The righteous law affoileth none
Of Adam's guilty race, fave one;
Who being guilty, for this caufe
By God's juft law condemned was w.
Yet free of guilt it did him fee:
Hence fully clear'd, and fet him free x.
Yet, had not guilt his foul involv'd,
By law he could not been abfolv'd y.

v Rom. v. 19. For as by one man's difobedience many were made finners: fo by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. John xvii. 4. I have glorified thee on earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

Aw Ifa. liii. 6.-The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Gal. iii. 13. Chrift hath redeemed us from the curfe of the law, being made a turfe for us for it is written, Curfed is every one that hangeth on a tree.

Heb. vii. 26. For fuch an high prieft became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, feparate from finners, and made higher than the heavens. Dan. ix. 24. Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people, and upon thy holy city, to finish the tranfgreffion, and to make an end of fin, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteoufnefs, and to feal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy. Tim. iii. 16. And without controverfy, great is the mystery of godlinefs: God was manifeft in the flesh, juftified in the Spirit, feen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. Rom. ii. 13. For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law fhall be justified. Ifa. 1. 8. He is near that juftifieth me, who will contend with me? let us fland together: who is mine adversary? let him come

near to me.

y 2 Cor. v. 21. God hath made Chrift to be fin for us, who knew no fin; that we might be made the righteoufnefs of God in him. Pet. iii. 18. Chrift hath once fuffered for fins, the just for the unjust, (that he might bring as to God) being put to death in the fiefh, but quickened by the Spirit.

But he withal condemn'd and spoil'd
The law of works, which him affoil'dz:
And now the law is (in thefe views)
The marrow of the gofpel news a.
The law can justify no man
That is a finner b, yet it can'
Thus favour finful men, and free
The chief of finners, guilty me c.

:

z Col. ii. 14, 15. Blotting out the hand-writing of ordinances that was against us. which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his crofs and having Spoiled principalities and powers, he made a fhew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Rom. viii. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, fending his own Son in the likeness of finful flesh, and for fin condemned fin in the flesh,

a Rom. x. 4. For Chrift is the end of the law for righte oufnefs, to every one that believeth. Ifa. xlv. 24. Surely, fhall one fay, In the Lord have I righteousness and strength. Jer. xxiii. 6. In his days Judah fhall be faved, and Ifrael shall dwc!l fafely; and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

6. Rom. iii. 19, 20. Now we know that what things foever the law faith, it faith to them who are under the law ; that every month may be ftopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there fhall no flesh be juftified in his fight; for by the law is the knowledge of fin.

e The law of works as fulfilled by Christ, can and does fo, Rom. viii. 3. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God fending his own Son, in the likeness of finful flesh. and for fin condemned fin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the Aefh, but after the Spirit. v. 33, 34. Who fhall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? it is God that justifieth; who is he that condemneth? It is Chrift that died; yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh interceflion for us.

The gospel too acquiteth none
That have not put perfection on d.
'And yet it cleareth none (I grant)
But those who all perfection want e.
Thofe that with gofpel-clearance meet,
Muft by the law be found completeƒ;
Yet never could (again I grant)
The gofpel juftify a faint g.
All perfect perfons it controls b,
And juftifies ungodly fouls i;

d Rom. iii. 21, 22. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witneffed by the law and the prophets; even the righteoufnefs of God which is by faith of Jefus Chrift unto all, and upon all them that believe, for there is no difference.

e Rom iv. 5. To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that juftifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteoufnefs.

f Cor. i. 30. But of him are ye in Christ Jefus, who of God is made unto us wifdom, and righteousness, and fanctification, and redemption. Col. ii. 10. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.

g Matth. ix. 13.-I am not come to call the righteous, but finners to repentance. Rom. iii. 1o. There is none righteous, no not one. Chap. ix. 30, 31, 32. What shall we fay then? That the Gentiles which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteoufnefs, even the righteousness which is of faith but Ifrael, which followed after the law of righte ousness, hath not attained to the law of righteoufnefs. Where fore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. Chap. x. 3. Ifrael being ignorant of God's righteoufness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not fubmitted themselves unto the righte oufnefs of God. 1 Tim. i. 15. This is a faithful faying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Chrift Jefus came into the world to fave finners; of whom I am chief.

1

b Matth. xxi. 31. Jefus faith unto them [the Pharifees], Verily I fay unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. Luke xviii. 9,-14

Yet ftill no man its grace partakes,
But whom it truly godly makes k.

And Jefus fpake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Phari fee, and the other a Publican. The Pharifee food and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as o. ther men are, extortioners, unjuft, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I poffefs. And the Publican standing afar off, would not lift up fo much as his eyes unto heaven, but fmote upon his breast, faying, God be merciful to me a finner I tell you this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every one that exalteth himself, fhall be abafed: and he that humbleth himself, fhall be exalted. v. 21, 22. And he [the ruler] faid, All thefe have I kept from my youth up Now when Jefus heard these things, he laid unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: fell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come, follow me.

i Rom. iv. 5, 6. To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteoufnefs. Even as David alfo defcribeth the bleffednefs of the man unto whom God imputeth righteoufnefs without works.

k Titus ii. 11,—14. The grace of God that bringeth falvation, hath appeared to all men; teaching us, that denying ungodliness, and worldly lufts, we fhould live foberly, righte ously, and godly in this prefent world looking for that bleffed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jefus Chrift: who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself ä peculiar people, zealous of good works. Chap. iii. 4, 5. Af. ter that the kindnefs and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteoufnefs, which we have done, but according to his mercy he faved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghoft. v. 8. This is a faithful faying, and thefe things I will that thou affirm conftantly, that they which have believed in God, might be careful to maintain good works: thefe things are good and profitable unto men.

The law withstands the gospel path 1,
Which yet its approbation hath m;
The gospel thwarts the legal way n,
Yet will approve the law for ay o.
Hence though the gospel's comely frame
Doth openly the law condemn p:.

Rom.

I Cor. xv. 56-The strength of fin is the law. vi. 14. Sin fhall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Chap. x. 3. Ifrael being ig norant of God's righteoufnefs, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not fubmitted themselves unto the righteoufnefs of God.

m Ifa. xlii. 21. The Lord is well pleafed for his righte onfness fake, he will magnify the law and make it honourable. Matth. iii, 17. And lo, a voice from heaven, faying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

"Rom. ix. 31, 32, 33. But Ifrael, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they fought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law: for they ftumbled at that ftumbling ftone; as it is written, Behold 1 lay in Zion a Atumbling ftone, and rock of offence; and whofoever believeth. on him fhall not be afhamed.

• Rom vii. 7. What shall we fay then? Is the law fin ? God forbid. Nay, I had not known fin but by the law: for I had not known luft, except the law had faid, Thou shalt not covet. V. 10. And the commandment which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. v. 12. Wherefore the law is holy; and the commandment holy, and juft, and good.

Rom. v. 5-9. For Mofes defcribeth the righteoufness which is of the law, That the man which doth thofe things, fhall live by them. But the righteoufnefs which is of faith, fpeaketh on this wife, Say not in thine heart, Who fhall a fcend into heaven? (that is, to bring Chrift down from above): or, Who fhall defcend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead). But what faith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart; that is the ward of faith which we preach, That if thou fhalt confefs with thy hmouth the Lord Jefus,, and halt believe in thine heart, that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be faved.