Believer exalted in imputed righteousness
THE
Believer Exalted
IN
IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS.
A
SERMON,
PREACHED AT
A Sacramental Occaſion,
BY THE LATE
Rev. Mr EBENEZER ERSKINE,
Miniſter of the Goſpel at Stirling,
Isaiah xlv. 24. 25.
EDINBURGH:
Printed by J. Morren, Eaſt Campbell's Cloſe,
Cowgate.
MDCCC.
A
SERMON.
Preached at Largo, Sacrament Sabbath-⟨Morning⟩
June 14th, 1721.
ON
THE Pſalmiſt, in the beginning of the Pſalm, having run out at a great length in the praiſe and commendation of the God ⟨of⟩ Iſrael, he comes, from the 15th verſe of ⟨the⟩ Pſalm, to declare the happineſs of his Iſrael, of true believers, of whom Iſrael according ⟨to⟩ the fleſh were a type.
Now God's Iſrael are a happy people, ⟨upon⟩ ſeveral accounts. . 1st, Becauſe they are privileged to know the joyful ſound, in the beginning of the 15th verſe: The goſpel has a joyful ſound, a ſound of peace, a ſound of life, a ſound of liberty and ſalvation You are all privileged ⟨to⟩ hear this ſound, with your bodily ears; but ⟨the⟩ great queſtion is, If you do know it, underſtand it, and give faith's entertainment to it. ⟨Alas!⟩ Iſaiah's lamentation may but too juſtly be continued with reſpect to the greateſt part of the hearers of the goſpel, Who hath believed our report? 2dly, God's Iſrael are a happy people, becauſe they walk in the light of his countenance, in the cloſe of the 15th verſe: they are privileged with the ſpecial intimations of his love, which puts more gladneſs in their hearts, that when corn, wine, and oil doth abound. 3dly, Whatever diſcouragement they may meet with from the world, yet ſtill they have ground of rejoicing in their God. In thy name ſhall they rejoice all the day, and Thanks be unto God, ſays the apoſtle, who always cauſeth us to triumph in Chriſt. 4thly. Their happineſs is evident from this, that they are dignified and exalted above others, by the immaculate robe of a Surety's righteouſneſs; as you ſee in the words of my text, In thy righteouſness, ſhall they be exalted.
In which words briefly we may notice, 1ſt, The believer's promotion, he is exalted. In the firſt Adam we were debaſed into the loweſt hell; the crown having fallen from our heads: but in Chriſt, the ſecond Adam, we are again exalted, yea exalted as high as heaven, for we ſit together with him in heavenly places, ſays the apoſtle. This is an incredible paradox to a blind world, that the believer, who is ſitting this moment upon the dung-hill of this earth, ſhould at the ſame time be ſitting in heaven in Chriſt his glorious head and repreſentative; and yet it is indiſputably true, that we ſit together with him in heavenly places. Eph.ii 6. Yea, in him, He rules the nations with a rod of iron, and triumphs over, and treadeth upon all the powers of hell. 2dly We have the ground of the believer's preferment and exaltation, it is in thy righteouſneſs. It is not in any righteouſneſs ⟨of⟩ his own: No this he utterly diſclaims, reckoning it but dung and loſs, filthy rags, dog's ⟨meat⟩, but it is in thy righteouſneſs; that is the righteouſneſs of God; as the apoſtle calls it, Rom. i. 17. The righteouſneſs which is of God by faith Phil. iii. 9. The righteouſneſs of God is variouſly taken in ſcripture. Sometimes for the infinite rectitude and equity of his nature, Pſal. xi. 7. The righteous Lord loveth righteouſneſs. Sometimes for his rectoral equity, or distributive juſtice, which he exerciſeth in the government of the world, rewarding the good, and puniſhing evil-doers, Pſal. xci. 2. Righteouſneſs and judgment are the habitation of thy throne. Sometimes it is put for the veracity and faithfulneſs in accompliſhing his word of promiſe or in executing his word of threatening, Pſal. xxxvi. 56. 'Thy faithfulneſs reacheth unto the clouds, thy righteouſneſs is like the great mountains.' Sometimes it is put for the perfect righteouſneſs which Chriſt the Son of God as our ſurety and Mediator brought it, by the obedience to the law, and death on the croſs, for the juſtification of guilty ſinners: And this, as I ſaid is frequently called the righteouſneſs of God⟨;⟩ and in this ſenſe I underſtand it here in the text. In thy righteouſneſs ſhall they be exalted.
