Nirios.
‘588 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. v.
Obs. I. The gospel is the only “word of righteousness,” in itself and unto us.
Utterly in vain will it be to seek for any material concernment of righteousness elsewhere. The law was originally a word of righteous- ness both in itself and unto us. As it was in our hearts, it was that effect of the righteousness of God in us, whereby we were made con- formable and like unto him; which was our righteousness, Eph. iv. 24, Col. iii. 10, Eccles, vii. 29. As written in tables of stone, it was a transcript of what was created in our hearts, representing the righteousness of God objectively in the way of doctrine, as the other did subjectively by the way of principle. The sum of its precepts and promises was, “Do this, and live;” or, “The man that doeth those things shall live by them,’ Rom. x. 5, from Ley. xvii. 5; Ezek. xx. 11; Deut. xxx. 14. Hence it was every way a complete word of righteousness. And on all occasions it is in the Scripture pleaded as just or righteous, holy, equal, good; such as God was glorified in, and man had no reason to complain of. But now, upon the entrance of sin, this law, although it continues eternally righteous in «tself, yet it is no longer a word of righteousness unto us. » Nay, it is be- come an occasion of more sin and more wrath, and on both accounts, of a greater distance between God and us; which are contrary to that righteousness which it was originally the word of, Rom, iv. 15, vii 10-13. We were dead, and it could not give life; and after we were once sinners, it could do nothing at all towards the making of us righteous, Rom. viii. 3, 4. Wherefore the gospel is now the only “ word of righteousness,” both in itself and unto us. It is so decla- ratively, as the only means of its revelation; and it is so efficiently, as the only means of its communication. unto us.
1. It is so declaratwely, because “ therein is revealed the right- eousness of God,” Rom. i.17. This at first was revealed by the law; but now, as to our interest in it and benefit by it, it is so only by the gospel. For that declaration of the righteousness of God which remains in the law, however it be pure and holy in itself, tends not to beget righteousness in us, nor to give us peace with God. This, therefore, is done only by the gospel, and that on several accounts. For,—
(1.) Therein the righteousness and severity of God against sin are more fully revealed than ever they were or could be by the law, in its sanction or most severe execution. It is true, our apostle tells us that “ by the law is the knowledge of sin,’—that is, of what it is, or what is so; but the knowledge of what it deserves in the righteous- ness of God is made more openly manifest by the gospel. Had God executed the sentence of the law on all offenders, he had thereby declared that he would not pardon sin; but in the gospel he declares that he could not do so, with the honour of his holiness, without an
VER. 12-14.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 589
equivalent price and satisfaction. His righteousness and severity against sin are more fully manifested in the suffering and sacrifice of Christ to make atonement for sin,—which are the foundations of the gospel,—than ever they could have been in or by the law, Rom. iil, 25, vill. 2, 3.
(2.) The faithfulness of God in the accomplishment of his pro- mises is frequently in the Scripture called his “ righteousness;” and it isso. And the first express promise that God ever gave unto his creatures was concerning Christ and his coming in the flesh, Gen. iii. 15. From this did all other promises of God arise, as from their spring and fountain; and upon the accomplishment thereof do all their accomplishments depend. For if this be not fulfilled, what- ever appearance there may be of any such thing, yet indeed no one promise of God was yet ever fulfilled from the foundation of the world. Hereon, then, alone depended the declaration of the right- eousness of God, as it consists in his faithfulness. And this is done in and by the gospel, which is a declaration of God’s fidelity in the accomplishment of that ancient, that original promise, Rom. xv. 8; Luke i. 70; Acts iii. 18, 24-26.
(3.) The righteousness which God requireth, approveth, accepteth, is therein alone declared and revealed. And this is frequently also called “the righteousness of God,” 2 Cor. v. 21, Rom. x. 3; or “the righteousness which is of God by faith,” Phil. iii, 9. It is not now the righteousness revealed in the law that God doth require of us, as knowing it impossible unto us; but it is that righteousness only wherein “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth,” Rom. viii. 3, 4, x. 3,4. Hence,—
2. The gospel is the word of righteousness declaratively, because it alone reveals unto us owr own righteousness; that is, what God requireth in us and will accept from us. This is the great inquiry of mankind not utterly hardened in sin,—that is, who are not one half in hell already,—namely, what they shall do for a righteous- ness wherewith to appear before God, to answer his justice, and to be accepted with him; for these are the ends of our righteousness, this it must do, or it will not avail us) Here mankind, left unto themselves and unto the law, would wander everlastingly, until they were swallowed up in eternal ruin; and a thousand paths have they been tracing to this purpose. And after everything within them, without them, about them, above them, hath said unto them, ‘This is not the way,’ they must all, after they have walked a little while in the light of the fire and the sparks they have kindled, re- ceive this from the hand of God, that they shall lie down in sorrow, Isa. ].11. See the loss they are brought unto expressed, Mic. vi. 6, 7. But here the gospel ariseth like the sun in its brightness, dis- pelling all darkness and mists, and evidently declaring a righteousness