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Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre filmds d des taux de reduction diffdrents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul cliche, il est filmd i partir de Tangle supdrieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 32 X 1 2 3 4 5 6 V 0] 2 Q SERMON ' On tJie nature of Juftification through thb imputed righteousness of the Redeemer. ■-~T Uy the Reverend Robert McI Dowall, Minister of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church at Ernestown. P*JBLiSHED BY REQUEST OF HIS CON^ISTOR"t« mtmtU. YORK: ^^UTET) by JOHN BENNEtf. — 1805.—. #^ > ...,^. .M^ <* •»*> >», y J[ 'J v«l>'fc' SERMQN. r •^" JEREMIAH, XXiii. 6. ^V THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS." •.r. TO fettle faith on the meritorious righteoufnefs of the Redeemer, which is its proper foundation^ ^d to cie» duce obedience from the efficacious operations of the fpiVil of grace, which is hs proper Joundation,akie the real exGejI- lencies of the gofpel jj^iltry.-^To flicw, that the Son of - God, through all his incarnate ftatc, afted not for him/elf^ but for us men ; and that under the curfe of ai) avenging ' law, he endured mifery in all its various forms, in ov»r • ilead, that we by his obedience, might be made t&e • righteoufnefs of God in hira, is the indifpenfible duty of ' every gofpel miniller. — This do6lrine, though branded by the felf-righieous with contemptible names, is nevertl));. lefs (blelfed be God) tothepious humble Soiil, the fource of his (trongeft confolationjand the very fouodatiOn of iiis eternal hope. For as on the two commands of love- to • God and our neighbour hang all the law and the prophets^ • fo on the legai transfer of all the fins of . the fa ved to the ? Saviour, and on the legal transfer of hismentorious obe- dience to them, hang all the privilege* and the whole glory of the gofpel Church. In difcourfing this very I important trtub, I ftiall in humble dependence on affiftancc from the great God endeavour to ftiew. ,. firJUy, What we are to underAand by the righteouf- nefs fpoken of in the text . , , > Suondly, How this righteoufnefs becomes ours. ■'Thirdly^ A«fwer objediomrbrou^tagaipft this doc* tfine^'Aad ,■^rf itA . '£P»iL>u >• "v-: ^mrthfy, t .V Fourthly, Clofc the fubjed by making fome praaic d pblervatio.'js on the whojc In tht Ji'Ji place, we arc then tq connder what is raca it by the nghteournefs fpokeriolin the text. - The i.,ord, who is here called our righteou'neCs, is un, doubtedly the Lord Jclus Chrill. He has a two fold rif^hte- oufnels. The one js his eternal and ellential ngiucoulners, whicn IS commpn to the three Divine perlons. The other is hi> mediatorial righteoufnefs. And this is the righ'teouf. nefs, of which the Prophet fpcak.s in the text, iiy Ch rift's ^moaiaionalrightcoufners weaie then to underltand his holy life, or adive obedience in fulfdling all the pohtivc requirements of the divine law, in our Head, as well as ., his paffive obedience, or fuffering the penalty of the curie, which was denounced in cafe of^ difobcdience. This righteoufnefs is, therefore, lulHeieniiydiltinguiai- '^gi vVom his eternal, elfcntial and necellary righteoul'nefs. ^for we can conceive of no neceflity, that the Lord of gloiy was under to bow the heavens,' come down, take our nature on him, and fuller and die, in the Itead of uij criininals. All his obedience from his cradle to his grave "was voluntary, Pfal. xi. j. 8. Then /aid /» Zo, /' come : 'in the volume oj thy bonk it is y;rUtenoJ vie ; I delight lo do ti-y uh:'^ my God : yea, thy law is within my heart. 'Th IS righteoufnefs, wliich he performed by hisobediencp 'tLM.ht precepts, and by fuffering the penalty of the divine law, htxwo^voluntary and lo diltinguifhed from his eternal ^and eff-nfial righteoufnefs, he did not owe for himfelf, but fubje-JcG himfclfio it, that by means of his obedience, 'inany might be made riditeousi Rom. v. ig. I'his briugs us to the fecond thing to be confidered ; nainei) y how this righteoufnefs becomes ours. That our forefather Adam broke thedivine law^ which he received from l:fis Creator, and which enjoined perfcd pb^dicnce, on pain of endlefs mifery ; and that we his pof-r ter':v are involved in h^s gu it, are truths fo clearly .ta'.:g i 'a ihe volume of infpiration, that none, butfuch as ' arc diipoicd to equivocatt will prefun^e to 4epy. AU praaic J . is raea It ^(s, is un- Id ritrhte- coul'Mei's, I'he other ighteouC- y Ch rift's land lij:i