It is also worthy of notice that righteousness and holiness were one and the same thing in us before the fall, viz : an inherent conformity with God and the divine law, as they are now the same thing in the holy angels. Since the fall, however, they are not the same thing in us. For, now, Christ is our righteousness ; and our justification consists in the imputation of his righteousness, by which we are accounted just before God. Holi ness is the beginning of our conformity with God, whilst sanctification is the carrying forward of this conformity with God, which in this life is imperfect, but which will be fully perfected in the life to come ; when righteousness and holiness will again be the same thing in us, as they are now in the holy angels. The sum and substance of the whole doctrine of the Mediator is contained in what now follows. CONCERNING THE MEDIATOR. The doctrine of the Mediator, which is intimately connected with the glory of God and our comfort, must be carefully considered for the follow ing reasons : 1. That we may acknowledge and magnify the mercy of God, in that he has given his Son to be our Mediator, and to be made a sacrifice for our sins. 2. That we may know God to be just, in as much as he would not, out of his clemency, pardon sin ; but was so greatly displeased therewith that he would not remit it, except satisfaction were made by the death of his Son. 3. That we may be assured of eternal life, in having a Mediator who is both willing and able to grant it unto us. 4. Because the doctrine of the Mediator is the foundation, and substance, of the doctrine of the church. 5. On account of heretics, who at all tunes oppose, with great bitterness, this doctrine ; and that, having a proper knowledge of it, we may be able to defend it against all their assaults. The doctrine of the Mediator seems to belong to the article of justifica tion, because there also the office of the Mediator is explained. But it is one thing to teach what, and what kind of a benefit justification is, and how it is received, which is done when the doctrine of justification is treat ed of; and it is another thing to show whose benefit it is, and by whom it is bestowed upon us, which properly belongs here.