the first alteration of weather, ceases to be a foundaion, and becomes water that runneth apace.' Wherets, to derive our consolation from the Mediator's righ. teousness, and Jehovah's faithfulness, is to build our tifice upon the rock, which may not be removed, but tinueth fast for ever.' The former of these, even amidst logy changes, is invariably the same; the latter, notwhstanding all our unworthiness, is inviolably sure: therefore the fruit of that righteousness is peace, and the effect of this faithfulness is, if not rapturous joy, yet quietness and assurance for ever."

So that, when it is winter in my soul, and there seems to be a dearth on all my sensible delights, 1 would still say with the psalmist; "why art thou so disquieted, O my soul Christ is the same amidst all thy derelictions." He is a green fir-tree," which never loses its verdure. Under his shadow thou mayest always find repose. His merit and atonement are still mighty to save; they constitute an everlasting and infinite righte ousness. The promises of God, through his mediation, "are yea, and amen;" are unquestionably and unalienably thine.'

Ther. It is very probable I may meet with afflictions, death in my family, or disease in my person. Disap. pointments may frustrate my designs; Providence may wear a frowning aspect, as though the Lord had a controversy with his sinful creature, and was making him to possess the iniquities of his youth: and what will be suf ficient to support and to cheer in such a gloomy hour?

Asp. The righteousness of Christ. Nothing is so so. vereign to calm our fears, and remove all apprehensions of the divine wrath. Apprehensions of the divine wrath would draw the curtains of horror around our sick beds, and throw upon our languishing eyelids the shadow of death; but a believing improvement of 2 Cor. i. 20.

+ Hos. xiv. 8.

Isa. xxxii. 17. The sufficiency of Christ's righteousness to answer all these important and delightfal ends, is excellently displayed in Mr. Rawlin's Sermons on Christ the Righteousness of his People:" in which the public have seen the grand and amiable essentials of the gospel, delivered in masculine language, defended by nervous reasoning, and animated with a lively devotion.

Alluding to that description of tribulation and anguish which, I believe, no person of sensibility can read without shuddering: My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death. Job. xvii. 16.

Christ's satisfaction for our offences,clears up the mournful scene, and takes away the sting of tribulation.

Attending to this great propitiation, the sufferer sees his sins forgiven, and his God reconciled: from whence he concludes, that the severest afflictions are only fatherly corrections, shall not exceed his ability to bear, and shall assuredly obtain a gracious issue. He can fetch comfort from that cheering word, 'I will be with him in trouble;' and expect the accomplishment of that most consolatory promise, I will deliver him, and bring him to honour." These supports have enabled the saints to kiss the rod, and bless the hand which chastised them; to possess their souls, not in patience only, but in thankfulness also; while they have looked inward, and discerned their absolute need of these bitter but salutary medicines; have looked upward, and beheld the cup in a most wise and tender Physician's hand; have looked forward with a joyful hope to that better world, where God will wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more sorrow, nor any more pain.

Ther. The last occasion of need is the trying hour of death, and the tremendous day of judgment. Will this righteousness carry us with safety through the dark. some valley, and present us, with acceptance, at the dreadful tribunal?

Asp. It will, it will. This silences all the curses of the law, and disarms death of every terror. To believe in this righteousness, is to meet death at our Saviour's side; or rather, like good old Simeon, with the Saviour in our arms. They overcame,' says the beloved disciple, they overcame the last enemy, not by natural fortitude, or philosophic resolution, but by the blood of the Lamb;' by a believing application of the victorious Redeemer's merit. I know,' adds the heroic apostle, whom I have believed; I am assured that my Jesus. is infinitely faithful, and will not desert me; that his ransom is absolutely sufficient, and cannot deceive me, Therefore, with a holy bravery, he bids defiance to death; or rather, triumphs over it as a vanquished enemy: thanks be to God who giveth us the victory † Rev. xii. 11.

Psal. xci. 15.
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1-2 Tim. i. 12.

through our Lord Jesus Christ!' Nay, through the wonderful efficacy of Christ's propitiation, death is ours; not our foe, but our friend and deliverer. We may number it among our treasures, and rest satisfied that to die is gain.'

What though our flesh see corruption? Though this body, vile at present, be made viler still, by dwelling amidst worms, and mouldering in the dust; yet through his righteousness, who is the resurrection and the life, it shall shake of the dishonours of the grave; it shall rise to a new and illustrious state of existence; it shall be made like the glorious and immortal body of our triumphant Lord. If the body be so refined, so exalted, what will be the dignity, what the perfection of the soul! or rather, of soul and body both, when they are happily and indissolubly united at the resurrection of the just? Shall they have any thing to fear, when the judgment is set, and the books are opened? It is probable there will be no accusation, it is certain there 'is no condemnation, to them that are in Christ Jesus." Who shall lay any thing to their charge? It is God,' not man, or angel, or any creature, but God that justi fies' them. The God whose law was broke, the God to whom vengeance belongeth, he himself pronounces them innocent, because their iniquities have been laid upon Christ; he himself pronounces them righteous, because they are interested in the obedience of their Redeemer; on these accounts, he himself pronounces them blessed, and gives them an abundant entrance into the joy of their Lord.

