For how is it now in our own land of England? For many centuries we have been a Christian people.-Our kings and queens boast to be defenders of the Christian faith-our laws are built upon the Gospel-our customs and everyday usages are leavened, more or less, with the truth as it is in Jesus. We have learnt something of these things-to have compassion on the ignorant—to defend the oppressed-to administer justice impartially between man and man-to deal mercifully with the fallen-to think no scorn of a man because he is poor or humbly born-but to regard him for what he is in himself-his intrinsic worth-to honour the brave-the pure -the liberal-the unselfish-the large-hearted.

I speak only of what is apparent to you all-of what may be seen by any one who notices only the outward aspect of our English life. But surely this is enough to show that the ruling power in our country is from Godthat Jesus Christ is our King!

Let us be thankful, most thankful, that it is even so. Let us count it ever one of our very chiefest blessings, to have been born in a land which confesses Christ to be the Lord! which publicly and solemnly refers to His Gospel for the seal and sanction of its government-which shews the work of His Spirit on many of its social institutions and familiar practices.

And let us further remember, that the same Lord Jesus Christ claims to be King over our own individual hearts. Let us remember that it has been promised for us-nay, that we have ourselves promised it, that He, and He only shall have the dominion over us!

Surely it is not needed that I should dwell upon this.

You will yourselves allow that to have Christ ruling in us, guiding our wayward wills, purifying our perverse affections, calming our strong passions, is what we all most want; is what more than anything would help to make us happy-at peace with our brethren, and at peace with God.

Then strive, I beseech you, more earnestly, after this the true happiness. Seek to set up a throne for Christ in your hearts. Seek to bring your whole being into subjection to His blessed will. Pray that He would indeed reign in you, and rule in you, till He hath put down all His and your enemies, and filled you with those fruits of righteousness, which are by Him to the glory and praise of God!

And this leads me, in the last place, to the other great name given to our Lord in this Epistle-This is the Name -as if it were the name above all others that suited Him best-This is the Name whereby He shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS!

Now observe it is not merely said that Jesus Christ is Himself righteous, but that He is our righteousness. Of His own righteousness there could be no question. We who have read His story in the Gospel, know that the term righteous, or holy, is never used so truly as when it is spoken of Him. We all echo the centurion's words who watched beside His cross; we exclaim with him, on closing any chapter that records what Jesus said and did, Certainly this was a righteous man!

The question rather is, In what way Christ's holiness can benefit us? How He is OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS ?

And a graver question, or one that goes deeper into the mystery of redeeming love, cannot be asked.

How, then let us put it with all reverence-how is Christ made unto us righteousness? How does His

righteousness come to be ours?

The answer, I humbly think, is this,-Christ taking our place, standing in our stead, satisfied every requirement of God's justice,-bore our punishment, atoned for our sins, fulfilled every jot and tittle of God's holy law, -was obedient in all things. By the forbearance of God, the merit of that obedience and of those sufferings is imputed to the believer. If we believe in Jesus Christ we are justified from all things, from which we could in no other way be justified. Our sins are forgiven us, we are accepted in the Beloved. As it is clearly expressed in our Eleventh Article, "We are accounted righteous before God only by the merit of our Lord Jesus Christ by faith."

And, as is asserted in this same article, this " is a most wholesome doctrine and very full of comfort."

Like a rope to a ship-wrecked mariner buffeting with spent powers in the waves, so is this most comfortable truth to the soul of man when possessed by his sins. By the help thus offered to us, by laying hold of the righteousness of Christ, we may be kept from sinking, and yet reach the desired land!

And I see not how we could else do so. Were it not that we are justified freely, by faith, and not for our own works or deservings-I see not how we could be justified at all-I see not how, being what we are, sinners laden with iniquity, stained and spotted with the

marks of manifold transgressions, we could any of us hope, unhelped by Christ, to escape condemnation! I see not how we could think to approach unrebuked, God's awful Presence, except we came clothed in the prepared garment, the righteousness of the Redeemer. Except we could say, in excuse for our boldness, "This have we found; this have we put on-in this is our trust of being accepted, know now whether it be thy son's coat or no!"*

It would appear, then, brethren, that the sole cause of man's salvation and acceptance with God, is the righteousness of Jesus Christ-and further that this righteousness is made ours by an act of faith on our part. They that believe are justified; they that believe not are yet in their sins.

And this I said is a doctrine very full of comfort—a doctrine we should never have found out for ourselves; which God has made the subject of Revelation to us.

Let us hold it firm, as the sheet anchor of our soul. Let us not be diverted from it by false teaching, or by the pride of our own hearts.-Let us not go about to establish a righteousness of our own which can never be realized —instead of submitting ourselves unconditionally to the righteousness of God!

But-and surely the caution is required-let us not abuse, turn to a wrong use this doctrine of comfort-let us not seek in it an excuse for laxity-for slackness in well-doing. True that when we have all, we shall have nothing to boast of, but let no man stop short of doing. all. Let it be a question in every breast, "how shall I Chillingworth's Sermons.

*

enough thank God for His mercy? What return shall I make for all the benefits He hath done to me?"

And let the answer be something of this kind-" I will receive the cup of salvation, and call upon the Name of the Lord-I will pay my vows in the presence of all His people-in the courts of the Lord's House. I will take no wicked thing in hand-I will have no fellowship with evil doers-I will watch and pray, lest I fall into temptation-I will set God always before me, He shall be my strength and my song-The law of His mouth shall be dearer unto me than thousands of gold and silver!"