A Golden Chain

Reason I. That very thing which must •e our righteousness before God, must satisfy the justice of the law, which saith, do these things and thou shalt live. Now there is nothing can satisfy the justice of the law but the righteousness obedience of Christ for us. If any allege civill justice, it is nothing: for Christ saith, Except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, you can not enter into the kingdom of heaven. What? shall we say that works do make us just? that cannot be: for all mens works are defective in respect of the justice of the law. Shall we say our sanctification, whereby we are renewed to the image of God in righteousness and true holiness? that also is imperfect and can not satisfy Gods justice required in the law: as Isai hath said of himself and the people, Al our righteousness is as a menstruous cloth. To have a clear conscience before God is a principal part of inward righteousness: and of it Paul in his own person saith thus, I am privy to nothing by my self, yet am I not justified thereby, 2. Cor. 4.4. Therefore nothing can procure unto us an absolution and acceptance to life everlasting, but Christs imputed righteousness. And this will appear, if we do consider, how we must come one day before Gods judgement seat, there to be judged in the rigour of justice: for when we must bring some thing that may countervail the justice of God; not having only acceptation in mercy, but also approbation in justice: God being not only merciful, but also a just judge.

Reason I. That very thing which must •e our righteousnes before God, must satisfie the iustice of the law, which saith, doe these things and thou shalt liue. Now there is nothing can satisfie the iustice of the law but the righteousnes obedience of Christ for vs. If any alleadge ciuill iustice, it is nothing: for Christ saith, Except your righteousnes exceede the righteousnes of the Scribes and Pharises, you can not enter into the kingdome of heauen. What? shall we say that workes doe make vs iust? that cannot be: for all mens workes are defectiue in respect of the iustice of the law. Shall we say our sanctification, whereby we are renewed to the image of God in righteousnes and true holines? that also is imperfect and can not satisfie Gods iustice required in the law: as Isai hath said of himselfe and the people, Al our righteousnes is as a menstruous cloth. To haue a cleere conscience before God is a principall part of inward righteousnes: and of it Paul in his owne person saith thus, I am priuie to nothing by my selfe, yet am I not iustified thereby,