objectest against my servant Joshua, that he is black like a coal,
or that the fire of sin at times is still burning in him. And what
then? The reason why he is not totally extinct as tow, is not thy
pity but rny Father's mercy to him. I have plucked him out of the
fire, yet not so out but that the smell thereof is yet upon him; and
my Father and I, we consider his weakness and pity him; for since he
is as a brand pulled out, can it be expected by my Father or me,
that he should appear before us as clear and do our biddings as well
as if he had never been there? This is a brand plucked out of the
fire, and must be considered as such, and must be borne with as
such."

His righteousness Christ presents to God for us; and God, for this
righteousness' sake, is well pleased that we should be saved, and
for it can save us and secure his honor and preserve the law in its
sanction.

For Christ, in pleading against Satan as an advocate with, the
Father for us, appeals to the law itself if he has not done it
justice; saying, "Most mighty law, what command of thine have I not
fulfilled? What demand of thine have I not fully answered? Where is
that jot or tittle of the law that is able to object against my
doings for want of satisfaction?"

Here the law is mute; it speaks not one word by way of the least
complaint, but rather testifies of this righteousness that it is
good and holy. Rom. 3:22,23; 5:15-19.

Now then, since Christ did this as a public person, it follows that
others must be justified thereby; for that was the end and reason of