Theron. It is not faid, in my own Works, in my own Repentance, no, nor in my own Faith, but in the LORD, in the incarnate JEHOVAH, have I Righteoufnefs. Righteousness for Juftification, and Strength for Sanctification. An imputed Righteousness, to procure my Acceptance; an imparted Strength, to produce my Holinefs. The first, conftituting my Title to the everlasting Inheritance; the laft, forming my perfonal Preparation for its Enjoyment.-Surely, which expresses a firm Perfuafion, and an unfhaken Affiance. Only, which denotes an utter Renunciation of all other Confidence, and excludes every other Ground of Hope.-Righteoufneffes*, the Original is in the plural Number. Which feems to be used, not without an important Defign; to enlarge the Significancy of the Word, and make it correfpond with the Richness of the Bleffing. So that it may imply the Fulnefs and fupereminent Excellency of

this

either to be repealed, or to be altered.-Who can hear fuch an Exordium, from fuch a Speaker, and not be awed into the deepest Reverence? LORD, We are all Attention. What Thou pronounceft, with fuch unparalleled Solemnity, We would receive into our very Hearts. It fhall be the ruling Principle of our Faith and Life. Is fuch our Refolution? This then is the Decree, this the Oath of JEHOVAH; To ME every Knee Shall bow: to ME every Tongue shall fwear, (N) faying, SURELY IN THE LORD HAVE I RIGHTEOUSNESS AND STRENGTH.Talke We of Confeffion of Faith? Here We have a Confeffion of Faith, drawn up by Omnifcience, and enjoined by Omnipotence.

*pis parallel to which, both in Conftruction and Signification, is the Phrafe ufed by St. John, Amawala, Rev. xix. 8. The fine Linen is the Righteoufnefs (properly the Righteoufneffes) of the Saints.

this Gift of Grace; as comprehending whatever *, either of Suffering or of Obedience, is requifite to the Juftification of Sinners.

Therefore the Prophet adds; In the LORD, fhall all the Seed of Ifrael be juflified, and shall glory +Most important and most precious Text! Every Expreffion is big with Truth, and bright with Grace.-All the Seed: intimating, that the Way of Salvation, in every Age of the World, and to all the People of GOD, is invariable and one.→→→ What is this invariable Way? It is to be pardoned, and delivered from Wrath; to be approved, and admitted into Favour; or, as the infpired Penman expreffes it, to be justified.-How is this effected? Not by our upright Aims, not by our fincere Endeavours, but by having a real and proper Righte ousness. Where is this to be had? Not in Ourfelves; not in any Accomplishments, or any Performances of our own; but in the LORD REDEEMER, and his confummately righteous Nature, Affections, Actions.-Are these fufficient for the Purpose? So fufficient, that We may not only confide, but glory in them. They afford Caufe, not only for the Stedfaftnefs of Reliance, but for the Elevations of Triumph. Cleaving to thefe, We may look Sin and Satan, look Death and Hell in the Face; and fay, with a noble Defiance, Who fhall condemn Us?

to'

What

* Vult dicere Propheta, in JEHOVAH efe ID PROPTER QUOD Peccator refipifcens & credens, a Peccatis abfolvi, & jure ad Benedictionem cœleftem donari queat ac debeat effe illud JEHOVE proprium; ab ipfo quærendum; quod extra ipfum non invenitur. VITRING.

+ Ifai. xlv. 25.

his own,

What he had just now afferted, he exemplifies in and in the Person of every true Believer. I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my Soul shall be joyful in my GOD; for He hath clothed me with the Garments of Salvation, He hath covered me with the Robe of Righteousness *. True Believers are compared, in one of our facred Eclogues, to a Company of Horfes in Pharoah's Chariot +: to Horfes, than which no Animal is more ftately and graceful: to Egyptian Horfes, which were the best and completest, then in the World: to thofe in Pharoah's Chariot, which, doubtlefs, were a choice Set; felected from Thousands; and fineft, where all were fine. Here, methinks, I fee the Comparison realized. Chriftians, endued with fuch a Spirit, as breathes in this animated Text, are like a Collection of gallant and majestic Steeds; not deftined to low Drudgery, but appointed to run in the royal Chariot; all Life; full of Fire; champing the Bit, and eager for the Chafe. Nothing can more beautifully describe a State of Exultation and Ardour, than the preceding Similitude, or the following Words-I will rejoice; I will greatly rejoice; my very Soul, and all that is within me, shall be joyful in my GOD. Wherefore? Becaufe He has clothed me, undone Sinner as I am, with the Garments of Salvation: because He hath covered me, defective as all my Services are, with the Robe of Righteousness ‡. A Robe, which hides every Corruption, and covers every Sin: fo that neither Stain

+ Cant. i. 9.

