2. Righteousness is a second thing whereof the Spirit of Christ convinces the world, and the main thing that it is our wisdom to be acquainted withal. This all men are persuaded of, that God is a most righteous God; (that is a natural notion of God which Abra- ham insisted on, Gen. xviii. 25, "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?") they "know that this is the judgment of God, that they who commit such things are worthy of death," Rom. i. 32 ; that " it is a righteous thing with him to recompense tribulation unto offenders," 2 Thess. i. 6. He is " a God of purer eyes than to behold evil," Hab. i. 1 3 ; and therefore, " the ungodly cannot stand in judginent," Ps. i. 5. Hence the great inquiry of every one (who lies in any measure under the poAver of it), convinced of immortality and the judgment to come, is concerning the righteousness wherewith to appear in the presence of this righteous God. This more or less they are solicitous about all their days ; and so, as the apostle speaks, Heb. ' Piov. i. 31; Jer. xvii. 10. = 2 Tlie&s. i. 6. ' Eph. i. 6. * lleb. viii. 6-13.
102 OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CHRIST.
ii. 15, " through the fear of death they are all their lifetime subject to bondage," — they are perplexed with fears about the issue of their righteousness, lest it should end in death and destruction.
(1.) Unto men set upon this inquiry, that which first and naturally presents itself, for their direction and assistance, assuredly jjromising them a righteousness that will abide the trial of God, provided they will follow its direction, is the law. The law hath many fair pleas to prevail with a soul to close with it for a righteousness before God- It was given out from God himself for that end and purpose; it con- tains the whole obedience that God requireth of any of the sons of men; it hath the promise of life annexed to it: " Do this, and live;" "The doers of the law are justified;" and, "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments;" — yea, it is most certain that it must be wholly fulfilled, if we ever think to stand with boldness before God. This being some part of the plea of the law, there is no man that seeks after righteousness but doth, one time or another, attend to it, and attempt its direction. Many do it every day, who yet will not own that so they do. This, then, they set themselves about, — labouring to correct their lives, amend their ways, perform the duties required, and so follow after a righteousness according to the pre- script of the laAV. And in this course do many men continue long with much peiplexity; — sometimes hoping, ofteuer fearing ; sometimes ready to give quite over; sometimes votving to continue (their con- sciences being no way satisfied, nor righteousness in any measure attained) all their days. After they have weaned themselves per- haps for a long season, in the largeness of then- ways, they come at length, with fear, trembling, and disajjpointment, to that conclusion of the apostle, "By the works of the law no flesh is justified;" and with dread cry that if God mark what is done amiss, there is no standing before him. That they have this issue, the apostle wit- uesseth, ^liom. ix. 31, 32, " Israel, who followed after the law of righte- ousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law." It was not solely for want of endeavour in tliemsebes that tliey were disappointed, for they earnestly followed after the law of righteousness ; but from the nature of the thing itself, — it Avould not bear it. Righteousness was not to be obtained that way; " For," saith the apostle, " if they which are of the law be heks, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect; because the law worketh wrath," Rom. iv. 14, 15. The law itself is now such as that it cannot give life. Gal. iiL 21, " If there had been a law given which would have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law." And he gives the reason in the next verse why it could not give life; be-
OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CflPJST. 103
cause " the Scripture concludes all under sin ;" — that is, it is very true, and the Scripture affirms it, that all men are sinners, and the law speaks not one word to sinners but death and destruction : therefore the apostle tells us plainly, that God himself found fault with this way of attaining righteousness, Heb. viii. 7, 8. ■'He complains of it; that is, he declares it insufficient for that end and pur}50se.
Now, there are two considerations that discover unto men the vanity and hopelessness of seeking righteousness in this path ; —
[1.] That they have already sinned:^ "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God," Rom. iii. 23. This they are suffi- ciently sensible of, that although they could for the time to come fulfil the whole law, yet there is a score, a reckoning, upon them al- ready, that they know not how to answer for. Do they consult their guide, the ^law itself, how they may be eased of the account that is past? it hath not one word of dkection or consolation; but bids them prepare to die. The sentence is gone forth, and there is no escaping.