[2.] That if all former debts should be blotted out, yet they are no way able for the future to fulfil the law ; they can as well move the eailh with a finger, as answer the perfection thereof: and there- fore, as I said, on this twofold account, they conclude that this labour is lost. ■* " By the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."
(2.) Wherefore, secondly. Being thus disappointed, by the severity and inexorahleness of the law, men generally betake themselves to some other way, that may satisfy them as to those considerations which took them oft" from their former hopes ; and this, for the most part, is by fixing themselves upon some ways of atonement to satisfy God, and helping out the rest with hopes of mercy. Not to insist on the ways of atonement and expiation which the Gentiles had pitched on ; nor on the many ways and inventions — by works satisfactory of their own, supererogations of others, indulgences, and purgatory in the close — that the Papists have found out for this end and purpose ; it is, I say, proper to all convinced persons, as above, to seek for a righteousness, partly by an endeavour to satisfy for what is past, and partly by hoping after general mercy. This the apostle calls a seeking for it " as it were by the works of the law," Rom. ix. 32 ; 'not directl}^, " but as it were" by the works of the law, making up one thing with another. And he tells us what issue they have in this business, chap. X. 3, " Being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to estab- lish their own righteousness, they have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God." They were by it enemies to the right- eousness of God. The gi-ound of this going about to establish their own righteousness was, that they were ignorant of the righteousness
' Mi/iifo/icivoi. - Udvri; r./^aoTov, Rom. iii. 23, V. 12.
2 Deut. xxvii. 26; Giil. iii. 10. * Gal. iii. 11, 12. * 'iU $1 e^yu) vofiot,.
1C4 OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CHRLST.
of God. Had they kno^vll the righteousness of God, and what exact conformity to his will he requireth, they had never undertaken such a fruitless business as to have compassed it " as it were by the Avorks of the law." Yet this many will stick on a long time. Something they do, something they hope for; some old faults they will buy off with new obedience. And this pacifies their consciences for a season ; but when the Spirit comes to convince them of righteousness, neither will this hold. Wherefore, —
(3.) The matter comes at length to this is:;ue, — they look upon them- selves-under this twofold qualification; as, —
[1.] Sinners, obnoxious to the law of God and the curse there- of; so that unless that be satisfied, that nothing from thence shall ever be laid to their charge, it is altogether in vain once to seek after an appearance in the presence of God.
[2.] As creatures made to a supernatural and eternal end ; and therefore bound to answer the whole mind and will of God in the obedience required at their hands. Now, it being before discovered to them that both these are beyond the compass of their own endea- vours, and the assistance which they have formerly rested on, if their eternal condition be of any concernment to them, then' wisdom is, to find out a righteousness that may answer both these to the utmost.
Now, both these are to be had only in the Lord Chiist, who is our righteousness. This wisdom, and all the treasures of it, are hid in him.
\st. He eorpiates former iniquities, he satisfies for sin, and procures remission of it. Rom. iii. 24, 25, " Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus : whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declai'e his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the for- bearance of God." " All we like sheep," etc., Isa. liii. 6. "Through his blood we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins," Eph. i. 7. " God spared not his own Son, but delivered," etc., Rom. viii. 32. This, even this alone, is our righteousness ; as to that first part of it which consists in the removal of the whole guilt of sin, whereby we are come short of the glory of God. On this account it is that we are assured that none shall ever lay any thing to our charge, or condemn us, Rom. viii. 33, 34, — there being "no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus," verse 1. We are purged by the sacrifice of Christ, so as to have " no more conscience of sin," Heb. x. 2 ; that is, troubles in conscience about it. This wisdom is hid only in the Lord Jesus ; in him alone is there an atonement discovered: and give me the wisdom which shall cut all scores concerning sin, and let the world take what re- mains. But, —
'2cUj/. There is yet something more required; it is not enough that
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