The obſervation is much the ſame with the words themſelves, namely, 'That in or by the righteouſneſs of Chriſt, believers are exalted.' Or thus, "Whatever honour or happineſs believers are exalted to, the righteouſneſs of Chriſt is the ground and foundation of it:" It is all owing to the complete obedience, and meritorious death of the ever-bleſſed Surety.
This the foundation, which God hath laid in Zion, upon which all our happineſs in time and through eternity is built. I have not time now to adduce parallel texts of ſcripture for the confirmation of this doctrine, neither can I ſtand upon a long proſecution of it conſidering what great work you have before you thro' the day: All I ſhall do, ſhall be only in the first place.
I. To offer a few propoſitions anent this righteouſneſs, that you may underſtand both the nature and neceſſity of it.
II. Give you a few of its properties, to clear its excellency.
III. Speak a little of the believer's exaltation by virtue of this righteouſneſs.
IV. Apply.
For the Firſt. To offer a few propoſitions anent this righteouſneſs, for clearing its nature and neceſſity. 1ſt, Then, you would know, that God having made man a rational creature, capable of moral government, he gave him a law ſuited to his nature, by which he was to govern himſelf in the duties he owed to God his great Creator. This law was delivered to man in the form of a covenant, with a promiſe of life upon the condition of perfect obedience. Gen. ii. 17. Thus ſtood matters between God and man in a ſtate of innocency.
2dly. Adam, and all his poſterity in him, and with him, having broken the covenant, are become liable to the curſe, and penalty of it; ſo that our ſalvation ⟨is⟩ become abſolutely impoſſible, until juſtice be ſatisfied, and the honour of the broken law be repaired; the law and juſtice of God are very peremptory, and ſtand upon a full ſatisfaction and reparation, otherwiſe heaven's gate ſhall be ſhut, and eternally barred againſt man and all his poſterity. The flaming ſword of juſtice turns every way, to keep us from acceſs unto the paradiſe that is above.
3dly, While man in theſe circumſtances was expecting nothing but to fall an eternal ſacrifice unto divine juſtice, the eternal Son of God, in his infinite love and pity to periſhing ſinners, ſteps in as a Mediator and Surety; offering not only to take our nature, but to take our law-place, to ſtand in our room and ſtead; whereby the whole obligation of the law, both penal and preceptive, did fill upon him: That is, he becomes liable and obliged both to fulfil the command, and to endure the curſe of the covenant of works, which we had violated. And here by the way, it is fit to advertiſe you, that it was an act of amazing grace in the Lord Jehovah, to admit a Surety in our room; for, had he ſtood to the rigour and ſeverity of the law, he would have demanded a perſonal ſatisfaction, without admitting of the ſatisfaction of a ſurety: In which caſe, Adam and all his poſterity had fallen under the ſtroke of avenging juſtice, through eternity. But glory to God, in the higheſt, who not only admitted of a ſurety, but provided one, and laid help upon one that is mighty.
4thly, Chriſt, the eternal Son of God, being in the fulness of time made of a woman, and made under the law, as our ſurety, he actually, in our room and ⟨stead, fulfilled the whole⟩ terms of the covenant of works: that is, in a word, he obeyed all the commands of the law, and endures the curſe of it, and thereby brings in a complete law-righteouſneſs; whereby guilty ſinners are juſtified before God: And this is the righteouſneſs by which we are exalted, by his alive and paſſive obedience he magnifies the law and makes it honourable, and the Lord declares himſelf to be well pleaſed for his righteouſneſs ſake.
5thly, Although Chriſt obeyed the law, and ſatisfied juſtice, and thereby brought in an everlaſting law righteouſneſs for a whole elect world; yet the elect of God are never exalted by virtue of this righteouſneſs till in a day of power they be brought to receive it by faith and ſubmit to it for juſtification before God. We diſclaim that Antinomian error of an actual juſtification, from eternity, or yet of a formal juſtification, bearing date from the death of Chriſt. We own indeed, with all protestant ſound diivnes, that it was the purpoſe of God to juſtify his elect from eternity, and that all the elect were repreſented by Christ in his obedience unto death: But that they are actually juſtified before converſion, or before their application by faith unto the blood of Jesus, is impoſsible; becauſe the ſentence of the broken law ſtands always in force againſt them, till they actually believe in the Son of God; for he that believes not, is condemned already. And how can they be both juſtified and condemned at the ſame time? Till then, they are children of wrath, even us others.
