out of Prison Isa 49.9 that he should be wounded to heal us and be bruised to bind us up Isa 53.9 10. Isa 61.1 that a Vail should be cast over Christ's Innocency by our Iniquity taken on him that a Vail might be cast over our sins by his Righteousness imputed to us There was an Offence committed that might have remained on us and have destroyed us But O what kindness is this that there should be a Free Gift of Righteousness to relieve and justifie us Rom. 5.15 Christ Redeemed us from Destruction by devoting himself to Death for us in the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies to Redeem in the Arabick Fada fignifies to Devote ones self to Death This Fada is the same word with the Hebrew Phada and by comparing the two significations of the word in the two Languages we learn this excellent Truth †Vid. Oriental Lexicon That we are Redeemed by Christ's devoting himself to Death for us What we our selves should have fully wrought out that Christ hath bought and freely gives us Dan. 9.24 Rom. 5.19 O how should we admire God Who is a God like to him glorious in Holiness Exod. 15.11 Yet who is a God like to him pardoning iniquity and passing by Transgression and Sin Mic. 7.18 19. As he is Holy he hates sin yet as he is Gracious he pities Sinners His Holiness doth not hinder or obstruct his Mercy 3d. Vse Examine your selves whether you can truly call Jehovah by this sweet and comfortable Name Is he your Righteousness Are you invested with this Righteousness and discharged from your Sins Put these following Questions to your selves for Trial. 1. Did you ever come to your selves Luke 15.17 Did you ever feel your selves to be bound with Cords of Guilt laden with Iniquity ready to sink into the Bottomless Pit Men must be Condemned before they are Justified be cast down before they are lifted up apply the Curse to themselves before they apply the Blessing hear the Sentence of Death denounced against them by the Law before they partake of Justification of Life by the Gospel as the World was first without the Law and then the Israelites were under the Law and then Christ came with Righteousness and Peace So every Justified Sinner is first without the Law he is alive and full of hopes because he is without the Law Rom. 7.9 he knows not the Spirituality of the Commands of the Law nor the Severity of its Threatnings he hath a Calm and Peace because he never imputed his Numerous sins to himself or bound his Heinous Iniquities on himself The Soul is a dead Sea without motion towards God and yet is a calm and quiet Sea without dread and fear of God But when God intends good to the Soul first the Commandment comes Rom. 7.9 and then Sin Revives and a Storm is raised in the Soul but in due time Faith comes Gal. 3.25 and then the Soul is calmed and quieted being Justified by Faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 5.1 If you were nevere burdened you cannot be eased if you were never broken you cannot be bound up if you were never mourners you cannot be Comforted if you never tasted the bitterness of Sin you cannot tast the sweetness of the Grace of Christ and experience his purifying Blood and his reviving Righteousness If you are Justified How did you come by Pardon and Peace Can you call them Naphtali that you got them by wrestling It is said Israel shall be Justified and saved Isa 45.17 last Jacob wrestled with the Angel for a Blessing his Conscience might accuse him for Fraud and Lying in procuring the Blessing from blind Isaac yet he held the Angel fast said he and would not let him go except he did Bless him Gen. 32.26 And for this his Name was changed and he was called Israel Gen. 32.28 When we find Sin stirring in us when Conscience accuses the Law curses God according to the first Covenant condemns To Believe on Christ for Righteousness is as Peter's walking on the Sea in a storm If we have ever felt the smart of our wounds the Schorching heat of God's Wrath the Burning Poyson of the old Serpent in our Consciences If 〈◊〉 were ever arrested arraigned condemned shut up surely in the anguish of your Souls you have cryed out We are destitute of Righteousness and where shall we find it we have contracted guilt and provoked Wrath And where shall we be Found 2. Were you ever divorced from and dead to the Law and Covenant of Works as your First Husband and then Married to Christ we are first joined to the Law and the Covenant of Works as our First Husband and it makes us a jointure of Life upon condition of perfect Obedience The Apostle compares the Law to a Husband but the froward Heart of Man is not subject to this Husband The more the Commands of the Law are urged on it the more it contradicts