Chapter II: CHRIST doth Invite all of you to be his spouse (8)

Thus, I think, we have fairly answered these grand objections, which are generally urged against the doctrine of an _imputed righteousness_. Was I to stop here, I think I may say, “We are made more than conquerors through him that loved us.” But there is a way of arguing which I have always admired, because I have thought it always very convincing, by shewing the _absurdities_ that will follow from denying any particular proposition in dispute.

IV. This is the next thing that was proposed. And never did greater or more absurdities flow from the denying any doctrine, than will flow from denying the doctrine of CHRIST’s imputed righteousness.

And _first_, if we deny this doctrine, we turn the truth, I mean the word of GOD, as much as we can, into a lie, and utterly subvert all those places of scripture which say that we are saved by grace; that it is not of works, lest any man should boast; that salvation is GOD’s free gift; and that he who glorieth, must glory only in the LORD. For, if the whole personal righteousness of JESUS CHRIST be not the sole cause of my acceptance with GOD, if any work done by or foreseen in me, was in the least to be joined with it, or looked upon by GOD as an inducing, impulsive cause of acquitting my soul from guilt, then I have somewhat whereof I may glory in myself. Now boasting is excluded in the great work of our redemption; but that cannot be, if we are enemies to the doctrine of an imputed righteousness. It would be endless to enumerate how many texts of scripture must be false, if this doctrine be not true. Let it suffice to affirm in the general, that if we deny an imputed righteousness, we may as well deny a divine revelation all at once: for it is the _alpha_ and _omega_, the beginning and the end of the book of GOD. We must either disbelieve that, or believe what the prophet hath spoken in the text, “that the LORD is our righteousness.”

But farther: I observed at the beginning of this discourse, that we are all _Arminians_ and _Papists_ by nature: for as one says, “_Arminianism_ is the back way to _popery_.” And here I venture further to affirm, that if we deny the doctrine of an imputed righteousness, whatever we may stile ourselves, we are really _Papists_ in our hearts, and deserve no other title from men.

Sirs, what think you? Suppose I was to come and tell you, that you must intercede with saints, for them to intercede with GOD for you; would you not then say, I was justly reputed a _popish missionary_ by some, and deservedly thrust out of the synagogues by others? I suppose you would. And why? Because, you would say, the intercession of JESUS CHRIST was sufficient of itself, without the intercession of saints; and that it was blasphemous to join theirs with his, as though it was not sufficient.

Suppose I went a little more round about; and told you that the death of CHRIST was not sufficient, without our death being added to it; that you must die as well as CHRIST, join your death with his, and then it would be sufficient. Might you not then, with a holy indignation, throw dust in the air, and justly call me a “setter forth of strange doctrines?” And now then, if it be not only absurd, but blasphemous, to join the intercession of saints with the intercession of CHRIST, as though his intercession was not sufficient; or our death with the death of CHRIST, as though his death was not sufficient: judge ye, if it be not equally absurd, equally blasphemous, to join our obedience, either wholly or in part, with the obedience of CHRIST, as if that was not sufficient. And if so, what absurdities will follow the denying that the LORD, both as to his active and passive obedience, is our righteousness?

One more absurdity I shall mention, as following the denying this doctrine, and I have done.

I remember a story of a certain prelate, who, after many arguments in vain urged to convince the Earl of _Rochester_ of the invisible realities of another world, took his leave of his lordship with some such words as these: “Well, my lord, if there be no hell, I am safe; but if there should be such a thing as hell, what will become of you?” I apply this to those that oppose the doctrine now insisted on. If there be no such thing as the doctrine of an imputed righteousness, those who hold it, and bring forth fruit unto holiness, are safe; but if there be such a thing (as there certainly is) what will become of you that deny it? It is no difficult matter to determine. Your portion must be in the lake of fire and brimstone for ever and ever. Since you will rely upon your works, by your works you shall be judged. They shall be weighed in the balance of the sanctuary; and they will be found wanting. By your works therefore shall you be condemned; and you, being out of CHRIST, shall find GOD, to your poor wretched souls, a consuming fire.

The great _Stoddard_ of _Northampton_ in _New-England_, has therefore well intitled a book which he wrote (and which I would take this opportunity to recommend) “The Safety of appearing in the Righteousness of CHRIST.” For why should I lean upon a broken reed, when I can have the rock of ages to stand upon, that never can be moved?

And now, before I come to a more particular application, give me leave, in the apostle’s language, triumphantly to cry out, “Where is the scribe, where the disputer?” Where is the reasoning infidel of this generation? Can any thing appear more reasonable, even according to your own way of arguing, than the doctrine here laid down? Have you not felt a convincing power go along with the word? Why then will you not believe on the LORD JESUS CHRIST, that so he may become the LORD _your_ righteousness?

But it is time for me to come a little closer to your consciences.

