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man who is impious in himself, full of iniquity, full of sin, him being found in Christ through faith, and having his sin remitted through repentance; him God beholdeth with a gracious eye, putteth away his sin by not imputing, taketh quite away the punishment due thereunto by pardoning it, and accepteth him in Jesus Christ, as perfectly righteous as if he had fulfilled all that was commanded him in the law: shall I say, more perfectly righteous than if himself had fulfilled the whole law? I must take heed what I say: but the Apostle saith, "God made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." Such are we in the sight of God the Father, as is the very Son of God himself. Let it be counted folly, or frenzy, or fury, whatsoever, it is our comfort and our wisdom; we care for no knowledge in the world but this, that man hath sinned, and God hath suffered; that God hath made himself the Son of Man, and that men are made the righteousness of God."

Ere we dismiss this subject from our minds, let me address myself to those who are looking to some other quarter, than to the righteousness of God, for deliverance from that death to which transgression has made them obnoxious. The number of those who are thus feeding upon ashes is, I fear, by no means small. One hopes to be delivered from death, because he has a merciful God to deal with, and has not been overmuch wicked. Another anticipates the same favor, because he has done his best; and fondly calculates, that Christ will make up what is wanting on his part. A third has been very zealous for the Lord, and scrupulous in his compliance with all the forms which religion prescribes; and hence he sees so much merit in his abundant services, that he conceives it most unjust in any one to doubt his deliverance from death. But, however flattering an opinion the world may entertain respecting such persons, fidelity

requires me to say, that their hope is utterly unscriptural. God is indeed merciful, as the gift of his dear Son abundantly testifies; but He is consistent in his mercy, and will not sacrifice truth to mercy. And though God respects sincerity, and approves zeal and devotion, yet, having pointed out the way of life, He requires mankind to walk therein. So long then, my brethren, as you labor to establish your own righteousness, -so long as you regard it as wholly or partly sufficient to deliver you from death, you make void the Gospel : you not only labor in vain, and spend your strength for nought and in vain, but you provoke God. Banish, then, from your souls that pride which prevents you from submitting to the righteousness of God, and which causes you to weary yourselves with futile efforts to justify yourselves in the sight of God. Look unto the Lamb of God: He is ready to take away your sins,to clothe you in his own righteousness, and to give you such a transforming view of himself, that beholding in Him, as in a glass, the glory of God, you may be changed into the same image from glory to glory, even by the Spirit of God.

Let me also address myself to those who flatter themselves that they have passed from death unto life. Beloved, to lean on your own righteousness is sin; but to abound in the fruits of the Spirit, is your bounden duty. Hereby, all may know that you have passed from death unto life; hereby, all may know that you are incorporated into Christ, and have received the impress of each grace that is in Him. Be it your care then, my brethren, to live as becometh those who have obtained an inheritance amongst them that are sanctified, by faith that is in Christ. And whilst you are ever ready to say with the Psalmist, "I will make mention of thy righteousness, and of thine only," let your daily conversation attest, that you have not forgotten that you are

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cleansed from your old sins; and that you are arrayed in that clothing of wrought gold, in which every grace of the Spirit appears in just proportion. If this be your course, the peace of God shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus; for the work of righteousness is peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance for ever."

SERMON V.

JOB VII. 17.

"WHAT IS MAN?"

THE patriarch was led to make this inquiry by a review of his own sad condition. To himself he appeared so abject and despicable,—so diseased and impotent, that he could scarce conceive why God would look upon him, or confer a measure of honor upon such an impotent worm by contending with, and chastening him. But whilst I admit in the fullest sense the meanness of man, whilst I grant that God is raised to an immeasurable height above him, I think that some instruction may be derived from a consideration of the question, "What is man?"

Were we to do nothing more than consider the physical constitution of man, much would be found to interest and astonish us. His body is fearfully and wonderfully made; and though some other creatures may excel man in agility, or in the acuteness of their senses, yet there is a majesty in his movements, and an intelligence in his countenance, which proclaim, that to him has been assigned the "dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth on the earth."

It is, however, the spirit that is in man, which communicates to him that immeasurable superiority which he evidently possesses over the beasts, and other irrational creatures. Contemplate man when the silver cord has been loosed, and the spirit which animated him has taken its flight to the God that gave it: when the limbs have become rigid,—the eye fixed,—and the cheek cold in death; and you must admit, that even the lifeless statue which the hand of man has moulded seems to possess greater majesty and interest. Contemplate him, however, when buoyant with life, and health, and spirits, -when gifted with a refined taste, a cultivated understanding, and an intelligent mind, and he will then appear no unmeet vicegerent of the Deity: he is evidently but a little lower than the angels. In this sense, therefore, man may be deemed a fit subject for our meditations; and it is somewhat surprising that he should so rarely be so. Perhaps, however, the reason is to be found in the saying of the learned, that men are usually more curious about things that are new, than about things that are excellent. "The comet," as one has well observed, "or the burning meteor, strikes more wonder into the beholder, than those glorious lamps of light which regularly stud the heavens, and in which the heathen have acknowledged a divineness." The sun when he shines in his brightness, diffusing light and heat on every side, attracts the gaze of few; but when his glory is obscured, as in an eclipse, every eye is turned towards him; so true it is, that man is more attracted by things new, than by things excellent.

It is not, however, on the physical constitution of man that I purpose now to dwell: I would rather inquire, “What is man in nature, grace, and glory?" We might, indeed, ask what man was, ere sin had marred his excellency when the image of the glorious God was stamped upon him; and the Creator, rejoicing in this his

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