The Righteoufnefs of Jefus infinitely fufficient for the Fuftification of all who embrace it. ROMANS x. 4. FOR CHRIST IS THE END OF THE LAW FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS TO EVERY ONE THAT BELIEVETH, THE wifdom of man is frequent ly baffled, and his power defeated in attempting to accomplish his most favorite schemes. A thousand defigns, conceived in his imagination, are never realised, either through want of fkill in the contrivance, or ability for the accomplishment. But the Eternal inind is reftrained by no bounds, nor embarraffed in its operations either by difficulties, or oppofition. With God nothing is impoffible. The counfel of the Lord ftandeth forever, and the thoughts of his heart to all generations. Does his fovereignty propofe a particular plan as eligible in itself, and calculated toadvance the majefty of his name, his wifdom readily devifes the means, and his power infallibly fecures the execution. He beholds the end from the begining; he furveys at one thought, principles with their remoteft confequences and knows the beft means for effe&ting the belt deEigns. With what majefty do his perfections break forth in the creation, and redemption of our world? He fpeaks, and it is done; the different ranks of being, animate and inanimate, rife into exiflence, and affume the ftation prefcribed them; confufion gives place to order, darkness yields before the approaching light, and from the formlefs, unfightly mass, creation rifes fair at the voice of the creator. He fpeaks again, and a work inconceivably more arduous is accomplished; the world is redeemed from that ruin into which it was plunged; the divine glory appears molt illuftrious where it had been moft obfcured, and an open door is prefented for the return of apoftate, miferable man. And he faw, exclaims the infpired feraphic Ifaiah, and he faw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no interceffor; therefore his arm brought falvation and his righteoufnefs it fuftained him; he has conciliated the feemingly jarring attributes of Deity; he has preferved in perfect harmony mercy and truth, righteoufnefs and peace, while good will is announced to us. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God fending his own fon in the likeness of finful flesh, and for fin condemned fin in the flesh; he gave him to be the end of the law for righteonfnefs to every one that believeth. In the verse immediately preceding our text, the apoftle expofes the folly of the Jews in attempting to establish their own righteoufnefs for juftification; he maintains that acceptance with the Father on the foundation of human works was utterly impoffible; that the very expectation of attaining this end arofe from ignorance of God; from mifapprehenfions of his juftice in taking vengeance on tranfgreffion; from imperfect views of his law in its purity, requiring a perfect, perpetual obedience under the penalty of death; he argues alfo, that this fond attachment to their own services proceeded from their ignorance of the fuitablenefs, and fufficiency of that righteoufnefs which had been accomplished by the infinitely glorious Redeemer. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteoufnefs have not fubmitted themfelves to the righteoufnefs of God. He then adds with peculiar emphafis in the verse which we have read, For Chrift is the end of the law for righteoufnefs to every one that believeth. THE righteousness of Chrift ufually fignifies his active obedience, his fulfilment of the divine law in its preceptive part; but in the prefent inftance it must be confidered in a fenfe more extenfive; as comprehending both his active and paffive obedience; his enduring the penalty, no lefs than fulfilling the precept of the moral law; in fhort,the righteoufnefs here mentioned includes all that he accomplished for our pardon, and acceptance; for our redemption from that wrath to which we were expofed, and our title to that glory which we had altogether forfeited. On a late occafion I endeavored to prove that falvation is not to be expected by the covenant of works; that no flefh can be juftified with Jehovah by their moral excellence, or attainments. But this inspired oracle promulges a different method for our acceptance; a method more auguft in it felf, more honorable to each perfection of deity, and more fuitable to the prefent circumftances of man; it exhibits the eternal Son as finishing tranfgreffion, and thus becoming the end of the law for righteoufnefs to all the chofen. And while we humbly aim at illuftrating the excellence, the all-fufficiency of this redemption, may a ray of Meffiah's glory beam on every understanding; may his rich, unequalled, unmerited love captivate and constrain every heart in this affembly. THE Lord Jefus may be pronounced the end of the law for righteoufnefs, becaufe, 1. He freely obeyed the precept, and endu red the penalty of the law. His whole life from its commencement in Bethlehem to its confumation on Calvary was a courfe of the moft cheerful, uninterrupted obedience to the will of his Father. Every duty which was incumbent upon him as man and mediator, whether in a private, or focial, or religious capacity he difcharg ed with conftant fidelity, and unspotted perfection. As a child he cheerfully fubmitted to the authority of his parents; as a fon of Abraham, and confequently included within the Jewish pale he received the feal of circumcifion; as a member of the Gentile church, and the author of the chriftian difpenfation, he fubmitted to the ordi.. nance of baptifm; as a man, endulging the finer feelings of the human heart, he went about doing good; he relieved fuch as were in circumftances of wretchednefs, and mingled his tears with the difconfolate mourner; as a fubject of the Roman government he paid tribute, and thus rendered unto Cefar the things that were Cefar's; as the prophet of his church he diligently inftru&ted the multitude and preached righteoufnefs in the great congregation; as the high priest of our profeffion he offered up fervent prayers and interceffions for the people he fought mercy in behalf even of his betrayers and murderers: Father, he affectionately expoftulates, Father forgive them for they know not what they do; as a King he difplayed his almighty power, and royal prerogatives by performing a series of miracles the most splendid, alternately feeding the hungry, healing the diseased, raifing the dead, and cafting out devils from the bodies of thofe that were poffeffed. He thus upon all occafions obeyed the law in its moft rigorous requirements. It was his meat and his drink, his defire and delight to do the will of his Father that fent him, and |