Now, this being done, in the latter end of the third chapter he goes on and proceeds to that second work of the Comforter, to convince the world of righteousness. But upon what ground ? ' Because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more ;' that is, he shall assure the conscience that there is now a righteousness of better things purchased for us ; that Christ is wounded, condemned, and arraigned for us ; that he was imprisoned, but now he is free, who was our surety; yea, and that he is not freed as one escaped, who hath broken prison and run away, for then he could not have stayed in heaven, no more than Adam in paradise after his fall : but now that Christ remains in heaven perfectly and for ever co-enthronized with his Father, this is a sure ground to us that the debt is paid, and everlasting peace and righteousness is brought in for our salvation.
This the apostle enlargeth, and shews this to be that righteousness only which Adam had, and which all we must trust unto, unto the sixth chapter. Then the apostle goes on unto the third point, and comes unto the con- vincing the world of judgment and righteousness, in the eighth chapter, which are two words signifying one thing ; but because he had named righteousness before, which .was that righteousness without a man, in Christ Jesus, in justification, he calls the third judgment, which is that integrity inherent, bred, and created in us, as we may see in that place of Isaiah xlii. 3. It is said of Christ, ' A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench, till he bring iovth judgment unto victory.' He shews judgment there to be a beginning of righteousness in saucti- fication, even suchj a one as can never be extinguished. So Job xxvii. 2, the word is taken, where he expostulates the matter : ' As the Lord liveth, who hath taken away my judgment from me, all the while my breath is in me, and the Spirit of God in my nostrils, my lips shall not speak wicked- ness, nor my tongue deceit. God forbid that I should justify you : till I die I will not remove my integrity from me. My righteousness I hold fast, I will not let it go.' Here you see by judgment is meant integrity and that righteousness which is created and inherent in us, so that the ground of that place of Isaiah is, that God will never give over to advance and make eS"ectual that weak righteousness and santification begun in us, until it shall prevail against and master all our sins and corruptions, making it in some a victorious sanctification. And the ground thereof is, ' For the prince of this world is judged ;' he is like one manacled, whose strength and power is limited, so that now though he be strong, yet he is cast out by a stronger than he, that he cannot nor shalUever rule, as in times past. This strain of doctrine, the apostle holds in this epistle, shewing that, as that justi-
THE WITNESS OF SALVATION. 3G9
fication of righteousness by the blood of Christ is a thing without us, so sanctification is righteousness inherent and created in us, and is the ground of the witness of our spirit, as we shall hear in its own place. So that the blood of Christ doth two things unto us : 1. It covers our sins in justification ; 2. And then in sanctification it heals our sins and sores ; so that if there be any proud* flesh, it eats it out and then heals the wound. ' Therefore, saith he, not under the law, but under grace.' He that sees the law to be satisfied by another, and all to be under grace, he will not much stand on anything in himself for his justification, but fly unto grace, and be much in thankfulness ; therefore we are commanded that sin have no dominion over us, * for we are not under the law, but under grace.' Then he pro- ceeds unto the particulars, and shews divers things, especially verse 12th of this eighth chapter, he drives unto the point of sanctification ; as though he should say. You are freed from the law, as it is a judge of life and death, but yet the law must be your counsellor. You are debtors of thankfulness, seeing whence you are escaped, that ye may not live after the flesh. And then he proceeds to shew them how they should walk ; that seeing they have received the Spirit, they should walk after the Spirit. Now that they had received that which should subdue and mortify the flesh and the lusts thereof, they should be no more as dead men, but quick and lively in opera- tion, to live after the Spirit ; otherwise they could not be the sons of God. And then he comes unto the words which I have now read, verse 15th, ' For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear ; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.'
' For the Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the sons of God.'