ment. 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
