5.17 18. Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new Creature old things are passed away behold all things are become new and as old things are passed away and all things are become new so particularly the old Covenant and old Righteousness by the Deeds and Works of the Law is passed away and a new Covenant and a new Righteousness brought in not of Works but of Grace not by the Deeds of the Law but by Faith in Jesus Christ and all things are of God as verse 18. i. e. all things of this new Creation and so this Righteousness which is by Faith of Jesus Christ is of God in a new and more peculiar and glorious way under a new head i. e. not Adam but Jesus Christ and by a new Covenant not of Works but of Grace and by a new Birth not after the Flesh but after the Spirit not of the Will of Man but of God Job 1.13 Jam. 1.18 Gal. 4.28 31. And so this Righteousness is called by a new Name The Righteousness of God as God is the Author of it and hath created it and brought it forth after a more peculiar manner and this will appear more plainly in the consideration of these three particulars namely 1 Particular First In that God of his infinitely free and soveraign Grace hath in and through his Son Jesus Christ designed and conferred this Righteousness upon us by Faith in his Son I say God of his free Grace hath conferred this Righteousness by Faith upon the Heirs of Salvation and that from all eternity the purpose and counsel of his Grace designed and conferred this Righteousness by his Son before the World was 2 Tim. 1.9 10. But according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ before the World began But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ who hath abolished death and hath brought immortality and life to light through the Gospel What is that which is made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ but this Righteousness of God as in the Text But now the Righteousness of God is manifested Now by this Righteousness of God is death abolished and immortality and life brought to light through the Gospel Now whence is this Righteousness of God and so immortality and life brought to light was it from or according to Works no but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ before the World began so that it was not our Works but God's free purpose and grace which designed and conferred this Righteousness and if you will know when this purpose and grace or this purpose of grace in God moved him hereunto it was from all eternity before the World began and this Righteousness of God is not a Righteousness of Work or by Works but a Righteousness of Grace given us in Christ not as a reward of Works and of Debt but as a gift of free and soveraign Grace and so it is called Rom. 5. v. 17. Much more they which receive abundance of Grace and of the Gift of Righteousness and all that are justified by this Righteousness which is by Faith in Christ are said to be justified freely Rom. 3.24 Being justified freely by his grace through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ And it is very much to be considered that Mans Works are always excluded and the Grace of God and the Gift of Righteousness magnified and mentioned in the business of Justification Titus 3.5 6 7. And for as much as this purpose and grace or this gracious purpose of Righteousness by Faith was given us in Christ before the World began it is manifest that Man not having then a Being or having done good or evil not Mans Works or Worthiness but Gods own free Grace and Goodness moved him to confer and bestow this gift of Righteousness as the Apostle argueth concerning Esau and Jacob Rom. 9. v. 11. For the Children being not yet born neither having done any good or evil that the purpose of God according to Election might stand not of Works but of him that calleth So that this Righteousness which is by Faith of Jesus Christ is the Righteousness of God as his Grace his free and soveraign Grace in Christ hath created designed from all eternity and freely conferred the same on all them that believe And thus no other Righteousness but this of Christs only is or can be called the Righteousness of God because whatever other use there may be of other Righteousnessess either Original Legal or Moral amongst men in this World yet certain it is that this Righteousness only was designed and conferred as the Gift of God's free Grace in Christ as that wherein only Man can be be justified in his sight 2 Particular This is the Righteousness of God as his Infinite Wisdom alone hath contrived and found it out For considering the case of Man now faln under sin by the transgression of the first Covenant and the first Adam and every individual person of Mankind comprehended in him were now become sinners and had lost all hope and possibility of Righteousness by the Law it was above the reach and understanding of all created Wisdom and would have put to a non-plus all the Wisdom of Men and Angels to have found out a way how Man that had lost his own Righteousness and all hope of it by the Law could ever become righteous again and be justified in the sight of God and that God might be just in justifying Man that 〈◊〉 once a sinner and transgressor of his 〈◊〉 Law And had God put the question Adam who had as much natural Undâ—â—â—standing and Wisdom as any Man ever haâ— I say had God put the question to him 〈◊〉 me Adam now that sin and death have 〈◊〉 the dominion over thee and all thy Posterâ—â—â— by thy transgressing of my Law how sin 〈◊〉 death may be destroyed and Righteousnâ—â—â— and Life brought in my Law be fulfilleâ— my