and Rebels The motions of Sin are said to be by the Law Rom. 7.5 but the Fruits of Righteousness are by Jesus Christ Phil. 1.11 The Law cannot Sanctifie or Justifie us this is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 8.3 the thing that is impossible to the Law Have you therefore been divorced from and become dead to the Law Rom. 7.4 as it is a Covenant of Works Have you despaired of finding righteousness in your selves and of obtaining a Blessing from the Law and so have looked and fled to Jesus Christ †Heb. 12.24 as those that have been pursued by sin and the wrath of Ged Paul saith Gal. 2.16 Knowing that a Man is not Justified by the Works of the Law but by the Faith of Christ Even we have Believed in Jesus Christ that we might be Justified by the Faith of Christ and not by the Works of the Law For by the Works of the Law shall no Flesh be Justified 3. Are you Sanctified Justification and Sanctification always go together as in the Natural Body the Blood and Spirits do flow out together so the Blood and Spirit of Christ are always joined John 19.34 Blood and Water Signifiing the Spirit came together out of Christ's Side He comes by Water and Blood 1 John 5.6 else he would be but half and imperfect Saviour As the same day that the Waters went off form the Earth and were gathered into the Sea the Earth was adorned with Grass Herbs Flowers Trees Gen. 9.11 So when a deluge of Wrath goeth off from the Soul it is presented adorned with the grace of the Spirit and called a Tree of Righteousness Isa 61.2 Those that are Justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus are also Justified by the Spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6.11 If God Loves the Soul he makes it Lovely If Christ washes you he also makes you Kings and Priests Revel 1.5 6. You are no longer Vassals to your Lusts but as Kings rule in your own Hearts You check vain thoughts
found Heb. 9.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jesus Christ hath found that and brought that which is the great Foundation of our Faith and Hope 1. Jesus Christ hath brought this Righteousness near to us Isa 46.13 I bring near my Righteousness it shall not be far off The Saints of the Old Testament saw the Promises a-far off Heb. 11.13 But we see Eye to Eye Isa 52.8 The Manna came down from Heaven and lay about the Camp of Israel Ezod 16.14 It was near to them and prepared Food for them and easy to be gathered by them So Christ Typified by it saith I am the Bread that came down from Heaven that a Man may eat and not dye As this Bread was in Heaven it was high above-us and far off from us but now it is come down from Heaven it is near to us it is easie to come at So the Rock is smitten and the Spiritual Water flows out follows us is near to us 1 Cor. 10.3 4. As God clave the Rocks and gave Israel drink as out of the Great Depths Psal 78.15 The Water was deep in the Earth but it bubbl'd up and gushed out of the Rock plentifully as if a great deep Sea or the deep Waters that did lye low in the Earth did now rise and spring up and break out at the clefts of this Rock The Israelites could not come at those deep Waters that lay in the Bowels of the Earth till God did cause them to ascend and made a vent for them So the saving Mercies of God were a great Deep we had neither Bucket nor Rope to reach them or to come at them they were far off from us But Christ now being smitten this Rock now being cleft deep Mercies ascend flow forth follow us come near to us Christ's Righteousness is brought so near to us that we may easily come at it and enjoy it as the Manna was prepared Bread some derive the Word from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Manah he hath prepared this was Bread that God provided without their labour they did not Plow or Sow for it So Christ is God's Salvation that he hath prepared Luk. 2.29 30 31. As the Manna was Rained down near to the Israelites Camp so Christ's Righteousness is brought near to us we may gather receive it take it to our selves by Faith It is not difficult to obtain Look unto me all ye ends of the earth and be saved Isa 45.22 Is not that easie to be had that may be obtained by a look the word of Faith is nigh to us Rom. 10.8 Christ's Righteousness is not remote or a-far off but brought very near to us and easie to come at And is not our Spiritual Drink near and easie to be had The Rock in Exod. 17.6 was to be smitten but the Rock mentioned Numb 20.8 was only to be spoken to and it should give out Water Jesus Christ Typified by these Rocks was to be Smitten but once to Die but once That which now remains to be done is not to Smite but to speak to the Rock by the Prayer of