pofitivc s well as he curie, tinguifli- Loul nefs. Lord of vn, take ad of us, lis grave f come : ghi 10 do irt. bedience le divine s eternal Ueif, but edience, fidered ^ w^ which i perf'cd ". his pof-T > clearly ti'uch as ;py. All hare, f f'3'^j have;;?lj|i^f^iT;Vbrf\itedtiKiyiitieip*liapplnc^ .jncrue. eternal counc.u. Man has ruined hi.nlelf. No'J ^u>uld Ire be reaored ^rtfiou.t ru/Iering the punifhme«t ; ducio ln.s crnne, ^nd threatened by the .law-giver in caVe pi :bc J UU(,1. ? or how Ihaii tfie honor of his riglueods • law oe maintainal? Should ihefQ confequence. tai^ place,ininers would be embpldened toraul'tiply their trarrf- grduons, and tempied to liiink, that r.od of truth ahd Dolmcl. was altogether f^ich an one a? theipfelves. Pf T Now fhall mante'^mifprable forever ? or flial! ^ rcm£ dy be provided in order to prevent thefe confequenccs ? --i\one but his Maker, from, whole authority he had deeply revoked, could .«>ore him. Therefore to maintain inviolate the everlaltmg dignity of the divine government! and to re lore man 10 the favor, pf the Moft High: th a .rL A* Tj.»o«to the unlpeakable glory x>f all the divinf per&. tons ihe demands of the law are fatisfied, and the nchelf grace exercfed to the honor of ftrid ^ -e I o fhew more effedually how Chrift's righ„eoufnefs becomes ours ; the Scriptures atlually decUre, d at-hU JheTorM^ ^'^"^-7^- BEFORE fhe foundatio ^'f the world, Hand that he IS their head, and they are his body,byamy(t,calu,ionJ. By virtue of thiunionth^' Sins were transfered to hirp, that he i)iiahUullain d^^ punifl.menti^.for hem, and that by L Stripes tKev might be healed. I . ake mapne. the^l^edien^^t^ «4pi "* IlH^:£:iijr ■:*■'■ as ff E S|h. i. S Eph. 5- iJ- • ,,■.''•■■"•■• m,thc2|[>iead| is^placcd to the account of the5.Siye(I a« his !h)o^y^anTl»racl to the fcape-goat. Man's Un was imputed to the ""goat. And the effeftsjWhich followed plainly pointed out ^ a' tranflation of guilt. For the congregation was/o cUanf- "* ^4 ^hat their iniquities were carried away, and to be ^ found no more > but the ^oat was/o defiled^ that it com- { liiunicated pollution to him, who coridutted it into aland ^ iininhabited. Now unlefs this be a typical reference to ' Chrift,its inftitUtibnwQuld have beenaltogether unworthy ^ of God, and altogether infufficient io anfwer the purpofe^ ,^ for which it was defigned, ^'! ^Whoever is' intimately acquainted with the book of ^ Cod, raaft know, that the do6irine of imputation was 'fa- > miliar to (he apoftlcs, and appeared rational to them. For * ihe'illuftrationof this, I fhall produce a Well known fatt, * "Wliich will call much light on the doftriiie 6f imputed ^- righteoufnefs. Onefimus, a flaVe to Philemon, ftble and * carried off fb^'e of his matter's ptopdTty»..He'iiTovTdi*n- ^ tially itae^ witli Paul. a|id was taptivatcd by * the viadrious,. *^ grace of God. Paufj having underiloodhis difhoneft con^- cfull, u Qffende thus,^ to mine xuriiten impute much a idea of iation < I wo Lord p< e,ternal inake re 4fefsofI obedien iliifhmen »n the di lor an o ahd the tn his bv ihefe thi treacce] ofour pj Heptpd a - Thus from om Whole bo from the an m cordingi) laid on hi aft'ray.^tt MiSitd. . ^•n him , Saved a< his s itJM their \\y for paV- I to be ufed proper icida .•** thus, ^ he hath wronged thee, oroweih thee aught, m that^ io mine account, greek « impute it to me "fp/uTi^ ^nttemt^itk rnrne own hand, / -?/ T'/«// ThaHl^ impute hu whole guilt to me, I will be ahCerablc ^r i A^ n;ucha..f rmyf.lfhad cont^acdir. ThL g vt u^^^^^^ Idea of proper legal imputation. For here sTDLniJn^ latjpn of that to another, which was no h^^ o£ r'b" ^r^,"' ^ I would infer from this, that what Paul offered fh^ Lord performed.— We revolted frnm rr.\ "t"^^"' .^^f^ ^ake r«onc. ,«ion. That nothing .^ight h"„Tr te fui^ tcUoths »ed,..ion, he placed hi^eif^in oir Acai Thi obedience, which »e owed, ic berfofm^rf -Fu" * ^.Ihment which :.*^dere,ved lUltTi. Jr dr^ M the divine law And a, wheii a bonds.m.i, Mvsi d1S& for M original debtor, he does it for him. and ifSa^ fttd the payment is accepted a» if the oriBinallte^rif^ tote ownperTon paid it'.nd «ncelM'"ot«t 1^^* Ihefe things being performed for us, by ourdiviiie fureivi «re accepted for us, and imputed to usUs the f^u„dS lented P," -"i:' '"^ ,"» procuring caufc of our beiwt" tepsdasnghteoasinhisnght. "-^ing ac» ^ Thus you fee the doflrine of' guilt beinr tfanft.Wi^ fcebif-orcltf""'""''^ '^^^ ^'^^v4 i. A'u the viQiatiohs of tlic dmn^ U^rrinfi iir«.