Brethren, though some may be offended at this doctrine, and may account it foolishness; yet, to many of you, I doubt not but it is precious, it being agreeable to the form of sound words, which from your infancy has been delivered to you; and, coming from a quarter, you would least have expected, may be received with more pleasure and satisfaction. But give me leave to ask you one question; Can you say, the LORD our righteousness? I say, the LORD _our_ righteousness. For entertaining this doctrine in your heads, without receiving the LORD JESUS CHRIST savingly by a lively faith into your hearts, will but increase your damnation. As I have often told you, so I tell you again, an unapplied CHRIST is no CHRIST at all. Can you then, with believing _Thomas_, cry out, “My LORD and my GOD?” Is CHRIST your sanctification, as well as your outward righteousness? For the word righteousness, in the text, not only implies CHRIST’s personal righteousness imputed to us, but also holiness wrought in us. These two, GOD has joined together. He never did, he never does, he never will put them asunder. If you are justified by the blood, you are also sanctified by the Spirit of our LORD. Can you then in this sense say, The LORD our righteousness? Were you ever made to abhor yourselves for your actual and original sins, and to lothe your own righteousness; for, as the prophet beautifully expresses it, “your righteousness is as filthy rags?” Were you ever made to see and admire the all-sufficiency of CHRIST’s righteousness, and excited by the Spirit of GOD to hunger and thirst after it? Could you ever say, my soul is athirst for CHRIST, yea, even for the righteousness of CHRIST? O when shall I come to appear before the presence of my GOD in the righteousness of CHRIST! nothing but CHRIST! nothing but CHRIST! Give me CHRIST, O GOD, and I am satisfied! my soul shall praise thee for ever.

Was this ever the language of your hearts? and, after these inward conflicts, were you ever enabled to reach out the arm of faith, and embrace the blessed JESUS in your souls, so that you could say, “my beloved is mine, and I am his?” If so, fear not, whoever you are. Hail, all hail, you happy souls! The LORD, the LORD CHRIST, the everlasting GOD, is your righteousness. CHRIST has justified you, who is he that condemneth you? CHRIST has died for you, nay rather is risen again, and ever liveth to make intercession for you. Being now justified by his grace, you have peace with GOD, and shall, ere long, be with JESUS in glory, reaping everlasting and unspeakable fruits both in body and soul. For there is no condemnation to those that are really in CHRIST JESUS. “Whether _Paul_ or _Apollos_, or life or death, all is yours if you are CHRIST’s, for CHRIST is GOD’s.” My brethren, my heart is enlarged towards you! O think of the love of CHRIST in dying for you! If the LORD be your righteousness, let the righteousness of your LORD be continually in your mouth. Talk of, O talk of, and recommend the righteousness of CHRIST, when you lye down, and when you rise up, at your going out and coming in! Think of the greatness of the gift, as well as of the giver! Shew to all the world, in whom you have believed! Let all by your fruits know, that the LORD is your righteousness, and that you are waiting for your LORD from heaven! O study to be holy, even as he who has called you, and washed you in his own blood, is holy! Let not the righteousness of the LORD be evil spoken of through you. Let not JESUS be wounded in the house of his friends; but grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our LORD and Saviour JESUS CHRIST, day by day. O think of his dying love! Let that love constrain you to obedience! having much forgiven, love much. Be always asking, What shall I do, to express my gratitude to the LORD, for giving me his righteousness? Let that self-abasing, GOD-exalting question be always in your mouths; “Why me, LORD? why me?” why am I taken, and others left? why is the LORD my righteousness? why is he become my salvation, who have so often deserved damnation at his hands?

My friends, I trust I feel somewhat of a sense of GOD’s distinguishing love upon my heart; therefore I must divert a little from congratulating you, to invite poor christless sinners to come to him, and accept of his righteousness, that they may have life.

Alas, my heart almost bleeds! What a multitude of precious souls are now before me! how shortly must all be ushered into eternity! and yet, O cutting thought! was GOD now to require all your souls, how few, comparatively speaking, could really say, the LORD _our_ righteousness!

And think you, _O sinners_, that you will be able to stand in the day of judgment, if CHRIST be not your righteousness! No, that alone is the wedding-garment in which you must appear. O christless sinners, I am distressed for you! the desires of my soul are enlarged. O that this may be an accepted time! that the LORD may be your righteousness! For whither would you flee, if death should find you naked? Indeed there is no hiding yourselves from his presence. The pitiful fig-leaves of your own righteousness will not cover your nakedness, when GOD shall call you to stand before him. _Adam_ found them ineffectual, and so will you. O think of death! O think of judgment! Yet a little while, and time shall be no more; and then what will become of you, if the LORD be not your righteousness? Think you that CHRIST will spare you? No, he that formed you, will have no mercy on you. If you are not of CHRIST, if CHRIST be not your righteousness, CHRIST himself shall pronounce you damned. And can you bear to think of being damned by CHRIST? Can you bear to hear the LORD JESUS say to you, “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” Can you live, think you, in everlasting burnings? Is your flesh brass, and your bones iron? what if they are? hell-fire, that fire prepared for the devil and his angels, will heat them through and through. And can you bear to depart from CHRIST? O that heart-piercing thought! Ask those holy souls, who are at any time bewailing an absent GOD, who walk in darkness, and see no light, though but a few days or hours; ask them, what it is to lose a sight and presence of CHRIST? See how they seek him sorrowing, and go mourning after him all the day long! And, if it is so dreadful to lose the sensible presence of CHRIST only for a day, what must it be to be banished from him to all eternity?