Faith and it will give forth Spiritual Drink to us Rom. 10.12 The Lord is rich to all that call upon him that is he is not only rich in the Possession but also rich in the Distribution and Communication of Grace he is not only Rich for himself but for us and those that call on him that speak to this Rock do receive abundance of Grace and of the Gift of Righteousness Rom. 5.17 They that call on the name of the Lord shall be saved Joel 2. last 2. This Righteousness is brought near to God The Blood of the Typical Sacrifices was not carried into Heaven it was too mean and vile to be brought thither But the Blood of Jesus Christ is carried into Heaven it self Heb. 9.23 24. Our High-Priest is entred thither and hath carried his Blood into Heaven to present it to and plead it before God The very Throne of God as the Mercy-seat of old the Type of it was sprinkled with the Blood of the Typical Sacrifice Levit. 16.14 is sprinkled with the Blood of Christ As Christ brought his Righteousness into the Church as a Cordial to Revive us so he brought it into Heaven as a Plea before God As it is said The Burnt-offerings should be continually before God Psal 50.8 and did burn day and night on the Altar it was never without a Fire and a Sacrifice burning on it So Christ's Sacrifice is now always before the Lord Jesus Christ still represents it to and pleads it before God It is dreadful for our Sins to be continually before the Lord Psal 109.14 15. but it is sweet for Christ's Sacrifice to be always before the Lord by virtue of this our Prayers may be nigh to God day and night 1 Kings 8.59 till he Answer and Fulfil them 3. This Righteousness of Christ is established to continue for ever Heb. 10.9 God takes away the first even the Sacrifices of the Law to establish the second even the Sacrifice of Christ This Sacrifice is fixed as the one and only atoning Sacrifice it is never to be removed or to give place to any other God hath Sworn Christ to be a Priest Psal 110.4 God will never repent or change He will never put Christ out of Office or substitute any other in his place It is the higest pride to clash with God and for any to go about to establish their own Righteousness as the Jews did Rom. 10.3 and so to oppose God's Establishment And as this is Pride so it is pernicious Folly because nothing can establish the Heart or Conscience but the Grace of God through the Atoneing Sacrifice of Jesus Christ Heb. 13.9 It is good for the heart to be established by Grace 4. This Righteousness is now openly revealed to us Jesus Christ is evidently set forth as Crucified before our eyes Gal. 3.1 God's Salvation is prepared before the Face of all People Luke 2.31 This is the Glory of the Gospel that the Righteousness of God is revealed in it Rom. 1.17 And the Righteousness of God is now manifested without the Law Rom. 3.21 We have now received the Atonement Rom. 5.11 God hath now reconciled us Col. 3.2 there is a great Emphasis in the word now The Righteousness of God is now manifested we have now received the Atonement God hath now reconciled us It intimates that this Righteousness is now wrought out manifested and exhibited that God should be Righteous in Justifying us without the Works of the Law performed by us and without the Curse of the Law executed on us is a deep Mystery and a great Secret But Christ hath not hid this Righteousness of God in his heart but he hath declared and preached it Psal 40.9 10. This is such a Mystery that we should never have known if Christ had not declared it Surely it is most wonderful that God in the nature of a creature should be subject and obey that
44.22 Sin did reign so as to bring us under the guilt of Eternal Death But how comfortable is it that Reigning Grace should succeed Reigning Sin Revenging Justice might next follow after Reigning Sin but it is Grace that now reigns through the Righteousness of Jesus Christ unto Eternal Life Rom. 5.21 Our Iniquities were as deep Waters gone over our heads there was no wading through them they were a heavy burden too heavy for us to bear Psal 38.4 they were ready to sink us down into the deep Sea of the wrath of God but in this Righteousness of Jehovah we may be lifted up and exalted Psal 59.16 As Jesus Christ once gave himself a Sacrifice of a sweet smelling savour unto God Ephes 5.2 to God the Father continually gives Christ most precious and fragrant Incense on the account of his Obedience and Sufferings always to plead before the Father Revel 8.3 much Incense is said there to be given him to offer with the Prayers of all Saints Christ's Obedience and Sacrifice makes an everlasting Perfume in the Heavenly Sanctuary It is said of the Gentiles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They earnestly catched at they greedily laid hold of they strongly grasped the Righteousness that is by Faith This is the only Cord cast out to us sinking and drowning Sinners which we should catch hold of to keep us from perishing for ever 6. This Name of Christ shall continue last be victorious in the World over all the Reproaches Slanders and Defamations cast on Christ the blind Malignant World called Christ a Glutton a Wine Bibber a Friend of Publicans and Sinners Matth. 