"
THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST.
Many there are who, in the day of grace and mercy, despise those
things which are indeed the birthright to heaven, who yet when the
declining days appear will cry as loud as Esau, "Lord, Lord, open to
us;" but then, as Isaac would not repent, no more will God the
Father, but will say, "I have blessed these, yea, and they shall be
blessed; but as for you, Depart, you are workers of iniquity."
When I had thus considered these scriptures and found that thus to
understand them was not against, but according to the Scriptures,
this still added further to my encouragement and comfort, and also
gave a great blow to that objection--to wit, that the Scriptures
could not agree in the salvation of my soul.
And now remained only the hinder part of the tempest, for the
thunder was gone beyond me, only some drops did still remain that
now and then would fall upon me; but because my former frights and
anguish were very sore and deep, therefore it oft befell me still,
as it befalleth those that have been seared with the fire, I thought
every voice was, "Fire, fire'!" Every little touch would hurt my
tender conscience.
But one day, as I was passing into the field, and that too with some
dashes on my conscience, fearing lest yet all was not right,
suddenly this sentence fell upon my soul: "Thy righteousness is in
heaven;" and methought withal I saw with the eyes of my soul Jesus
Christ at God's right hand--there, I say, as my righteousness; so
that wherever I was, or whatever I was doing, God could not say to
me, he wanted my righteousness, for that was just before him.
Pages:
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141