_His righteousness_: this is all _his_ righteousness still: it is his own free gift to us, for the sake of _Jesus Christ_ the righteous, through whom alone it is purchased for us: and it is his _work_: it is he alone that worketh it in us, by the inspiration of the holy Spirit. 21. Perhaps the well observing this may give light to some other scriptures, which we have not always so clearly understood. St. _Paul_, speaking in his epistle to the _Romans_, concerning the unbelieving _Jews_, saith, _They being ignorant of_ God’s _righteousness, and, going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of_ God. I believe this may be one sense of the words. They were _ignorant of_ God’s _righteousness_, not only of the righteousness of _Christ_, imputed to every believer, whereby all his sins are blotted out, and he is reconciled to the favour of God: but (which seems here to be more immediately understood) they were ignorant of that inward righteousness, of that holiness of heart, which is with the utmost propriety termed God’s _righteousness_, as being both his own free gift through _Christ_, and his own work, by his almighty Spirit. And because they were ignorant of this, they _went about to establish their own righteousness_. They laboured to establish that outside righteousness, which might very properly be termed _their own_. For neither was it wrought by the Spirit of God, nor was it owned or accepted of him. They might work this themselves, by their own natural strength: and when they had done, it was a stink in his nostrils. And yet trusting in this, they would _not submit themselves unto the righteousness of_ God. Yea, they hardened themselves against that faith, whereby alone it was possible to attain it. _For_ Christ _is the end of the law, for righteousness to every one that believeth. Christ_, when he said, _It is finished_, put an end to that law, to the law of external rites and ceremonies, that he might _bring in a better righteousness_, through his blood, by that one oblation of himself once offered, even the image of God, into the inmost soul of _every one that believeth_.