As I have often told you, ſo I tell you again, an unapplied Chriſt, is no Chriſt at all.—Can you then, with believing Thomas, cry out, My Lord and my God? Is Chriſt your Sanctification, as well as your outward Righteouſneſs? For the Word Righteouſneſs in the Text, not only implies Chriſt's … Righteouſneſs imputed to us, but alſo … of H…art wrought in us.—Theſe two God has joined together.—He never did, He never …, He never will put them aſunder.—If you … juſtified by the BLOOD, you are alſo ſanctif…d by the Spirit of our Lord. Can you then in this Senſe ſay, the Lord our Righteouſneſs? Were you ever made to abhor yourſelves for your a…ual and original Sins, and to loath your own Righteouſneſs, (or, as the Prophet beautifully expreſſes it, your Righteouſneſſes) as fil…y Rags? Were you ever made to ſee and admire the All-ſufficiency of Chriſt's Righteouſneſs, and excited by the Spirit of God to hunger and thirſt after it? Could you ever ſay, my Soul is a thirſt for Chriſt, yea, even for the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt? Oh, when ſhall I come to appear before the Preſence of my God in the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt! Oh, nothing but Chriſt! nothing but Chriſt! Give me Chriſt, O God, and I am …! My Soul ſhall praiſe thee for ever. Was this, I ſay, ever the Language of your Hearts?—And after theſe inward Conflicts, were you ever enabled to reach out the Arm of Faith, and embrace the bleſſed Jeſus in your Souls, ſo that you could ſay, My Beloved is mine, and I am his? If ſo, fear not, whoever you are—Hail, … Hail, you happy Souls! The Lord the Lord Chriſt, the everlaſting God, is your Righteouſneſs.—Chriſt has juſtified you, who is he that … you? Chriſt has died for you, nay rather is riſen again, and ever liveth to make Interceſſion for you.—Being now juſtified by his Grace▪ you have Peace with God, and ſhall, … long, be with Jeſus in Glory, reaping everlaſting and unſpeakable Redemption, both in Body and Soul.—For there is no Condemnation to thoſe that are … in Chriſt Jeſus. Whether Paul … Apollos, or Life or Death, all is yours, if you are Chriſt's, for Chriſt is God's!—Oh, my Brethren, my Heart is enlarged towards you▪—Oh, think of the Love of Chriſt in dying for you… ▪ —If the Lord be your Righteouſneſs, let the Righteouſneſs of your Lord be continually in your Mouth. Talk of, Oh talk of, and recommend the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, when you lie down, and when you riſe up, at your going out and coming in!—Think of the Greatneſs of the Gift, as well as of the Giver!—Shew to all the World in whom you have believed!—Let all by your Fruits know, that the Lord is your Righteouſneſs, and that you are waiting for your Lord from Heaven!—Oh, ſtudy to be holy, even as He who has called you, and waſhed you in his own Blood, is holy!—Let not the Righteouſneſs of the Lord be evil ſpoken of thro' you.—Let not Jeſus be wounded in the Houſe of his Friends; but grow in Grace, and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt Day by Day.—Oh, think of his dying Love! Let that Love conſtrain you to Obedience! Having much forgiven, love much. Be always aſking, What … I do, to expreſs my Gratitude to the Lord, for giving me his Righteouſneſs? Let that Self-abaſing, God-exalting Queſtion be alway… in your Mou…s. Oh, be always liſping out, Why … Lord? Why me? Why am I taken, and others left? Why is the Lord my Righteouſneſs? Why is He become my Salvation… who have ſo often deſerved Damnation at his Hands?
Oh, my Friends, I truſt I feel ſomewhat of a Senſe of God's diſtinguiſhing Love upon my Heart! therefore I muſt divert a little from congratulating you to invite poor chriſtleſs Sinners to come to him, and accept of his Righteouſneſs, that they may have Life.—
Alas, my Heart alm…t bleeds! What a Multitude of precious Souls are now before me! How ſhortly muſt all be uſher'd into Eternity!—And yet, O cutting Thought! was God now to require all your Souls, how few comparatively ſpeaking, could really ſay, the Lord our Righteouſneſs.