But thus it must be, if CHRIST be not your righteousness. For GOD’s justice must be satisfied; and, unless CHRIST’s righteousness is imputed and applied to you here, you must hereafter be satisfying the divine justice in hell-torments eternally; nay, CHRIST himself shall condemn you to that place of torment. And how cutting is that thought! Methinks I see poor, trembling, christless wretches, standing before the bar of GOD, crying out, LORD, if we must be damned, let some angel, or some archangel, pronounce the damnatory sentence: but all in vain. CHRIST himself shall pronounce the irrevocable sentence. Knowing therefore the terrors of the LORD, let me persuade you to close with CHRIST, and never rest till you can say, “the LORD our righteousness.” Who knows but the LORD may have mercy on, nay, abundantly pardon you? Beg of GOD to give you faith; and, if the LORD gives you that, you will by it receive CHRIST, with his righteousness, and his All. You need not fear the greatness or number of your sins. For are you sinners? so am I. Are you the chief of sinners? so am I. Are you backsliding sinners? so am I. And yet the LORD (for ever adored be his rich, free and sovereign grace) the LORD is my righteousness. Come then, _O young men_, who (as I acted once myself) are playing the prodigal, and wandering away afar off from your heavenly Father’s house, come home, come home, and leave your swines trough. Feed no longer on the husks of sensual delights: for CHRIST’s sake arise, and come home! your heavenly Father now calls you. See yonder the best robe, even the righteousness of his dear Son, awaits you. See it, view it again and again. Consider at how dear a rate it was purchased, even by the blood of GOD. Consider what great need you have of it. You are lost, undone, damned for ever, without it. Come then, poor, guilty prodigals, come home: indeed, I will not, like the elder brother in the gospel, be angry; no, I will rejoice with the angels in heaven. And O that GOD would now bow the heavens, and come down! Descend, O Son of GOD, descend; and, as thou hast shewn in me such mercy, O let thy blessed Spirit apply thy righteousness to some young prodigals now before thee, and clothe their naked souls with thy best robe!

But I must speak a word to you, _young maidens_, as well as young men. I see many of you adorned, as to your bodies: but are not your souls naked? Which of you can say, the Lord is my righteousness? which of you was ever solicitous to be dressed in this robe of invaluable price, and without which you are no better than whited sepulchres in the sight of GOD? Let not then so many of you, young maidens, any longer forget your chief and only ornament. O seek for the LORD to be your righteousness, or otherwise burning will soon be upon you, instead of beauty!

And what shall I say to you of a middle age, you _busy merchants_, you _cumbered Martha’s_, who, with all your gettings, have not yet gotten the LORD to be your righteousness? Alas! what profit will there be of all your labour under the sun, if you do not secure this pearl of invaluable price? this one thing, so absolutely needful, that it only can stand you in stead, when all other things shall be taken from you. Labour therefore no longer so anxiously for the meat which perisheth, but henceforward seek for the LORD to be your righteousness, a righteousness that will entitle you to life everlasting. I see also many _hoary heads_ here, and perhaps the most of them cannot say, the LORD is my righteousness. O gray-headed sinners, I could weep over you! your gray hairs, which ought to be your crown, and in which perhaps you glory, are now your shame. You know not that the LORD is your righteousness: O haste then, haste ye, aged sinners, and seek an interest in redeeming love! Alas, you have one foot already in the grave, your glass is just run out, your sun is just going down, and it will set and leave you in an eternal darkness, unless the LORD be your righteousness! Flee then, O flee for your lives! be not afraid. All things are possible with GOD. If you come, though it be at the eleventh hour, CHRIST JESUS will in no wise cast you out. Seek then for the LORD to be your righteousness, and beseech him to let you know, how it is that a man may be born again when he is old! But I must not forget the _lambs_ of the flock. To feed them was one of my LORD’s last commands. I know he will be angry with me, if I do not tell them, that the LORD may be _their_ righteousness; and that of such is the kingdom of heaven. Come then, ye little children, come to CHRIST; the LORD CHRIST shall be _your_ righteousness. Do not think, that you are too young to be converted. Perhaps many of you may be nine or ten years old, and yet cannot say, the LORD is our righteousness; which many have said, though younger than you. Come then, while you are young. Perhaps you may not live to be old. Do not stay for other people. If your fathers and mothers will not come to CHRIST, do you come without them. Let children lead them, and shew them how the LORD may be _their_ righteousness. Our LORD JESUS loved little children. You are his lambs; he bids me feed you. I pray GOD make you willing betimes to take the LORD for your righteousness.