6thly, This righteouſneſs of the Surety is conveyed unto us by imputation, as is abundantly plain from many places of ſcripture, particularly Rom. iv. 6, 11, 12, 23, 24. God reckons what the Surety did in our room unto us; ſo that his righteouſneſs become as much ours for juſtification before God, as tho' we had obeyed the law, and ſatisfied juſtice in our own perſon. Now, this imputation of the Surety's righteouſneſs runs principally upon theſe two or three things. 1ſt, Upon the eternal tranſaction between the Father and the Son, wherein the Son of God was choſen and ſuſtained as the Surety of an elect world: then it was that he gave bond to the Father, to pay their debt, in the red gold of his blood; ſaying, Sacrifice and offering thou did not deſire; Lo, I come, I delight to do thy will. 2dly, It is grounded upon the actual imputation of our ſins unto him. The Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all. There is a bleſſed exchange of places between Chriſt and his people; he takes on our ſin and unrighteouſneſs, that we may be clothed with the white robe of his righteouſneſs, 2 Cor. v. 21. 'He was made ſin for us who knew no ſin, that we might be made the righteouſneſs of God in him.' 2dly. This imputation goes upon the ground of the myſtical union between Chriſt and the believer. When the poor ſoul is determined in a day of power to embrace the Lord Jeſus in the arms of faith, Chriſt and he do that very moment coaleſce into one body. He becomes a branch of the noble vine; a member of that body whereof Chriſt is the glorious head of eminence, influence and government. And being thus united to Chriſt, the long and white robe of the Mediator's righteouſneſs is ſpread over him, whereby he is not only free from condemnation, but for ever ſuſtained as righteous in the ſight of God, 1 Cor. i. 30. 'But of him are ye in Chriſt Jeſus, who of God is made unto us wiſdom, and righteouſneſs, and ſanctification, and redemption.'
The ſecond general head was, To offer a few properties of this righteouſneſs, in which believers are exalted, from whence its excellency will appear.
1ſt, Then it is an every way perfect and ſpotleſs righteouſneſs; And how can it be otherwiſe, facing it is the righteouſneſs of God? So perfect is it, that the holy law is not only fulfilled, but magnified and made honourable thereby, Iſa. xliii. 21. So perfect is this righteouſneſs, that the piercing eye of infinite juſtice cannot find the leaſt flaw in it: Yea, juſtice is ſo fully ſatisfied therewith, that God ſpeaks of the ſoul that is clothed therewith, as tho' it were in a ſtate of innocence and perfectly freed from ſin: Thou art all fair, my love; and there is no ſpot in thee. He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, nor perverſeneſs in Iſrael. Indeed, he beholds many ſpots in the beliver, conſidered in himſelf; but not a ſpot is in him, conſidered as under the covert of this ſpotleſs righteouſneſs.
2dly, It is a meritorious righteouſneſs. The redemption of the ſoul is precious, and would have ceaſed for ever, unleſs it had been redeemed by this righteouſneſs: For silver, and gold, and ſuch corruptible things could never do it. Lay heaven, and all the glories thereof, in the balance with this righteouſneſs, they would be all light a feather compared with it. Heaven is called a purchaſed inheritance, and this righteouſneſs is the price that bought it. There is ſuch merit in it, that it expiates ſins of the blakeſt hue, and redeems a whole elect world from wrath and ruin: Yea, ſuch is the intrinſic value of it, that had it been ſo deſigned, it was ſufficient to have redeemed the whole poſterity of Adam, yea, ten thouſand worlds of angels and men, upon a ſuppoſition of their exiſtence, and fall. O with what confidence then may a poor ſoul venture its eternal ſalvation upon this bottom.
3dly, It is an incomparable righteouſneſs: there is no righteousneſs, among the creatures that can be compared with it. Compare it with our own righteouſneſs by the law, and the apoſtle Paul will tell us, that he reckoned his phariſaical righteouſneſs before converſion, yea, his own obedience after converſion, but as dung, when laid in the balance with it. Phil. ili. 8. Compare it with Adam's righteouſneſs in a ſtate of innocence, or yet with the righteouſneſs of spotleſs angels, they are but like glow-worms, when compared with this Sun: The one is but the righteouſneſs of a creature, but here is the righteouſneſs of God.