- c-A'^ -^ 1 ^i [{ ^ y JtfWaffc&blypatticular in explaining an^, confirming this itnporum fchcme of dotlnne. All we like SHEEP have Spmujirfiy ; rva have tur^ied every one to his own way : and. iht Lord hath laid on him thf imquity of us all. And left, my (hould millake the extent of this imputation, kc ex- ferefsly adds^/or the tianf^re/J^on^ of M Y H peojjle was hf; Jiricken. Awl our Divine, Maltcr faiih, / lay down my his- jar the SHEEP.} The apoftle Peter vindicates ilw impu-, tation of their fin to him, mthefe SQ.xy forcxhk Words, WiP; Aes own felf bare oUr jim in hts own body on the tree t. To (his St. Paul adds his indubitable teftiinony. Ik hath made hivi ta befinjor us I and a curfe for us \\: if thele- Scrij>- (uresdo not plainly mean, that God, laid our fin on the^ iord Jefus Chridi and that he took them on hnrilelf, dn^ fonfequently from us, no Mrords, no language can. _ - that there was a real imputation of man's fin to the 'Saviour appears from the nature of the cpveriantr <^f Grace, . For H''* a remediable Covenant, which -was madfc bc^tween the F.ather and the Son, Z^ch. vi. t3 ^ I • II — I II . - ■ t ^.. ..__——. Si' To HtudVite my argument and to obvl.ite objections I will q-iote a pirjgraph itord ilite excellMt wi-iter, oflha (thurch of •England. " It is fr:quenlly sffirmed, tiit« «• Chvift expiated the fins of tK? whole world. '^h.\% ii laying no more thin the ScriD;,_ '» ture has repeatedly laid. The point of enijuiry is. what docs th. «"• <'l4effii. Aiid the Scripture vf ill not permit us to believe, tiiat the svholf of mankinu. ^ who diiSd within that extentive period, were glorified in he^cn. ^iw it wouli -• both impeach the wifdom, and affront the dignity of Chfift, a^wMl jii ii.Unitely dAt * predate the value of his facrifice, to fuppofe, that he could pofiioly ^'■''^ '"' blooj •* on the crofs, for thoTe vefy Soulsj which were.atthat very tim'sv lutTerin^ far fheif ■ " own fins in hell. The tenet, therefore, of a redemption aWohitsiy u.iiverjal, vviH * notftand th^ieit (iither •fScriptUfe, rearon,or the analogy o'f faUi. Shall wc,_fo!^ «' etample, affirm, that Lhrift diedfor theralvaaoti 6f Iuda» ? Tht tact feems im^ •• poflible. It is plain that Judas flew himfelf, fubfequently to the apprehenhon.bul '• antecedently to the iflual crucifixion of Chrift. The foul of Judas, therefore, »♦ went to its own place of punilhment, before Chrift had offered himfelf in Sacriftflip •« to God. And 1 cannot tor my own part, fee, with what propriety Chrift could ^< die to fave a perfan from going to hell, who was aftually theit already."^ AguJIut Toj>ladji.f*gt,ji6.S7f,\^^'i--^-,,i . ^^^^t- ^^.mi.ti.i\i\ 'i^ *■;-.". ;v ..*'♦* , y«h. 10. y. t I. Pet. ». »4. J I. Cor. g. ai. li C«l. J. ij- Dn firming this SHEEP liave own way : an^. all. Alia left, tation, Uc ex- I people was A? ly down my life- :ates dw iinpu-^ ',kli Wortls, who- the tree t. To . He hath mads If tljcle- Scrip-, I our fin on thci II InmlelF, an(^ ge can. nan's fin lo iho the covenant cnant, whic^ J, Zvch. vi. 13* |uott a par.igraph I'rora! juently .iffirmed, tiilf 3 more than the Scrips Joi:s tliit phr.ife the' eptioii, who Jid, doe»^ ift (ho\ild die for alL )ftk»tfra ■vthich hi.-t*"/ die for the pardon of would be like a man't le v«ry linie of payinj 1 we f»y ot thole rniqx t of torment, ages and thotf'fartd ycarj had 'eiv, majiiferted in thTr the wliole of mankiiiJ, •.i\-<:n. ^/n/>; of peace fnal he hetween thm iaiL and therefore his blood is call, d, tliehlood of the covenant, lleb. X. 29. Nowtheconditir)!, of the ccvrnant, which Adam broke, mull he the coudition of any covenant made for the recovery of fallen man. For it was the rule of that moral relarion, which cxWh between God as fovcrcign Lord, and man as his rational dependent creatu-c, and muft, therefore, remain forever unalterable : Becaule man's rebellion could never diffolve his obligation to du- ty. And as God is not man, that he JJiould lie ; neithtr Son of man, that he fhould repent, Kum. xxiii.' 19. $0 h»s immutable truth, and inviolable faithfulnefs bind hiia lo execute the pjnalcy of the curfe, either on the guilty criminal, or on his (ubOitute, Gen. ii. 17. For the com- plete obedience, and holy qualities of nature, required by this law, cau never be rt-Iaxcd. The volume of infpira- iion, therefore dechircs, that Chrift as our fubftitutc has fulhlied the righrcourucfi of this law. For what the Uoj conldnotdointhnt itzvc weak tkrovghthe fleJJi, Gcd -e/'./- hg his oan Smia the likencfs of finjid jtejh, and for 'fin • a^iykmned fra in the Jle./I, ; that the rightcoufncjs of th" \cid ^viighthcfuifUtd m us, Rom. viii. 3. 