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Who then can value highly enough these royal nuptials？ Who can
comprehend the riches of the glory of this grace？ Christ； that
rich and pious Husband； takes as a wife a needy and impious
harlot； redeeming her from all her evils and supplying her with
all His good things。 It is impossible now that her sins should
destroy her； since they have been laid upon Christ and swallowed
up in Him； and since she has in her Husband Christ a
righteousness which she may claim as her own； and which she can
set up with confidence against all her sins； against death and
hell； saying； 〃If I have sinned； my Christ； in whom I believe；
has not sinned； all mine is His； and all His is mine；〃 as it is
written； 〃My beloved is mine； and I am His〃 （Cant。 ii。 16）。 This
is what Paul says： 〃Thanks be to God； which giveth us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ；〃 victory over sin and death； as he
says； 〃The sting of death is sin； and the strength of sin is the
law〃 （1 Cor。 xv。 56； 57）。
》From all this you will again understand why so much importance is
attributed to faith； so that it alone can fulfil the law and
justify without any works。 For you see that the First
Commandment； which says； 〃Thou shalt worship one God only；〃 is
fulfilled by faith alone。 If you were nothing but good works from
the soles of your feet to the crown of your head； you would not
be worshipping God； nor fulfilling the First Commandment； since
it is impossible to worship God without ascribing to Him the
glory of truth and of universal goodness； as it ought in truth to
be ascribed。 Now this is not done by works； but only by faith of
heart。 It is not by working； but by believing； that we glorify
God； and confess Him to be true。 On this ground faith alone is
the righteousness of a Christian man； and the fulfilling of all
the commandments。 For to him who fulfils the first the task of
fulfilling all the rest is easy。
Works； since they are irrational things； cannot glorify God；
although they may be done to the glory of God； if faith be
present。 But at present we are inquiring； not into the quality of
the works done； but into him who does them； who glorifies God；
and brings forth good works。 This is faith of heart； the head and
the substance of all our righteousness。 Hence that is a blind and
perilous doctrine which teaches that the commandments are
fulfilled by works。 The commandments must have been fulfilled
previous to any good works； and good works follow their
fulfillment； as we shall see。
But； that we may have a wider view of that grace which our inner
man has in Christ； we must know that in the Old Testament God
sanctified to Himself every first…born male。 The birthright was
of great value； giving a superiority over the rest by the double
honour of priesthood and kingship。 For the first…born brother was
priest and lord of all the rest。
Under this figure was foreshown Christ； the true and only
First…born of God the Father and of the Virgin Mary； and a true
King and Priest； not in a fleshly and earthly sense。 For His
kingdom is not of this world； it is in heavenly and spiritual
things that He reigns and acts as Priest； and these are
righteousness； truth； wisdom； peace； salvation； etc。 Not but that
all things； even those of earth and hell； are subject to Himfor
otherwise how could He defend and save us from them？but it is
not in these； nor by these； that His kingdom stands。
So； too； His priesthood does not consist in the outward display
of vestments and gestures； as did the human priesthood of Aaron
and our ecclesiastical priesthood at this day； but in spiritual
things； wherein； in His invisible office； He intercedes for us
with God in heaven； and there offers Himself； and performs all
the duties of a priest； as Paul describes Him to the Hebrews
under the figure of Melchizedek。 Nor does He only pray and
intercede for us； He also teaches us inwardly in the spirit with
the living teachings of His Spirit。 Now these are the two special
offices of a priest； as is figured to us in the case of fleshly
priests by visible prayers and sermons。
As Christ by His birthright has obtained these two dignities； so
He imparts and communicates them to every believer in Him； under
that law of matrimony of which we have spoken above； by which all
that is the husband's is also the wife's。 Hence all we who
believe on Christ are kings and priests in Christ； as it is said；
〃Ye are a chosen generation； a royal priesthood； a holy nation； a
peculiar people； that ye should show forth the praises of Him who
hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light〃 （1
Peter ii。 9）。
These two things stand thus。 First； as regards kingship； every
Christian is by faith so exalted above all things that； in
spiritual power； he is completely lord of all things； so that
nothing whatever can do him any hurt； yea； all things are subject
to him； and are compelled to be subservient to his salvation。
Thus Paul says； 〃All things work together for good to them who
are the called〃 （Rom。 viii。 28）； and also； 〃Whether life； or
death； or things present； or things to come； all are yours； and
ye are Christ's〃 （1 Cor。 iii。 22； 23）。
Not that in the sense of corporeal power any one among Christians
has been appointed to possess and rule all things； according to
the mad and senseless idea of certain ecclesiastics。 That is the
office of kings； princes； and men upon earth。 In the experience
of life we see that we are subjected to all things； and suffer
many things； even death。 Yea； the more of a Christian any man is；
to so many the more evils； sufferings； and deaths is he subject；
as we see in the first place in Christ the First…born； and in all
His holy brethren。
This is a spiritual power； which rules in the midst of enemies；
and is powerful in the midst of distresses。 And this is nothing
else than that strength is made perfect in my weakness； and that
I can turn all things to the profit of my salvation； so that even
the cross and death are compelled to serve me and to work
together for my salvation。 This is a lofty and eminent dignity； a
true and almighty dominion； a spiritual empire； in which there is
nothing so good； nothing so bad； as not to work together for my
good； if only I believe。 And yet there is nothing of which I have
needfor faith alone suffices for my salvationunless that in
it faith may exercise the power and empire of its liberty。 This
is the inestimable power and liberty of Christians。
Nor are we only kings and the freest of all men； but also priests
for ever； a dignity far higher than kingship； because by that
priesthood we are worthy to appear before God； to pray for
others； and to teach one another mutually the things which are of
God。 For these are the duties of priests； and they cannot
possibly be permitted to any unbeliever。 Christ has obtained for
us this favour； if we believe in Him： that just as we are His
brethren and co…heirs and fellow…kings with Him； so we should be
also fellow…priests with Him； and venture with confidence；
through the spirit of faith； to come into the presen