But what can express, or who can imagine their hap piness, when they take up their abode in the palaces of heaven, amidst the choirs of angels, and under the light of God's countenance! when they possess the hope of righteousness;'s when they wear the crown of righte ousness;' and receive that great, that eternal salvation, which is an adequate recompense for the humiliation and agonies of 'Jesus Christ the righteous.'

Come then, my dear Theron, let us henceforth be as branches ingrafted into the heavenly Vine; derive all our sap, all our moisture, all our consolation, from his

1 Rom. viii. 1. 1 John H. 1.

fulness. Let us live upon our all-sufficient Redeemer, as the Israelites subsisted on their manna from heaven, and their waters from the rock, and not wish for other, as we cannot possibly enjoy better sustenance.

Ther. Is this meaning of our Lord's exhortation, when he shews the necessity of eating his flesh and drinking his blood?

Asp. It is the very same. A repeated and incessant application of our Saviour's merits for all the purposes of piety and salvation, is the kernel of this nut, the meaning of this metaphor. When we habitually avert to Jesus Christ, as dying for sins, and rising again for our justification; performing all righteousness, that we may be entitled to an eternal crown, and interceding in heaven, that we may be filled with all the fulness. of God; then we eat his flesh, and drink his blood: then we derive a life of solid comfort and real godliness. from his mediatorial offices, just as we derive the continuance of our natural life from the daily use of alimentary recruits.

Ther. Your discourse brings to my remembrance that magnificent and beautiful passage in Scripture, where Christ is called The Sun of Righteousness:" Your doctrine sets the comparison in a very advan tageous light, gives it the utmost force and the greatest propriety. The righteousness of Christ, according to your account, is as extensively useful in the Christian life, as the beams of that grand luminary are in material nature. The sun fills the air, where it diffuses light, and creates day. The sun penetrates the ocean, from whence it exhales vapours, and forms the clouds. In the vegetable creation, the sun raises the sap and protrudes the gems, unfolds the leaves and paints the blossom, distends the fruit and concocts the juices. Turn we to the animal world, the sun delights the eye and gladdens the heart; it awakens millions of insects into being, and imparts that general joy which every sensible creature feels. Indeed there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.'

Asp. Thus the Lord Jesus Christ, that true and only 'Sun of Righteousness, arises' on his people with healing in his wings.' So various, so efficacious, and

Mal. iv. 2.

pro

So extensive are his influences. Like a sun, he enlightens and enlivens; like wings, he cherishes and tects; like a remedy, he heals and restores: and all by virtue of his righteousness, on account of his righteousness. Nor can we doubt, nor need we wonder, if we consider its nature and its Author: its nature, it is consummately excellent, has every kind and every degree of perfection: its Author, it is the righteousness and obedience of that incomparable Person, in whom dwells all the fulness of the Godhead.'

It must therefore-you will permit me to sum up in a word, what has been displayed at large-it must be fully answerable to the demands of the law, even in its highest purity and utmost exactness. It is infinitely superior to the demerit of sin, and entirely absolves from all guilt, entirely exempts from all condemnation. It is a most valid and never-failing plea against the accusations of Satan, and the challenges of conscience. It establishes an undoubted title to every blessing, whether in time or in eternity, whether of grace or of glory. It is a sure support for the Christian in an hour of desertion, and in the agonies of death. Casting anchor on this bottom, he may dismiss every fear, and ride out every storm leaning upon this staff, he may go down to the repose of the grave, and neither be appalled at the solemn harbingers of dissolution, nor terrified at its far more awful consequences. The merit of this righte ousness, and the power of its Divine Author, will unseal the tomb, will bring forth tbe sleeping dust from the chambers of putrefaction, and build up the whole man into immortality and glory. By this he will be presented without spot;' presented faultless ;'t yea, be presented 'perfect,'t and with 'exceeding joy,' before the throne.

What a gift then is the righteousness of Christ!' Blessed be God for all the indulgent dispensations of providence! blessed be God for all the beneficial productions of nature! but above all, blessed be God for the transcendent and unspeakable gift of Christ; for the unsearchable and infinite treasures of His righteousness.' * Eph. v. 27.

+ Jude 24.

'Col. i. 26.

Printed by J. F. DOVE, St. John Square.

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