magnified the law, and made it honourable; and this his goodness, or righteousness, extendeth not unto God, "but unto the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all his delight."* This garment of salvation is their everlasting purity; and it is imputed unto sinners, who are here called saints, or such as are set apart as vessels made to honour, as the word signifies. This righteousness is imputed to the sinner by rich, free, and sovereign grace, and accounted his own as much as if he had actually fulfilled the whole law: in it he outshines all created righteousness, even that of elect angels; and it is chartered sure by the unimpeachable oath of God. This is received by faith, even the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ; and it is unto all, and upon all, them that believe: for there is no difference.

This is the righteousness which is without

Psalm 16.

the law; for the law maketh nothing per

fect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God."* David describeth the blessedness of the man to whom God imputeth righteousness without works; and Paul saith-"I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." It is witnessed by the law, and by prophets. The ceremonial law so clearly pointed to Christ, that it has been called, with great propriety, the gospel of Moses. The prophets spake of him, and sung of his righteousness; with one accord, from Isaiah to Malachi, they exulted in this

* Heb. 7.

In this sense, the ceremonial law is said to be a schoolmaster. It was the means by which the believing Israelites were taught to look to Christ, and to believe on him, through the shadows of the legal dispensation. "Wherefore," says the apostle to the churches of Galatia, "the law was our schoolmaster to Christ," or pointed to Christ. It is remarkable that the words "to bring us," on which there has been much dispute, are not in the original; and our translators, with their usual faithfulness, have written them in italic characters, to signify so much.

Sun of everlasting righteousness; and, as if it were their whole concern, one informs us that "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.'

The Lord Jesus Christ, the second Adam, was content to be thrown into the great wine-press of God's wrath, in order that his people might be without fault before the throne, clothed in his obedience, that white and fine linen which is the righteousness of the saints. All blessings flow down to the believer the blessings of justification, of pardon, of sanctification, of communion with God, as being clothed in this glorious robe. And when the Holy Ghost is graciously pleased to make a revelation of this glorious righteousness; and when the "Interpreter, the One among a thousand, shews unto man HIS uprightness, or HIS righteousness, then God is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the

*Rev. 19.

pit; I have found a ransom, or an atonement." And the man triumphs also, as being exalted in this righteousness, and as having received the atonement.

The substance of the whole is this: The glorious righteousness of the God-man, Christ Jesus, or, in other words, his obedience to the law, his obedience unto death, even the death of the cross, is the sole matter of the sinner's justification before God. In this righteousness, God the Father freely, by his grace, justifies the ungodly. The Holy Chost testifies of this righteousness by the word of revelation, and enables him to receive it by faith, as the hand receives a free favour; and this is all through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. "With

out shedding of blood there is no remission."+ "His soul hath made an offering for sin." The Father hath seen the severe labour or travail of Immanuel's soul, and is

+

satisfied. The sinner is also satisfied, when he is made acquainted with the value of his obedience, and the virtue of his atoning sacrifice; with his triumphant resurrection, and prevalent advocacy; and is enabled to hold the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience: for who shall lay any thing to the charge of those whom God himself accounts righteous? "It is God that justifieth."+ When one of our judges acquits the prisoner at the bar, it is contrary to law for any person afterwards to mention to him the crime of which he was accused. The Judge justified him; and "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."‡

When the believer is brought thus far, he knows what true joy means.

The Lord

Jesus says himself" Let all those that seek