each PERSON diftintllÿ,. 221 Rom. v. 10. The iffue of the deathof Chrift is placed upon reconcilia- tion, that is, a flaying of the enmity and reftoring us into that condition of peace and friendfhip wherein Adam was before his fall. But is there no more to he done ? Notwithftanding that therewas no wrath due to Adam, yet he was to obey if he would enjoy eternal life. Something there is moreover to be done inrefpe& of us, if after the flaying of the enmity and reconciliation made, we fhall enjoy life ; being reconciled by his death, wo are faced by that perfe& obedience which in his life he yielded to the law ofGod. There is diftin& mention made ofreconciliation, througha non- imputation of fin, as Pfal. xxxii. 1. Luk. i. 77. Rom. iii. 25. 2 Cor. v. 19. and juftification through an imputation of righteoufnefs, ferem. xxiii. 6. Rom. iv. 5. t Cor. i. 30. although thefe things are fo far from being feparated, that they are reciprocally affirmed of one another; which as it Both not evince an identity, fo it doth an eminent conjun&ion, and this lait we have by the life of Chrift. This is fully expreffed in that typical reprefentation of our juftification before the Lord, Zech. iii. 3, 4, 5. two things are there expreffed, to be- long to our free acceptation before God. Fir/i, The taking away of the guilt of our fin, our filthy rohes, this is done by the death of Chrift. Re- miffiou of fin is the proper fruit thereof; but there is more alfo required, even a collation ofrighteoufnefs, and thereby a right to life eternal ; this is here called fine change of raiment, fo the Holy Ghoft expreffes it again, Ifa. lxi. to. where he calls it plainly the garment of falvation, and the robe ofrighteoufnefs, now this is only made ours by the obedience of Chrift, as the other by his death. Obj. But if this be fo, then are we as righteous as Chrift hirnfelf, being righteous with his righteoufnefs. Anf. But fir/t here is a great difference, if it were no more than that this righteoufnefs was inherent in Chrift, and properly his own, it is only reckoned or imputed to us ; or freely bellowed on us, and we are made righteous with that which is not ours. But fecondi) the truth is, that Chrift was not righteous with that righteoufnefs for himfelf, but for us, fo that here can be no comparifon; only this we may fay, we are righte- ous with his righteoufnefs which he wrought for us, and that compleatly. And this now is the rife of the purchafed grace whereof we fpeak, the obedience ofChrift. And this is the influence of it into our acceptation with God. Whereas the guilt of fin, and our obnoxioufnefs to puni(hment on that account, is removed and taken away, as !hall farther be declared, by the death of Chrift; and whereas befides the taking away of fin, we have need ofa compleat righteoufnefs upon the account whereof we may be accepted with God, this obedience of Chrift, through the free grace of God is imputed unto its for that end and purpofe. This is all I !hall for the prefent infift on to this purpofe; that the paf- five righteoufnefs of Chrift only, is imputed to us, an the non-imputation of fin, and thaton the condition of our faith and new obedience, fo exalt- ing them into the roomof the righteoufnefs of Chrift, is a thing which in communion with the Lord Jefus, I have as yet no acquaintance withal, what maybe fait in the way of argumenton the onefide or other, muff be elfewhere confidered. (a.) The fecond fpring of our communion. with Chrift in purchafed grace, is his death and oblation. He lived for us; he died for us. He was ours in all he did, in all he fuffered (a). (a) Tantane me rerun, vivendi, one, voiupras? lit pro.me hoilili ui paierer faccedere dextro gam genii ? inane hoc genitor per vulnera. fervor Mort; tua.vireos? Virgil, Amid. lib. ro. 545. 1 !hail M m m m
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=