Justice satisfied and Glory preservâ—â— and thou saved his mouth had been stoppeâ— and his tongue silent without any answer could not have entred into the heart of Maâ— to conceive such a Mystery of Grace as thâ—â— is And as there was none amongst Men 〈◊〉 none amongst the Angels in Heaven thaâ— could have been his Counsellor in this matteâ— or have first given unto him as Rom. 11 34 35. Who hath been his Counsellor and whâ—â— hath first given unto him No no God hath been his own Counsellor in this matter his own Wisdom hath contrived this way of Righteousness by Faith in his Son Jesus Christ as Rom. 11.33 Oh the depth of the riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his Judgments and his Ways past finding out For I had not â—he Wisdom as well as the Grace of God â—revented Man with the revelation and maâ—ifestation of this Righteousness it had neâ—er entred into the understanding of Men or
〈◊〉 a second Adam of a more glorious Persoâ— to be brought forth in the Humane Naturâ— and of the Seed of the Woman or that thâ—â— could possibly ever be that a clean thing should be brought forth out of an unclean But behold here the Wisdom of God defeating the subtilty and the power of God defeating the malice and power of the Devil who had now got the Power of Death in his Hand as Heb. 2.14 had got the Keys of Hell and Death and had as he thought loâ—â— up Adam and all Mankind with him so fast â—ithin these Gates that none could come to â—eliver him but behold the second Adam Christ Jesus by the Power of God of the â—eed of the Woman holy harmless and â—eparate from sinners being conceived in the Womb of the Virgin and born of her withâ—ut sin according to the Promise made to Adam and now declared immediately after his fall Gen. 3.15 The Seed of the Woman shall bruise thy i. e. The Serpents Head And here as the Serpent had deceived the Woman and brought her first into the transgression so this old Serpent the Devil was deceived by the Woman of whose Seed by the Power of the highest is brought forth this second Adam this man Christ Jesus who is made a quickning Spirit 1 Cor. 15.45 to quicken or make alive that which was dead as ver 22. who also was not as the first Adam of the earth earthy and therefore easily overcome as he was but the Lord from Heaven as ver 47. and therefore able to raise up all his after his own Image to bear the Image of the Heavenly as ver 49. and to triumph over Death and Hell as ver 55 56 57. Oh Death where is thy Sting And thus the admirable Power of God was manifest in bringing forth such a person as Jesus Christ in the Humane Nature Jesus Christ the Righteous and the propitiation for our sins and our Advocate with the Father whose office and work it was to bring down this Righteousness of God from Heaven to us 2. Instance The Infinite and Eternal Power of God was also as much seen and manifested in Christ bearing our sins in this Humane Nature in his own Body on the Tree and first let us consider what a burden what a weight sin and the guilt of sin is when it is charged and laid upon the Conscience by the Power of God and this may be considered in the Angels that sinned Angels are greater in power than we as 2 Pet. 2.11 Angels that excel in strength or Psal. 103.20 Angels who are Spirits i. e. not flesh and blood as we are weak and feeble Angels that are not hay and stubble as we are but a flaming Fire Psalm 104 4 yet these high and mighty Angel these strong and powerful Angels that were naturally the first-born of Gods first or old Creation and the excellency of Creature strength when they had once sinned and God comes to charge them with Folly and lay the guilt and punishment of sin upon them how doth it sink and break all the Powers and Spirits of the Angelical Nature and casteth them down into the deepest darkness and despair and that from the highest light glory and confidence of their First and Heavenly state and presently cast them down from Heaven to Hell 2 Pet. 2.4 so unable were they each of them to bear the burden i. e. the guilt and punishment of their own Sin And 2. Let us consider sin in man and how unable man is to stand when God shall mark Iniquity as Psal. 130. 3. If thou Lord shouldst mark Iniquities O Lord who shall stand i. e. none shall or can stand no Nation or Kingdom no House or Family no Person under Heaven no not the Church or People of God can stand if God should mark Iniquity and punish Sin but with his Temporal Wrath and Judgments in this World there is none could possibly stand for who can stand when God is Angry And who knoweth the power of his Wrath The Sinners of the old World did know something of it but they could not stand before it it swept them all away with the Waters of a Flood And whither did it sweep them It swept them down to Hell 1 Pet. 3.19 The Spirits now in Prison and that Prison is the Prison of Hell Luke 16.23 And in Hell c. The Sinners also of Sodom and Gomorrah did know somewhat of this Wrath but they could not stand before it They could no longer as stout and hard hearted as they were bear up under this burden and weight of their own Sin for it brought a dreadful shower of Divine Vengeance upon them a Shower of Fire and Brimstone from the Lord out of Heaven by which they all perished as Gen. 19.24 25. Francis Spira also knew somewhat of this Wrath and Burden of his own Sin when God laid it upon his Conscience in the guilt and punishment due to it but he could not stand but went despairing out of this World and without any hope or comfort as to the next as to what did appear And it may be some of you here present and