Chap. 5· Se.:l:. 5· 1£.001\t~g nptO ~_ef_U_5-,-- · _ __B_o_o_k_IV_:_._:.3_..:23:__ either becaufe we undedland not the fulnefs of his life, or becaufe we are carnal and felfilh, affecting freedom fro•? helL more than hoh~efs on earth, fom.e bendit by Chnfl:, more than conformity to Chnfl:. 0 come! fee the fulnefs of Chnfl s hfe: 1n reference ro our fantlification, was it noc an ex><'t modd of perfechon ? a,.. moO:_ cunous exem– plification of Gods whole Word ? an exprefsidea, Image, Reprefemmonof the who!e mind of God ? a full prefldent for all o,thers to walkby, to work by, t~ live by?/nd '!1 reference to jullification, is n~t Chnfls hfe the ob1e:t of _F~nh and Julhfymg._ nay JS not Chrift's life the object~ of JUil:tfymg fatth, as well as C!mll s death, refu_rreCl:wn! aC cenflon feffion, intef(efiton? The afferrors of Chnft s acbve and pafitve obedtence tor us 'ea~ tell us of two things in the Law intended; one principaL 'Viz.. Obedtence : and a~other fecondary, 'Viz.. malediction upon fuppolitioo of _dif~bedience; fo that · fin being once committed, there muft be a double_act to JUI'ttficauon, the fuffer– ing of the Curfe, and the fulfilling of Riglmoufnefs anew , the_ one is fatisfadion for the injury we bavedoneuntoGodas our Judge; and the other ts a perfor~unce of a fervice whichweoweuntoGod as our Maker. 0 then how large, a11dfull, andcomprehentive is this life of Chrifl? . . · . , . • . 2 , Confider the excellency, the glory of thts Object : Clmfl s l.fe tS glonous, and hence it is that the righteoufnefs of Chrill is the moO: glorious garment that ever the Saints of God did wear. It is Marlarat's faying, that the Church which puts an Chrift Marlorat. andhi< rightcarifncfs, is mare ilbrf/ria~<r th,m the .Ayr is by the Sun. [ohn thus fets her Rev."· '• out in his Vilion; Andthere appeared agreat ~>ander in heaven, a tv0111an claathedwith the Sun, and the Moon under her feet. I rake this to be a lofty Poetical defcription of Chrill:'s imputed riglueoufnefs: Imagine a garment were cut out of the Sun, and put upon us, how glorious lhould we be? 0 but the righteoufnefs of Chrift is much more glorious : No wonder if the Church cloathed with the Sun, tread the Moon under her feet (i.) if OJC trample on all fublunary things, which are uncertain and changeable as the Moon , I count all things but dung (faith Paul! that Irmry .win Chrift, and be fo1md I'hi!. 3 g 9; inhim; not ha'Ving my awn righreat{nefs rrhrch " of the Law, bm that which u through ' thr: Faith of Chrifl, therighteattfnefs which is of God by Faith. When Pa1d compares Chrill:'s righteoufnefs with the glory of the world , then is the world but dung. 0 the glory, 0 the excellency of the righteoufnefs of Chriil:! 3. Confider the futablenefs of this object;' Chrift s life, and the virtue of it, is moO: futable to our condition. Thus I might apply Chrifl to every condition· if thouart lick, he is a Phyf1tian; if thou fearefl death, he is the wa)', the trmh, and the life · if 1 thou an hungry, he is the bread of Life; if thou art thirfty, he is the water of Ufe: Bur not to inlif\ on thefe words. It is the daily complaint of the bell: of Saints, 0 my fins! I had thought thefe fin! had been wholly fubdned, but now I feel they retllrn upon m• r.gain; 11ow I feel the fprings in the bottom jill11p my foul again; Oh I am weary of my fclf, and weary of my life, Oh what will became of me?. In this cafe now Chrifi's life is moO: futable, his righteoufnefs is ac~ntinual righreoufnefs ; it i1 not a Ciftern, but Fo11ntain Zcch: 1 3. i: , open for thee to wa0 in;. M jin abounds,_ fo grace in this gift of righteoufnefs abounds m~chmare. Clm!t'sl!fetnthtsrefpe<'t, ts compared to changes of Garments: Thou enell:, 0 vrhat Jhall become ofme? Oh I feel new fins, and aielfins cotr:mitted afrefh; why but thefe chan$e; •f garments wtll lude all thy tins: If th?u art but cloatlJed with the zech. 3. 4, 1 obes of Clmfl s nghteoufnefs, there !hall never enter IntO the Lords heart one hard thought t_owards thee of caGing thee of, or of taking revenge upon any new occation ov falltmo !m. Why bere is the blelfednefs of all thofe that believe. Oh tben believe! Say not, wo~tld Chri(/ be incar;<at• far me ? wo~t!dhe lead (uch a life an earth far my fwl? Why yes~ for thy foul: never fpeak of thy flm, as if they Owuld be any hinclerance of t•lY Fltth. If the wicked that apply this righteoufnefs prefumptiou!ly, can fay, Let m fi" rhatgrace m~y abo~tnd, and fo they make no other ufe of Grace, but to run in debt, and fo !mwtth a ltcence; how much rather maicft thou fay on good ground, Oh let me behe'Ve! Oh let ":e own my portion irt this righuoufnefs of Chrift ! that a; my fi~sh.we abounded, fo my love may abound ; that a; my fins ha'7Je been exceeding great, fa rhe Lard ma~ be exceedmg fiveer; that a; my fins continue and encreafe, fa my thankfulnefs to Chrift; ~~~ "(lory m God, ander11~mphover fin, death, and the gra'Ve, mayalfoencreafc. Why rl.us be encouraged to beheve thy part in the Lord Jefus Chrift. Hh SECT. · t-
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