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And fatisfy'd himself for me,
When he did justice fatisfy q.
He to the law, though Lord of it,
Did most obediently submit r.
What he ne'er broke, and yet must die,
I never kept, yet live must I/.

The law, which him its keeper kill'd,
In me its breaker is fulfill'ds;
Yea, magnify'd and honour'd more
Than fin defac'd it e'er before t.

1

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ.

q Zech xii. 7. See letter g. Rom. ix. 5. Christ is over all, God blessed for ever. Phil. iii. 6, 7, 8. Christ Jesus being in the form of God, thought it no robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men : and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

r Ibid. Gal. iv. 4, s. But when the fulness of the time was come, God fent forth his Son made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of fons.

SI Pet. iii. 18. See letter 1. 2 Cor. v. 2t. See letter m. I John iv. 9. In this was manifested the love of God towards us, because that God fent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

s Rom. viii. 3, 4. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh; God did, sending his own Son, in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for fin condemned fio in the fresh; that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

t Ifa. xlii. 21. The Lord is well pleased for his righteoufness fake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable. Rom v. 18,-21. Therefore as by the offence of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation: even so by the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For, as by one mans disobedience many were made finners: so by the obedience of one shall many be

Hence though the law condemn at large,
It can lay nothing to my charge u;
Nor find fuch ground to challenge me,
As Heav'n hath found to justify v.

But though he freely me remit,
I never can myself acquit w.
My Judge condemns me not, I grant;
Yet justify myself I can't x.
From him I have a pardon got,

But yet myself I pardon not y.

made righteous. Moreover, the law entered, that the offence might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might, grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life, by Jefus Chrift cur Lord.

u Rom. viii. 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. v. 3, 4. See letter s. v. 32. 34. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect! It is God that justifieth: who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

v Job xxxiii. 24. Then he is gracious unto him, and faith, Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ran fom. Rom. iii. 25, 26. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to declare his righte ousness for the remission of fins that are past, through the for bearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteoufness; that he might be just and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

w 2 Sam. xii. 13. And David said unto Nathan, I have finned against the Lord. And Nathan faid unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy fin, thou shalt not die. Pfalm li. 2, 3. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my fin. For I acknowledge my tranfgreffions, and my fin is ever before me.

* Rom. viii. 1, 33. See letter u. Job ix. 20. If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me; if I fay I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

y 2 Cor. vii. 11. For behold, this self-fame thing that ye

His rich forgiveness still I have,
Yet never can myself forgive z.

The more he's toward me appeas'd,
The more I'm with myself displeas'd a.
The more I am abfolv'd by him,
The more I do myself condemn b.

When he in heav'n dooms me to dwell,
Then I adjudge myself to hell c;

forrowed after a godly fort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement defire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge?

z lsa. xxxviii. 15. What shall I say? he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done it: I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my foul.

a Ezek. xvi. 63. That thou mayest remember and be con. founded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee, for all that thou haft done, faith the Lord God.

b Luke xviii. 13, 14. And the publican standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes, unto heaven, but fmote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a fianer. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other for every one that exalteth himself, shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted. Ezek. xxxvi. 31, 32. Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall loath yourselves in your own light, for your iniquities, and for your abominations. Not for your sakes do 1 this, faith the Lord God, be it known unto you; be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Ifrael. Jer. xxxi. 19. Surely after that I _ was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I fmote upon my thigh: 1 was ashamed, yea, even contounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.

c Matth. xxv. 34-39. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty,

Yet still I to his judgment 'gree,
And clear him for abfolving me d.

Thus he clears me, and I him clear,

I justify my Justifier e.

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. Then shall the righte. ous answer him, saying, Lord, when faw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When faw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when faw we thee sick, or in prison, and we came unto thee: 1 Cor xi. 31. If we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. Luke xv. 20, 21. And he [the prodigal son] arose and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father faw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have finned against heaven, and in thy fight, and amr no more worthy to be called thy son. Gen. xxxii. 9, 10. And Jacob faid, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Ifaac, the Lord which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee : I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan, and now I am become two bands.

d Pfalm li 4. Against thee, thee only have I finned, and done this evil in thy fight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgelt. And xi 7. The righteous Lord loveth righteousness, his countenance doth behold the upright. And cxlv. 16, 17. Thou openest thine hand, and fatisfiest the defire of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. Rev. xv. 3. And they sing the fong of Mofes the fervant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty, just and true are thy ways, thou King of faints.

e Rom. iii 26. To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness that he might be just and the justifier of him which believeth in Jefus. Ifa xiv 21. There is no God elfe befide me, a just God and Saviour. v. 24. Surely shall one say, In the Lord have I righteousness and strength. Chap Ixiii. 1. Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments

Let him condemn or justify,
From all injuftice I him free f.

SECT. VIII.

The mystery of sanctification imperfect in this life; or the believer doing all, and doing nothing.... INE arms embrace my God a, yet I Had never arms to reach fo high b

M

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from Bozrah? This that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Zech ix. 9. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerufalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee; he is just, and having falvation, &c.

f Job xxv 4, 5, 6. How then can man be justified with God? or, how can he be clean that is born of a woman? Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his fight. How much less man that is a worm: and the fon of man which is a worm? Pfal. Ixxxix. 14. Juftice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face. And xcvii. 2. Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne. Rom. iii. 19, 20. Now we know that what things soever the law faith, it faith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore, by the deeds of the law, there shall no flesh be justified in his sight : for by the law is the knowledge of fin. v. 23, 24, 25. For all have finned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jefus Chrift: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remifston of fins that are past, through the forbearance of God: Pfal. xxii. 2, 3. O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night-season, and am not fi lent. But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praides of Ifrael.

a Song iii. 4. It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my foul loveth; I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother's

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