if you have not I am sure others have known something of this matter when God hath been angry but for a moment and hath laid sin in the guilt of it upon Conscience It made them sink immediately under utmost despair and bereaved them of all hope comfort and patience that had not Infinite Mercy stept in to their relief they had gone despairing down to Hell The damned Spirits in Hell know more of the Power of Gods anger and the weight and burden of Sin laid upon their awakened and terrified Consciences than any in this World have done or can do and their Torments are intollerable Luke 16.24 There the Worm dieth not and the Fire is not quenched They are for their sin a Sacrifice to Divine Wrath and they are salted with Fire and salted with Salt and so are eternally Roasting in the Fire of Hell Mar. 9.48 49. and yet they do not know all the Power of Gods Wrath nor feel all the tormenting Power of the Fire of Hell they feel much and fear more They suffer that which is intollerable and yet they fear what they have not yet felt but must further feel and suffer to all Eternity Oh Eternity Eternity Oh the Wrath of God that is not only eternal but infinite They know not the utmost they know not the end of it nor can know For that which is Infinite hath no bounds or limits and that which is Eternal hath no end Therefore last of all Now consider this second Adam the Man Christ Jesus who though he had no sin of his own to answer to God for for he did no sin nor was guile found in his Mouth Isa. 53.9 He knew no sin as 2 Cor. 5.21 yet he had the sin of the World i. e. Jew and Gentile laid upon him and did bear it in his
and in a state of Death and Condemnation they were not justified from Eternity no not one of them that Live and are Justified by Faith in Christ for they all and always thus judge that they were all dead i e. condemned and not justified before they believed in Christ and do freely confess the truth and therefore not one of them doth profess or can profess any such Faith that he was Justified from Eternity Part. 6. This Doctrine of Justification from Eternity denyeth and overthroweth the Doctrine of Regeneration or new Birth and the necessity thereof which Christ himself doth plainly affirm and urge upon every man in this World John 3.3 5 8. and so do all the holy Prophets and Apostles as may be easily proved if there were any so bold as to deny it Now he that is Justified by Faith in Christ and hath this power and priviledge given unto him to become a Son of God as every true believer hath John 1.11 12. he also is born of God as John 1.13 which were born not of blood nor of the Will of the Flesh nor of the Will of Man but of God as James 1.18 Of his own Will begat he us by the Word of Truth not one Believer and so Justified person in this World but he is born of God and begotten of God and so is born again as 1 Pet. 1.23 being born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the word of God which liveth and abideth for ever ver 25. And this is the Word which by the Gospel is Preached unto you so that not one person is or can be justified by Faith but at the same time and by the same word of Faith Preached to him and Believed by him he is also born again he therefore that saith he was justified from Eternity saith also that he was born of God from Eternity and he that was born of God from Eternity needeth not nor can be born again for Regeneration is but once and those that were born of God from Eternity are far from being new born Babes as all true Believers are after their first Conversion and Calling and as the Apostle Peter calleth and styleth them 1 Pet. 2.2 3. Part. 7. This Doctrine of Justification from Eternity denieth destroyeth and overthroweth the Doctrine of Repentance and Conversion to God by Christ and by consequence takes away the necessity thereof the holy Scriptures do every where establish both in the Old and New Testament the necessity of Repentance and Conversion to God as Isa. 55.6 7. Act. 3.19 Act. 26.17 18. Luke 24.45 46 47. But he that saith he was justified from Eternity by consequence saith that he had remission of Sins from Eternity and that his Sins were blotted out from Eternity for Justification is Remission of Sins as Psalm 32.1 2 3. And blotting out of Sins as Isa. 43.25 And so he needeth not to Repent and be Converted for asmuch as he had his sins blotted out from Eternity and was Righteous from Eternity and well it is if men of these notions and traditions which they have received to hold do not become as the Pharisees of old so Whole as they need no Physician and so Righteous in their own Eyes that like the 99 Just Persons they need no Repentance or Conversion as Luke 15.4 8. And if the name of Repentance and Conversion shall still be pretended to and boasted of amongst them it shall only consist in making Proselytes to this their Tradition of Justification from Eternity which they call the Gospel and a more glorious Light than former Ages have enjoyed And some have not blushed to affirm than perhaps the Apostles had But let them take heed lest that Wo come upon them spoken by the Mouth of Truth himself Mat. 23.15 Part. 8. This Doctrine doth frustrate and make void all the ends of Christ Death and Suffering which are the Justification and Salvation of Gods Elect for if they were Justified from Eternity what need was there of Christs dying to obtain that for them which they had from all Eternity So that if this Doctrine be true as they affirm then as the Apostle saith in another case Gal. 2.21 Christ is dead in vain Part 9. This Doctrine of Justification