Here then I could conclude; but I must not forget the _poor negroes_; no, I must not. JESUS CHRIST has died for them, as well as for others. Nor do I mention you last, because I despise your souls, but because I would have what I shall say, make the deeper impression upon your hearts. O that you would seek the LORD to be your righteousness! Who knows but he may be found of you? For in JESUS CHRIST there is neither male nor female, bond nor free; even you may be the children of GOD, if you believe in JESUS. Did you never read of the eunuch belonging to the queen of _Candace_? a negro like yourselves. He believed. The LORD was his righteousness. He was baptized. Do you also believe, and you shall be saved. CHRIST JESUS is the same now as he was yesterday, and will wash you in his own blood. Go home then, turn the words of the text into a prayer, and intreat the LORD to be _your_ righteousness. Even so, come LORD JESUS, come quickly, into all our souls! _Amen_, LORD JESUS, _Amen_ and _Amen_!

SERMON XV.

The Righteousness of CHRIST, an everlasting Righteousness.

DANIEL ix. 24.

_And to bring in everlasting Righteousness._

ON reading these words, I cannot help addressing you in the language of the angels to the poor shepherds, who kept watch over their flocks by night, “Behold, I bring you glad tidings of great joy,” such tidings, that if we have ears to hear, if we have eyes to see, and if our hearts have indeed experienced the grace of GOD, must cause us to cry out with the Virgin _Mary_, “My soul doth magnify the LORD, and my spirit doth rejoice in GOD my Saviour.” The words which I have read to you, are part of one of the most explicit revelations that was given of JESUS CHRIST, before he made his public entrance into this our world. It has been observed by some, and very properly too, that it is one mark of the divine goodness to his creatures, that he is pleased to let light come in gradually upon the natural world. If the sun from midnight darkness, was immediately to shine forth in his full meridian blaze, his great splendor would be apt to dazzle our eyes, and strike us blind again: but GOD is pleased to make light come gradually in, and by that means we are prepared to receive it. And as GOD is pleased to deal with the natural, so he has dealt with the moral, with the spiritual world. The LORD JESUS CHRIST did not appear in his full glory all at once, but as the sun rises gradually, so did the LORD JESUS, the Sun of righteousness, rise gradually upon men, with healing under his wings. Hence it was, that our first parents had nothing to fix their faith upon, but that first promise, “The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent’s head.” And in future ages, at sundry times, and after divers manners, GOD was pleased to speak to our fathers by the prophets, before he spake to us in these last days by his son; and the prophets that were more peculiarly dear to GOD, it should seem had more peculiar and extraordinary revelations vouchsafed to them, concerning JESUS CHRIST.

It is plain from the accounts we have in Scripture, that the Prophet _Daniel_ was one of these; he is stiled by the angel, not only a “man that was beloved,” but a “man that was _greatly_ beloved,” or as it is in the margin of your bibles, “he was a man of desires,” of large and extensive desires to promote the glory of GOD; he was a desirable man, a man that did much good in his generation, and therefore his life was much to be desired by those who loved GOD. The words which I have chosen for the subject of our present meditation, contain part of a revelation made to this man. If you look back to the beginning of this chapter, you will find how the good man was employed, when GOD was pleased to give him this revelation; verse 2. “In the first year of _Darius_’s reign, I _Daniel_ understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to _Jeremiah_ the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of _Jerusalem_.” _Daniel_ was a great man, and withal a good man; great as he was, it seems he was not above reading his Bible; he made the Bible his constant study; for it is the Bible we are to understand by what is here termed books, and elsewhere, the scriptures of truth. He found, that the time for GOD’s people being delivered from the captivity, was now at hand. Well, one would have thought, that therefore _Daniel_ needed not to pray; but this, instead of retarding, quickened him in his prayers: and therefore we are told in the third verse, “I set my face unto the LORD GOD, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting and sackcloth, and ashes.” It is beautifully expressed: “he set his face,” as though he was resolved never to let his eye go off GOD, till GOD was pleased to give him an answer; he was resolved, _Jacob_-like, to wrestle with the LORD GOD, until GOD should be pleased to give him the desired blessing. We are told in the fourth verse, that “he prayed unto the LORD, and made confession,” not only of his own sins, but the sins of his people. And when ye retire home to your houses, before ye go to bed, I would recommend to you the reading of this prayer; every word of it bespeaks his exceeding concern for the public good. It would take me up too much time, was I to make such observations as indeed the prayer deserves; to bring you sooner to the words of the text, let us go forward to the twentieth verse, and there you will find the success that _Daniel_ met with, when praying. Says he, “while I was praying and confessing my sin, and the sin of my people _Israel_, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my GOD, for the holy mountain of my GOD; yea, while I was speaking in prayer, even the man _Gabriel_, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.” The manner in which _Daniel_ expresses himself, is very emphatical: “While I was _speaking in prayer_;” implying, that GOD suffers us, when we draw near to him by faith in prayer, to lay all our complaints before him; he suffers us to speak unto, and talk with him, as a man talketh with his friend. _Daniel_ at this time too was making _confession_ one part of his prayer; for we are never, never in a better frame to receive answers from above, than when we are humbling ourselves before the LORD. He was not only confessing his own sins, but he was confessing the sins of his people; he was praying for those, who perhaps seldom prayed for themselves; “while I was speaking in prayer, the man _Gabriel_:” which word, by interpretation, signifies _the strength of_ GOD; a very proper name, says Bishop _Hall_, for that angel who was to come and bring the news to the world, of the GOD of strength, the LORD JESUS CHRIST. This angel is here represented as flying, and as flying swiftly; to show us how willing, how unspeakably willing those blessed spirits are, to bring good news to men. And it is upon this account, I suppose, that we are taught by our LORD to pray, “that GOD’s will may be done by us on earth, as it is done in heaven,” that we may imitate a little of that alacrity and vigour, which angels employ, when they are sent on errands for GOD.