And think you, O Sinners, that you will be able to ſtand in the Day of Judgment, if Chriſt be not your Righteouſneſs! No, that alone is the Wedding-Garment in which you muſt appear.—Oh, Chriſtleſs Sinners, I am diſtreſſed for you!—The Deſires of my Soul are enlarged.—Oh, that this may be an accepted Time! Oh, that the Lord may be your Righteouſneſs!—… would you flee, if Death ſhould … naked?—Indeed there is no hiding yourſelves … his Preſence.—The pitiful Fig-leaves of you… … Righteouſneſs will not cover your Nakedneſs, when God ſhall call you to ſtand before him.—Adam found them ineffectual, and ſo will you▪ —Oh, think of Death!—Oh, think of Judgment … Yet a little while, and Time ſhall be no more; and then what will become of you, if the Lord be not your Righteouſneſs? Think you, that Chriſt will ſpare you?—No, he that formed you, will have no Mercy on you. If you are out of Chriſt, if Chriſt be not your Righteouſneſs, Chriſt himſelf ſhall pronounce you damned.—And can you bear to think of being damned by Chriſt? Can you bear to hear the Lord Jeſus ſay to you, Depart from me ye Curſed into everlaſting Fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels? Can you live, think you, in everlaſting Burnings? Is your Fleſh Braſs, and your Bones Iron? What if they are, Hell-Fire, that Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels, will heat them through and through!—And can you bear to depart from Chriſt? Oh, that heart-piercing Thought!—Aſk thoſe holy Souls, who are at any Time bewailing an abſent God, who walk in Darkneſs, and ſee no Light, tho' but a few Days or Hours; aſk them, what it is to loſe a Sight and Preſence of Chriſt?—See how they ſeek him ſorrowing, and go mourning after him all the Day long! And if it is ſo dreadful to loſe the ſenſible Preſence of Chriſt, only for a Day, what muſt it be to be baniſhed from him to all Eternity?—But thus it muſt be, if Chriſt be not your Righteouſneſs.—For God's Juſtice muſt be ſatisfied; and unleſs Chriſt's Righteouſneſs is imputed and applied—you here, you muſt be ſatisfying the divine Juſtice in Hell-Torments eternally hereafter:—Nay▪ as I ſaid before, Chriſt himſelf, the God of Love ſhall condemn you to that Place of Torment.—And Oh, how cutting is that Thought!—Me thinks I ſee poor, trembling, chriſtleſs Wretches, ſtanding before the Bar of God, crying out, Lord, if we muſt be damned, let force Angel, or ſome Archangel, pronounce the damnatory Sentence.—But all in vain.—Chriſt himſelf ſhall pronounce the irrevocable Sentence.—Knowing therefore the Terrors of the Lord, let me perſuade you to cloſe with Chriſt, and never reſt till you can ſay, the Lord our Righteouſneſs.—Who knows, but the Lord may have Mercy on, nay, abundantly pardon you?—Beg of God to give you Faith;—and if the Lord gives you that, you will by it receive Chriſt, with his Righteouſneſs, and his All. You need not fear the Greatneſs or Number of your Sins.—For are you Sinners? ſo am I. Are you the Chief of Sinners? ſo am I. Are you backſliding Sinners? ſo am I. And yet the Lord (for ever adored be his rich, free, and ſovereign Grace) the Lord is my Righteouſneſs▪—Come then, O Young Men, who (as I acted on… myſelf) are playing the Prodigal, and wandring away afar off from your heavenly Father's Houſe▪ Come home, Come home, and leave your Swines Trough.—Feed no longer on the Huſks of ſenſual Delights.—For Chriſt's ſake, ariſe and come home!—Your heavenly Father now calls you.—See yonder the beſt Robe, even the Righteouſneſs of his dear Son, awaits you.—See it, view it again and again.—Conſider at how dear a Rate it was purchaſed, even by the Blood of God.—Conſider what great Need you have of it.—You are loſt, undone, damned for ever, without it!—Come then, poor, guilty Prodigals, come home.—Indeed I will not, like the elder Brother, be angry—No, I will rejoice with the Angels in Heaven And Oh, that God would now …ow the Heaven and come down! Deſcend, O Son of God, deſcend; and as thou haſt ſhewn in me ſuch Mercy, O let thy bleſſed Spirit apply thy Righteouſneſs to ſome young Prodigals now before thee, and clothe their naked Souls with thy beſt Robe.
