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clare, at this time, his righteousness; that He might be just, and the justifier of him, which believeth in Jesus." Rom. iii. 24.

From whence it appears, that man's justification is the consequence of Christ's redemption; Jesus Christ having been made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Cor. v. 21. Not that Christ was himself a sinner, for "he knew no sin." But was made a sin offering for man; in the words of the Prophet, "the chastisement of our peace was upon Him." Isaiah liii. Nor that His righteousness so becomes our's, that we are righteous as he was: for, in such case, we could not be saved as sinners; but that the benefit of His righteousness is so

*

* The doctrine of Christ's righteousness, considered as the source of spiritual benefit to fallen man, proves the divinity of our Saviour's character. If Christ were not Jehovah, he could not possibly be our righteousness. For as a creature, the righteousness of Christ, however perfect, could not be more so, than the Law of God required that it should be for his own justification; consequently, in such case, no benefit could be derived from it to others. But Jesus Christ, we are told," is made unto us righteousness;" therefore Jesus Christ must have been more than man, in the words of the Prophet; "the Lord our righteousness." Jer. xxiii. 6.

imputed

imputed, or made over to us, that through Him, we fallen, condemned creatures, are placed in a condition to be accepted at the Throne of Grace; not for any merits of our own, but for the merits of that allsufficient Saviour; who, by his obedience unto death, has prevented the sins of all true believers from rising up in judgement against them. "For God hath shut up in disobedience, that all being sinners before him, he might have mercy upon all, through the gracious mediation of that Son, in whom He is well pleased."

all

DISCOURSE

DISCOURSE V.

1 COR. i. 30.

Who of God is made unto us Wisdom, and Righteousness, and Sanctification, and Redemption.

IN

N a former Discourse on this subject, it was shewn in what sense Jesus Christ is made wisdom and righteousness; as these words were originally addressed by the Apostle to his Disciples at Corinth; and as they are still applicable to all members of the Christian Church.

We now proceed to the consideration of the remaining part of this important subject, which renders complete, that saving doctrine of the Cross, by which the Christian profession is distinguished from all other religious professions in the world.

Jesus

Jesus Christ, in his character of the anointed of God, came into the world, not only to teach man true wisdom, and to bring him acquainted with that plan of Evangelical righteousness, according to which alone, he might, as a fallen creature, venture to appear before the tribunal of a just God; but also (as the Apostle proceeds) to be made unto him sanctification and redemption. In other words to render the plan, which He revealed, a complete one; by fulfilling, in his own person, the conditions on which it had been originally established; being, with this gracious object in view, "made unto us of God, not only wisdom and righteousness, but sanctification also and redemption."

On the Fall of Adam, all free communication between an innocent creature and his Creator was at an end. The first cover nant, the observance of which secured the privilege of free access to the Tree of Life, (the emblem and pledge of eternal happiness,) had been wilfully broken. The consciouness of sin, accompanied with the fear of the displeasure of his justly offended Maker, was the cause of Adam's foolish attempt

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