(2.) They weigh their own righteousness in the balance, and find it wanting; and this two ways: —
[1.] In general, and upon the whole of the matter, at their first setting themselves before God. When men are convinced of the necessity of a righteousness, they catch at every thing that presents
1 88 OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CHRIST.
itself to them for relief Like men ready to sink in deep waters, [they] catch at that which is next, to save them from drowning; which sometimes proves a rotten stick, that sinks with them. So did the Jews, Rom. ix. 31, 32 ; they caught hold of the law, and it would not relieve them; and how they pei'ished with it the apostle declares, chap. X. 1-4. The law put them upon setting up a righteousness of their own. This kept them doing, and in hope; but kept them from submitting to the righteousness of God. Here many perish, and never get one step nearer God all their days. This the saints re- nounce ; they have no confidence in the flesh : they know that all they can do, all that the laAV can do, which is weak through the flesh, will not avail them. See what judgment Paul makes of all a man's own ■righteousness, Phil. iii. 8-10. This they bear iu their minds daily, this they fill their thoughts withal, that upon the account of what they have done, can do, ever shall do, they cannot be accepted with God, or justified thereby. This keeps their souls humble, full of a sense of their own vileness, all their days.
[2.] In 'particular. They daily weigh all their particular actions in the balance, and find them wanting, as to any such completeness as, upon tlieir own account, to be accepted with God. " Oh ! " says a saint, " if I had nothing to commend me unto God but this prayer, this duty, this conquest of a temptation, Avherein I myself see so many failings, so much imperfection, could I ap]:)ear with any boldness before him ? Shall I, then, piece up a garment of righteousness out of my best duties? Ah! it is all as a defiled cloth," Isa. Ixiv. 6. These thoughts accompany them in all their duties, in their best and most choice per- formances:— " Lord, what am I in my best estate? How little suit- ableness unto thy holiness is in my best duties! O spare me, in refer- ence to the best thing that ever I did in my life ! " Neh. xiii. 22. When a man who lives upon convictions hath got some enlargements in duties, some conquest over a sin or temptation, he hugs himself, like Micah when he had got a Levite to be his priest : now surely it shall be well with him, now God will bless him: his heart is now at ease; he hath peace in wliat he hath done. But he who has communion with Christ, when he is highest in duties of sanctification and holi- ness, is clearest in the apjirehension of his otvn unprofitahleness, and rejects every thought that might arise in his heart of setting his peace in them, or upon them. He says to his soul, " Do these things seem something to thee? Alas! thou hast to do with an infinitely righteous God, who looks through and through all that vanity, which thou art but little acquainted withal; and should he deal with thee according to thy best works, thou must perish."
(o.) They approve of, value, and rejoice in, this righteousness, for their acceptation, which the Lord Jesus hath wrought out and pro-
OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CHRIST. 189
vided for them; tliis being discovered to tliem, they approve of it with all theu" hearts, and rest in it. Isa. xlv. 24, " Surely, shall one say, in the Lord have I righteousness and strength." This is their voice and language, when once the righteousness of God in Christ is made known unto them: "Here is righteousness indeed; here have I I'est for my soul. Like the merchantman in the gospel (Matt. xiii. 45, 46) that finds the pearl of price, I had been searching up and down ; I looked this and that way for help, but it was far away ; I spent my strength for that which was not bread: here is that, indeed, which makes me rich for ever!" When first the righteousness of Christ, for acceptation with God, is revealed to a poor labouring soul, that hath sought for rest and hath found none, he is surprised and amazed, and is not able to contain himself: and such a one always in his heart approves this righteousness on a twofold account : —
[L] As full of infinite luisdom. "■ Unto them that believe," saith the apostle, "Christ crucified is 'the wisdom of God,'" 1 Cor. i. 24. They see infinite ^visdom in this way of their acceptation Avith God. " In what darkness," says such a one, " in what straits, in Avhat entan- glements, was my poor soul ! How little able was I to look through the clouds and perplexities wherewith I was encompassed ! I looked inwards, and there was nothing but sin, horror, fear, tremblings; I looked upwards, and saw nothing but wrath, curses, and vengeance. I knew that God was a holy and righteous God, and that no unclean thing could abide before him; I knew that I was a poor, vile, un- clean, and sinful creature; and how to bring these two together in peace, I knew not. But in the righteousness of Christ doth a world of wisdom open itself, dispelling all difficulties and darkness, and manifesting a reconciliation of all this." " 0 the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!" Rom. xi. 33; Col. ii. 8. But of this before.