from Eternity destroyeth and overthroweth the Doctrine and Order of God's new Creation in Christ and making all things new in him which the Holy Scriptures do every where establish both in the Old and New Testament This is certain the Old Creation was first and before the New else it were not new Adam was before Christ or the first Adam before the Second as Rom. 4.12 and 1 Cor. 15.45 46 47. And so it is written the first man Adam was made a living Soul the last Adam was made a quickning Spirit howbeit that was not first which is Spiritual but that which is Natural and afterward that which is Spiritual The first or old Creation in Adam is the natural and the second or new Creation in Christ the Spiritual now that was not first which is Spiritual but that is first which was natural therefore the Workmanship of God in the natural or old creation was first And the workmanship of God in the new Creation in Christ is the Spirâ—tual and therefore last the second must be after the first or else 't is not second the new must be after the old or else the old is not old nor the other new Now Justification by Faith in Christ is Gods Workmanship in the new Creation as 2 Cor. 5.17 18. Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new Creature old things i. e. the things of the first Creation in Adam are passed away behold all things are become new And all things are of God who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ. And therefore Reconciliation and Justification by Jesus Christ as ver 19. are parts of the new Creation in Christ as also is most manifest Eph. 2.8 9 10. 't is manifest I say that God at first setled all things So the first Adam and all men in him upon the foundation of the Law or Covenant of Works which settlement was broken or dissolved by the first transgression and Death entred upon all men by Sin and no hope or possibility of Righteousness or Life by that Law or Covenant any more therefore now God bringeth forth Christ the second Adam and settles all things again upon a new Covenant of Grace restoring Righteousness and Life by Jesus Christ to all that believe this is the new Creation that which is Spiritual Now therefore Justification and Salvation by Faith in Christ was not from Eternity because 't is Gods new Creation in Christ And forasmuch as the Old Creation and that which is Natural was not from Eternity but in Time 'T is manifest that Gods new Creation in Christ to any man in this World was not from Eternity but in Time for the first must be before the second and the old
own Body on the Tree John 1.29 The Lamb of God which taketh away or beareth the sin of the World For he did take away sin by his bearing of it i. e. both the guilt of it and the punishment due to it for thus was the Iniquity and Sin of all God's Elect laid upon him Isa. 53.6 And Jehovah hath laid upon him the Iniquity of us all Now therefore the Sin of the World being laid upon him to bear what an infinite burden and weight was it and how impossible for created strength whether Angelical or Humane to bear as hath been shewed And yet that this one man this second Adam should bear such an infinite weight as Sin and the Wrath of God due to sin is what a wonder of Divine Power was manifested therein The strength of Angels could not the strength of Man could not bear such a Burthen and Weight as ye have heard yet they had but their own sin charged upon them but here is a Man the Son of Man the Man Christ Jesus the Lamb of God that beareth and taketh away by bearing the Sin of the World oh admirable and wonderful Power of the God-head by which this man was inabled to bear such an infinite and eternal weight as Sin and the Wrath of God due to Sin is And therefore 't is said of him that by the eternal Spirit he offered himself to God for us Heb. 9.14 for nothing less than the Power of the Godhead it self could have enabled the humane nature to bear such an infinite Weight and Burthen as Sin is even the Sin of the whole World and the whole and compleat Wrath of God due unto it The Flesh or Humane Nature was but a Vail to his Godhead as Heb. 10.20 but the Eternal Power and Godhead within this Vail was that which enabled this second Adam this man to bear the Sin of many oh therefore behold with wonder and admiration the working of Divine Power in bringing forth such a Man into the World and also in strengthening this Flesh and Humane Nature to bear that which no Creature in Heaven or Earth could neither Angels nor Men. 3. Inst. But then again thirdly Consider the Infinite Power of God and the Energy or working of it in the Resurrection of Christ from the Dead And this also was necessary in order to and for the manifestation and declaring this Righteousness of God for our Justification which Righteousness though it was wrought by what this Man thâ—â— Jesus Christ had done and suffered in his Life and Death in obedience to the Law under which he was made yet this compleat perfect and everlasting Righteousness of his as our Head and Surety did not fully appear nor was manifested until his Resurrection from the Dead when he was visibly discharg'd out of the Prison of the Grave and could no longer be holden of Death having satisfied Divine Justice to the utmost demand upon him for our sins and having paid the full Price of our Redemption and therefore now by his Resurrection from the Dead he is declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of Holiness or by the power of the Holy Spirit which raised him from the Dead as Rom. 1.4 and Rom. 8. v. 11. By this Resurrection of his from the Dead he was justified as our Head 1 Tim. 3. v. 16. justified in the Spirit i. e. in or by the power of the Spirit or Godhead dwelling in the Humane Nature and by his Resurrection from the Dead we i. e. all that believe and are in him by Faith were vertually justified in him and together with him as our spiritual Head so that all Gods Elect were vertually justified by his Resurrection and therefore Rom. 4 ult he is said to be delivered i. e. by Death for our Offences and to be raised again for our Justification Now consider what a manifestation there was of the mighty Power of God in the raising of this Man from the Dead unto which he was delivered for our Offences See how the Apostle doth set it out Ephes. 