ties. For he himself "bare our sins in his own body," when he
was slain upon the cross or tree, "that we, being dead unto sin, might
live unto righteousness," 1 Pet. ii. 24, 2 Cor. v. 21. Behold what a
wonder! Iniquities, and our iniquities, laid upon the immaculate Lamb,
Jesus Christ. Our Redeemer hid his divinity, his holiness, and his
innocence, as with a vail and covering from the eyes of God's awful
justice. He smites the Shepherd, his beloved Son, as he did the rebel
creature. It pleased the Father to bruise him and put him to grief, when
his soul was made an offering for sin, Isa. liii. 4-11, Zech. xiii. 7.
Justice did not look through the covering to his innocence, but reckoned
and numbered him among transgressors, when he bore the punishment of our
sins, and made an atonement for them, Isa. liii. 11, 12, Gal. iii. 13, 14.

Now hence it is that the righteousness of Jesus Christ, which he learned
in the days of his flesh, and purchased by his death, is prepared for us,
to put on. "Who soever will, let him come and take it." Empty yourselves,
stripped naked of all kind of coverings but sin and unworthiness, that
which God's holy eye cannot behold, and seek Christ's righteousness to
adorn and cover you. Behold it shall hide all your sins and abominations,
of whatsoever nature and degree, from the pure and unspotted eyes of God's
justice, which are as a flaming fire, to consume what it cannot look upon
without abhorrence. Put on this righteousness of God, and justice shall
not draw by the covering, to look under it. It shall look upon the sinner
as a righteous man on the slave of Satan as a child of God, on the heir of
hell as the heir of heaven, if he sincerely repent of, and forsake his
sins, believe in Christ and obey his gospel. "Behold all things are new,
and all things are of God, who hath reconciled the world unto himself by
Jesus Christ," &c., 2 Cor. v. 17-19, Col. i. 19-24. Christ was no worse
dealt with for our sins, than we shall be well dealt with for his
righteousness. This is the gift of God. And is it not worthy to be sought?
Is it not a gift worthy of him to give? Is it not also suitable for us to
ask? "If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee,
Give me to drink, thou wouldst have asked of him, and he would have given
thee living water," &c. John iv. 10-15. So say I to you, if ye knew the
gift of God, what this kingdom is, what this righteousness is, and who is
appointed by