LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. So that though our Righteousness be not of us, be not in any sense our own, yet is it in us, our Righteousness is CHRIST dwelling in us.

But although HE that dwells in us is perfect Righteousness, yet in us, even in the best and most faithful of us, there still remains also the opposite principle of sin and evil3. Even the very best of us do many things we ought not to do, and leave undone what we ought to do; nay, the very holiest and most perfect of the good actions of GOD's Saints, though springing from God's own SPIRIT, are yet so alloyed by the evil that remains in them, can by no means bear the strictness of God's most holy and heart searching-judgment. Yet so long as we keep a truly and lively faith in CHRIST, and so long as by that faith CHRIST dwells in us, we are accounted righteous before GOD, and are accepted by HIM in spite of our sins, which are forgiven us and blotted out, for the sake of CHRIST, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, Who made satisfaction for our sins, and Who has knit and joined us unto HIMSELF. The Righteousness of CHRIST imparted to us, is acceptable to God in us, and we are accepted for It, although in us, even the best of us, it be alloyed by many a sin and imperfection. For, these sins of imperfection in those who abide in CHRIST, GOD blots out, for CHRIST's sake, while HE bestows on these His faithful servants grace to amend their hearts and lives more and more, and to grow more and more conformed to the image of His SON. When we are justified, therefore, we are endowed with CHRIST's Righteousness, and although sin remains even when we are new born unto Righteousness, yet GOD forgives that sin, while we abide in CHRIST, and lays it not to our charge.

We are first justified or made righteous in this way in the Holy Sacrament of Baptism, being thus made members of CHRIST, and therefore partakers of His Righteousness. For this reason we say in the Belief in the Communion Service, that "we believe One Baptism for the remission of sins."

After this, our first justification in Baptism, it depends on our faith, whether we continue in this state of Righteousness; for it is "by faith we stand *;" "by faith CHRIST dwells in our hearts ";"

3 See the Ninth Article of our Church.

5 Eph. iii. 17.

+2 Cor. i. 24.

by faith we continue one with HIM. Therefore our faith, like Abraham's faith, is reckoned or imputed to us for Righteousness, because it is by faith we cleave unto THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, by faith HE dwells in our hearts.

But, then, this means a lively faith; a faith that " worketh by love;" a faith that keeps the commandments of God; "faith without works is dead:" such faith cannot, therefore, keep us in union with CHRIST, Who is Life; it is the very faith of devils, who never can have part in CHRIST. Therefore, our LORD HIMSELF says, that if we keep His commandments, we shall abide in His love," i. e. in HIM; for the fruit of a true faith is the keeping of the commandments of God. And to those who thus love and obey HIM, HE gives a special promise that HE and His FATHER also will dwell in them. He saith, "If a man love ME, he will keep My words, and My FATHER will love him, and We will come unto him and make Our abode with him "."

6

Here our LORD plainly describes one who is in a justified state, who is made righteous in God's sight, not for the merit of his own works, but for the merit of THE LORD HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, Who dwells in him; to Whom he was first joined in Baptism, and in Whom he now abides by faith which worketh by love.

It is therefore most true, and it is a most comfortable truth, that if we serve God faithfully, and heartily, and constantly, the sad imperfections of our service are forgiven us for the sake of our indwelling SAVIOUR, and the faith by which we abide in HIM is imputed to us for Righteousness.

But if any man falls away into gross, wilful, and deadly sin, if a man neglects God's worship, if a man loves the world, if a man takes pleasure in sin, if a man has wronged his neighbour, and keeps that which he has unjustly gained, that man must not think that his faith will justify him, or that his sins will be forgiven him for his SAVIOUR's sake. For he has no true faith; he has fallen from CHRIST, his actions prove it; he hath at present neither part nor lot in the matter, for his heart is not right before God o.

