Page:Believer exalted in imputed righteousness.pdf/21

 body and blood without it, you may expect that the maſter of the feaſt will ſay to you, Friend, how cameſt thou hither wanting the wedding-garmant? For your trial, I offer theſe two or three things, 1ſt, haſt thou ſeen thyſelf condemned by the law or covenant of works? every man by nature is condemned already, while out of Chriſt. Now, the ordinary way that God takes of bringing an elect ſoul into Chriſt, and under the covering of his righteouſneſs, is by diſcovering unto him the ſentence of condemnation that he is under, by virtue of the broken law; and thus paves the way toward his acceptance of Chriſt as the Lord our righteouſneſs. For thus it is that the law is our ſchool-maſter to 'lead us to Chriſt,' that we may be juſtified by faith. The Lord leads the ſinner to mount Zion by the foot of Sinai. The Spirit's way is firſt to convince of ſin, and then of righteouſneſs. 2dly. Has the Lord diſcovered the Surety and his righteouſneſs to thee? And has thy ſoul found reſt here? Perhaps the law and its curſes, juſtice and wrath were purſuing thee; and thou could not find a hole wherein to hide thy head, all refuges fail'd: At length the Lord drew by the vail, and diſcovered his righteouſneſs as a ſufficient ſhelter, ſaying Turn into the ſtrong hold thou priſoner of hope; and hither thou fled, as into a city of refuge, ſaying, This is my reſt here will I dwell. Readily, when it comes to this, there is a little heaven of ſerenity and joy enters into the ſoul; ſo that, if it were poſſible, it would make heaven and earth to ring with hallelujahs of praiſe unto God for his unſpeakable gift. Doſt thou not