w might be no loser by our salvation, "that the
righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us," &c.

This is that which Christ says, "I came not to destroy the law, but to
fulfil it," Matt. v. 17, and which Paul seconds, "Is the law then made
void by faith? God forbid, it is rather established," Rom. iii. 31. The
law and justice come better to their own, by our Cautioner than by us.
There is no such way conceivable, to satisfy them fully, as this, whether
you look to the commandment or the curse.

The commandment never got such satisfaction in any person, as in Christ's,
he hath fulfilled it by obedience. "It becometh us" saith he "to fulfil
all righteousness," (Matt. iii. 15.) both moral and ceremonial, so that
there was no guile found in his mouth,--he knew no sin, he was holy and
harmless. His Father's will was his soul's delight,--"I delight to do thy
will," Ps. xl. 8. It was more to him than his necessary food, his meat and
drink. There was so absolute a correspondency between his will and God's
will, and between his way and his will, that it was not possible that any
difference should fall between them. His obedience had more good in it (so
to speak) than Adam's disobedience had evil in it, Rom. v. 18, 19. Adam's
disobedience was but the sin of a finite creature, but Christ's obedience
was the work of an infinite person. I think there was more real worth in
Christ's obedience to the commands, than in all the united service and
obedience of men and angels. All the love, delight, fear, and obedience
flowing from these--take them in one bundle, as they will be extended and
multiplied to all eternity, there is something in Christ's that elevates
it above all, and puts a higher price upon it. The transcendent dignity of
his person,--his own Son "made under the law," (Gal. iv. 4.)--that is more
worth than if all men and angels had been made under it. It had been no
humiliation, but rather the exaltation of an angel, to be obedient to God.
That subordination to a law, is the highest top of the creature's
advancement. But he was such a person, as his obedience was a humbling
himself. "He humbled himself, and became obedient, even to the death,"
Phil. ii. 8, and though he was the Son of God yet he stooped to learn
obedience, Heb. v. 8. Now indeed the commandment comes to it better,(175)
by this means, to have such a glorious person under it, than if it had
poor naughty us under it, and that is fulfilled by him, when oth