11.19 they charged him as a Blasphemer John 10.33 36. because he said he was the Son of God and so made himself equal with God John 10.33 they stiled him a deceiver Math. 27.63 The Jews did black Christ all that they could they raised Mists yea thick Clouds to obscure and hide his Glory yet all this should not prevail this Illustrious Name of Christ should wade out of all these Ecclipses and scatter all these Clouds Notwithstanding all the endeavours of the World to obstruct his Honour and cloath him with shame yet he should by Multitudes in all Ages be owned acknowledged and called Jehovah our Righteousness 6. This Evidences that the Mighty Power of God did go along with the Gospel of Christ that though the Jews at this day do stile him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Hanged Man and the Gentiles as Blasphemous Porphyry did call him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Crucified Sophister yet all these Reproaches should be wiped off and this glorious Name of Christ should shine out through all these thick Clouds of Infamy he should be known and called The Lord our Righteousness I shall observe and insist on this Doctrine foom these latter words of the Text. Doctrine That Jesus Christ is and shall be called Jehovah our Righteousness The Prophet in the Name of the Lord promises That the Lord would raise up to David a Righteous Branch one that should be most Holy and Just in his Humane Nature and that this Righteous Branch the Messiah sprung from David according to the Flesh should be called Jehovah our Righteousness this intimates he should be Man and Jehovah too in one Person and as such he should be owned and acknowledged Four things are to be spoken to for the prosecution of this Doctrine First What Righteousness of Jehovah the Son is here meant and understood Secondly To Evidence and Demonstrate that Jesus Christ God-Man is our Righteousness yea our only Righteousness for Justification Thirdly How this Righteousness of Christ is made ours Fourthly Who they are that shall call Christ by this Name The Lord our Righteousness 1. What Righteousness of Jehovah is here meant To this I shall Answer First Negatively Secondly Affirmatively First I Answer Negatively It is not the Essential Eternal Righteousness of the Son of God as Osiander the Lutheran affirmed but this cannot be For 1. This Righteousness is incommunicable it is proper to the Divine Nature and cannot pass or be derived to a creature To say that this Righteousness is given to Believers is to deifie them rather than to justifie them that is most certain that in this sence God will not give his Glory to another Isa 42.8 2. This Righteousness is an Adversary contrary to us at Hostility with us God according to it hates the Wicked and abhors the Workers of Iniquity Psal 5.4 5. He is a swift Witness against them Mal. 3.5 A Terrible Judge to them and a Consuming Fire in the execution of his Vengeance on them Deut. 4.24 As God is Holy he lothes unclean Souls and as he is Just he hates guilty Creatures If another Righteousness had not been found out God would rise up against them as an Enemy and break out on them for their everlasting destruction Secondly I Answer Affirmatively This Righteousness of Jehovah is not a Righteousness possessed by the Son from Eternity but acquired in time It is not the Righteousness that was his Patrimony as a Son but his Purchase as a Servant by the sweat of his Brows by the travel of his Soul by the effusion of his Blood by the expense of his Life This was wrought by the Son of God Incarnate by the Mediator in the form of a Servant as Joshua the Type of Christ is called the Minister or Servant of Moses Exod. 24.13 Exod. 33.11 So Jesus Christ was made under the Law Galat. 