innocent. And that this is the way for man's reconciliation with God, is abundantly testified throughout all the inspired writings. That the types are all founded in this notion, has already appeared : and the prophecies declare the same with one voice. No one can read the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah and doubt of this truth. " All our iniquities were laid upon him :" " he was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities ; the chastisement of our peace was upon him ; and by his stripes we are healed." The New Testament speaks the same language throughout : " He bare our sins in his own body on the tree," and " suffered, the just for the unjust^." Here there is a substitution of Christ in the place of sinners: just as it is said, that peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die; that is, would die in his place, in order to preserve his life ; so Christ died for, and in the place of, the ungodly, that by his own death he might preserve them from everlasting deaths. Yes, however the scoffing infidel may deride these things, they are the very truth of God ; nor is there any other way of reconciliation for any child of man.]
2. The self-righteous Pharisee —
[Many will admit that Christ died for sinnei's, who yet cannot receive the idea of his righteousness being imputed to them for their justification before God. They think that, though Christ by his death atoned for our sins, we are to pro- cure for ourselves a title to heaven by a righteousness of our own. But this cannot be; for it would give to man a ground of glorying before God, when God has expressly said that all boasting is excluded by the Gospel, and that men must glory in Christ alone. This was the great error of the Pharisees of old; and it proved a stumbling-block to them to their ever- lasting ruin'^. This is the great error of the Papists also, and, more than all other things, contributed to stir up the more enlightened part of the Christian world to separate themselves from the corruptions of the Church of Rome. Happy would it be, if many, who call themselves Protestants, did not in this matter go back again to the heresies which they profess to have renounced ! But however pertinaciously men cling to the covenant of works, they never can obtain salvation by it: they must lay hold on the covenant of grace : they must re- nounce their own righteousness, even as the Apostle Paul himself did, and seek for acceptance by Christ's alone': " in Christ shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory "^."J
f 1 Pet. ii. 24. and iii. 18. s Rom. v. G— 8.
h Rom. ix. 31—3;?. and x. 1, 2. i Phil. iii. 0. ^ Isai. xlv. 25. VOL. XVI. M M