4. Chnll cam'c not fo delhoy the law but to fulfil it. Every jot and liitie of ^fhe law luu'i be fulfilled. ^ Thar. Chriit might effeaually fulfil the law, for, and Mi'tead of his peoplcjitwas not merelv th^obligation to punifhmcnt, which arofe from fin, but it was the /;n5 themjelves, that were laid on Chrift, Isai. uii. 6. 11. 13. ' J Joh. IT.. 4. Their violations of the law, whirh is the oundation of God's difplealui?, were removed from tl;e Kedeemedand laid on their furety, to be atoned by the blood of the croCs, Dan. ix. 24. 1 Pet. ii. 24. He had as divme iurety • to take on him the payment of that whole r fJebt of his chofen, which fecures them from eternal woe, and intitles them to immortal bhfs, Rev. v. g. Matt xx -28.Rom. V. 15. 2i.l>an. IX. 24. • • B * to •iiki I In II ♦Heb. 7- •». [ 8 1 J •' To .cftabliffa this point clear beyond mifapprehchfion, «(¥e may cbniider (in as a debt^ Matt. vi. 12. in order to a difeharge from which, proper payment mud be made to theiaw» and iatisfattion given to the juflice of the Judge ; Accordingly our luretyhas given himlelf a/imtf, , an infiiiHe/y precious price, a ran/oming- price, to pay our debt, Matt. xx. 28. 1 Pet. i. 18. 19. — We may al- fo confider linas a real enmity againft God, Rom. viii, J, for v/hich proper JatisJaUion, muft: make reconciliation ' tor us. Confequcntly our furety in the divine law, takes away this enmity by the reconciling facrtfice of himfelf, Col. i. 20. 21. 2 Cor. V. 19. 21. — Sin may be further Conlidered as a crime, which makes us guilty before God our judge, and for which, a full falisfaftion muft be given to the law, in order to expiate our guilt. That the Son of God might eft'ectuallv accomplifli this ; he as ouf furety, placed hmifelf in our ftcad, took on him our {in, < and by offering up himlelf a facrifice to divine juflice, has • Jiorne zJati%faclory and merrtorious punifliment for our : guilt. Gal. ill. 13. 1 Pet. ii. 24. Dan. ix. 2.4. Thus he lias taken on him, and by his blood has removed pur vio- laiions of the divii)*; law, which is the foundation of God'i difpleafure. What can be clearer from fcripture, than that our Pint • were the meritorious caufe of his fufFcrings .? And if fo, thcki our guilt mult have been charg^ed on him, and pun- ifhed in him. For he has delivered ui from the curfe of thi hrv, how ? by being made a curfe Jor us. Do not thefe w;ords plainly imply a tranllationof punilhment ? Notw^, who were guilty, but he, who was innocent, fuffered the • penalty, which the law denounced on us, in confequence , of diiubedicnce. The law denounceth, Curfed is every •ene, that continueth not in all thingi -written in the book oj "^ the law to do them. To this eurfe Chrift, as our fubftitute, iubmJtted. Heendureu that very curfe, which we deferv- ed. And if this be not fuffering in our ftead, nothing can He called by that name. That Chrilt fuIfiLile4 the ciondilion^ and fuffered the * penalty prehchfion, order to a be made ice of the Ct?, to pay fe may au Rom. viii. :onciliatioA law, takes of himfelf, be further jefore God n mud be . That the ; he as ouf im our fin, juflice, has snt for our Thus he ed our vio- onofGod'l bat our fint And if fo, [), and pun- curfe of thi ) not thefe nt ? Notw^, uffered the lonfequence (ed is every the book oj \ ir fubftitute, I we deferv- nothing can • (uffered the 1 penally 1 f 9 3 penalty of the covenant made with Adam, appears from^ the nature o{ the law, and the ;w/izcf of the juui^c. Hfc^ cannot fet afi.le hisjuitice, which is eternal, unchanaea- ble, and inhnite. lie cannot fet afide a law, which is ; holy, jutt, a.id good. Paul, who knew jnuch of his mas- ter's will, plainly Ihews us, that God docs not exercife pardoning mercy, by laying alide the demands of law, andjuftice; but that he hath fet forth the blelfcd jefus to hea propiciation through faith in his blood, for tnis'exprefs y\n\iok, to declare hii righttoufnefs^Q\ci\ that \inviidive juflice, whofe office is to punilh tranfgrclfors, to declare, I fay, atUih time his righteoufnefs ; that He might he juffy flrictly and inviolably juft, even when hejuilifies the un- godly, which believe in jc{us,Rom.iii. 25.26. For Chnfi is the end of the law for rightemtfnefs to every one that believetfi, Rom. X. 4. From this, svc fee, that the remediable covenant was to Chrifl; a coven.