(4.) The less of comfort we receive in the exercise of faith, the more there should be of duty. Christians look too much on sensible con- solation; but when b}' faith they can't sensibly apply the comfort of the gospel, they should be more exercised in the duties of it. Two things are always necessary in faith, and are undoubted evidences of your gracious estate : an esteem of Christ and diligence in duty.
(Is^.) An esteem of Christ. When you cannot have sensible conso- lation, keep up your esteem. Though they cannot say Christ is theirs, yet they can say Christ is precious to them : 1 Peter ii. 7, ' To them that believe he is precious.' Therefore the apostle saith, Heb. iii. 6, ' Whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence, and the rejoicing of the hope firm, unto the end.' In the original it is Kav^7]\ia rrj<i eXTTi'So?, if we can glory in the hopes of Christianity whatsoever they cost us. The apostle means, when men can make an open profession that they have a good bargain in Christ, and can glory in their hope, whatever it cost them in the world. Esteem is far more than sensible comfort, and a better evidence.
i^dly) Diligence in the use of means. It is said, Prov. viii. 34, ' Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, wait- ing at the posts of my doors.' Though you are not able to apply Christ with comfort, yet you will watch at his gates for your dole of comfort. So, Isa. xxvi. 8, the church professeth this, 'In the way of thy judg- ments we have waited for thee ; the desire of our soul is to thee, and to the remembrance of thy name.' There is more of resolution, though less of consolation. When there is nothing but angry frowns from God, no sensible tokens of his love, yet an obstinate faith will not be discouraged.
Use. If all the righteousness which saints expect reside in Christ,
VeE. 4.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. 487
and we only receive it by faith, then it serves to press us to look after this righteousness. Take these arguments to quicken you —
1. What will yon do without it ? All our graces are imperfect and mixed with sin : your natures are full of sin, and your services are full of weakness. God can endure no imperfection, because of the holiness of his nature ; and God will not release his law, because of the severity of his justice : Ps. cxliii. 2, 'Enter not into judgment with thy servant.' He doth not say. Lord, enter not into judgment with unbelievers, but with thy servants, — those that study to approve their hearts to him. There is no obtaining of the blessing, but in the garments of our elder brother. The creature's fig-leaves will never cover a naked soul from the sight of God. We can scarce keep up a fair show before a discern- ing man, and what shall we do before the pure eyes of God's glory ?
2. Consider, there is a full righteousness in Christ — ' We are com- plete in him,' Col. ii. 10. Whatever there is in sin, there is more in Christ ; for the sin of our nature there is the absolute intregrity of the human nature of Christ; and for the sin of our lives there is Christ's perfect obedience, who did what was required, and suffered what was deserved. Justice can make no further demands. The law is fulfilled both in the commination and precept ; all is done in our surety. Here is an infinite treasure that will serve you all : 1 John ii. 28, ' And now, little children, abide in him, that when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.' When Jesus Christ shall come in majesty and glory, if we have Christ's righteousness, we may endure Christ's judgment.
3. Consider the readiness of God to give you this righteousness. This was the very purpose and design of God the Father : Rom. iii. 25, ' Him hath God set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood ; ' John vi. 27, ' Him hath God the Father sealed.' He hath appointed Christ for this very end. It is not a thing of our devising, but of God's appointment. We read of an emperor that had a great emerald made in the manner of a looking-glass, in which he was wont to look upon horrid aspects that by reflection upon the glass might be pleasing to him, that there he might see the bloody contest with delight. This God the Father hath done ; he hath set forth Jesus Christ, that so in him we might be acceptable and pleasing in his sight.
4. It is as really ours when it is given as if we had merited in our own persons. God's judicial acts are not grounded upon a fiction, but upon a truth. Look upon the relation as you are espoused and betrothed to him. Uxor fulget radiis mariti — a wife shares in all the honours of her husband ; so we are possessed of what is in Christ. The debtor is acquitted by the payment of the surety. The members share in the honour of the head. Look, as Christ satisfied for your sins as if he had committed them, so thou art accepted for his righteousness as if thou hadst satisfied : 2 Cor. v. 21, ' He was made sin for us that knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.' It is good to consider how really Christ was handled ; so real will our acceptance be with God. Christ lay under the wrath of the Father ; his sufferings were not a fiction, no more are thy privileges.