* Ifai. Ixi. 10. Id quod Peccatorem nudum tegit coram DEO, eft fanctiffima & pretiofa Juftitia five Obedientia CHRISTI JESU. Hoc Vefte DEUS Populum fuum Induit, tam quod eam Credentibus ex Gratiô imputat; tum quod eos Fide donat, per quam eandem ad fe applicant. VITRING.

Stain nor Deformity appear in my Character. A Robe, which adorns and dignifies my Soul; renders it fair as the Moon, clear as the Sun, and meet for the Inheritance of Saints in Light.

Having represented this Righteousness, in a Variety of grand and charming Views-the Prophet farther characterizes it, as the unalterable and neverfailing Origin of our Juftification and Happiness. This he difplays by a Train of Images, bold and fublime to the laft Degree. Lift up your Eyes to the Heavens, and look upon the Earth beneath: for the Heavens fall vanish away like Smoke, and the Earth fall wax old like a Garment; but my Salvation fhall be for ever, and my Righteousness shall not be abolished †• -Obferve the vaft Dimenfions, and the firm Foundations, both of the upper and the lower World. How ftrong, how stedfast, they all appear! Yet thefe, indiffoluble as they may feem, fhall perish.

This majestic Globe, on which Summers fhine and flowery Profpects fmile, fhall lofe its beautiful Glofs; and foon be laid afide, like a decayed ufelefs Garment. Even that more majestic Concave, in which Stars glitter, and Comets glow, fhall be deprived of its very fuperior Splendour; and vanish away, like the unfubftantial diffolving Smoke.Whereas, my Salvation, together with the ineftimable Bleffings comprehended in it, fhall fubfift, fhall flourish for ever. And my Righteousness, which is the meritorious Caufe of all, hell not be abolished; but remain an immoveable Bafis and an inviolable Sanctuary, for the Repofe and Safety of Sinners. -In fhort; whether there be moral Virtues, they fhall be found wanting; whether there be chriftian VOL. II. B b Graces,

* Cant. vi. 19.

+ Ifai. li. 6.

Graces, they fhall prove ineffectual; but my Conformity to the Law, and my Obedience unto Death, neither need Addition, nor admit of Alteration. They are all-fufficient in their Merit, and in their Agency everlasting.

When Day arifes on our benighted Hemisphere, it breaks and spreads by a gradual Increase. Forming, first, the grey Twilight; next, the blushing Morn; then, the fhining Light; till all is heightened into the Blaze and Glow of Noon.-When Spring revifits our wintry Clime, She alfo advances by gentle Degrees. First, swells the Bad, and protrudes the Gem. Then, expands the Leaf, and unfolds the Bloffom. The Face of Things is continually changing for the better; till, at Length, all the Country is covered with Bloom and Verdure.This leisurely Process, renders the strong Effulgence of the celeftial Orb, more fupportable; and the lovely Expanfions of the vegetable Creation, morę obfervable.

So progreffive and increasing are the Displays of JESUS CHRIST, exhibited in the Scriptures. Whofe Appearance is unfpeakably more delightful to the Soul, than the Emanations of orient Light are to the Eye, or the Entertainments of the vernal Seafon to our other Senfes.-The Gloom of fallen Adam was alleviated by a Ray from this SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. Abraham and the Patriarchs faw afar off the Bleffed JESUS, as the Morning Spread upon the Mountains *.-The Pfalmift and the Prophets, beheld his nearer Approaches, like the Sun upon the Point of Rifing.To the Apostles and Evangelifts He arofe, in perfect Luftre

Joel ii. 2.