He to the law, though Lord of it, What he ne'er broke, and yet must die, The law, which him its keeper kill'd, Hence though the law condemn at large, q Zech. xiii. 7, See letter g. Rom. ix. 5, Chrift is over all, God bleffed for ever. Phil. iii. 6, 7, 8, Chrift Jefus being in the form of God, thought it no robbery to be equal with God; but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a fervant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fathion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. r Ibid. Gal. iv. 4, 5, But when the fulness of the time was come, God fent forth his Son made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of fons. 1 Pet. iii. 18, See letter 1. 2 Cor. v. 21, See letter m. I John iv. 9, In this was manifested the love of God towards us, because that God fent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. s Rom. viii. 3, 4, For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God fending his own Son, in the likenefs of finful flesh, and for fin condemned fin in the flesh; that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Ifa. xlii. 21, The Lord is well pleafed for his righteousness' fake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable. Rom. v. 18-21, Therefore, as by the offence of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation: even fo by the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For, as by one man's disobedience many were made finners: fo by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover, the law entered, that the offence might abound; but where fin abounded, grace did much more abound; that as fin hath reigned unto death, even fo might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life, by Jefus Christ our Lord. u Rom. viii. 1, There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Chrift Jefus. v. 3, 4, See letter s. 33, 34, Who fhall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that juftifieth: who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea Nor find fuch ground to challenge me, From him I have a pardon got, rather, that is rifen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who alfo maketh interceffion for us. ย Job xxxiii. 24, Then he is gracious unto him, and faith, Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ranfom. Rom. iii. 25, 26, Whom God hath fet forth to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to declare his righteoufnels for the remiflion of fins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I fay, at this time, his righteoufnefs; that he might be juft, and the juftifier of him which believeth in Jefus. w 2 Sam. xii. 13, And David faid unto Nathan, I have finned against the Lord. And Nathan faid unto David, The Lord alfo hath put away thy fin; thou fhalt not die. Pfalm li. 2, 3, Wath me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanfe me from my fin. For I acknowledge my tranfgreflions; and my fin is ever before me. x Rom. viii. 1, 33, See letter u. Job ix. 20, If I juftify myself, mine own mouth fhall condemn me; If I fay I am perfect, it shall alfo prove me perverse. y 2 Cor. vii. 1, For behold, this felf fame thing that ye forrowed after a godly fort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement defire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! z Ifa. xxxviii. 15, What fhall I fay? he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done it: I fhall go foftly all my years in the bitterness of my foul. a Ezek. xvi. 63, That thou mayest remember and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more, because of thy fhame, when I am pacified toward thee, for all that thou haft done, faith the Lord God. 6 Luke xviii. 13, 14, And the publican standing afar off, would When he in heaven dooms me to dwell, And clear him for abfolving me. d not lift up fo much as his eyes unto heaven, but fmote upon his breaft, faying, God be merciful to me a finner. I tell you this man went down to his houfe juftified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself, shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself, fhall be exalted. Ezek. xxxvi. 31, 32, Then fhall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings, that were not good, and fhall lothe yourselves in your own fight for your iniquities, and for your abominations. Nor for your fakes do I this, faith the Lord God, be it known unto you: be afhamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Ifrael. Jer. xxxi. 19, Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was inftructed, I fmote upon my thigh; I was afhamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth. Matth. xxv. 34-39, Then fhall the King fay unto them on his right hand, Come, ye bleffed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a ftranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me; I was fick, and ye vifited me; I was in prifon, and ye came unto me. Then fhall the righteous anfwer him, faying, Lord, when faw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirfty, and gave thee drink? When faw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when faw we thee fick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 1 Cor. xi. 31, If we would judge ourfelves, we should not be judged. Luke xv. 20, 21, And he (the prodigal fon) arose and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compaffion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kiffed him. And the son faid unto him, Father, I have finned against heaven, and in thy fight, and am no more worthy to be called thy fon. Gen. xxxii. 9, 10, And Jacob faid, O God of my Father Abraham, and God of my Father Ifaac, the Lord which faidft unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee; I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth which thou haft fhewed unto thy fervant; for with my staff I paffed over this Jordan, and now I am become two bands. d Pfalm li. 4, Against thee, thee only have I finned, and done this evil in thy fight: that thou mightest be juftified when thou fpcakeft, and be clear when thou judgeft. And xi. 7, The rightcous Lord loveth righteousness, his countenance doth behold the upright. And cxlv 16, 17, Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the defires of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all his Thus he clears me, and I him clear, SECT. VIII. The mystery of fan&ification imperfect in this life; or, the believer doing all, and doing nothing. MINE arms embrace my God, a yet I ways, and holy in all his works. Rev. xv. 3, And they fing the fong of the fervant of God, and the fong of the Lamb, faying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of faints. e Rom. iii. 26, To declare, I fay, at this time his righteoufnefs; that he might be juft, and the juftifier of him which believeth in Jefus. Ifa. xlv. 21, There is no God elfe befide me, a just God and a Saviour. v. 24, Surely fhall one fay, In the Lord have I right-eoufnefs and strength. Chap. lxiii. 1, Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? This that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatnefs of his ftrength? I that fpeak in righteousness, mighty to fave. Zech. ix. 9, Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; fhout, O daughter of Jerufalem: behold. thy King cometh unto thee; he is just, and having falvation, &c.. f Job xxv. 4, 5, 6, How then can man be justified with God? or, how can he be clean, that is born of a woman? Behold even to the moon, and it fhineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his. fight. How much Icfs man that is a worm; and the son of man which is a worm? Pfalm lxxxix. 14, Juftice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne; mercy and truth fhall go before thy face And xcvii. 2, Clouds and darknefs are round about him; righteoufnefs and judgment are the habitation of his throne. Rom. iii. 19, 20, Now we know that what things foever the law faith, it faith to them who are under the law: that every mouth. may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore, by the deeds of the law there fhall no flesh be juflified in his fight; for by the law is the knowledge of fin. v. 23, 24, 25, For all have finned, and come fhort of the glory of God; being juftified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Jefus Chrift: whom God hath fet forth to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remiffion of fins that are paft; through the forbearance of God. Psalm xxii. 2, 3, O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hear His arm alone me holds, c yet lo, eft not; and in the night feafon, and am not filent. But thou art holy, O thou that inhabiteft the praises of Ifrael. a Song iii. 4, It was but a little that I paffed from them, but I found him whom my foul loveth; I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother's houfe, and into the chamber of her that conceived me. b Pfalm Ixi. 2, From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than İ. Pfalm lxiii. 8, My foul followeth hard after thee; thy right hand upholdeth me. Ifa. xli. 10, Fear thou not, for I am with thee: be not difmayed, for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteoufnels. d Gen. xxxii. 26, And he (the angel) faid, Let me go, for the day breaketh And he (Jacob) faid, I will not let thee go, except thou blefs me. e 1 Cor. xv. 10, But by the grace of God I am what I am; and his grace which was bestowed upon me, was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. v. 58, Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye ftedfaft, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forafmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. f Phil. ii. 13, It is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do of his good pleasure. g Pfalm cx. 3, Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power. And cxvi. 16, Oh Lord, truly I am thy fervant, I am thy fervant, and the fon of thy handmaid; thou haft loofed my bonds. b Matth. vi. 10, Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Pfalm xl. 8, I delight to do thy will, O my God; yea, thy law is within my heart. i Matth. xxi. 28, 29, A certain man had two fons, and he came to the first, and faid, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and faid, I will not, &c. John v. 40, Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. Matthew xxiii. 37, O Jerufalem, |