Here is, 1. The righteousness of God, the infinite rectitude and
perfection of his nature. As he is what he is, so he is what he should
be, and in every thing acts as becomes him; there is nothing wanting,
nothing amiss, in God; his will is the eternal rule of equity, and he
is righteous, for he does all according to it. 2. The righteousness of
his government. He rules the world by his providence, according to the
principles of justice, and never did, nor ever can do, any wrong to any
of his creatures: Upright are thy judgments, the promises and
threatenings and the executions of both. Every word of God is pure, and
he will be true to it; he perfectly knows the merits of every cause and
will judge accordingly. 3. The righteousness of his commands, which he
has given to be the rule of our obedience: "Thy testimonies that thou
hast commanded, which are backed with thy sovereign authority, and to
which thou dost require our obedience, are exceedingly righteous and
faithful, righteousness and faithfulness itself." As he acts like
himself, so his law requires that we act like ourselves and like him,
that we be just to ourselves and to all we deal with, true to all the
engagements we lay ourselves under both to God and man. That which we
are commanded to practise is righteous; that which we are commanded to
believe is faithful. It is necessary to our faith and obedience that we
be convinced of this.