4.4 It is said Isai 53.11 By his Knowledge shall my righteous servant justifie many This is very observable God himself asserts That by his knowledge his righteous servant should justifie many and that by virtue of his service in bearing the Iniquities of his People Jesus Christ did exactly perform what as a Servant he had undertaken and so he was Righteous Here we may observe a wonderful Mystery that Jehovah is said to be our Righteousness yet God's righteous Servant also is said to justifie These two things sweetly conspire in our Justification God's servant did perform Obedience and suffer on the Cross He that took our Nature and was a Servant in it was only capable of doing and dying for us As Man he must be subject and suffer but yet as he is also Jehovah he gives an infinite Price and vallue to his Obedience and Sufferings The same Person was God-Man as Man he served and performed the Obedience by which we are justified Rom. 5.19 but as God he gives an infinite worth to his own Service So both Jehovah is our Righteousness and yet God's Righteous Servant doth also Justifie Christ's Righteousness consists in Two things First In his Obedience to the Commands of the Law Secondly In his Subjection to and enduring of the Curse of the Law Jesus Christ took debitum officii the debt of Duty as well as debitum poenae the dept of Punishment And suitably unto this object of our Faith is thus expressed 1. Our Faith is
this Table The Altar Figured Christ and he Offered his Humane Nature as a Sacrifice on the Altar of his Divine Nature and this True Sacrifice was God's Meat Here Divine Justice did Feed and was satisfied What an Honour is this for us to be admitted as Guests yea as Children to God's Table and for our Faith to feed on the same Sacrifice that Justice is satisfied with that may well quiet our Consciences that Pacifies God's Wrath The Sacrifice and Meat on the Altar is called the Fruit of it Mal. 1.12 This Phrase is very observable that the Altar is compared to a Field that did yield and bear Fruit to the Priests they had not Lands and Inheritances as the other Israelites had but the Altar was their Inheritance and their Field the part of the Sacrifice offered on the Altar that was allowed to them for their Services was the Fruit of the Altar that they Fed on and were sustained by So Christ the Altar is our Field on the Fruit of it even his Sacrifice our Souls must Live In Rom. 10.5 it is said That he that doth the Law and the things required in it shall live by them But Christ Teacheth us another way of Subsistence for our Souls John 6.57 He that eateth me shall live by me Our Drink also is not in or from our selves we are in a Pit in which there is no Water Zech. 9.11 Jesus Christ was Figured by the Rock that was smitten by the Rod of Moses even the Curse of the Law Exod. 17.6 7. 1 Cor. 10.3.4 Though Christ was Moses his Minister as a Servant made the Law and perfectly obeyed it was Holy to God Harmless to others and undefiled in himself yet he Felt the Rod of Moses he endured the Curse We were in a Dry and Barren Wilderness where no Water was we must have perished with Thirst had not Christ been Smitten He did cleave his Soul and Body were separated from each other and so Spiritual Waters did gush out for us to Drink God's Sword might have devoured our Flesh and his Arrows have been made drunk with our blood Deut. 32.42 but Jesus Christ gave us his Flesh to be Meat indeed and his Blood to be Drink indeed John 6.53 54 55. We are too prone to dig and seek Spiritual Water in our selves but we must look for it from Christ The Travelling Israelites passing through the Valley of Bacha did make it a Well they digged deep to find Water in the Earth but yet at last they were disappointed and the Rain did fill the Pools Psal 84.6 They sought Water from beneath but They received it from above So we would find Water in our selves but we must perish if Christ doth not Rain upon us Psal 72.6 He shall come down like the Rain on the Mown Grass as Showers that water the Earth When the poor and needy seek water and there is none and their Tongue faileth for thirst I the Lord will hear them I the God of Israel will not forsake them I will make the Wilderness a Pool of Water and the dry Land Springs of Water Isa 41.17 18. If any Man thirst saith Christ let him come to me and drink John 7.37 we cannot live by a fullness and sufficiency in our selves but we must live by Bread from without by eating of the Flesh and drinking of the Blood of Christ And this also is given us freely We reap that we sowed not and eat that we did not labour for as the Israelites lived in the Wilderness without Plowing and Sowing 3. We are Healed not by any Remedy we have invented or by any Medicine that we have prepared but by a wonderful Remedy that Jesus Christ hath provided The Israelites Murmured in the Wilderness and were for it bitten by Fiery Serpents and their burning poyson did kill many of them those that were hurt were utterly at a loss They knew no Physical Herbs no Soveraign Drugs no proper Remedies to apply They knew not how to draw out