4thly, it is a ſoul-beautifying and adorning righteouſneſs, Iſa. lxi. 10. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my ſoul ſhall be joyful in my God, who hath clothed me with the garments of ſalvation, and covered me with the robes of righteouſneſs; as a bridegroom decketh himſelf with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herſelf with jewels. The poor ſoul that was black by lying among the pots, when clothed with this robe, ſhines as the wings of a dove covered with ſilver and her feathers with yellow gold.
5thly. It is an everlaſting righteouſneſs, as the prophet Daniel calls it, chap. ix 24. Indeed this righteouſneſs had no being ſave in the purpoſe and promiſe of God, till Chriſt actually appeared in our nature, and ſatisfied the commands of the law, and demands of juſtice; however, upon that very being that it had in the purpoſe and promiſe of God, it became effectual for the juſtification of all the old-teſtament ſaints. This righteouſneſs then, I ſay, is an everlasting righteouſneſs, both as to the contrivance and duration of it. The contrivance of it bears date from the council of peace in the antient years of eternity; For the Surety was ſet up from everlasting. And as it is everlaſting in its root, ſo alſo in its fruit; for, upon this righteouſneſs, the ſaints will ſtand and be aſſoil'd at the day of judgment; and, upon this bottom, they will have their ſtanding in heaven through eternity. The ſong of the redeemed for ever will be, 'He loved us, and waſhed us with his blood.'
6thly, It is a ſoul dignifying and exalting righteouſneſs. Solomon, Prov. xxv. 4. ſpeaking of equity in the adminiſtration of Juſtice, ſays, that even that king of righteouſneſs exalteth a nation. I am ſure this holds true in the imputed righteouſneſs of Christ, as you ſee in my text, In thy righteouſneſs ſhall they be exalted. But this leads to the
Third thing in the method, which was to ſpeak of the believer's exaltation by virtue of this righteouſneſs. And here I will very briefly ſhew 1ſt, what evil it exalts him above, 2dly What happineſs and dignity it exalts him to.
Firſt, What evil it exalts him above.
Ist. It exalts him above the law as a covenant of ⟨works,⟩ yea, above both the commanding and condemning power of that covenant. Ye are not under the law, ſays the apoſtle, but under grace. Rom. vi. 14. And if they are not under it, it follows that they are exalted above it. Indeed, they are not, and cannot be above it as a rule of duty: no creature can be diſpenſed from the obligation of ⟨yielding⟩ obedience to the laws of the great Creator; And the believer in a peculiar manner is bound to obey the law of a Creator, in the hand of a Mediator: But conſidering the law as a covenant of works, demanding the debt of obedience as a condition of life, or threatning eternal wrath in caſe of diſobedience, the believer is indeed exalted above it by the righteouſneſs of Chriſt: and if the law at any time attempt to bring the believer in bondage to it, he is to ſtand faſt in the liberty wherewith Chriſt hath made him free. The bond-woman Hagar, with her offspring of legal fears and terrors, are cast out by faith in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, Gal. iv. 30. If a believer in Chriſt ſhall hear the thunderings and curſes of mount Ebel, or Sinai, he has no reaſon to be affrighted; for Chriſt by his righteouſneſs hath redeemed him from the curſe of the law. Thou art not come to the mount that burned with fire or blackneſs, and darkneſs, and tempest; but thou art come to mount Zion, and to Jeſus the Mediator of the new Covenant, and ſo the blood of ſprinkling, which ſpeaketh better things than that of Abel. The believer is dead to the law by the body of Chriſt, being married unto a better huſband, even to him that is raiſed from the dead.
2dly. By this righteouſneſs the believer is exalted above the world, Rev. xii.I. The woman clothed with the ſun, has the moon under her feet; which may not only point at the believer's duty to ſoar heavenward in his affections, but alſo his privilege in Chriſt to trample both upon the frowns and flatteries of this lower world; according to that of the apoſtle, This is the victory whereby we overcome the world, even our faith.