1.19 20. According to the working of his mighty power which he wrought iâ— Christ when he raised him from the dead Here is Power his Power his mighty Power 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the energy or working of this his mighty Power so that the mighty Power of God did work and shew it self at a wonderful rate when he raised him i. e. Christ from the Dead And indeed the Power of God was more seen in the raising of Christ from the Dead than in raising all the Men in the World besides for no Man ever had the sin of the World in the guilt and punishment of it laid upon him but this Man Christ Jesus And by vertue of this Resurrection of his all the Elect the general Assembly and Church of the first-born shall also be raised unto the Resurrection of Life at the great day as 1 Cor. 15.22 23. Therefore the Power of God and the energy or working of it is greater and more glorious in Christs Resurrection than in raising all the Men in the World besides 4 Inst. But then 4thly What a working of the mighty Power of God was manifested in Christs Exaltation and the setting of this second Adam this Man down at the right hand of God in the heavenly places And this also was necessary as a Reward of hiâ— Death and Sufferings of that Obediencâ— which he performed to the Law for us and that Righteousness which he brought in to us as Phil. 2.9 having before spoken of his Humiliation and Obedience v. 6 7 8. Who being in the form of God c. Addeth v. 9. Wherefore God hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in Heaven and things in Earth things under the Earth and that every tongue should confess that Jesus is the Lord to the glory of God the Father Now this Exaltation of Christ was the Reward of his Righteousness even his with which the Father was so well pleased as Isa. 42.21 And thereby is this Righteousness visibly declared and manifested in the sight of Angels and Men being crowned and in the most solemn manner declared at his inauguration or being received up into glory which was the ultimate and finishing Testimony and Witness from the Father that he is righteous and as such and upon that account he sits in Heaven as 1 Joh. 2.1 We have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous and Joh. 16.10 Of Righteousness because I go to my Father and ye see me no more So that Christs going to the Father and sitting down in the heavenly places so as to abide there in a perpetual Advocateship and as Intercessor for us with the Father is the highest evidence and demonstration of this Righteousness beyond all contradiction and therefore upon this Argument 't is said the Holy Ghost
contempt of that which is or may be supposed or pretended to be his own Righteousness 4 Head And then Fourthly It is called the Righteousness of God as it is that Righteousness which only is and can be accepted of God in the matter of our Justification i. e. that Righteousness by which and upon the account whereof only a man may be Righteous and Justified in his sight For there is no other Righteousness by which a man may or can possibly be Justified in the sight of God Or that God accepts of and is well pleased with but this as the matter of our Justification as hath been already proved So that this only is the Righteousness of God as his Heart doth rest in it is well pleased with it and doth always accept it by Faith in his Son Jesus Christ and is not nor can be well-pleased without it And as a broken Heart is called the Sacrifice of God Psal. 51.17 The Sacrifices of God are a broken Spirit a broken and a contrite Heart O God thou wilt not despise Properly or in propriety of Speech a broken Heart or Spirit is no Sacrifice but it was that God expected with all the Sacrifices which the People offered according to Gods appointment For the Sacrifices for Sin were always slain and so were offered up to God by Death and shedding of their Blood The Holy Ghost hereby signifying that as the wages of Sin is Death so every person that sacrificed and brought his offering for Sin did deserve Death And therefore though this Death was transferred and laid upon the Sacrifices which Typically did look unto Christ and so required Faith in Christ the Lamb or Sacrifice of God Which taketh away the Sin of the World as John 1.29 Yet the very Nature and Import of all the Sacrifices did plainly declare and imply that Sin was a bitter and a very evil thing that could not be expiated with less than Death And whosoever did present his Sacrifice to be slain and offered up for Sin did ipso facto acknowledge himself a Sinner to have deserved Death and to be Consumed in the Fire of Hell as the Sacrifices were either wholly or in part burnt and consumed in the Fire after they were slain And so were offered up not by Death only but by Fire also till they were consumed Now for a man to bring his Sacrifice to be slain and burnt in the Fire and salted with Salt