the Mortal Poyson but were destroyed by it Numb 21.6 7 8. The Wilderness they were in afforded no Medicines but God devised prepared revealed a Remedy he directed Moses to make a Brazen Serpent and to hang it on high upon a Pole and promised to bless this Remedy and render it effectual that whosoever looked to it should be healed and live So Mankind was bitten by Satan that Old Serpent in Paradise He drew them to Discredit God's Threatning he Leavened them with hard and base Thoughts of God that he envied their higher Knowledge and greater Happiness and so put a restraint on them Forbidding them to eate of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and so drew them to Disobedience and to cast off the Authority and Yoke of God Hereby Humane Nature was corrupted and poysoned in our First Parents and by them this Vermin did spread and diffuse it self into all their Posterity and infected the whole World This Bite of the Old Serpent was deadly Tribulation and Anguish belongs to every Soul that Sins Rom. 2.9 The wages of sin is death Rom. 6. last Sin hath reigned unto Death Rom. 5. last but God hath provided a Remedy that we could never have imagined or thought of and was most remote from the Sentiments and Apprehension of the Natural Man The Son of God came down from Heaven took our Flesh and Suffered in our Nature was lifted up to the Cross and died on it that whosoever looks to him and believes to him and believes on him may not perish but have Everlasting Life John 3.14 15. Jesus Christ was lifted up before the eyes of God when he was Crucified and he is lifted up before our eyes when his Death is Preached and he is evidently set forth as Crucified before us Gal. 3.1 We are not to compose Medicines or to provide Plaisters of our own to heal our selves but we are to look to and make use of God's Remedy continually Ainsworth on Numb 21. doth probably assert That the Israelites as they Journied and did remove from one Station to another carried the Brazen Serpent along with them and set it up again in their Camp and as often as any one was bitten he looked to it for Healing So we must receive Christ to dwell in our hearts by Faith Ephes 3.17 and still carry him about with us that as often as we contract New Guilt we may look to him with a Spiritual eye and be Healed The Life that we live in the flesh we must live continually by the Faith of the Son of God Galat. 2.20 All the Healing Remedies are out of our selves and are in Christ His Stripes are Healing Isa 53.5 he hath healing beames Mal. 4.2 out of the side of the Altar there came forth Living Waters that healed the corrupt and dead Sea Ezek. 41.1 2 8. so out of Christ's side there came forth Water and Blood John 19.34 The Blood of Christ is a Soveraign Remedy against the Guilt
Hos 11.9 it is an Allusion to the Angels entring into Sodom to find out matter of Accusation against the Sodomites Gen. 19.3.5.18 But as God blots out Sin for the present so he seeks not out occasions for the future but when God blots out our Transgressions only our Good Deeds are Remembred and shewed Mal. 3.16 17. A Book of Remembrance was Written for Good Thoughts Words Actions when Sins are expunged and forgotten for ever Our sins are removed far from us as far as the East is from the West Psal 103.12 but our Good Works do follow us to testifie our Sincerity and to obtain a Reward Revel 14.13 God will never remember our Iniquities Jer. 31.34 but he will never forget his People Isa 49.14 15. nor forget the least of their Services If it be but a Cup of cold Water given to a Disciple of Christ it shall not be forgotten but Rewarded Matth. 10. last the greatest Sins are forgotten and not Revenged on us the least Service is Remembred and Rewarded in us John 5.29 They that have done good shall come forth to a Resurrection of Life Tho' they did many evil things yet they shall be blotted out and covered and they shall be pardoned as if they had only done good and nothing but good God is Righteous to forgive us our Sins 1 John 1.9 But God is not unrighteous to forget our Labour and Service of Love Heb. 6.10 6. What Praise doth this deserve that our Justification is so inseparably joined with Glorification Rom. 8.30 Whom he hath Justified them also he Glorified Justified persons cannot miscarry or Perish The Righteousness of Christ is called Everlasting Dan. 9.24 and this Everlasting Righteousness is the Foundation of an Everlasting Covenant Heb. 13.20 Because the Blood of Christ is still fresh therefore the Covenant of Grace and the way to the Heavenly Sanctuary is still new Heb. 6.8 Heb. 10.19 they that do wash their Robes white in the blood of the Lamb do enter into the Heavenly