5. Consider the excellency of this righteousness in two respects.
488 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SeR, XVII.
(1.) It is better than that we had in Adam in innocency ; that would have been but the righteousness of man, but this is the righteousness of God ; as Rom. iii. 22, it is called ' the righteousness of God which is by faith.' We are now in a nearer relation to the Lord than in Adam, being united to God by Christ. Adam was but God's servant, but we are made his sons and children ; the union and relation is nearer. The prodigal after his return Imth the best robes, Luke xv. 22. Nay, in some sense our case is better than that of angels : angels are confirmed by Christ, but it is in their own righteousness ; but the righteousness of Christ is ours. (2.) You are as righteous as the most righteous saints are ; as David that was a man after God's own heart, Abraham that was the friend of God, men that had such access and familiarity with God : Eom. iii. 23, ' The righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe ; for there is no difference.' None of the saints have cleaner linen, nor are decked with a better vesture. In sanctification there are degrees, and a great deal of difference ; but not in justification. As in the manna none had over, none under, all alike proportion and measure ; so in the righteousness of Christ all have a like measure : 2 Peter i. 1, ' To them that have obtained like precious faith with us, through the righteousness of Christ.' It is a righteousness of the same nature and property ; the foundation of it being in Christ, it is all one. It is said, Acts xi. 17, the gentiles had obtained ' a like gift with us ; ' that is, the same gift that the apostles had. Luther had an apt comparison to set out this : a giant holds a jewel in his hand, and a child may hold the same jewel; but the giant holds it with a stronger hand; so, though there be different degrees of faith, yet herein it is all alike precious ; it is the same righteousness of Christ.
6. Consider the fruits and benefits of this righteousness.
[1.] Access to God. We may minister before the Lord in our priestly garments, we may worship in the holy place when Christ hath put his robes upon us. When Joshua the high priest was before the Lord, he was there in his filthy garments, Zech. iii. 5 ; but he was clothed with ohange of raiment to minister before the Lord. So we had filthy gar- ments ; therefore the Lord comes and takes them away, and clothes us with clean garments : Eph. iii. 2, ' In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.' Our imperfections need not encourage us ; Christ's righteousness is not a covering that is too short. It is said, Rev, i. 13, Christ was clothed 'with a garment down to his feet.' Christ's righteousness is a long garment ; all our defects are removed out of the light of God's countenance. When Joseph was brought out of prison before Pharaoh, his raiment was changed ; so when we are to appear before God, the king of kings, certainly our raiment must be changed : Isa. Ixiv. 6, ' Our righteousness is as filthy rags,' saith the church.' Now, that we might not appear before the great king with a bundle of rags, Christ hath dyed us a purple robe in his own blood, that our garments may be changed, and we may come with boldness.
[2.] We are freed from the guilt and punishment of sin, so that all afflictions have lost their curse and sting, and are become medicinal. We may have bitter dispensations many times, but they are not salted
VeR. 4.] 8EBM0NS UPON HEBREWS XI. 489
with a curse. We may cry with Luther, Strike, Lord ! strike! my sins are pardoned. When God hath laid up comfort in the heai-t before- hand, all our corrections lose their property, and they are federal dispensa- tions ; as David : Ps. cxix, 75, ' I know, 0 Lord, that thy judo^ments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.' When God thresheth us, it is but that our husk may come off. They are not acts of revenge to satisfy justice, but only to free us of a mischievous disease ; and death is a friend, it is a remedy whereby we may be delivered into glory : 1 Cor. xv. 55, ' 0 death, where is thy sting? 0 grave, where is thy victory ? '
[3.] This will give us comfort in the hour of death. When the soul, smitten with the sense of sin, is drawn to the tribunal of God, oh then, the righteousness of Christ is a comfort. Chemnitius observeth, Aliter de jastificatione sentire homines, quando in dispuiationibus cum hominibus sui simillimis rixantur ; aliter in meditationibus, qiiando coruiii Deo sistunt conscientiam. Men dealing with men like them- selves may cry up works ; but when they plead their cause before God, then who can speak of his own rigliteousness ? Then they tremblingly fly to the horns of the altar and to mercy. There is no screen to draw between us and wrath but Christ, no way to answer justice but in the satisfaction of Christ, no way to appear before holi- ness but by the obedience of Christ. Let one of those audacious volume writers come and say, Lord, cast them out of heaven that can- not approve themselves to thee by their own graces.