Wherefore, the apostle declares, that all this is done another way ; that the righteousness of the law is fulfilled, and its end, as unto a rigliteousness before God, attained ; and that is in and by Christ. For what the law required, that he accomplished ; which is accounted unto every one that beheves.
Herein the apostle issueth the whole disquisition about a righteous- ness wherewith we may be justified before God, and, in particular, how satisfaction is given unto the demands of the law. That which we could not do, — that which the law could not effect in us, in that it was weak through the flesh, — that which we could not attain by the works and duties of it, — that Clnist hath done for us; and so is " the end of the law for righteousness unto every one that believeth."
The law demand eth a righteousness of us; the accomplishment of this righteousness is' the end which it aims at, and which is necessary unto our justification before God. This is not to be attained by any works of our own, by any righteousness of our own. But the Lord Christ is this for us, and unto us ; which, how he is or can be but by the imputation of his obedience and righteousness in the accomplish- ment of the law, I cannot understand ; I am sure the apostle doth not declare.
The way whereby we attain unto this end of the law, which we cannot do by our utmost endeavours to establish our own righteous- ness, is hy faith alone, for " Christ is the end of the law for righteous- ness unto every one that believeth." To mix any thing with faith herein, as it is repugnant unto the nature of faith and works, with respect unto their aptitude and meetness for the attaining of a righte- ousness, so it is as directly contradictory unto the express design and words of the apostle as any thing that can be invented.
Let men please themselves with their distinctions, which I under- stand not (and yet, perha];)S, should be ashamed to say so, but that I am persuaded they understand them not themselves by whom they are used), or with cavils, objections, feigned consequences, which I value not ; here I shall for ever desire to fix my soul, and herein to acquiesce, — namely, that " Christ is the end of the law for righteous- ness to eveiy one that doth believe." And I do suppose, that all
344 ON JUSTIFICATION.
they who understand aright what it is that the law of God doth re- quire of them, how needful it is that it be complied withal, and that the end of it be accomplished, with the utter insufficiency of their own endeavours unto those ends, will, at least when the time of disputing is over, betake themselves unto the same refuge and rest.
The next place I shall consider in the epistles of this apostle is, — 1 Cor. i. SO. " But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and re- demption."
The design of the apostle in these words is to manifest, that what- ever is wanting unto us on any account that we may please God, live unto him, and come to the enjoyment of him, that we have in and by Jesus Christ; and this on the part of God from mere free and sovereign grace, as verses 26-29 do declare. And we have all these things by virtue of our insition or implantation in him : s^ au-ov, — " from," "of," or " by him." He by his grace is the principal, efficient cause hereof. And the effect is, that we are " in Christ Jesus," — that is, ingrafted in him, or united unto him, as members of his mystical body ; which is the constant sense of that expression in the Scripture. And the benefits which we receive hereby are enumerated in the fol- lowing words. But, first, the way whereby we are made partakers of them, or they are communicated unto us, is declared : " Who of God is made unto us." It is so ordained of God, that he himself shall be made or become all this unto us : "0$ eysr/jdri tj/j^Tv d'Tro ©soD, where aero denotes the efficient cause, as s^ did before. But how is Christ thus made unto us of God, or what act of God is it that is intended thereby? Socinus says it is " a general act of the providence of God, whence it is come to pass, or is so fallen out, that one way or other the Lord Christ should be said to be all this unto us." But it is an especial ordinance and institution of God's sovereign grace and wis- dom, designing Christ to be all this unto us and for us, with actual imputation thereon, and nothing else, that is intended. Whatever interest, therefore, we have in Christ, and whatever benefit we have by him, it all depends on the sovereign grace and constitution of God, and not on any thing in ourselves. Whereas, then, we have no righte- ousness of our own, he is appointed of God to be our " righteousness," and is made so unto us: which can be no otherwise, but that his righteousness is made ours ; for he is made it unto us (as he is like- wise the other things mentioned) so as that all boasting, that is in ourselves, should be utterly excluded, and that "he that glorieth should glory in the Lord," verses 29-3L Now, there is such a righteousness, or such a way of being righteous, whereon we may have somewhat to glory, Rom. iv. 2, and which doth not exclude boasting, chap. iii. 27.