my Soul fhall be joyful in my God, for he bath clothed me with the garments of falvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousnefs. This is not like Saul's Armour, that was not fit for David; it will fit every Soul, that really feels the want of it, and indeed, and in truth, is willing to put it on; and therefore, we are exhorted, Rom. 13. 14, To put on the Lord Jefus Chrift.

In profecuting of this Point, a few words to each of thefe Particulars.

1. Confider the materials whereof this garment is made.

2. That it is of abfolute neceffity that it be put on, elfe the Soul cannot profper. 3. How it is to be put on.

4. What influence it hath into Soul-prof perity, when it is put on.

(1.) For the first of these, the materials whereof it is made, briefly thus. It is the Obedience of Chrift, as Mediatour, in doing, and fuffering what God the Father appoin ted, and which he accepts in the behalf of all thofe, who are clothed with it; fo as, upon that account, they are delivered from the fentence of Eternal Death, which they had righteously deserved; and are accepted as righteous, unto Eternal Life, of which they were utterly unworthy.

Obferve then these two things.

1. That God the Father accepts it, as full

and

and perfect fatisfaction to his Juftice, for what ever was appointed for them to fuffer by way of punishment, and curle for fin. It is faid, I Pet 24 24 That Chrift his own felf bare our fins in his Body, on the Tree. i.e. The punishment and curfe due for fin. With this God the Father is well pleased, fo that the Sentence of Condemnation fhall never be executed upon the Soul that is clothed with it. And this he accepteth as a valuable confideration for all the wrong that their fins have done him, Eph. 4. 32,--forgiving one another, even as God, for Chrift's fake, bath forgiven you. It is faid, 1 Pet.4.8. that love to our Brethren covers a multitude of fins. i.e. It doth not strictly take notice of, but in filence paffeth by many failings of others; efpecially thofe that concern our felves. But this covers All, fo that no notice is taken of them, fo as (according to the fentence of the Law) to curfe, and condemn fuch á Soul, Jer. 50.20, In thofe days, and at that time, faith the Lord, shall the iniquity of Ifrael be fought for, and there shall be none, and the fins of Judah, and they shall not be found; for I will pardon them whom I referve. The book is crofs'd, all the black bill, that otherwife would have been brought in against it, whereof it could not have anfwered one of a thousand (i. e. none at all) is croffed. Well then might David fay,

Pfal.

Pfal. 32. 1, Blessed is the Man whofe iniquity is covered.

loft

2. God accepts it, in the behalf of all those that are clothed with it, for all that is required by way of perfect obedience to the Moral Law. It is faid, Rom. 10.4, Chrift is the end of the Law, for righteousness. Christ, i. e. Chrift, and his Righteoufnefs is the end of the Law, i. e. the perfection of the Law. Now the end of the Law was, to inveft those that perfectly fulfilled it, with a Righteousness that would give a true right, and title to Eternal Life. But this the Law cannot do, by reafon of Man's weakness, being utterly unable to fulfil it; fo that it is become a killing Letter, the ministration of death, and condemnation, 2 Cor.3.6,7. Now Jefus Chrift by his obedience, hath brought about this perfection of the Law, perfectly fulfilling the Righteoufnefs, which the Law required; for love is the fulfilling of the Law, Now Jefus Chrift loved the Lord with all his heart, and with all his might, and his neighbour as himself. He failed not in the lealt of what was due either to the one, or the other. This he did, and none but he could do it: For though one finful act in thought, in word, or deed, did break the Law, yet it is not fulfilled, but by perfect conformity unto it; and fuch a conformity there was in the obedience of Chrift, Joh.

8. 29, I do always those things that please

him.

This is the firft Particular. The Materials whereof this garment of Righteoufness is made; with which, if the Soul be not clothed, it cannot profper, as we fhall fee by and by.

2. The Soul that is not clothed with this Righteousness, cannot, while it remains fo, poffibly ever be in a capacity of profpering. For fin hath made fuch a dreadful breach between God and Sinners, that he ftands upon this: That though he will have mercy upon whom he will have mercy; the motive is only from the good pleasure of his own Will. Eternal Life, with all that is antecedent to it, and preparative for it, is his own gift: Yet, I fay, God is abfolutely refolved upon this, that he will have his Juftice fatisfied for all the wrong that fin hath done him. He hath alfo magnified his Law, and made it honourable, Ja. 42. 21. Therefore he will have all the demands of the Law fully answered; and obedience thereunto perfectly fulfilled; elfe no fpiritual good fhall be given forth to any Soul, fo as to make it live, much less to profper, Isa. 59. 2, Tour iniquities have separated between you, and your God. Jer. 5. 25,-your fins have with-bolden good things from you. Now this is done, by Chrift's Righteousness alone.

There

Therefore, it is of abfolute neceffity that it be put on, else the Soul cannot profper.

3. The Garment of Righteoufnefs is put on, only by a believing Soul, Rom. 3. 22, Even the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jefus Chrift, unto all, and upon all them that believe.

(1.) Upon every believing Soul, that be ing acquainted with the way of God,in bringing Sinners into a ftate of grace, and mercy; and knowing that God is juft, and Righte ous, as well as Merciful; knows that he can not find acceptance with God, but he must be righteous, Hab. 1. 13, Thou art of purer eyes then to behold evil

(2.) Upon every Soul that knows, that every righteousness will not ferve the turn, but it must be such, as the pure eyes of the glorious Majesty of God can fee no defect in, Gal. 3. 11, That no man is justified by the Law, in the fight of God, it is evident.

(3.) Upon every Soul that knows and bewails the imperfection of his own righte ohefs; and knows he hath reason to do fo; though he were fure he had as much of all the graces that accompany Salvation, as ever Abraham, or Ifaac, or Jacob had. If this were all, this Soul knows, it would not avail him to ftand before the Righteous God. No, his infinite wrath would come upon him, for all that, and confume him, Job 15.