Well, here is not only mention made of the angel’s flying swiftly, but there is mention made of the time that he came; “He came and touched me, about the time of the evening oblation,” that is, about three o’clock in the afternoon; at this time there was a sacrifice made to GOD, and this sacrifice was in a peculiar manner a type of the LORD JESUS, who in the evening of the world was to become a sacrifice for sinners. We are told in the 22d verse, what message this angel delivered, “He informed me, and talked with me, and said, O _Daniel_, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding; at the beginning of thy supplication, the commandment came forth, and I am come to show thee, for thou art greatly beloved, therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.” This passage, with such-like passages of scripture, hath often comforted my soul, and may comfort the hearts of all GOD’s people. There are a great many of you, perhaps, have prayed, and prayed again to GOD, and probably you do not find any answer given you: you pray for an enlarged heart, you pray for comfort, you pray for deliverance; GOD is pleased to withhold it for a while; then the devil strikes in, and says, GOD has shut out your prayers, GOD will never hear, GOD will never regard you, therefore pray no more. But, my dear friends, this is a mistake; a thousand years are with GOD as one day; and the LORD JESUS has bid us, “to pray always, and not faint.” You may have had your prayers heard, the very moment they went out of your lips, though it may not please your GOD, (and it may not be proper for you) to let you know that they are heard. “At the beginning of thy supplication, the commandment went forth;” and this very angel some hundred years after, told _Zacharias_, that his prayer was heard; a prayer for what? a prayer for a child; it could not be supposed that at the very time _Zacharias_ was praying for a child; but his prayer he had put up forty years before, GOD was pleased to answer so long afterwards.

But to proceed with _Gabriel_’s declaration, verse 24. “Seventy ♦weeks are determined upon thy people, and upon thy holy city, to finish transgression, to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness,” I do not intend to trouble you about the critical exposition of these _seventy weeks_; commentators are divided exceedingly upon this subject; some of them explain them one way, and some another, and perhaps we shall never know till the day of judgment, till the glorious day spoken of in the New Testament, which are right. My intention is to dwell upon this particular part of the angel’s message, that some one person was to do something _unspeakable_ for GOD’s people, even “to bring in an everlasting righteousness.”

♦ “years” replaced with “weeks”

If you want to know who was the person that was to do this, look to the 26th verse, and you will find the person mentioned, the LORD JESUS CHRIST: “after threescore and two weeks shall the _Messiah_ be cut off, but not for himself:” he is the person spoken of, he was “to put an end to sin, to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness.”

From these important words, I shall endeavour,

_First_, To shew you what we are to understand by the word,
“Righteousness.”

_Secondly_, I shall endeavour to shew you, upon what account it
is, that the righteousness mentioned in the text, is called an
“everlasting righteousness.”

_Thirdly_, I shall shew, what we are to understand by “bringing
it in.” And,

Then speak a word to saints and sinners. And while I am speaking to your ears, may GOD, for the LORD JESUS CHRIST’s sake, speak to your hearts!

_First_, To explain what we are to understand by the word, “righteousness.” If I was to ask some people what we are to understand by the word, righteousness; if the person was an _Arminian_, or an enemy to the doctrine of free grace, he would answer me, it signifies what we commonly call _moral honesty_, or doing justice between man and man. And, indeed, in various passages of scripture, the word righteousness has no other meaning, at least, it bears that meaning. I suppose, we are to understand it in this sense, when we are told, that _Paul_, preaching before _Felix_, “reasoned of temperance, of righteousness, and of a judgment to come.” _Felix_ had been a very unrighteous and unjust man, and therefore, to convince him of his wickedness, to alarm his conscience, to put him upon seeking help in the LORD JESUS, _Paul_ preached not only of temperance, (for _Felix_ had been a very intemperate man) but he preached to him of righteousness, of the necessity of doing justice, because he had been an unjust man; and he puts before him the judgment to come, in order to make him fly to JESUS CHRIST for deliverance from the bad consequences of that judgment; and there are other places of scripture, where the word righteousness may be understood in this sense.

