indeed perfect: but to him was committed the task of working out a righteousness for himself, and of maintaining by his own. inherent powers his steadfastness in the divine life. And hence he fell, and died, and involved both himself and all his posterity in ruin. But the believer has a righteousness wrought out for him by his incarnate God ; and " his life," instead of being committed to his own keeping, " is hid with Christ in God," where Satan cannot reach it ; and therefore, since Christ has engaged that none shall ever pluck out of his hands those whom the Father hath committed to him, he shall endure unto the end : and, " when Christ, who is his life, shall appear, shall assuredly appear with him in glory f." Thus, in respect both of honour and security, is the believer elevated even above Adam himself; since he has not a creature-right- eousness wherein to stand before God, or a created power to uphold him; but a righteousness that is divine, and an arm that is omnipotent. To form a right judgment of his state, we must attend to what our blessed Lord himself has spoken on this subject. Indeed his words are so strong, that no man would dare to utter them if not warranted by his authority. What would you say, if I were to affirm, that the life of faith resembles the very life which the Lord Jesus Christ lived when on earth ; and that the believer has the same dependence on the Lord Jesus Christ, as Christ himself, during his incarnate state, had on the Father ; and the same security in him too ; would you not be almost ready to shut your ears, and to accuse the preacher of blasphemy ? Yet is this what we are authorized by Christ himself to declare. Hear his own words : " He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and / live by the Father, even so he that eateth me, even he shall live by meg." Say, beloved, is not here a ground of glorying? and, if the believer did not glory in this privilege, would not the very stones cry out against him ?]
Whilst with confidence we affirm these to be the Christian's principles, we with no less confidence proceed to declare,
II. His practice —
It is thought by many that a life of faith is un- friendly to morality ; since if all our righteousness is in Him, what need have we of any of our own ? and, if he be engaged to keep us, what need have we of any care or watchfulness to keep ourselves ? But
Col. hi. 3, 4. e John vi. 56, 57