76 The Covenant of Work" Chap. i 2.1 P ropofitions tending to clear the point íu hand;. interefting us in another righteoufneffe ; and fo I fay it is a Con - dition in the Covenant of Grace, immediately ferviceable for our returne to God, and reconciliation in Chrift. For clearing of which, before I come to a farther confirmation of it I fhall clear it in force propofitions. Firft, God will by no meaner jutifie a nicked perfon , no man in (in fhall fi'and and live in hit fight. He that bath made a Law to forbid it, ordained hell for the punifhment of it, will not juftifie the perfon that is convinced and found guilty of it. Some fair it is againft his effence. The juftice of God (which is God) ties him to take vengeance, Pure I am it is againft his declaration of himfelf, Exod. 34.7. when he fets out his name in feveral parti-1 culars,this is one, by no mcanes clearing the guilty. Some indeed have laid (concerting with themfelves thereby to promote free Grace, and I have heard it from the Pulpit) that God juftifies (inners as (inners, which as it muff needs bring in the falvation of all, it quatentu ad omne valet argumentum then a man need" no more but fin, to conclude his falvation, and the more fin, the ftronger evidence ; fo it is Utterly deftructive to the Gofpe!, and overthrowes the whole work of Chrifts merit, If righteoufnejj.e be by the Law, then, faith the Apoftle, Chrift is dead in vaine, Gal. 2.21. So we may fafely fay, If a man be juftified as a firmer ;without a righteoufneffe,then Chrift is dead in vaine, So that the truth is, God juflifies as righteous: what he efteems as au abomi- nation in man, that be Both not himfelf: but this in man is an a- bomination to him; HB that jufli fieththe wicked,and condemneth the jufl, event they both are an abomination to the Lord, Prov.. 17.15. Secondly, Man bath no righteoufnefe of his owne to bring in Flea for his jollification, in Which he can appear before God in-' judgement. This willbe plaine if we confider the wages of ac- quital where proceedings are juft and legal. This muff be ei- ther as innocent,when a man can plead not guilty to that which is given in charge ; So did David when Cufh, the Benjamite did traduce him, `Pfal, 7,3. If I have done this, if there be iniquity in my hands ---- And fo did Poral to the charge of Tertullam, Acts.: 24. 13. Upon this account Pilate was-- willing to have acquitted Chrif}, l f ndetoo fault in this man, Luke 2 3. 4, Or elfe he muff be acquittedTrom guilt by way of fatisfaftion or difcharge of the pe- nalty,
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