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14, What is Man, that he should be clean, or be that is born of a Woman, that he should be righteous? 1 Sam. 6.20, Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God?

(4) A Soul that knows all this in fome measure, and that the Righteousness is such a Righteousness as God will accept of, and fo adventures his Eternal ftate upon the merits thereof; refolving, however Chrift deal with him, in his ftrength, to keep faft his hold there, and to live and dye adhering unto, and depending upon him. This Righte ousness is upon every fuch a believing Soul. This Faith (though it may be more then a believing Soul knows) hath put on this righteouinefs, therefore it is called, The righteoufness of faith, Phil. 3. 9. The fins of a Believer are put upon Chrift's account, and Chrift's righteoufnefs upon his, 2 Cor. 5. 21. Faith being the only grace that receives it, as being peculiarly fitted for it; for no Man was ever accepted as righteous before God for that, which he did himself; but by receiving that which Chrift did for han. And Faith is the only receiving grace. Love lays out, but Faith receives, Job. I. 12, To as many as received him, &c.

4. The clothing of the Soul with this Righteousness, hath a great influence into Soul profperity. For confider,

t. This is that Righteousness alone, that

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anfwers all doubts, and fears, for want of fuch a righteoufnefs, as might give accep tance with God, as to Eternal Life, fo as to that, how vile foever they have judged themfelves, yet being clothed with it, they ftand without blame before God, Col. 1. 22, In the Body of his flesh through death, to prefent you holy, and unblameable, and unreprovable in his fight. This alone fatisfies Confcience; and well it may, for it satisfies God himself. In this, all the Scripture-Saints, in all Ages, have refted, being clothed with it. Abraham before the Law, Rom. 4. Da vid, under the Law, Pfal. 32. And Paul under the Gofpel, Phil. 3.9. hedgiew bowed

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2. This is that garment aloney in which there may be accefs with boldness, into the prefence of God, even at the daft day, 1 Job. 2.28, And now little Children, abide in him, that when he fhall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him, at his coming. Therefore much more in this day, Eph. 3. 12, In whom we have boldness, and accefs with confidence, by the faith of him. For this is a Righteoufnefs wherewith (we may warrantably fay fo) God is more highly pleased, and which (of the two) finds more acceptance in Heaven, then the righte Oufnefs of the bleffed Angels, that never finned. For ther's is but the righteoufness of a Creature, This is the Righteousness of

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God, Jer. 23:6,This is his Name where by be fhall be called, The Lord our Righteouf nefs.

3. This is Everlasting righteousness, Dan. 9.24. In this, Chrift ever hath appeared, and ever will appear in Heaven, in behalf of all thofe, that come to God by him; and remains still of the fame Eternal efficacy, for the applying, and forth-giving of all the price of his Blood, all that thereby is pur chafed, for the health, well-fare, perfect and Eternal profperity of the Soul,1 Job.2.2. And he is the propitiation for our fins, &c.

Now lay all these together, and let them be well weighed, and it will be granted, because it will be found, that when once the Soul comes to have any degree of good hope, through grace, of its intereft in it, and that it is clothed with it, that Soul will experi mentally find, that this, above all things elfe, hath a powerful influence into its fpiritual well-fare, and profperity. For this keeps life in faith, and heart in hope; and enables the Soul to live in the exercise of them both, and in the exercise of Repentance, and keeps the heart warm with love to Chrift. In the exercife of which graces (as hath been fhewed) Soul-profperity doth confift, and is much promoted, 1 Joh. 3. 3, And every one that hath this hope, purifieth himself, as he is pure, Zech. 12. 10, I will

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powre-the Spirit of grace, and Supplication, and they shall look on him, whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him.-Luk. 7.47,-Her fins, which are many, are forgi ven, for fhe loved much. 2 Cor. 5. 14, 15, For the love of Christ conftraineth us, &c.

Therefore, as ever we defire that our Souls fhould profper, let us be much in the medi tation of the Materials whereof the garment of this Righteousness is made, that we may distinctly understand it; and let every humbled Sinner, wrestling against the workings of his unbelief, and making out after an in terest in Christ, adventure to apply it, and to receive it, as that which is freely offered unto him, Rev. 22. 17, And the Spirit, and the Bride fay, Come: and let him that heareth, Say, Come. And let him that is athirst, Come; and whosoever will, let him take the Water of life freely. And fo put it on, though by a weak and trembling faith; and continue ftill to do it, that fo in due time, when the only-wife God fees it beft for us, we may know we have it. This is the way to find reft to our Souls.

For confider but these two things.

(1.) That as the imputation of Adam's fin, was the original of all ungodliness, and the undoing of all our Souls; fo the impu tation of this Righteousness to the Soul, and the clothing of the Soul with it, is the ori

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ginal of all the principles of godliness, which are the life, and profperity of the Soul; for by the merit of his death, Chrift purchased them all; and by his interceffion, and plead ing this, he applyeth them all.

(2.) Confider this: That it is as great, yea and greater fatisfaction to Chrift him felf, to fee an humbled, conflicting Soul receive it, put it on, apply it, and plead it, for what grace and mercy foever it ftands. in need of; I fay it is a greater fatisfaction to Chrift himfelf to fee such a Soul do it, then it is to the Soul it self, that doth it; though he know he hath done it, fo as is accepted, Ifa. 53. 11, He shall fee of the travail of his Soul, and be latisfied. He accounts all the travails of his Soul, all his fufferings, all his obedience to the Law fatisfied for, in this.

And thus much of that Garment of Righ teousness which is wrought for the Soul, by Chrift himself.

2. The Soul that profpers must be clothed with the Garment of Righteousness, wrought in the Soul, by the Spirit of Chrift. The righteoufnefs wrought in the Soul, is the fame with that which is called Saving grace, and true holiness. It is called Righ teousness, because it is the impreffion of God's Righteoufnefs upon the Soul, in the exercife whereof, the Soul works unto God, as

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