risees,
who satisfied themselves with a mere walk before men. This was man's
righteousness but not God's. This righteousness may be also opposed to the
rags of our own righteousness, that we seek to cover ourselves with, Isa.
lxiv. 6. The apostle says of the Jews, Rom. x. 3, 4, "For they being
ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own
righteousness, have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God.
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that
believeth."

Now here is the business, and I would have you to conceive it right. The
gospel calls you to a kingdom. This is certainly more than all earthly
kingdoms. But how shall ye come to it? Not at the nearest hand, not _per
saltum_.(503) No, believe it, ye must come and enter this way, before ye
compass the end, and the way to this kingdom is by another kingdom, namely
righteousness. It is the kingdom of grace within us, and the fruit of it
is this. Deny thyself, and follow me, Matt. xvi. 24-26. Overcome
yourselves, and your corrupt lusts, and ye shall be more than conquerors.
Kingdoms are gotten by conquest. But here is the greatest conquest and
triumph in the world, for a man to overcome himself. He that rules himself
and his own spirit, is greater than he that taketh a city, Prov. xvi. 32.
Other conquerors but overcome men like themselves, and yet are overcome by
themselves, and their own passions, and so are but slaves indeed. But if
ye deny yourselves, and resign yourselves to Jesus Christ, ye shall be
more than conquerors, Rom. viii. 37. This then is the kingdom ye must seek
first, and it is the first step to the throne of glory. If ye would have a
throne after this life, you must have a throne of grace in your hearts.
"If the Son shall make you free, then shall ye be free indeed." They truly
are kings who are most subject to God above themselves, and free from the
bonds of creatures. This is the glorious liberty of the children of God,
to have liberty from him to make sin a captive. It is a righteous kingdom,
a kingdom of righteousness. Therefore ye must here study righteousness and
holiness, "for the grace of God that hath appeared to all men, and
bringeth salvation, teacheth us, that denying all ungodliness, and worldly
lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present
world looking for the blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the
great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ," &c. Tit