3dly, by this righteouſneſs he is exalted above the power and malice of Satan. Indeed, as long as the believer is on this ſide of Jordan, the devil will be haraſſing him with his fiery darts, and do his utmoſt to make him go halting to heaven; by virtue of this righteouſneſs, namely, the doing and dying of our ever-bleſſed Surety, the devil is both diſarmed and deſtroyed: the head of the old ſerpent is bruiſed; for, thro' death, he deſtroyed him that had the power of death, that is the devil. And by faith in the blood and obedience of the Lord Jeſus the believer treads Satan under his feet: they overcome him by the blood of the Lamb.
4thly, By this righteouſneſs the believer is exalted above death. Perhaps thou art in bondage through fear of death; thy heart is like to faint and fail thee, when thou lookeſt to the ſwellings of this Jordan: But take a view of this righteouſneſs, and thou ſhalt be exalted above the fears of it; altho' thou be liable to the ſtroke of death, yet by this righteouſneſs thou art freed from the ſting of it. What is the ſting of death? It is ſin. Now Christ has finiſhed tranſgreſſion and made an end of ſin, by bringing in everlaſting righteouſneſs. And therefore thou mayſt roll that word like a ſweet morſel under thy tongue, Hoſ. xiii. 14. 'I will ranſom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plague; O grave I will be thy deſtruction.'
5thly. By this righteouſneſs the believer is exalted above all accuſations, from whatever airth they may come. Rom. viii. 33. there the apoſtles gives a bold challenge, Who ſhall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? The challenge is univerſal in reſpect of all accuſers; as if he had ſaid, Is there any in heaven, earth, or hell, that can accuſe them? It is univerſal in reſpect of all the accuſed: for the whole elect of God are comprehended, among whom there have been as great ſinners, as ever breathed on God's earth. And it is univerſal in reſpect of all crimes. It is not ſaid, who ſhall lay this, or that, or the other crime to their charge? But, any thing? And what can be more comprehenſive? Now what is the ground of this bold challenge? 'Tis grounded on the righteouſneſs of Chriſt: For, ſays the apoſtle, 'It is God that juſtifieth, who is be that condemneth? It is Chriſt that died, yes, rather that is riſen again,' &c.
I come, Secondly, to ſhew, What happineſs or dignity the believer is exalted to by virtue of this righteouſneſs. And, in ſo many words, I only name theſe two or three particulars, 1st, He is exalted by it unto a ſtate of peace and reconciliation with God. Rom. v. 1. Being juſtified by faith we have peace with God. God for ever lays aſide every grudge in his heart againſt the ſoul that is clothed therewith.
2dly, They are exalted by this righteouſneſs unto a ſtate of ſonſhip. Chriſt was made under the law, to redeem us that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of ſons. Gal. iv. 4.
3dly, Unto a ſtate of fellowſhip and familiarity with God, and acceſs to him with holy confidence and boldneſs, Heb. iv. 14. 16. 'Having therefore, brethren, boldneſs to enter into the holieſt by the blood of Jeſus, by a new and living way, which he had conſecrated for us through the vial, that is to ſay, his fleſh; and having an high prieſt over the houſe of God; let us draw near with true hearts, in full aſſurance of faith, Heb. x. 19. &c. Having ſuch a great high prieſt over the houſe of God, let us come with boldneſs to a throne of grace.' The believer may come under the covert of this righteouſneſs, with as great freedom unto God, as his Father in Chriſt, as ever Adam could have done in a ſtate of innocence.
4thly, At laſt thou ſhalt be exalted to a ſtate of endleſs glory. For heaven (as I was hinting before) is the purchaſe of the obedience and death of Chriſt; and faith acted on this righteouſneſs and ſatisfaction is the path of life, by which we enter into theſe rivers of pleaſures, and that fulneſs of joy which is at God's right-hand for ever-more.
The Fourth thing was the application of the doctrine. And my firſt uſe ſhall be of information, in theſe few particulars.
1ſt, Is it ſo, that in a Surety's righteouſneſs, believers are exalted: then ſee hence, that whatever account the world may make of them as the droſs and off-ſcouring of the earth, yet they are dignified perſons in God's reckoning: 'Ever ſince thou waſt precious in my ſight, thou haſt been honourable.'