-'^t of works, bat to believers of grace, oi' pure grace ; u. -.therefcre,it is called a tefiament^ bccaufe Chrilt as teltator bequeaths to his legatees, all covenant blelTjngs, frtely witiiout money and withojt price. Becaufe, fpcaking after the manner of men, though it be but. a man's covenant, yet if rt be confirmed^ no mak difannulleth, or addtth thereto, Qz\.n\. I ^. The firll covenant rendered is abfoluuly necefTary, in^ order to the recovery of fallen man, that the (word of juf- ti^ce fhould be (heathcd in the innocent bleeding Son of executioners pour contempt on all his inediaiorjyl oiiices. And to expole hiiji to the utnioll fliame, he; is hxed to die accurfed tree,defiled with fpittin;, dilguifedwith wounds,. and expofed to the gazing eyes, and reproachful Icofi^ of numberlefs ipedators. Follow the Saviour to Gathfemarte, there you will (ee i'him fuftain the 7vrath of God. No remorfe could ataim .his fpotlefs confcience ; yet there, even there, fear and trembling came upon him- No external violence was oU fcred to his facred body, yet a dreadful pciplexity over- whelmed him. It was cold night, and amidU the- bii of Chiilingdevvr,y/hefl, our divine Malter lay proihate on the ^arth, (weating, fweating blood, Iwcating great drops of blood, running down in ftreams to the ground. All thii. is but little to be wondered at. For it was then he CufFer- .cd tlie inexpreffible anguilh, pains, and terrors of hell. ■ And fo indtppovtable were the agonies of his Soul, that he was conftramed to cry out, My Soul ts Jorrowjul, ex- needing for rozoful^forrowjul even unio death. What caufc ■ ^quaU'o tliis amazing anguifh, can be alfigned, but the in- txprelhble wrath of his Almighty Father, who treating him no longer as the Son of his love, becomes his inex- orable jUDGE,and(heathesthe fwordofdivine venge- ance in ium as the SURETY for the unniimbercd inil. lions ol the clediou of grace, ^ ^ ' ^ Wc faw ij was unavoidably neiielTary jo procure the :,. . redemption e, ung vdly,' ilie rrok- ^o. Was princfi ot" duit; of a ome. and his public brand'Sd a traitor, of tnaic- him! iih ai oliices. xeii to the 1 vvouiuis,. \ I'cotJ^ of u will iee lid, alaim , lear and ce was ol- atv over- lie tali of dte on the drops of . All thJA he fuffer- rs of hell. vSoul, that owj'ul, ex- hat caufc but the in- y treating ; his incx- ne venge- )ercands of the law, arc alfo imputed to us. For he was under no neceflity of meriting eternal happinefs for bimfelf, by Itny obedience he could poflibly perform to the legal covenant. For his human nature had all poilible happi- nefs fecured to it, by means of its union with the perfon of the Son of God. And the fubjefcting ofhimfelf toobey the precepts of the law arofe wholly from his covenant- engagement for us, and being performed on our account j may, and ought in juitice, to be imputed t6 us. Becaufe it was on our account, that he performed that obedience) auid therclbre it ought to be reckoned to our account. Now Chrift's whole obedience to the commands of the law, s^nd his fuffering the penalty of the curfe, for us, an4 on our account, is what I call Chri(l'$ ri^hteoufnefs, which is inapiuted to us. Utile: 1 creature le demerit d calcuia- s, to love th( inindf thought of the ipind [iod. The an, which influence ifgrelfion. le fins of it was thq ;ave hiin- \viih the nefore aii^ ugh tem-t ', they aret qunt, and i imputed :onnn>ands under no finifelf, by I the legal )}e happi- he perlon elf to obey covenant* r account, Becaufe obedience) :count. mds of the for us, an<| jefs, which • if »3 il ^ Here IS a pirfea, an all-fufficient rightecjusfifcfij vfeich IS anrwcrable to ail the demands of the divine law, awl which IS unto, and upon all thtm that believe. You wijj, however, obferve, tbdt I am not fpeaking of e«/im J righieoutncfs, which is called /tfraSiyica/jon, and is a per- fonal qualification, butof AJiiflifymg righteoufnefs, which is to be found only in the Lord Jelus, Ifai. xiv. 24. 25, furelyJJiall one fay, in the Lord have / righteoufntfs\ and Jlrength.-^In the Lord Ji all all the houfe of Israel he juflifed. And therefore the Cololhans are faid to be cov%. pkteinhim^xvhoisthe head 0/ all principality and powers Col. ii. 10. This juftifying righteoufnefs 'is not i« the Israelite, or true believer, but in the LORD. And tte Coloirians were complete, not in themfevti^ bm in the thrift. , Our juftifying righteoufnefs is, therefore, therighteouf, Jefs of God in Chrilt, and becomes ours not by in/u&on, but by iraputat'on, Cbrift alone performed it, btit be performed it in our flead, and on our account. And though he alone poflTefles it, yet he poflcfTes it as our cove- nant-head. God therefore imputes it to us; and accept.s us on account of it more freely than if we had performed it in our own perfons. The LORD is therefore our righteousness by the im- putation of his mediatorial righteoufnefs to us. And the Church of God, which he hath pur chafed with his own bloody IS therefore called by the fame name, Jcr. xxxiii. 