It likewise signifies inward holiness, wrought in us by the blessed Spirit of GOD. But, I believe, the word righteousness in my text signifies, what, I trust most, I should be glad if I could say, all who attend this night, will be glad to hear of: What is that? It is what all reformed divines, that have clear heads and clear hearts, call an _imputed righteousness_, or the righteousness of the LORD JESUS CHRIST to be imputed to poor sinners upon their believing: and, if you ask me, what I mean by an imputed righteousness; not to shoot over your heads, but rather, if GOD shall be pleased to make me, to reach your hearts, I will tell you, by this word “righteousness,” I understand all that CHRIST hath done, and all that CHRIST hath suffered: or, to make use of the term generally made use of by sound divines, “CHRIST’s active, and CHRIST’s passive obedience;” put these two together, and they make up the righteousness of the LORD JESUS CHRIST. My dear friends, thus stood the case between GOD and man: at first GOD made man upright. _Moses_ gives us a short, but never was so full a description of the origin and nature of man given by any other but himself. “In the image of GOD made he man,” says that sacred historian, being inspired by the Spirit of GOD. GOD said, and it was done; GOD commanded, and the world arose before him; “Let there be light,” and instantaneously behold light appeared: but when that lovely, that divine, that blessed creature Man, the Lord of the creation, GOD’s vicegerent, was to be made, GOD calls a council, and says, “Let us make man after our own image.” Now, this image is to be understood, no doubt, in respect of man’s soul; for GOD being no corporeal substance, man could not be made after his image that way. Well, in this condition GOD made man. _Adam_ stood as our representative. _Adam_ and _Eve_ had but one name originally, “GOD made man, and called their name _Adam_.” GOD left _Adam_ to his own free will; he was pleased to enter into a covenant with him, which, indeed, is an amazing instance of GOD’s condescension. GOD might have ordered man to do so and so, and not made him any promise of a reward: but the great Creator was pleased to promise him, that if he performed an unsinning obedience, if he abstained from eating a particular tree, that he and his posterity should live for ever; but if He broke that command, in the day that he ate thereof, he and all his posterity were to die. Now, I verily believe, had you and I been there present, however some people may object against GOD’s severity, in imputing _Adam_’s sin to us; yet I believe, if you and I, and all the world had been present, we should have heartily come into this agreement. Supposing GOD had called the whole creation together, and had said, “Ye, my creatures, I have made here a man after my own image, I have breathed into him the breath of life, I have caused him to become a living soul, I have filled him with righteousness and true holiness; he has not the least propensity to sin, only he is a fallible and mutable creature; all that I desire of this man is, that he abstain from yonder tree: I have given to him all the trees of the garden, I have made him, and planted for him a garden with mine own right hand, I desire he may abstain from plucking yonder fruit: Will ye stand or fall by this man, will ye let him be your representative, will ye be content that his obedience or disobedience be imputed to you?” If we had been all there, every one of us would have said, “LORD GOD, we will let him be our representative;” the terms were so easy, the improbability of his falling was so exceeding great, that I believe every one of us should have all put our hand to the covenant. And supposing us alive, and that we had agreed to that covenant, who is that man or woman that could find fault with GOD’s imputing _Adam_’s sin to us. Well, my friends, GOD made man in this condition; the devil envied his happiness; it is supposed by some, that man was made to supply the places of the fallen angels. But the devil envied man, and had leave to tempt him; _Eve_ soon reached out her hand and plucked of the forbidden fruit, and afterwards _Adam_ transgressed also; and from that very moment, to make use of Mr. _Boston_’s words, “Man’s name was _Ichabod_,” the glory of the LORD departed from him. _Adam_ and _Eve_ then fell: you, and I, and all their posterity (whom they represented) fell in them. Mankind had but one neck; and GOD might have served mankind, as _Caligula_ would have served _Rome_, according to his own words, “I wish it had but one neck, and I would cut it off with one blow.” GOD, if he pleased, might have sent us all to hell. Here _Calvin_ represents GOD’s attributes as struggling one with another; Justice saying to GOD, seeing Justice had framed the sanction, “Is the law broken, damn the offender, and send him to hell.” The mercy of GOD, his darling attribute, cries out, “Spare him, spare him.” The wisdom of GOD contrives a way, that justice might be satisfied, and yet mercy be triumphant still. How was that? The LORD JESUS interposes, the days-man, the dear Redeemer! he saw GOD wielding his flaming sword, and his hand taking hold of vengeance; the LORD JESUS CHRIST saw the sword ready to be sheathed in the blood of the offender; when no eye could pity, when no angel or archangel could rescue, just as GOD was, as it were, about to give the fatal blow, just as the knife was put to the throat of the offender, the Son of GOD, the eternal Logos, says, “Father, spare the sinner; let him not die; Father, Father, O hold thy hand, withdraw thy sword, for I come to do thy will; man has broken thy law, and violated thy covenant: I do not deny but man deserves to be damned for ever; but, Father, what _Adam_ could not do, if thou wilt prepare me a body, I in the fulness of time will go, and die for him; he has broken thy law, but I will go and keep it, that thy law may be honoured; I will give a perfect unsinning obedience to all thy commandments; and that thou mayst justify ungodly creatures, I will not only go down and obey thy law, but I will go down and bleed; I will go down and die: here I am; I ♦will step in between thee and sinners, and be glad to have thy sword sheathed in my heart’s blood for them.”

