C H A P. 33 . Chtifrs Rigiteotsfnefs the Objell of Faitb. 35$1' But , lure , this eyeing of, laying hold on , and leaning to the Righte- oufnefs of Chrift , holdeth clear correfpondence with the experience of the Children of God not only at their. firft Converfion , when delivered from under the Con vi &ions of fin , and the terrours of the Law ; but even after- ward, when exercifed with new affaults of Satan , obje&ing unto them their Unworthinefs , & Filthinefs , and hence inferring their exclufion from the face of God : for then their maine quieting refigg is the Righteoufnefs o;f Cnrift ; wherein they Peek only to be found acknowledging thatin them - felves, they are but (inners, and forejeáuingtheir own worth & holinefs, as too ragged to cover the shame of their nakednefs, wherein they have the Apollle Paul going before them Phil. 3: 3, 9. ( which may allo ferve , for a fcripturalproof and ground of the truth in hand ) He reje &ed all thefe things, wherein fometime he gloried , and he did now ( even long after his Con - verfion , while a prifoner at Rome & after all his great Labour & Paines in fpreading the Gofpel ) .count all things ( nothing is here excepted ) but lofs ( faith he ) for the excellency of the knowledge ofChriff leftis , my Lord , for whom 1 have pilfered the lofs of all things , 15 do count them but dung . that I may win Chrifl , dr be found in him , not having mine own IZ,ighteou fne, fs (it is nor good that Mr.Baxter should carp at Writters & Preachers , for (peaking & tea- ching after this manner , as he doth Cath. Theol. Mor. Works §. 176. ) which is of the Law; but that , which is through the faith of Chrifl, the ß. ghteoufnefs vvhich is of God by faith. This faith clearly , that in order to Juftification be- fore God , faith laith hold on a Righteoufnefs , which is of God , and which is had by the Faith of Chrift. And this Surety - Righteoufnefs of Chrift, is that which can only prove futable unto the cafe ofa wakened1finner , preffed with the guilt of fin , and feeing jutlice armed.againft him, flopping his way to life, becaufe of his Un- righteoufnefs. What .cats be more welcome unto Inch a finner, than the neuves ofa Righteoufnefs , and of l'ving Chrift to become the Lord his Righteoufnefs, as made of God Righteoufnefs ? And what can his faith grippe to more earneflly, than to this Righteoufnefs, that he may be covered therewith and chink with joy of appearing before God ? How elfe shall he think to be juftifi,ed by God , who is tuft, even when the juftifier of a be- leeving fanner. , He knowéth , that God is Righteous , and will not acquit the guilty; and therefore he muff have a Righteoufnefs, that he may be in cafe to {land before the Righteous God : So that he can have no peace , till by faith he have intereft in the Surety- Righteoufnefs of Jefus Chrift;. for he knoweth that he bath none of his owne, and that there is none any where elfe to be had. And further, this way doth exceedingly ferve to demonftrate, upon the one hand, the Righteouftefs ofGod, who will not Juftifie without a Righ- teoufnefs , or one that bath no Righteoufnefs ; and upon the other hand, it ccmmendeth the riches of the free Grace & Mercy of God , when the fin - nerfeeth, how free Love hath provided fuch,an alfuflicient Remedie , a Righ- teoufnefs againft which , no exception can be made , and a Righteoulnefs under the wings of which, he may faifly hide & shelter himfelf & being co- Ccc 3 vered
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=