Sanctuary and are before the Throne Rev. 7.14.15 As Jesus Christ being first Justified Isa 50.8 1 Tim. 3.16 was soon after Glorified John 17.5 And now Father glorifie me with thy own self So sin being blotted out what remains to shut out Justified Persons from the Kingdom and Glory of God Not to see God is the greatest loss and penalty Where Sin is Forgiven How can such a Penalty remain 7. Bless God that Jesus Christ is Revealed to thee and bestowed on thee as the Lord thy Righteousness How many Thousands of Persons yea how many Nations do not hear of this Glorious Righteousness of Christ are utter strangers to this pretious Name of his and have no Interest in this Righteousness of Christ The Soldiers took Christ's Coat and four of them did cast Lots for it but only one of the four did obtain it John 19.23 24. So I may truly say that scarce one in four of those that are called Christians do get this Spiritual Garment of Christ's Righteousness to put on and wear It as a sweet Expression of Augustin's on Psal 31. Ego Sorte perveni ad tunicam Christi I by Lot came to the possession of Christ's Coat O happy Souls on whom the Lot of free Grace falls and that get and possess this Coat of Christ's Righteousness Ephes 1.11 in whom that is in Christ we have obtained an Inheritance In the Greek it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is we obtained an Inheritance in Christ by Lot The Apostle doth humble himself and other Christians and Magnifie God he did not deserve a Portion in Christ but the Lot of Grace fell on him The Ephesians did not earn any thing but the Lot of Grace fell on them O Admire God Glorifie Christ that you should sit under the shadow of his Righteousless when others are exposed to the Schorching heat of the Wrath of God that your Iniquities should be covered when the Sins of others are naked and open before God that your Transgressions should be blotted out when all the Wickedness of others stands upon record against them till the Judgement of the great day That you as Noah and his Family should be born up and carried above the Waters when others like the Men of the Old World do sink into the deep and Bottomless Sea of the Wrath of God O what Mercy is it that God should Cloth thee with the Garment of Salvation and cover thee with the Robe of Righteousness Isa 61.10 when others have no Ragg to hide their Shame but will be abhorred by God be loathed by Angels and Saints to Eternity O what Grace is it that thou like Aaron art hid in a Cloud of Christ's Incense Levit. 16.13 when others Stink in God Nostils and shall be covered with a black storming Cloud of anger for ever O that Jesus Christ should die for you as a Lamb and then seek you out as a Shepherd to Cloath you with the Fleece of his Righteousness and to feed you with the Flesh of his Sacrifice when others Famish their Souls by the Neglect of Christ's Feast and Poyson their Souls by doting on and glutting themselves with Carnal dainties Sensual and Sinful delights O what Grace is this that Jesus Christ should as a Surety undertake for your debts and as a Sacrifice bear and bleed for our Sins That as a Fore-runner should take up possess and prepare a place for you in the highest Heavens that by your Iniquities deserved a place in the lowest Hell Worthy is the Lamb that was Slain to receive Blessing Honour Glory and Praise Revel 5.9 Debters are the Redeemed Reconciled and Justified to Render and ascribe it to his and Time and to Eternity THE Humble Sinners Supplication for Pardon Opened and Applied IN A SERMON PREACHED On the late FAST June 26 1696. By Samuel Comlyns M. A. a Minister of the Gospel in Marleborough London Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercer's Chappel 1696. To the Right Honourable the Lord JAMES RVSSEL Son to the Duke of Bedford Grace Mercy and Peace be multiplied from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ My Lord EVery awakened humble Soul should with the Publican cry earnestly God be merciful to me a sinner Without a pardon God's Armoury cannot be shut or his Treasury opened God cannot take us for his Inheritance Exod. 34 9. Times of refreshment cannot come to us from the presence of the Lord if our sins are not blotted out Acts 3.19 If our Consciences are not purged from dead works with the clean water of Christ's Blood we cannot now walk in peace go out of the world with comfort enter into the heavenly Sanctuary with confidence How therefore should pardoning mercy endear God to us ond engage us to God We are naturally without strength to help our selves and are also ungodly and so provoke God to withhold and deny his help to us We had robbed God and an Arrest should have