The LORD our Righteousness.
JEREMIAH xxiii. 6.
_The LORD our Righteousness_.
WHOEVER is acquainted with the nature of mankind in general, or the
propensity of his own heart in particular, must acknowledge, that
_self-righteousness_ is the last idol that is rooted out of the heart:
being once born under a covenant of works, it is natural for us all to
have recourse to a covenant of works, for our everlasting salvation.
And we have contracted such a devilish pride, by our fall from GOD,
that we would, if not wholly, yet in part at least, glory in being
the cause of our own salvation. We cry out against popery, and that
very justly; but we are all Papists, at least, I am sure, we are
all Arminians by nature; and therefore no wonder so many natural men
embrace that scheme. It is true, we disclaim the doctrine of merit,
are ashamed directly to say we deserve any good at the hands of GOD;
therefore, as the Apostle excellently well observes, “we go about,” we
fetch a circuit, “to establish a righteousness of our own, and,” like
the Pharisees of old, “will not wholly submit to that righteousness
which is of GOD through JESUS CHRIST our LORD.”
This is the sorest, though, alas! the most common evil that was ever
yet seen under the sun. An evil, that in any age, especially in these
dregs of time wherein we live, cannot sufficiently be inveighed against.
For as it is with the people, so it is with the priests; and it is to
be feared, even in those places, where once the truth as it is in JESUS
was eminently preached, many ministers are so sadly degenerated from
their pious ancestors, that the doctrines of grace, especially the
personal, _all-sufficient righteousness of_ JESUS, is but too seldom,
too slightly mentioned. Hence the love of many waxeth cold; and I have
often thought, was it possible, that this single consideration would be
sufficient to raise our venerable forefathers again from their graves;
who would thunder in their ears their fatal error.
The righteousness of JESUS CHRIST is one of those great mysteries,
which the angels desire to look into, and seems to be one of the first
lessons that GOD taught men after the fall. For, what were the coats
that GOD made to put on our first parents, but types of the application
of the merits or righteousness of JESUS CHRIST to believers hearts? We
are told, that those coats were made of skins of beasts; and, as beasts
were not then food for men, we may fairly infer, that those beasts
were slain in sacrifice, in commemoration of the great sacrifice, JESUS
CHRIST, thereafter to be offered. And the skins of the beasts thus
slain, being put on _Adam_ and _Eve_, they were hereby taught how their
nakedness was to be covered with the righteousness of the Lamb of GOD.
This is it which is meant, when we are told, “_Abraham_ believed on the
LORD, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” In short, this
is it of which both the law and the prophets have spoken, especially
_Jeremiah_ in the words of the text, “The LORD our righteousness.”