and the Life. But without Christ nothing is found in man but spiritual starvation, darkness, helplessness, sin, and death. I have said the more on imputed righteousness, because many are ignorant of it, or prejudiced against it, and some, it may be, who are sincere according to their attainments, have their expectations clouded, and greatly contracted for want of knowing more perfectly what Christ has done for them and what he is to believers, For "he is made of God unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification and redemption."* I would also give warning to such as are hostile to the doctrine (as some have opposed it even in their sermons and writings,) and to those, who have presumed to deride what they did not understand; for had they understood it, and believed, they would have rejoiced with trembling, and with humble, thankful adoration. May they consider in time, that "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God,"+ without a righteousness, and as despisers of that which infinite mercy has provided. And it is certain, that if the righteousness of Christ should not be imputed to us, we can never be justified at all. It is indeed Christ himself, who is our righteousness; and it is one of those resplendent titles which the Spirit of prophecy has assigned him. For "this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Let us then be thankful, that " he was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." And let us "count all things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord,—that we may win 1 Cor. i. 30. Heb. x. 31. Jer. xxiii. 6. § Rom. iv. 25. || Phil. iii. 8. Christ, and be found in him, not having our own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith."* What a foundation is here laid for hope,-and that in the case of the vilest offenders! What a source of encouragement and consolation to all who are distressed on account of sin, whether we consider the perfection of Christ's obedience, or the freeness of our justification! You view your offences, it may be, as most grievous, of an aggravated nature, and innumerable; and if it were in your power, you would give all you have in the world, that you had not committed such and such sins. Now then mark, I entreat you, the very thing you desire, or rather a far greater blessing is brought near by the gospel, and set within your reach, if you believe. "The blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God cleanseth us from all sin."+ "AH manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men." No sin is excepted but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, Believe in him then, and your guilt will be instantly taken away; and your sins, though they be sought for, shall not be found. How sweet are his words to the self-condemned, trembling, believing soul! "Son, be of good cheer; thy sins are forgiven thee. Thy faith hath saved thee: go in peace."¶ "Woman," said Christ to the adulteress taken in the act, "where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, no man, Lord, And Jesus said unto her, neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more."** you really believe in him, the If Jer. 1. 20. || Mat, ix. 2. * Phil. iii. 8. +1 John, i. 7. Mat. xii. 31. law and justice of God cannot condemn you, be cause Christ has fully satisfied all their demands; and his righteousness is yours to protect you against all accusations, "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth." This answer must silence every accuser. And "who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us."* Consider also the freeness of justification. You neither can, nor are permitted to bring any thing of your own by way of recommendation, or to qua, lify you for receiving what the scripture calls "the gift of righteousness." And if it be a gift, the attempt to render yourself deserving of it, would be an attempt to make it a debt, and would prove you to be an adversary to Christ, and to his way of justifying sinners; because you would be going about to establish your own righteousness instead of submitting to the righteousness of God. The number and magnitude of your sins are no bar to your being justified by Christ, provided you can believe, and seek all your righteousness in him. Of this you may be convinced from the case of the thief on the cross, and that of the Corinthian converts, whose dreadful offences are detailed in the sixth chapter of the first Epistle. Yet these abominable characters, we are assured, were "washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." It is a glorious truth, though the world, alas! will not receive it, that thieves and murderers, and other gross offenders have sought and found acceptance in Jesus; while * Rom. viii. 33. + Rom. v. 17. Rom. x. 3. men of an outwardly decent character, attentive to religious forms, and, in certain respects, to moral duties, have perished through the pride and unbelief of their hearts. Should any of you exclaim, 'But I am worse than others; can there be any hope for one so vile as I have been?' I reply, the gospel is, in all respects, exactly suited to give you relief, and that immediately. Look off then from yourself, my poor, distressed fellow-sinner; and "behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world."* He is full of love and compassion; full of grace and truth. Did he die for sinners, and can he refuse to receive them? No, it is his delight and glory to save sinners, "I am not come," he said, "to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."+ And, him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." Know then for your comfort, that "he that believeth on him is not condemned." The wicked, who believe on him, are "justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ."|| Let him" then, "that is athirst, come; and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."I I shall just observe, that as Christ is our justifying righteousness, so he himself is our title to glory. When he was about to take leave of his sorrowing disciples, his speech, like that of one of his typical predecessors,** distilled as the dew, and as the small rain upon the tender herb. "Let not your heart be troubled. In my Father's house are many mansions.-I go to prepare a place for you." And in that wonderful, and most interesting and affecting prayer, with which he closed his * John, i. 29. Rom. iii. 24. + Mat. ix. 13. John, vi. 37. John, iii. 18. personal ministry, he thus addressed his Father: "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.-I have manifested thy name unto the men whom thou gavest me out of the world.-And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one.Father, I will, that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory.”*—Our title therefore to glory depends upon our union with Christ. For we can have no right but what we have in him, or what he is pleased to give us. We are "heirs of God, if children," because we are "joint heirs with Christ."+ If our union, or regeneration be clear and valid, our title will appear so likewise. We are even now in Heaven in our Head and Representative; for "God hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." And the Apostle speaking of "the riches of the glory of this mystery," describes it to be "Christ in us the hope of glory." "He" therefore that hath the Son, hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God, hath not life."|| I shall now endeavour to set before you, in a comprehensive manner, the great doctrine of our sanctification, for which invaluable privilege we are also indebted to Christ. He is made of God unto us sanctification." He is the fountain, from whence the streams are perpetually flowing to all parts of his inheritance, making glad the city of God. This also, as well as justification, is promised, and limited to them that believe. We are * John, xvii. † Rom. viii. 17. ‡ Eph. ii. 6. § Col, i, 7. || 1 John, v. 12. |