2dly, See hence, that the believer has no ground of boaſting. Why? Becauſe it is not in his own, but in Chriſt's righteouſneſs, that he is exalted: Boaſting is excluded ſays the apoſtle, by what law? of works? Nay, but by the law of faith. Rom. iii. 27. If it were by our own doings or obedience that we are exalted, we have nothing whereof to glory in ourſelves. There are three queſtions that the apoſtle aſks, which many ſilence all fleſh, and put all boaſters to an eternal bluſh, I Cor. iv. 7 'Who maketh thee to differ? What haſt thou that thou did not receive? Why doſt thou glory as if thou had not received it?' Let believers themſelves poſe their ſouls with thoſe or the like inquires, when pride begins to riſe in their breaſts.
3dly, See hence what obligation we lie under to the Lord Jeſus: Who, altho' he was the great law-giver, yet was content to be made under the law: though he was the Lord of life, yet humbled himſelf unto the death, to bring in that righteouſneſs by which we are exalted. He was content to be numbered among the tranſgreſſors, that we might be counted among the righteous: He was content to become ſin, that we might be made the righteouſneſs of God; content to become a curſe for us, that the bleſſing of Abraham might reſt upon us, O admire this love, which paſſeth knowledge.
4thly. See hence a noble antidote againſt a ſpirit of bondage unto fear. What is it that thou feareſt, O believer? Indeed, if thou ſin, thou may fear the rod of a father; for he will viſit thy tranſgreſſion with a rod, and thine iniquity with ſtripes: but art thou afraid of the vindictive wrath?, there is no ground for this Luke i. 74. He has delivered us out of the hands of our enemies, that we might ſerve him without fear: that is, without all ſervile or ſlaviſh fear of wrath. Art thou afraid of the tempeſts of Mount Sinai: there is no ground for that, for the ſtorm broke upon the head of the Surety; and therefore thou mayeſt ſing and ſay, as Iſa. xii. 1. Thou waſt angry with me, thine anger is turned away. Art thou afraid leſt thou be refuſed acceſs into the preſence-chamber? Improve this righteouſneſs by faith, and thou ſhalt ſee that this way to the holy of ⟨holies⟩ is opened, and get the banner of love diſplayed over thee. Whenever the poor believer takes the righteouſneſs of the Surety in the hand of faith, and holds it up unto God as the ranſom of his own finding, he is ſo well pleaſed with it, that his frowns are turned into ſmiles. In a word, you ſhall never get ride of a ſpirit of bondage, till you learn by faith to improve this law biding righteouſneſs; and then indeed legal fears and terrors do evaniſh like the darkness of the night, before the riſing of the ſun
Uſe ſecond of reproof, unto all thoſe who are ſeeking to exalt themſelves by righteouſneſs of their own, like the Jews, Rom. x. 3. 'Who went about to eſtabliſh their own righteouſneſs of would not ſubmit to the righteouſneſs of God.' There are ſome of the hearers of the goſpel, who exalt themſelves in a native righteouſneſs: they are not ſo bad as others; they are free of groſs out-breakings, being no common drunkards, ſwearers, or ſabbath-breakers, and therefore conclude that all is right with them: but, ſirs, the Phariſee could make theis brag, and Paul before converſion could ſay that touching the law he was blameleſs; and yet, when God opened his eyes, he found himſelf lying under the arreſt of juſtice: For, when the commandment came, ſin revived, and he died. Others are exalting themſelves in a moral kind of righteouſneſs: they not only ceaſe to do evil, but do many things that are materially good: They are ſober, temperate, juſt, in their dealings, libral to the poor, good peaceable neighbours; they love every body, and every body loves them; they keep the commandments as well as they can; and this is the ground they are ſtanding upon. But I may ſay to you, as Chriſt ſaid to the young man, who told him. All theſe things have I kept from my youth up One thing thou yet lackeſt. O what is that? ſay you, I anſwer, it is to be brought off from that rotten bottom of a covenant of works that yt are ſtanding upon. Ye want to ſee that ye are ſpiritually dead in treſpaſſes and ſins, and that ye are legally dead, condemned already, and the wrath of God abideth on you. Ye want to ſee, that all your own righteouſneſs is as filthy rags, and to be made to ſay with the church, Surely in the Lord have I righteouſneſs and ſtrength. Others will go further than bare morality: they will abound in the duties of religion, read, hear, pray, communicate, run from ſermon to ſermon, from ſacrament to ſacrament, and upon theſe things they reſt; all theſe things are good