16. This is the name wherebyflie (the Church) /Aa II be called', THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Now no latiifaftory res- fon can be afllgned, for the Church being called by that incommunicable name Jehovah, but Jehovah's righteouf. nefs being aftually imputed to her. We are therefore faid to be ju/iified by his blood, Rom. V. 9. and by his obedience made righteous, verle 19, i?j» the obedi€ns£ of ON ^f/iall many be naderighttous. Not bV thejr omn obedience, however exalted, but by the obe- dience of another fhall they be made righteous. In the Lord have we righteoufneis wid ftrength. for the lord » our righteoufnefs^ Thtrdly^ 1 1 i! t M J Thirdly^ I proceed to remove objeftions, which are i brought againll the doftrine of our l.ord's righieoulneTi imputed. ' . O ye advocates for armenianif:n ; for what diJ the immaculate Jefus fuffer, bleed and die ? — uniy to put imanintoa faveable {late? Will ye thus impoverilh the -exceeding- riches of hii graccy by comparing the all wife God (toafooliili workman, who builds a (hip, launches her in- to the deep, and fays, " Now you may lafl, upon comliti- •on you provide yourfelf with a hrlui, and Iteerfman." -Was it through a defctl of wifdom, that he laid his pl;;n of rcdemptivrr {".> exceedingly ill ? or was he fo deficient in power, as to be unable to execute it in oppofition to the perverfe inclinations of men, infomuch that many of thofe for whofe falvaiion he intentionally died, are fo muchwifer, or more powerful than hi m lei f, that he can- not make them willing in the day of his power ; nor keeij ■ihem by tne power of God through faith unto falvaiion ? or is .-it through a dcfcft of goodnefs, that he is not willinj^ tc ■exert power fullicient to fub i-je their perverfe difpolitif- 4on.s ?■— Such alcheme reprefcn s i'k iireai v>od a?, fporting -with the death of his Son ainji infuiting Vi\z miftTy and veaknefs of mrn, by fulpendin^ ihe whole eiftcacy of jedemption on an-'impofliblt conditiot^. But blelTed be God, this is not die import ofChriftV jfnediatorial work. Having an abiQknc power over hir. own life, he became a /m^//^.'m^ca /u^c;..^ lo.ndatior^ t:^?" ^/ith ai us fuflicenGy. For although it be a pr.ncr 1 Vf juftice founded on the nature of things, that the aeb. ■ f.l di^harged when he has paid the utmoit m.te of his ..b? vet If on the contrary, infteadofdifcharging .he debt, h^' Kc daily ujcreafihg it can h. then or. the principles ot .t f'>n, or juftice, expeft a k-^al dilcharge.-^Sureiv n^ r^cw God's law demands thar we love h.m with the utm.^' e^erttondfallthe f^uhies of both io^^X^"^:^ our petghbour as ouffelves, without i.ny referv./ 'or iT. tcrmiffion. ITiu you mufl do more than all ihtsio or « o purchafe the pardon of part tranfgrefi.ons > o he?v ^ ir^ffead of clamiing a rezoard.^yoM will ffa„d in need c/'! f^^e^ardcn. Th.s (hews the propriety of thJ^ Z^^^ fLT^.,'"'''^^''' iangu4e of ^iiah. l^f^^ ts.Aorier,tharithtiU man can Jretch him/elf on it, ,-k For the leaft tranfgreffion renders your duties utterly ot ffalion' " '''^"'"'^'^ ^"'"^^^"* foryou^jufti- tn^j-'f '°'*' " ^"''^^^ ''"P*^"^' ^^ atk rorgivcnefs,.that vill intuie lis to acceptance."-Aftoni(hing l^oor, gu iu .reature, talk^of.mitling.yourfelf to divine i'Lutl ^»fGods wonderful patience, and forbearance, that vo^ rvetenotlongago wrapt i*, the flaiaes 6f hell. ^ tt-fs'ibe^.ifJn? r'^.' 'rV'y "*^"'" °^^~^ repentance. 'las V i? i^. p°^' J^^f '^ exalted to give re^ntance: i^ rK' K\ ' ^'J' ^^^^^ '"^^ ^^ate fin, loath and afb! J fj ffi V^""^ '^^"S ^^^y ^«" poffibly do, as utte " rnd- J' '*^'^. '''^^^"^"^^hem^oacceWnc^^^^^ Spun^^^^^^^ utterly LVri; of ^w leit itnlc of inbred corrupuort^ cried mightily to ^ Cod^ i!l If; ill li t iW •r 16 3 God, for mercy, free mercy, unmerited undeferyed mef* cy. Any repchiancc fiiort ol this is to be repented of. Ohj. "But allowing our bed works to be defeftive, iincC Jolhiia commanded thelsraerucs toJeartkeLord,andfervc him in finccrity^ will he not accept J^?7Cfrzi^ inftcad of that Jtricl prr/efiicntGt]mred by the law ?"