such a disposition as this is harboured in our hearts, we, and all that we do, must be hateful in the sight of God, and render us fit only to be cast, as most abhorred objects, into the fire of hell \]
This subject may be improved for,
1. Our conviction —
[We are very backward to acknowledge ourselves so depraved as we really are. But this declaration of God is sufficient to humble the proudest heart. It is not atrocious sinners only that are thus vile, but " all" all without excep- tion. Nor are our worst actions only thus defiled, but all, even our best ; " all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." Let all then, without exception, humble themselves as " un- clean0," and "viled," and altogether destitute of any thing that is goode.]
2. Our direction —
[Our own righteousness must be wholly renounced ; and all of us must enter into the kingdom of heaven on the very same footing as publicans and harlots. This is humiliating to our proud nature ; but it must be done : for, if it would be unseemly to introduce to an earthly monarch his bride clothed in " filthy rags," much more would it be so to present our souls to the heavenly Bridegroom clad in such polluted garments as ours. St. Paul himself felt the necessity of a better righteous- ness than his ownf; and, if ever we would find acceptance with God, we must seek it altogether through the righteous- ness of Christ.]
3. Our comfort —
[We need not be dejected on account of the foregoing representation ; since there is a righteousness offered to us in the Gospel, even " the righteousness of Christ, which is unto all, and upon all them that believe5." This is commensurate with our wants : it is absolutely perfect ; and it was wrought out by Himh, in order that we might be clad in it, and " that the shame of our nakedness might not appear1." Rejoice
b See Lev. xiii. 47 — 58. but especially ver. 55, where it was ap- pointed, that though the plague had not spread, or changed its colour, yet if it had eaten off the knap from the cloth, the cloth was to be burned, because it was "fret inward." So, though the whole con- versation of a man be not polluted, or even visibly bad in any part, yet if there be an inward disposition that is depraved, our great High Priest, when he shall inspect our hearts, will certainly pronounce us leprous, and execute the law upon us.
c Isai. vi. 5. d Job xl. 4. e Rom. vii. 18.
f Phil. iii. 9. e Rom. iii. 22. h Dan. ix. 24.
' Rev. iii. 18.