and yet to have no inward sense and feeling of his Sin no feeling of the wrath of God due to Sin and so no inward Repentance towards God This was most hateful and abominable in the sight of God and so the Sacrifice of that Person was not accepted but despised of God as a piece of meer Hypocrisie and outward Formality for in this Man there is neither Faith in Christ nor Repentance towards God And therefore all the Sacrifices that Men did or could offer signified nothing as to Divine acceptation without this inward sense of sin and brokenness of heart This one thing a broken heart did signifie more than all Sacrifices without it and so it is put for and by the Holy Ghost preferred to all Sacrifices whatsoever the Sacrifices of God are a broken spirit and why was a broken spirit more than all Sacrifices and alone is called in the plural number not Sacrifice but Sacrifices the Sacrifices yea the Sacrifices of God but because of the Divine acceptation because God doth always accept this broken heart this contrite spirit A broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise The words are a holy Meiosis there is more implied than is exprest thou wilt not despise i. e. thou wilt certainly accept thou wilt graciously accept and be well pleased with Now therefore the Mystery is opened the meaning of this expression The Sacrifices of God are a broken spirit is abundantly made clear and plain It is in this respect that a broken heart alone is called the Sacrifices of God that or upon the account thereof God is well pleased yea more pleased than with all outward Sacrifices without it Even so this Righteousness which is by the Faith of Christ unto all and upon all them that believe is called The Righteousness of God because that this Righteousness only and above all others is that which carrieth the glory of the Divine acceptation God will not despise but will certainly will graciously accept this Righteousness whenever it is presented unto him upon the Faith of a repenting believing Sinner upon the Faith of him that worketh not i. e. that hath no Works or Righteousness of his own which he dares to offer or bring unto God but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly as Rom. 4.5 His Faith is counted to him for Righteousness and God is well pleased with this Man for this Righteousness sake which is alone by Faith in his Son Jesus Christ. Now that God is well pleased with this Righteousness of his Son Jesus Christ is most clearly testified by the Voice from Heaven Mat. 3. ult This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased which Voice from Heaven was heard by John when Christ was baptized of him in Jordan and was now entred upon his work of fulfilling all Righteousness as v. 15. Then cometh this Voice from Heaven c. And again when Christ was transfigured upon the Mount a little before his Death and Translation into Heaven Now when he was about to finish his Obedience and whole Righteousness of the Law for us I say then again comes this Voice from Heaven Mat. 17.5 This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased and this Voice was heard from the most excellent glory by Peter James and John as 2 Pet. 1.18 Which Voice from Heaven we heard when we were with him upon the holy Mount Yea this is also testified by the suâ—e Word of Prophecy Isa. 42.21 The Lord is well pleased for his Righteousness sake meaning Christ as is manifest verse 1 2 3 4 6 7. of that chap. And it is not Christ alone or as a single Person but Christ considered as the Head and Root of the whole Church and so Jehovah is well pleased for his Righteousness sake with all them that believe and do bear and present this Righteousness of Christ in the hand of their Faith before the Father as that wherein only they desire to be found and stand before him Now that God is well pleased with all such and doth graciously accept them as just and righteous before him upon the account of this Righteousness is also as clearly testified unto by the holy Scriptures Act. 13.39 And by him that is Christ all that believe are justified and accepted as such as Rom. 5.19 For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners or became sinners so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous or become righteous in his sight And again Ephes. 1.6 To the praise of the
any thing like it for a time they quickly recanted and recalled it Mat. 11.16 19. But whereunto shall I liken this Generation It is like unto Children sitting in the markets and calling unto their fellows The Son of man came eating and drinking and they say Behold a man gluttonous and a wine bibber a friend of Publicans and sinners But wisdom is justified of her Children And John 5.35 He was a burning and a shining light And ye were willing for a season to rejoyce in his light I have been greatly refreshed and comforted in you all by the grace of God bringing Salvation to you and which ye have not received in vain But as ye have heard him and been taught of him as the truth is in Jesus Christ this grace hath taught you effectually to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and live soberly righteously and godly in this present World looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar People zealous of good works And am still comforted in the remembrance thereof And that these poor labours of mine in the Ministry of this Gospel hath had any effect upon your Souls either in drawing you to Christ or confirming or comforting you in Christ at any time is and will be my rejoycing above all the esteem I have in your hearts and all the help