have a righteousness fully answering all the require- ments of God's holy law, and satisfying the demands of his inflexible justice. Clothed in the robe of Christ's perfect righteousness, we shall be so pure that God will not behold in us a spot or blemish'. Not the angels before the throne of God shall shine more bright than we : indeed they have only the righteousness of a creature, whilst the believing soul is clad in the righteousness of the Creator himself. Nor let any one imagine that this is the privilege of the Apostles only : no : the righteousness of Christ is ''given unto" every believing soul, and " put upon" him as a garment, in which he shall stand accepted of God to all eternity*.
Do we need sanctification 9 This also shall Christ be made unto us. Yes, he will make us new crea- tures. He will enable us to " put off the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and to put on the new man, whereby we shall be assimi- lated to the Divine image"." He has promised his Holy Spirit for this end, even to " sanctify us wholly \" By applying to our souls his promises, he will enable us to " cleanse ourselves from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit, and to perfect holiness in the fear of God^." Yea, by enabhng us to " behold his glory, he will change us into his own image from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord^"
Finally, do we need redemption ? He will be re- demption to us, " delivering us from all the bondage of corruption, and bringing us into the glorious liberty of the sons of God." " When once the Son thus makes us free, we become free indeed ^" With what delight do we then walk in the ways of God, and with what enlargement of heart do we run in the paths of his commandments ! Truly under the in- fluence of his grace we enjoy almost a heaven upon earth. The exercises of prayer and praise are far different from what they were wont to be in our
s Eph. V. 26, 27. t Rom. iii. 22. Eph. i. 6.
" Eph. iv. 22 — 24. "^ 1 Thess. v. 23, >' 2 Cor. vii. 1.
^ 2 Cor. iii. 18. =■ John viii. 36.