it was impossible for man to do, seeing that the penalty was everlasting death ; and man was despoiled of all power to do the will of God. Therefore God was pleased to send his co- equal, co-eternal Son into the world, that, as man's substitute, he might endure the curse which we had merited, and render the obedience which we owed. Thus, by this wonderful con- trivance, every obstacle to man's salvation is removed. Must the penalty denounced against sin be inflicted ? It has been inflicted on God's only dear Son. Must the law be fulfilled in all its extent? It has been fulfilled to the uttermost by him. So that to those who have him for their surety, there is a plea in arrest of judgment; a plea, which God himself will admit, as just, and adequate, and perfectly consistent with his own honour.]
And where shall we find this righteousness ?
[It is treasured up for us in Christ Jesus ; who, having been sent into the world, " to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting right- eousness b," executed the work assigned him: and, being now constituted the Head of his Church, and having all fulness of spiritual blessings treasured up in him for our use, he imparts this righteousness to every one who truly believes in him. Indeed, he is himself made righteousness unto them; as St. Paul has said, " He is of God made unto us wisdom, and righteous- ness0." This shews how we are to understand that declaration of the Prophet Jeremiah, " This is the name whereby he shall be called, The Lord our Righteousness*1." We are not merely to compliment our Saviour with this title, but really and truly to rely upon him in this particular view, as possessing in himself all that righteousness whereby we are to be justified, and as imparting it to all, who are united to him by faith. In a word, we must all " look unto him in order to obtain salva- tion," and, with an express recollection, that all which we have is not in ourselves, but in him, " we must say, In the Lord have I righteousness and strength e."]
What an agreement there is between the Old and the New Testament in relation to this righteousness* will appear, whilst we shew,
II. How the law itself directs us to it —
Had the Jews understood the true import of their own law, they would never have rejected Christ : for he was the very scope and end,
b Dan. ix. 24. c 1 Cor. i. 30.
d Jer. xxiii. 6. e Isai. xlv. 22, 24.