"impute sin." It is also employed to express the attributing of actions performed by one person to another, and in this sense it is always taken, when we speak of the righteousness of Christ imputed to believers. "For us also," says St. Paul," to whom "it, to wit, righteousnes shall be imputed, if we believe on "him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead. God im"puteth righteousness without works." In these and many other places, the righteousness imputed cannot be a person's own works, and nothing can constitute a righteousness but good works, or acts of holy obedience-but this is most explicitly denied by the Apostle. Therefore, the imputed righteousness of which he treats, must be the righteousness of another-and it can be nothing else, but the works or acts of the holy and perfect obedience of Christ, or what is stiled his righteousness.The Greek word every where used to express this idea, is logezetai, which is rendered, reckoned to, accounted, ascribed or imputed. But in whatever way we exhibit the matter of our justification, and the form of our becoming partakers of it or interested in it, one thing is absolutely certain, we are not justified before God by our own works or deeds of the law, but solely by the righteousness of the Redeemer. The sincere and pious man, who can submit to read Taylor on the Romans, and others of that class down to Whitby, will see the various exertions of great geniuses, and exuberant literature, to establish some other mode of justification variant from St. Paul, whom all parties lug into their service. But the simple, sincere, and even learned believer, will be more confirmed in this truth, that we are justified by the righteousness of Christ, and become participants of it, and interested in it by faith alone. And this faith is neither a bare perception of the mind, a simple assent of the understanding, nor is it struck into us like a clap of thunder, as a modern sect assert; neither is it blindly believing we are good men, nor persuading ourselves Christ is ours, and his 'benefits ours without scripture, sense or reason, as some have foolishly affirmed. But a gospel or justifying faith, is a sinner's cordial consent to take

Jesus Christ in all his mediatorial offices, as the Lord his right. eousness, and to give and commit himself wholly to the free mercy of God in Christ, looking for the pardon of sin, and acceptance to eternal life, only through his merits. I know the cloud of objections against this doctrine, but time will not admit my attention to them. The pious man, and the man of experimental acquaintance with religion, will easily clear his way' through the dark mist raised to obscure his path, and firmly hold his ground upon the righteousness of Christ received by faith, as the rock on which he builds all his hopes..

Fourthly, It ought to be observed, that this justifying faith, is not a dead faith. It is not a solitary exercise of the human mind, but it is a living operative principle, works by love, purifies the heart, and overcomes the world. It powerfully disposes the heart in devotion towards God, and in mercy, love, and righteousness towards men. The fruits of true faith are godli ness, charity, honesty and all holy living..

But it is time, and more than time, I should close the subject, which shall be done in a few very brief deductions.

The First deduction from this subject is, that it is impossible for any of the children of men to be pardoned, justified, and accepted of God by any righteousness, works, duties or obedience of their own, however splendid, showy, and apparently good as to the matter of them. This was the ruin of the pharisees, many jews, and multitudes of professed christians. They depend upon themselves. The blindness of their mind, and pride of their heart, cannot bear such self-denial and self-renunciation. To be absolutely beholden to free grace and the righteousness of Christ, involves such a depreciation of, and sense of unworthiness in themselves, that unrenewed nature can neither conceive, believe, nor endure. The Apostolic conclusion is, "That a "man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. As ma"ny as are of the works of the law are under the curse,

for it is

written, cursed is every one that continueth not in all things "that are written in the book of the law to do them."

A Second deduction is, that the doctrine of justification by the righteousness of Christ through faith, exhibits the exceeding greatness of the transcendant glory of the gospel. It glorifies the Trinity of Persons in the Godhead; it glorifies all the perfections of Jehovah; all the offices of the blessed Mediator; and it introduces to glory, all them that believe. O blessed gospel! O glorious righteousness!

Thirdly, We deduce from hence, the great blessedness of all who are justified. "Blessed is he whose transgression is for"given, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom "the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose heart there is no "guile." They are blessed with peace in God, with access to the throne of mercy, with hope which will not make ashamed, with the communications of the Holy Ghost, with deliverance from wrath, and with the well grounded expectation of eternal life. Yea, they are altogether blessed; blessed in this world, and they will be blessed in the world which is to come. "There"fore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through "our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom also we have access by faith "into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the "glory of God. Whom he did predestinate, them he also call"ed; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he "justified, them he also glorified."

Lastly, We deduce from this doctrine, the strong obligations believers are under for gratitude, love and holy living. How should they be filled with gratitude, because of the blessedness, honor, and glory of justification; because also of its freeness, security and happiness? How should they love the Lord both for what he is in himself and for all his benefits? How holy, circumspect and godly ought they to be in all manner of conversation? "Give thanks always for all things unto God, and the Father

"in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Praise the Lord with "your whole heart. Let your tongue speak of his righteousness ❝and of his praise all the day long.-Take diligent heed to love "the Lord your God. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, and "keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments. O love "the Lord all ye his saints."-Let believers prove their justification by holy living. If justified, they are dead to sin. "And "how shall we who are dead to sin, live any longer therein ?" Let us ever imitate the holy Apostle, who kept under his body, and was eminent in godly living. "He pressed forward to"ward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ "Jesus."

SERMON XXXI.

ACCEPTANCE WITH GOD BY CHRIST'S OBEDIENCE

TO THE LAW.

ISAIAH XLI. 21.

The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness sake, he wi magnify the law and make it honorable.

THIS is a chapter of high importance, peculiarly descriptive of the character and advent of the Redeemer, and the future success of the gospel dispensation. The prophecy contained herein is particularly applied to Christ in the twelfth chapter of Matthew. In the first four verses our Lord is described in the meekness, tenderness, and gentleness of his character. From thence to the ninth verse, his call and power to undertake the marvelous work of redemption. Then to the fifteenth, the Gentiles are called upon to sing praises and give glory to God, partly for the gracious salvation procured by the Messiah, and partly for the destruction of his enemies. Then Jew and Gentile are charged with their stupidity, blindness and ignorance, and all their attention demanded to the salvation displayed in the gospel."Hear ye deaf, and look ye blind, that ye may see." The Gentiles who sat in darkness are exhorted to behold the brightness,and the Jews to open their ears to hear the glad tidings of sal