♦ duplicate word “will” removed

In the fulness of time descends the eternal Logos, “In the fulness of time GOD sent forth his Son made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that are under the law from the curse of it, being made a curse for us.” The LORD JESUS CHRIST being cloathed in human nature, fulfilled all righteousness; he submitted to every institution of GOD, and was pleased to obey the whole moral law; and afterwards, O can we think of it, O can you hear of it, without a heart leaping with joy, at last the LORD JESUS bled and died! and when he was just expiring, just as he was about to bow down his head, and give up the ghost, what do ye think he said? He said, “It is finished!” As much as to say, “Now the arduous work, the difficult task I had undertaken, blessed be GOD, is now completely over; all the demands of the law are finished; now GOD’s justice is satisfied; now a new and living way is opened by my blood to the holiest of all for poor sinners.”

So that when CHRIST’s righteousness is here spoken of, we are to understand “CHRIST’s obedience and death,” all that CHRIST has done, and all that CHRIST has suffered for an elect world, for all that will believe on him. And blessed be GOD for this righteousness! blessed be GOD for the epithet which in the text is put to this righteousness; it might be called a _blessed_ righteousness, it might be called a _glorious_ righteousness; it might be called an _invaluable_ righteousness; but the angel calls it an _everlasting righteousness_; GOD give you to take the comfort of it!

_Secondly_, I am now to shew, on what account, this righteousness is here called an _everlasting_ righteousness; and pray why do you think is CHRIST’s righteousness called an everlasting righteousness?

I suppose it is called an everlasting righteousness,

_First_, Because CHRIST’s righteousness was intended by the great GOD to extend to mankind even from eternity. All of you know, that old love is the best love. When we have an old acquaintance, a friend, that has loved us for many years, indeed that love is sweet: though we may love new friends, yet when an old friend and a new friend meet together, we may say, that the old is better. Now this should endear GOD to us, to think that from all the ages of eternity GOD had thoughts of you; GOD intended the LORD JESUS CHRIST to save your souls and mine: hence it is, that GOD, to endear _Jeremiah_ to him, tells him, I have loved thee with an everlasting love. Hence it is, that the LORD JESUS, when he calls his elect people up to heaven, says, “Come, ye blessed of my Father;” what follows? “receive the kingdom prepared for you;” how long? “from the foundation of the world.” All that we receive in time; all the streams that come to our souls, are but so many streams flowing from that inexhaustible fountain, GOD’s electing, GOD’s sovereign, GOD’s distinguishing, GOD’s everlasting love; and, therefore, the righteousness of JESUS CHRIST may properly be called an everlasting righteousness, because GOD intended it from everlasting.

_Secondly_, It is called an everlasting righteousness, because the efficacy of CHRIST’s death took place immediately upon _Adam_’s fall. Christianity, in one sense, is as old as the creation. Great Professor _Franck_, of _Germany_, says, “That CHRIST is the sum and substance of all righteousness.” Mr. _Henry_ observes, “That the LORD JESUS CHRIST is the treasure hid in the field of the Old Testament, under the types and shadows of the _Mosaic_ dispensation.” We have the Sun of Righteousness shining in his full meridian in the New Testament dispensation. Now the righteousness of JESUS CHRIST, may be called an everlasting righteousness, because all the saints that have been saved, or that ever will be saved, are all saved by the righteousness of CHRIST. A great many censorious people are mighty inquisitive to know, what will become of the heathens, that never heard of JESUS CHRIST. I would say to such persons, as the LORD JESUS CHRIST did to another curious enquirer, “What is that to thee? follow thou me.” Pray, for what should you and I trouble ourselves about the heathens? Are not we heathens? It is too true, that we have too much of the heathens temper and practice with us. But why should we lose our time in enquiring about what will become of the heathen, and not rather enquire what will become of our own souls? We may be sure GOD will deal with heathens according to their light: if he has given them no revelation, they will not be judged by a revelation; if they have not had a law, they will be judged without law. But as for the _Jews_ and _Gentiles_, who have the gospel revealed to them, however Deists may argue contrary to it; however they may set up reason in opposition to divine revelation; we may be sure none were ever saved, or will be saved, but by the righteousness of CHRIST. It was through faith in him, that _Abel_ was saved; it was through the sacrifice of JESUS CHRIST, that _Abraham_ was accepted, and that all the prophets of old were accepted; and there is none other name given under heaven, whereby we can be saved, but that of CHRIST. And therefore, since persons under the law, and under the gospel, are to be saved only through CHRIST; therefore, CHRIST’s righteousness may properly be called an everlasting righteousness. But this is not all.

_Thirdly_, The righteousness of JESUS CHRIST, is not only to be called an everlasting righteousness, because that all persons under the law, and all persons under the gospel, are saved by it; but because the efficacy thereof, blessed be GOD for it! is to continue till time shall be no more. Blessed be GOD for JESUS CHRIST! the efficacy of whose blood, death, and atonement, is as great and as effectual now to the salvation of poor sinners, as when he bowed his blessed head, and gave up the ghost: “JESUS CHRIST is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever;” and whosoever believes on him now, whosoever comes to, and accepts of him, shall now see his power, shall taste of his grace, and shall be actually saved by him, the same as if he had been in company with those who saw him expiring.