in their proper place, but if you build your hope of acceptance here, you are ſtill upon a covenant of works bottom, ſeeking righteouſneſs, as it were by the works of the law; and while you do ſo, you do but ſeek the living among the dead. All your works are but dead works, till you be in Chriſt; and they will but ſtand as cyphers in God's reckoning, till you be brought to ſubmit to this righteouſneſs, by which alone guilty ſinners can be exalted. Others rely upon a mixt kind of righteouſneſs: they will freely own that their duties and performances will never exalt them into favour and acceptance with God; but, O, ſay they, it is Chriſt and our duties Chriſt and our prayers, he and our tears and repentance, that muſt do it. But believe it, Sirs, Chriſt and the idol of ſelf will never cement. Theſe old rotten rags will never piece in with the white and new robe of the righteouſneſs of the Son of God; and if you adventure to mingle them together, Chriſt ſhall profit you nothing. Gal. v. 2. 3. 4. Others again, they will pretend to renounce all their works and duties, and own with their mouths that it is by faith in Chriſt only that they hope to be accepted; but tho' they own this with their mouth, yet ſtill their hearts cleave faſt unto the covenant of works; they were never thro' the law dead to the law. And whan nothing elſe will do, they will make their own act of believing the righteouſneſs on which they lean for acceptance: which is ſtill a ſeeking righteouſneſs in themſelves: whereas, if ever we be juſtified before God, we muſt have it in the Lord Jeſus, ſaying, In him we will be juſtified, and in him alone we will glory. Faith carries the ſoul quite out of itſelf; yes, faith renounces its own act in the point of juſtification. All theſe, and many other rooms and lying refuges bath the devil and our hearts deviſed, to lead us off from Chriſt: But, O ſirs, believe it, theſe are but imaginary ſanctuarys, and the hail will ſweep them away. Nothing but the doing and dying of the Surety, apprehended by faith, will ever exalt you into favour and friendſhip with God; or acquit you from the curſe and condemnation of the broken law; and unleſs ye betake yourſelves to the horns of this bleſſed alter, to this refuge of God's appointing, you are undone; and you may read your doom, Iſa. l. 11. 'Behold all ye that kindle a fire; that compaſs yourſelves about with ſparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the ſparks that ye have kindled. This ſhall ye have of mine hand, ye ſhall lie down in ſorrow.'
Uſe third, of Trial. Is it ſo, that in Chriſt's righteouſneſs we are exalted? O then, ſirs, try if you be really exalted by this righteouſneſs.
There is the more need to try this now, that you are to approach the table of the Lord; this righteouſneſs is the wedding-garment without which ye cannot be welcome gueſts. And, if you adventure to meddle with the ſymbols of Chriſt's body and blood without it, you may expect that the maſter of the feaſt will ſay to you, Friend, how cameſt thou hither wanting the wedding-garmant? For your trial, I offer theſe two or three things, 1ſt, haſt thou ſeen thyſelf condemned by the law or covenant of works? every man by nature is condemned already, while out of Chriſt. Now, the ordinary way that God takes of bringing an elect ſoul into Chriſt, and under the covering of his righteouſneſs, is by diſcovering unto him the ſentence of condemnation that he is under, by virtue of the broken law; and thus paves the way toward his acceptance of Chriſt as the Lord our righteouſneſs. For thus it is that the law is our ſchool-maſter to 'lead us to Chriſt,' that we may be juſtified by faith. The Lord leads the ſinner to mount Zion by the foot of Sinai. The Spirit's way is firſt to convince of ſin, and then of righteouſneſs. 2dly. Has the Lord diſcovered the Surety and his righteouſneſs to thee? And has thy ſoul found reſt here? Perhaps the law and its curſes, juſtice and wrath were purſuing thee; and thou could not find a hole wherein to hide thy head, all refuges fail'd: At length the Lord drew by the vail, and diſcovered his righteouſneſs as a ſufficient ſhelter, ſaying Turn into the ſtrong hold thou priſoner of hope; and hither thou fled, as into a city of refuge, ſaying, This is my reſt here will I dwell. Readily, when it comes to this, there is a little heaven of ſerenity and joy enters into the ſoul; ſo that, if it were poſſible, it would make heaven and earth to ring with hallelujahs of praiſe unto God for his unſpeakable gift. Doſt thou not know, O believer, ſomething of this, to thy ſweet experience? This ſays that in his righteouſneſs thou art exalted. 