are discharged by him before God. Christ, in respect of the integrity and purity of his nature, being conceived without sin. Mat. i. 18 ; and in respect of his life and actions, being wholly conformed to the abso- lute righteousness of the law, Luke i. 35 ; and in respect of the pun- ishment which he suffered, to make satisfaction unto God's justice for the breach of the law, 2 Cor. v. 21 ; Col. i. 20, — in these respects Christ is the perfection of the law, and * the end of the law for right- eousness to them that beUeve.' Jacob got the blessing in the garment of his elder brother ; so in the garment of Christ's righteousness, who is our elder brother, we obtain the blessing ; yea, ' all spiritual bless- ings in heavenly places,' Eph. i. 4. We are made ' the righteousness of God in him,' 2 Cor. v. 21. The church, saith Marorate, which puts on Christ, and his righteousness, is more illustrious than the air is by the sun. The infinite wisdom and power of dear Jesus in reconciling the law and the gospel, in this great mystery of justification, is greatly to be magnified. In the blessed Scriptures we find the righteousness of justification to take its various denominations. In respect of the material cause, it is called the righteousness of the law, Kom. v. 17; in respect of the efficient cause, it is called the righteousness of Christ, 1 Cor. i. 30 ; in respect of the formal, it is called the righteousness of God, he imputing of it, Kom. iii. 22 ; in respect of the instrumental cause, it is called the righteousness of faith, Phil. iii. 9 ; and in respect of the moving and final cause, we are said to be justified freely by grace, Rom. iii. 24 ; Titus iii. 7. The law, as it was a covenant of works, required exact and perfect obedience, in men's proper persons ; this was legal justification. But in the new covenant, God is contented 'to accept this righteousness in the hand of a surety, and this is evan- gelical justification. This righteousness presents us in the sight of God as ' all fair,' Cant. iv. 7 ; as ' complete,' Col. ii. 10 ; as ' without spot or wrinkle,' Eph. v. 27 ; as ' without fault before the throne of God,' Rev. xiv. 5 ; as ' holy, and unblamable, and unreprovable in his sight,' Col. i. 22. Oh, the happiness and blessedness, the safety and glory, of those precious souls, who, in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, stand perfectly righteous in the sight of God ! But,
4. Fourthly, Know for your comfort, that this imputed righteous- ness of Christ ivill ansioer to all the fears, doubts, and objections of your souls. How shall I look up to God ? The answer is, in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. How shall I have any communion with a holy God in this world ? The answer is, in the righteousness of Christ. How shall I find acceptance with God ? The answer is, in the righteousness of Clirist. How shall I die ? The answer is, in the righteousness of Christ. How shall I stand before the judgment-seat ? The answer is, in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Your sure and only way, under all temptations, fears, conflicts, doubts, and disputes, is, by faith, to remember Christ, and the sufferings of Christ, as your mediator and surety ; and say, 0 Christ, thou art my sin, in being made sin for me, 2 Cor. v. 21 ; and thou art my curse, being made a curse for me. Gal. iii. 13 ; or rather, I am thy sin, and thou art my righteousness ; I am thy curse, and thou art my blessing ; I am thy death, and thou art my life ; I am the wrath of God to thee, and thou art the love of God to me ; I am thy hell, and thou art my heaven.
THE IMPUTATION OF CHRIST's RIGHTEOUSNESS. 239