_Fourthly_, CHRIST’s righteousness may be called an everlasting righteousness, because the benefit of it is to endure to everlasting life. Indeed, some people tell us, that a person may be in CHRIST to-day, and go to the devil to-morrow: but, blessed be GOD, ye have not so learned CHRIST! No, my dear friends, thanks be to GOD for that divine text, “There is now no condemnation to them that are in CHRIST JESUS.” Though GOD’s people may fall foully; and though many are full of doubts and fears, and say, “One day I shall fall by the hands of _Saul_;” however ye may say in your haste, “All men are liars;” however your poor souls may be harassed, yet no wicked devil, nor your own depraved heart, shall be able to separate you from the love of GOD: GOD has loved you, GOD has fixed his heart upon you, and having loved his own, he loves them unto the end. The LORD of life and of glory, the blessed JESUS, will never cease loving you, till he hath loved and brought you to heaven; when he will rejoice, and say, “Behold me, O my Father, and the dear children that thou hast given me; thou gavest them me; thine they were, I have bought them with my blood, I have won them with my sword and with my bow, and I now will wear them as so many jewels of my crown.” Therefore, JESUS CHRIST’s righteousness may be called an everlasting righteousness, because those who once take hold of, and are interested in it, shall be saved everlastingly by CHRIST: “It is GOD that justifies us, (says St. _Paul_) who is he that condemneth? It is CHRIST that died, yea rather that is risen again.” He gives devils the challenge, “O death, where is thy sting, O grave, where is thy victory? Who shall separate us from the love of GOD? I am persuaded that neither death nor life, neither principalities nor powers, nor any other creature, shall ever be able to seperate us from the love of GOD, which is in CHRIST JESUS our LORD.” Those whom GOD justifies, he also glorifies. And because CHRIST lives, blessed be GOD, we shall live also. I know not what you may say; but though I trust I have felt the grace of CHRIST, yet I find that I have as much need to come to CHRIST every day for fresh strength, as if I had never believed before: and if I was to depend upon my own faithfulness, and not the faithfulness of the Son of GOD, I am sure I should soon desert the LORD JESUS CHRIST. But glory be to GOD, he is faithful that hath promised! Glory be to GOD, our salvation depends not upon our own free will, but upon GOD’s free grace! Here is a sure bottom; the believer may build upon it; let the storms blow as long and as high as they please, they may make the poor creature tremble, but blessed be GOD, they never shall be able to take him off the foundation; though they may shake him, they shall only shake off his corruption: and I believe all that fear GOD, will be glad to part with it. On all these accounts, CHRIST’s righteousness may be called an everlasting righteousness.

III. It is said, in my text, that JESUS was to bring it in. What are we to understand by his bringing it in? Our LORD’s promulgating and proclaiming it to the world. Indeed, it was brought in under the law; but then it was brought in under types and shadows, and most of the _Jews_ looked no further. But JESUS CHRIST brought life and immortality to light by the gospel. The light of _Moses_ was only twilight; the light of the gospel, is like the sun at noon-day, shining in his full meridian. Therefore, JESUS CHRIST may be said to bring in this everlasting righteousness, because he proclaimed it to the world, and commanded it to be preached, that GOD sent his Son into the world, that the world through him might be saved.

Again, The LORD JESUS CHRIST brought in this righteousness, as he wrought it out for sinners upon the cross. Some Antinomians, for want of a proper distinction, run into a grievous error, telling us, Because GOD intended to justify by the righteousness of JESUS CHRIST, therefore man is justified from all eternity: which is absurd: a person cannot be justified, till he is actually existing; therefore, though man is justified, as it lies in GOD’s mind from all eternity, yet it was not actually brought in till the LORD JESUS CHRIST pronounced those blessed words, “It is finished;” the grand consummation! then JESUS brought it in. A new and a living way was to be opened to the Holy of Holies, for poor sinners, by the blood of CHRIST. But I do not think that the expression, _brought in_, is to be limited to this sense, though I suppose it is the primary one; it implies not only CHRIST’s bringing it into the world, as promulgating, and having it written in the word of GOD, and as having wrought it out for sinners in his life, and on the cross; but he brings it in, in a manner, which, I pray GOD may take place this night; I mean, bringing it, by his blessed Spirit, into poor believers hearts. All that CHRIST hath done, all that CHRIST hath suffered, all CHRIST’s active obedience, all CHRIST’s passive obedience, will do us no good, unless by the Spirit of GOD, it is brought into our souls. As one expresses it, “An unapplied CHRIST is no CHRIST at all.” To hear of a CHRIST dying for sinners, will only increase your damnation, will only sink you deeper into hell, unless we have ground to say, by a work of grace wrought in our hearts, that the LORD JESUS hath brought this home to us. Hence it is, that the Apostle, speaking of CHRIST, says, “Who loved me, and gave himself for me.” O that dear, that great, that little, but important word, _me_. Happy they, who can adopt the Apostle’s language! Happy they that can apply it to their own heart; and when they hear that CHRIST has brought in an everlasting righteousness, can say, Blessed be GOD, it is brought in by the blessed Spirit to my soul!