Christ's first and great work was to satisfy the claims of justice; and now justice and mercy gloriously harmonize in man's salvation. Mercy abounds and grace is free, because justice is fully satisfied. The transcendent graciousness of the gospel covenant consists, not in requiring less righteousness to give title to life than was done at first; not in requiring a perfect righteousness of us personally to that end; but iri providing and accepting that of the Surety, according tc the apostle, Romans 8:3,4. The law could not give us life, because, being weakened by sin, we could not perform the perfect righteousness which it required; but what the law could not do, CHRIST HAS DONE, giving us a title to life, fulfilling the righteousness of the law of God on our behalf.