I have received from your hands by your Free Kind Liberal ministring to my necessities from time to time and that my temptation which was in the Flesh through these necessities and wants and reproaches for Christs sake ye despised not but received me and embraced me I will not say as an Angel of God or even as Christ Jesus But one far greater than I can own my self to be I can truly say I have rejoyced much more because of the Grace of God given to you than in all the gifts to me though I had need of them all and do acknowledge them to be more and greater than I am worthy of But Christ is worthy for whose sake only ye have counted me so Mar. 9.4 And whosoever will offend one of those little ones that believe in me It is better for him that a milstone were hanged about his neck and he were cast into the Sea And though I put not your names to this my Book for reasons above mentioned yet I hope they are all of them in the Book of Life And this small Treatise which is but a taste of some more that may follow in due time if the Lord please I do more especially Devote and Dedicate to the Use and Service of you all and yours not doubting that whither I live or die you will find out it or it will find out you by some providence or other I say I Dedicate it to you not for Patronage or Protection but for Debt for it is much due to you who have been my fellow helpers in the Gospel some of you for mâ—ny years And two things I have to say to you all and leave here upon record as the greatest testimony of my thankfulness love and care to and for you in the Lord. Namely First That you beware and take heed of of a loose conversation and that ye use not your liberty at any time or in any thing for an occasion to the Flesh or to the World For we are not debtors to the Flesh to live after the Flesh for if ye live after the Flesh ye shall die but if ye by the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live Rom. 8.12 13. And Jam. 4.4 Ye Adulterours and Adulteresses Know ye not that the Friendship of the World is Enmity against God Whosoever therefore will be the friend of the World is the enemy of God 1 John 2.15 Love not the World neither the things that are in the World If any man love the World the love of the Father is not in him 16. For all that is in the World the Lust of the Flesh and the Lust of the Eyes and the Pride of Life is not of the Father but is of the World 17. And the World passeth away and the Lusts thereof But he that doth the will of God abideth tfor ever The power of Christ's Death is within you therefore let your Old Man be crucified with Christ That henceforth ye may not serve Sin and let the World be crucified to you and you unto it otherwise you cannot glory truly in the cross of Christ Gal. 6.14 15. But God forbid that I should glory save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom the World is crucified unto me and I unto the World For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision but a new creature You cannot be alive with Christ through Union with him but you must be dead and die continually both to Sin and to the World Rom. 6.1 What shall we say then Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound Secondly That you shine as lights in the World and be as the Sons and Daughters of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation holding forth the word of Life that I may rejoyce in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain neither laboured in vain Phil. 2.14 15 16. Do all things without murmurings and disputings That ye may be blameless and harmless the Sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation among whom ye shine or shine ye as lights in the World Holding forth the word of life that I may rejoyce in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain neither laboured in vain And our Lord hath said Matth. 5.16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven If the time will come when ye shall shine forth as the Sun in the Kingdom of your Father Math 13.43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father Who hath ears to hear let him hear Surely ye should shine as lights more in this State of imperfection and whilst you are in this World and thereby show you are not of it Rev. 22.14 Blessed are they that do his commandments that they may have right to the tree of Life and to enter in through the Gates of the the City 15. For without ar Dogs and Sorcerers and Whoremongers and Murderers Idolaters and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie To the Church or Congregation which is at Cambridge unto which I stand as a Pastor or Overseer in the Faith Fellowship and Order of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ And to many others my Constant or Occasional hearers of whom I am perswaded such things as do accompany Salvation Blessed be God Dearly Beloved I Do greatly rejoyce in
