I have done with the conviction of sin. Let us now come to speak of the conviction of righteousness.
* Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and you shall see me no more.' It is a lit time for the Holy Ghost to convince God's people of righteous- ness when they are convinced of sin before. Then they can relish Christ. Balm is balm indeed when the wound is discovered and felt. Oh then a pardon is welcome when the party is condemned. The reason of this con- viction of righteousness is, ' because I go to my Father, and you shall see me no more.' The Holy Ghost, as he sets on sin upon the conscience, so he takes off sin by applying to the conscience the righteousness of Cbrist. This is his office, first, to convince the world of sin, and then to convince of righteousness, whereby we stand righteous before God.
And this righteousness here, is not our own inherent, but the righteous- ness of Christ a Mediator, God and man.
The Holy Ghost convinces of righteousness in this order of a fourfold gradation.
First, That there must be a righteousness, and a full righteousness.
The second is this, that there is no such righteousness in the creature.
Thirdly, That this is to be had in Christ the Mediator.
Fourthly, That this righteousness is our righteousness.
1. First, There must be a rujhteousness ; for we have to deal with a God who is righteousness itself; and no unclean thing shall come into heaven, Rev. xxi. 7. Unless we have a righteousness, how shall we look God in the face, or how can we escape hell ?
2. Now for the second, that it is not in any creature, men or anr/els. We have not a righteousness of our own ; for there are divers things to be satisfied, God himself, and the law, and our own consciences, and the world. Perhaps we may have a righteousness to satisfy the world, because we live civilly. t Oh but that will not satisfy conscience. And then there must be a satisfaction to the law, which is a large thing that condemns our thoughts, desires, but God is the most perfect of all. Put case we have a righteousness of a good carriage among men ; this will not satisfy God and the law; it will not satisfy conscience. Men they are our fellow-prisoners. Conscience will not be contented hut with that which will content God, when conscience sees there is such a righteousness found out by the wisdom of God, that contents him, else conscience will be always in doubts and fears.
3. Thirdly, 2'his rifj/iteousuess is to be had in Christ. What is the right-
* Tlie reference is to ' Benefit of Clergy.' Cf. note, Vol. V. page 408.— G. t TluU is, ' morally.' — G.
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eousness of Christ ? The righteousness of Christ is that righteousness that is founded upon his obedience : active, fulliliing the hxw ; and passive, discharging all our debts, satisfying God's justice. The meritoriousness of both of them is founded upon the purity of his nature. All his suffer- ings and doings had their excellency from the personal union of God and man; in reference to which union we may without blasphemy aver that God performed the law, God died for us.
4. Fourthly and lastly. This ri//hteousncss is our righteousness. The Spirit convinces that this belongs to all believers, for* it is better than Adam had. His righteousness was the righteousness of a man, this righteousness is the righteousness of a mediator ; and it is such a righteousness, that when we are clothed with it, we may go through the justice of God. We may have access with boldness to the throne of grace, and say, ' Lord, I come in the righteousness of Christ, that hath appeased thy wrath and satisfied thy justice. This the Holy Ghost convinces of.
Quest. But you will ask me. How doth the Holy Ghost * convince' me of the righteousness of Christ ?
Alts. I answer, first, the Holy Ghost jiresents to the soul the knowledge of this excellent righteousness, and then creates a hand of faith to embrace it, being proposed. You that are humble and broken-hearted sinners, here is Christ for you. The Spirit of God doth not only reveal the excellency of Christ, but that this belongs to me, that Christ is given for me, and that 'revelation of the Spirit' doth sway the soul; when the Spirit doth not tell in general only that Christ is an excellent Saviour, but shall relate to a Christian soul, God gave Christ for thee. This sways the heart to rest upon Christ, whereupon the marriage is made up between the soul and Christ. The soul says, ' I am Christ's, and I give myself to Christ,' and to whatsoever accompanies Christ. And then as it is in marriage, the persons, by virtue of that relation, have interest into each other's sub- stance and estate; so when this mystical marriage is made up between Christ and us, we have a right unto Christ by all rights, by titles of purchase and redemption. He hath purchased heaven for us, and us for heaven. All that Christ hath is ours; all his good is ours; our sins his, and his righteousness ours. So when the Holy Ghost convinces me of Christ's righteousness, and gives me faith to embrace it, then Christ is mine with all he hath. By this I have spoken, you may see how the Spirit convinces. Do but imagine what a blessed condition the soul is in when this match is made !