- — 1 anfwer, linceri- ty is very defirable. But Cod folcmnly declares, Not Jor thy rrghtroujnefs, or Jor the uprightnefi oj thine hearty doejl ihoii go to pojjejs their land, l3eut. ix. 5. Now if the earth- ly Canaan was not given as the reward of outward obe- dience, or of inward fincerity, how unreafonable to fup- pofe, that the heavenly (hould be given for either, or for both. God therefore fpake by the prophet, Then will 1 jprinkle clean water upon you, andyejhall be clean : from 'all your filthinejs, and from all your idols, will I cleanfe you. A new heart alfo will I give you, and a newfpirit will J put within you, and I will take away thejlony heart out of j^our fle/h, and 1 will give you a heart ojjlejh. And 1 will fut my ffirit xuithinyou,and caufeyou to walkin myjlaluteif and ye /hall keep my Judgements, and do them.-— Not for your Jakes do I this,Jaith the Lord God, be it known unto you, be a/hamed and ronjonnded Jor your own ways, Ezek. 'Xx>rvi. 25. 26. 27. 32. This fhows plainly, that God beftows his favours, not for any worthinejs in the creature, but for his own fake. PAULgives a true account of fincerity in Phil. i. 10. 11. ■'Thatyemaybefincere, — being Jilled with the Jruiis of righ- teoujncjs, which are by Jejus Chrifl, unto the praijt and •glory 0/ God. He gives three properties of acceptable fin- 'cerity, i. It muft produce the fruits of rightcoufnefs fo ■abundantly, that we may be filled with them. 2. Sincerity ■muft derive its ftrengih, and its fruits their pleafantnels, -and both their very exiflence, from the all-fupporting, and 'all-fupplying root jcfus Chrift. 3. And inftead of ter- 'fninatinginfelfjuftjfication, they tend to the praife and glory of the giver. For it is not faid thefe ihaWjuJliJy you, but thefe ihail glorify God. t'or the ability to perform all .. thefe »> were feryetl mef- ented of. feftive, iince rd^and ferve (lead oi that wer, finceri- res, Not Jor f heart, doe/i if ihe earth- itward obe- able to fup- iither, or for Then will I clean : Jrotn ill I cleanfe twfpirit will I heart out of , And 1 will In viyjlalutes, OT. — Not for own unto you, ways, Ezek. y, that God the creature, hil. i. 10. 11. ruils of righ- e praife and :ceptable fm- itcoufnefs fo . 2. Sincerity pleafantneis, pporting, and iltead of ter- E praife and iWJuJz/y you, :o perform all thefC' r 17 3 thefe flows from the invincible grace of Cod in Cfrin.and therefore teach the neceffity of an entire dcncndance' \>n the Redeemer, ' Obj. "our good works are recommended by Chrift, and have their eflicacy for juftification onlv through his merits; fo that we ftill depend on the Redeemer and pay hunthehigheft honor."-~\Vhat ! You depend on the ReV ^5f '"^'" ! No, you depend on your own performances. Jhe/e, thefe are your principal recommendation. You pay' the Redeemer ihe highell honor!! No; you are not. willmg to give him the undivided honor. You' diminifh hts to exaihyourown. You talk of C brill's meritVx*'^ you deipile them. It uyourown, not Chri/r-s merits, that vou depend on. Far be it from me lo deal inihc thunder.' •r bolts of eternal vengeance; but the fcntcnce has gone forth from the mouth of the great Eternal, Curfed be the' '>nan that trujUth m man, and vtaketh fk/h his arm, and' Whoje heart departdh from the Lord. You fee then, that you are curled even on your own principles. For in prq-, portion as you truflto vourfelves, your heart departs from the Lord. But ilefed is theman (hat im/leth mthe lord, and whofe hope is in the Lord. Jer. xvii. 5. 7. ■' Obj. " James declares, that Abraham was juflified by- works when he offered his fon Ifaac upon the altar, and that by works a man is ju[tiHed,and not by faith only,. Chap. 11. 21. 24.— 1 anfwer, Abraham's being jufttfied bf works cannot relate to the juftification of his perfon before* <*od, form that fenfe he was juftified long before, even before he was circumcifed, Rom,iv. 10. ti. neither can' It relate to what fome call the/fco;i^flr). juUification, for^ this depended, according to their fcheme, upon hhfinaUi perfevering m good works, but the works hc'i-e mentioned,' were performed feveral years before his death. Tames dttCj not, therefore con^fadift wliat P^iPfaid, Rom. iih' ^^'Bylhedeeds-dfthelawJ^aHnoj^Jhb^juJiiJied in tkt^ Jr$ht of God, aad verfi?, «6. where 'lie"declares, M^/ a r^gnls jujtfiid byJdihMoxuthe dm'vfthe hzo. Tot C « Paul jH^l f peaks of tbejuftification oCoarpc-rfons before Go4. by faith in C^nft* blood : James I'pcaks of jullificatioij before men by proving his faiih to be linccrc, unci by