3dly, When an arrow of conviction is at any time ſhot by the hand of God into thy conſcience, whereby thy peace and quiet is diſturbed, whither doſt thou run for eaſe and relief? The man that is married to the law, he runs into the law for relief and eaſe; the law is the thing that heals him; his prayers, his tears, his reformation, is that which ſtops the mouth of his conſcience: but as for the believer, he can never reſt on this ſide of the blood of ſprinkling; he gets his healing only from under the wings of the Sun of righteouſneſs. No other balm will give him eaſe, but the balm of Gilead; and no other hand can apply it but the phyſician there. 4thly, If you be exalted by imputed righteouſneſs, you will be the real ſtudents of the goſpel-holineſs. It is a groſs perverting of the goſpel, and a turning of the grace of God into wantonneſs, for folk to pretend that they are juſtified by the merit of Chriſt, while they are not at the ſame time concerned to be ſanctified by the Spirit of Chriſt. Sanctification, or freedom from the power and dominion of ſin, is a part of that ſalvation when Chriſt has purchaſed by his obedience and death. Tit. ii. 14. Who gave himſelf for us, to redeem us from all iniquity, and to purify unto himſelf a peculiar people zealous of good works. Juſtification and ſanctification go always hand in hand: he who is made of Gad unto us righteouſneſs, is alſo made ſanctification, we are juſtified and ſanctified in the name of the Lord Jeſus, and by the Spirit af our God. Try yourſelves then by this, whether you be exalted by this righteouſneſs. Are you delivered from the reigning power of ſin? At leaſt, is ſo far broken, that it is become your burden, under which you may groan, ſaying with the apoſtle, Wretched man that I am, who ſhall deliver me from the body of this death?
Uſe fourth, ſhall be of Conſolation and encouragement to believers, who are exalted in this righteouſneſs. By virtue of it, O believer, thou can ſtand in need of. Whatever grace or mercy thou wanteſt, thou ſhall have it, if thou do but improve this law-biding righteouſneſs. Wanteſt thou pardoning grace, to take away the guilt of ſin? That is one of the gifts of God, thro' the righteouſneſs of Chriſt apprehended by faith: For he is ſet forth to be a propitiation thro' faith in his blood, to ſhew forth his righteouſneſs for the remiſſion of ſins. Wanteſt thou to have thy peace with God confirmed? Improve this righteouſneſs by faith: For, being juſtified by faith, we have peace with God thro' the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. Wanteſt thou acceſs unto the holieſt? by faith in the blood of Jeſus have we acceſs with boldneſs. Wanteſt thou medicinal grace for healing of ſoul-pleagues: Improve this righteouſneſs by faith: For by his ſtripes we are healed. Out of the ſide af our goſpel-altar comes forth living water, that healeth the corrupt and dead ſea of indwelling corruption, Ezek. xlvii. at the beginning. This is the tree of life, whoſe leaves are for the healing of the nations. Wanteſt thou a ſhadow or covering, to ſhelter thy weary ſoul from the ſcorching heat of divine anger, or of temptation from Satan, or tribulation from the world? improve this righteouſneſs, and ſit down under the ſhadow of it. It is as the ſhadow of a great rock in a weary land. Wanteſt thou courage to look the law or juſtice of God in the face? Here is a fund for it; under this covering you may look out with confidence and ſay, Who can lay any thing to my charge? Wanteſt thou to have the new covenant confirmed to thy ſoul? improve this righteouſneſs by faith: for Chriſt, by his obedience and death, confirmed the covenant with many. His blood is the blood of the new teſtament, and when the ſoul by faith takes hold of it, the covenant of grace is that moment confirmed unto it for ever.
In a word, by virtue of this righteouſneſs, thou mayeſt come to a communion table, and to throne of grace, and aſk what thou wilt, our heavenly Father can refuſe nothing to the younger brethren, who come to him in their elder Brother's garment. By virtue of this righteouſneſs thou mayeſt lay claim to every thing, and to all the bleſſings of heaven and eternity; thou didſt indeed forfeit thy right in the firſt Adam, but the forfeiture is recovered, and the right reſtored to thee, upon a better ground, namely upon the obedience and death of the ſecond Adam; and thou comeſt in upon his right. May not all this then revive thy drooping ſpirit? And make the take up that ſong in the text? "In thy name will I rejoice all the day, and in thy righteouſneſs will I be exalted."
FINIS.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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