I do not say, that such a person cannot be restored to a state of Salvation, GOD forbid! but I only say, that so long, as he continues in such wilful and deadly sin, hé has no faith; his union with CHRIST is, for the time, broken, and his confidence of being forgiven and received for CHRIST's sake, if he have any such confidence, is an idle dream, a deceit of our great enemy to ensure his ruin.

The conclusion of the whole matter, the lesson we should all bring home to our own hearts, therefore, may be stated in the words of the HOLY GHOST by St. Paul, "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that JESUS CHRIST is in you, except ye be reprobates 9?"

Let us obey this heavenly message; let us consider well what our state truly is in God's sight; for remember, what we are in His sight, that we are in truth, and no more. Either we have fallen from grace, and are reprobates, have lost the favour of GOD, and are in danger of everlasting destruction, if we should die; or else we are Righteous before God, because we have JESUS CHRIST, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, dwelling in us.

But if He be in us, where are the signs of His indwelling? They in whom CHRIST dwells are surely guided by CHRIST'S SPIRIT they hear His voice, and follow His steps.

He that saith, he abideth in CHRIST," saith St. John, "ought himself also to walk even as He walked'." Not that we can be altogether as our most HOLY LORD; far from it: but there must be an endeavour, a hearty persevering endeavour, to follow His examples and obey His Word, or else CHRIST cannot be in us, and we are not in the faith.

CHRIST cannot abide in the heart where sin is allowed; and if CHRIST be not in our hearts, we are fallen from that state of Righteousness into which we were in Baptism restored.

This is, indeed, a very awful and alarming view of our condition; but it is the true one, according to the Bible, as it was understood and explained in the ancient Church. And it is far better to be alarmed for a time, yea, to pass the time of our sojourning here in fear, than to deceive ourselves with a vain

confidence, that we may go on in sin, and yet be justified by faith; for that confidence will most certainly fail us on the Great Day of our trial, for then we know, (for it is most plainly told us,) we shall be judged according to our works 2.

If the sense of grievous sin in times past, and of a very imperfect repentance now; if a consciousness of utter unprofitableness alarm us, let us only, all the more, call upon GOD with all earnestness and perseverance, for forgiveness of what is past; let us be the more diligent and careful in the use of all means of gaining His favour and mercy, and perfecting our union with CHRIST. Wherein especially are to be reckoned the devout receiving of His most precious Body and Blood, which were given for the forgiveness of our sins; and the humble serious study of God's most Holy Word. Let us strive, also, with increasing vigour and earnestness to make perfect what is wanting in our repentance, and to practise those good works which are contrary to the evil deeds we may have at any time committed.

Have you ever used bad language? practise the more now a religious silence, and a restraint over your tongue, with a continual care, that what you do say now be likely to do good, as it once, alas! did evil. Does your conscience charge you with having drunk to excess? deny yourself even what another might take. Have you ever wrongfully deprived another of what was his ? be not content with restoring it, (though remember, without this there is no reasonable hope of forgiveness,) but give now as largely as you can of what is your own. Have you ever neglected God's service? now attend it the more regularly, putting aside the business of the world, whenever you possibly can, even on week days, for the purpose. Finally, every night consider how you have spent the day, what good works you have done, in what respect you have advanced in holiness and righteousness.

And let it be your earnest endeavour that every day some progress should be made, every day some sin should be more subdued, some virtue better practised; that every day, in short, you may approach, in some degree at least, nearer to that Pattern, Whom we must be ever copying.

2 Rev. xx. 13.

This is the only way to grow in faith, to abide in THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, and to be accepted with GOD in CHRIST, and for CHRIST's sake, whenever He comes to judgment.

For none will be acknowledged by HIM on His Day of Judgment as His own, but those who have kept His Commandment, and in that way have continued in His Love.

For he that professes to believe our LORD's Word, and to hope for salvation through HIM, but does not keep His sayings in his daily life, that man has built his house on the sand, and it must fall 3.

3 Matt. vii. 26, 27.