ac- quitting hira 'from the char^^e of hypocrijV. Thefie two apoftles do not fpeak to the janie pciipns. Taul was con- futing the opinion pf tho.fe fifkU'e te;^chtTS^ \vh > willied to join their works \vitl,i Chnll's merits, and lupporcd, tli^t both thefe upitcd together were abiolutely iiuceilary to conftityieajultifying rightcoufncfs, and that the merit* of the Redeemer ucre otheiwilfinlutlicientfor pardoMaiuJ Sicceptance with God. Paul therefore declare o", that julti. jfication in the light »f God is by faith alone, without the Uaft mijXtur* of works, jaincs was cuufuiuj^ the opinion pf ihofc, who held, that a hiltorical failh, which he call^ a dead/aiihy was fufticient for julb.hcation. This fhcWs,that God jultifies then'/^ot//)', who believe in hiui by the im- putation of Chrdl\s merits, without the IcaU ingredient of %works, byi be has joined faith and works in the lives of jjiftified perforjs. I Ihall now .conclude the fubje^l by making fome prac-» ticai oblervationa on what hath bet d (aid. Wfc have before us one of tht- {^raudelt tranf^fi ions ever lieheljl. The Lord jefusbecon^ing aj'vi^/'u^^tf foruimum- bered millions of the human famdy. And therefore ciri- phatically called the l.ord our n^hicpufnejs. Firom fuch j^ important dp^rioe many benefits inuft refult. An4 li^reforc, . The doftTioc of juHificatipn through the i^npuiejl l^ghieoyftieJs of the Redeemer is calcuUted tp manife:^ Uie vindictive juft;ce of God to the bell adva.ntage. It- holds up to pur view the eteraal Gpdmaintjaining iRviov l.ate the dignify of his government even when he p^rJt^pA* ^he vileft tranfgreflprs. Though he pardpps lin, yet.t^ .ViU by no rrieans icl^w the guilty, ^very tranlgr^fUo^' ipuft be atoned tjw^ugb blood. For vtithout thejneiaif^ $/ blood then if no repu^on 9/Jtn. Tb^s is verified jn tb^ ii ; i(iiiiciitio() uid by ac- Fhcle two >l was cun- willied to poled, that icellary to ihe incrit;> )ardoHan(| that juUi. /iihoiH the le opinion he calls a fhcws,that >y the im- reditnt of he lives of Qions ev^r oruiinum- refore cin- ■'irom I'ucli ^I'ult. Ani e ipiputejl Q manife^ a.niage. ly ling ifiviov e p^rdpA* lin, yet ^ jnfgr^lIiQII Red [ntlj* f *♦ I K< ftopd cliar^,bl€ *«ith the Cos of «l» RV<>(r, ^f^^rat-'^ feoth wnh rcfpeM to God, who wiis'iinder no obligation io admit a fatisfafciion for fin; but might in ftrid jufiicr., have left the guilty rebels to pcrilh in their tranfgrelljous, and oi pure free grace wiih refpefct to 'the guiby criminals, who 4ie pardoned. For it ,is befltowcd on them freely without piy reward, merit, o% deferl of their own. % The doftrine of juftilication through the imputed righteoufnefs of JefusChrifl manifefts thegoodnefsofGod to the befl advantage. Wonderful goodncfs appears in allowing di fubflitute to fufFer in the law-room, and flead of ininujnbcred millions who mufl othcrwile have fuffered forever and ever. It appears flill greater in providing a fubflitute, without any folicitation on our part. But the greateft exertion of goodnefs appears in appointing a Son, an only btgolten Sou to futfer in the (lead of his bitter ene- mies. < r This fcheme of juflification difplays-the wifdom of God to-the beft advantage. It harmonizes the feeraingly* oppolite claims of juftice and mercy. It not only fatisiieV each, but magnifies both. juUiocreceivef(all her demands,^ and opens a door for the exvrife of mercy. Penitent tranfgrelliors -ire reftored to onifAO H'v^ur through life ^ itiffenngsof a fubftitute. • <^ ' ■ ■ > / ,Wi The do6trine of judification through the imputed t\gh~ teouiiiefs of the Redeemer^ teaches us to place our gofpel- Qbedictice on x\^q righi loundatiooi Any ^tpeme*i» c*at*i gerpus . , .*» leart dread- at we, even ^fl^and our n pithy tor Jtcd righte- ■of (Jod to (ins, Sz ac- id, through c Redeem 1 ccepianrp. fjru.grau^ hgarion io i(iict.\ have Ilioiis. and finals, who y withovU I imputed iclsof'God ippcars in ai)d (lead I'e fuffered 'oviding a . But the '■wg a 5on, Jitter ene- vifdom of feeniingly* ly fatisfies^ demands,*- Penitent irou?h tife^ uted i\<^^ •ur gofpel* [ne«i» daxm gerpu* y gcrouR. Somcmak ,t the matter, . . .aufe of Tumfi.. call, n, others the condition of Chrirt's rightcoufnels bew i:.g.u.puted. Others deny the necefTjtv of uofpcl obe. d.ence, and turn ih^ grace ol Cod into lacin^fnefs. But ^v'c mull dininguifh. between Chnrts obedience and ouJ own. His is meritorious, ours ih«?„rcfore,Rom. viii. 33. 34. im JhcH 9 ill 1 ■ ! ; 1 jli 1 t ^ 1 ««^M4j^/^;j^^,, he that ^on^emntth ? IfU Chn^ ifcr/.*i