But I muſt ſpeak a Word to you, young Maidens, as well as young Men.—I ſee many of you adorned; as to your Bodies:—But are not your Souls naked? Which of you can ſay, the Lord is my Righteouſneſs? Which of you was ever ſolicitous to be dreſſed in this Robe of invaluable Price, and without which, you are no better than whited Sepulchres in the Sight of God?—Let not then ſo many of you; Young Maidens, any longer forget your only ornament.—Oh, ſeek for the Lord to be your Righteouſneſs, or otherwiſe Burning will ſoon be upon you, inſtead of Beauty!
And what ſhall I ſay to you of a middle Age, you buſy Merchants, you cumber'd Martha's, who, with all your Gettings, have not yet gotten the Lord to be your Righteouſneſs? Alas! what Profit will there be of all your Labuor under the Sun, if you do not ſecure this Pearl of invaluable Price? This one Thing, ſo abſolutely needful, that it only can ſtand you in ſtead, when all other Things ſhall be taken from you. Labour therefore no longer ſo anxiouſly for the Meat which periſheth, but henceforward ſeek for the Lord to be your Righteouſneſs,—A Righteouſneſs that will intitle you to Life everlaſting.—I ſee alſo many … Heads here, and perhaps the moſt of them cannot ſay, the Lord is my Righteouſneſs.—O grey-headed Sinners, I could weep over you…—your grey Hairs, which ought to be your Crown, and in which perhaps you glory, is now you… ▪ S…ame.—You know not, that the Lord is your Righteouſneſs.—Oh, haſte then, haſte ye, aged Sinners, and ſeek an Intereſt in redeeming Love!—Alas, you have one Foot already in the Grave—Your Glaſs is juſt run out—Your Sun is juſt going down, and it will ſet and leave you in an eternal Darkneſs, unleſs the Lord be your Righteouſneſs!—Flee then, Oh flee for your Lives! Be not afraid.—All Things are poſſible with God. If you come, tho' it be at the eleventh Hour, Chriſt Jeſus will in no wiſe caſt you out. Oh, ſeek then for the Lord to be your Righteouſneſs, and beſeech him to let you know how it is that a Man may be born again when he is old!—But I muſt not forget the Lambs of the Flock—To feed … was one of my Lord's laſt Commands.—I know he will be angry with me, if I do not tell the… ▪ that the Lord may be their Righteouſneſs; and that of ſuch is the Kingdom of Heaven.—Come then, ye little Children, come to Chriſt; the Lord Chriſt ſhall be your Righteouſneſs▪—Do not think, that you are too young to be …—Perhaps many of you may be nine or ten Years old, and yet cannot ſay, the Lord is our Righteouſneſs; which many have ſaid, tho' younger than you—Come then, while you are young—Perhaps you may not live to be old—Do not ſtay for u…her▪ People—If your Fathers and Mothers will not come to Chriſt, do you come without them.—L… Children—lead them, and ſhew them how the Lord may be their Righteouſneſs.—Our Lord Jeſus loved little Children—You are his Lambs—He bids me feed you.—I pray God make you willing betime, to take the Lord for your Righteouſneſs.
Here then I could conclude—but I muſt not forget the poor Negroes—No, I muſt not. Jeſus Chriſt has died for them, as well as others.—Nor do I mention you laſt, becauſe I deſpiſe your Souls, but becauſe I would have what I have to ſay, make the deeper Impreſſion upon your Hearts.—Oh that you would ſeek the Lord to be your Righteouſneſs!— Who knows but he may be found of you—For in Jeſus Chriſt there is neither Male or Female, Bond or Free, even you may be the Children of God, if you believe in Jeſus.—Did you never read of the Eunuch belonging to the Queen of Cand…ce!—A Negro like yourſelves.—He believed.—The Lord was his Righteouſneſs. He was baptized. Do you alſo believe, and you ſhall be ſaved.—Chriſt Jeſus is the ſame now, as He was Yeſterday, and will waſh you in his own Blood.—Go home then, turn the Words of the Text into a Prayer, and intreat the Lord to be your Righteouſneſs.—Even ſo, Come Lord Jeſus, come quickly, into all our Souls! Amen, Lord Jeſus, Amen and Amen!