among your selves This is the order and Government which Christ hath set in his Church upon which their peace doth depend And where thiâ— Government of Christ is not submitted unto and kept but is rejected and broken there is an end of Peace there followeth nothing but confusion and every evil work as James 3.16 To prevent which Christ hath set Order and Government in the Church yea in all the Churches of Christ as 1 Cor. 14.33 As it is in a Mans Heart if the Government of Christ be not there if Christ ruleth not there by his Word and Spirit there is no Peace to that Man There is no Peace saith my God to the wicked Even so it is in a Church if Christs Goverment be not there there is no Peace but strife and bitter envying confusion and every evil work And I will therefore Rejoyce and do Rejoyce in this concerning you all beholding and seeing your order and the stedfastness of your Faith in Christ as Col. 2.5 6. For though I be absent in the flesh yet am I with you in spirit joying and beholding your order and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. For this order floweth from the stedfastness of your Faith in Christ as the breach of it in others doth emerge from the unstedfastness of their Faith As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk ye in him v. 7. Rooted and built up in him and stablished in the faith as ye have been taught abounding therein with thanksgiving Beware lest any man spoil you Keep therefore and hold fast this Faith and order and this will be your wisdom and understanding in the sight of all Men as Deut. 4.5 Ephes. 5.17 18 19 20. And this is the salt or true wisdom commended to us by Christ himself which will preserve you in purity and peace and keep you from Corrupting as Mark 9.50 Salt is good but if the salt have lost his saltness wherewith will you season it Have salt in your selves and have peace one with another And this as it is and will be your glory so it will be our rejoycing in the Day of Christ Heb. 13.17 And 1 John 2.28 That we i. e. we your Elders and Ministers may rejoyce in the Day of Christ. As ye have therefore obeyed and in a great Conflict and Tryal of your Faith and Patience have testified yout obedience to the Truth through the Spirit So I beseech you work out your own Salvation with fear and trembling For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure And be in nothing terrified by your adversaries which is to them an evident token of perdition but unto you of salvation and that of God For to you it is given in the behalf of Christ not only to believe on him but alsâ— to suffer for his sake Having the samâ— conflict which ye saw to be in me Phil 1.28 29. Now whether I live or die whether I be present in the body and so absent from the Lord or whether I be absent from the body that I may be present with the Lord stâ—and fast in one Spirit with one mind striving together for the Faith of the Gospel and so fulfil ye my joy that ye be like minded having the same love of one accord and of one mind And the God of peace shall be with you and shall bruise Satan under your Feet shortly and shall make those that say they are Jews and are not but are the synagogue of Satan to come and worship before you feet and to know that he hath loved you as Rev. 3.8 9. Amen THE True Light In the matter of our Justification before GOD. Rom. 3.20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight for by the law is the knowledg of sin THIS Text is an Epiphonema or closing speech wherein the holy Apostle Paul gives us the just and right conclusion or result of the whole matter with respect to Mans justification before God and doth Peremptorily determine in the negative that by the deeds or works of the Law no flesh can or shall be justified in his sight and brings it in with the illative note therefore as the undeniable consequence and true result of his whole Argument in the two foregoing Chapters wherein he hath fully proved as he saith v. 9. of this chap. that Jews and Gentiles are all under Sin 1. The Gentiles he clearly proves in the first Chapter to be under Sin in that when they knew God or might have known him by the light of Nature in his works of Creation and Providence as Rom. 1.19 20 they did not glorifie him as God but contrary to the light of nature debased and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into the Image of corruptible Man v. 23 24 25. Had they but used their poor dim light of nature aright to have paid some suitable Veneration to the glory of the Godhead in worshiping of him they might have escaped many vile affections and actions amongst themselves For which they could not so much as pretend light or nature and of the wickedness or danger whereof they could not so much as pretend ignorance but as a punishment of their impiety towards God God gave them up to vile affections and unseemly actions amongst themselves as v. 26 27 28 29 30 31 And these Sins they not only committed against the light of nature but delighted in though convicted in their own Conscience that the issue thereof could be no less than eternal Death and Damnation as v. 32. Who knowing the judgment of God c. So severely but justly doth God punish wilful Idolatry and false worship a Sin against the first Table by giving such a person or People up to all manner of Sins and most horrible lusts and abominable practices even against Human Nature to their own Destruction Nothing being more righteous and just than that they who will not give unto God the glory of his own worship should be given up of God to work their own Damnation and Destruction see 2 Thes. 2.10 11 12. 2. The Jews he as clearly proves to be under Sin in the second Chapter For whereas they rested in the law and made their boast of God as Rom. 2. v. 17 18 19 20. yet they transgressed that law which they so much boasted of and through transgressing thereof dishonoured God and caused his name to be blasphemed amongst the Gentiles as v. 21 22 23. And therefore the Jews as well as the Gentiles are left without excuse and the mouth of them both equally stopped being become guilty before God The Gentiles by Sinning without law yet against the light and law of Nature as Rom. 1.20.32 c. The Jews by Sinning under the law and whilst they judged the poor Gentiles became more obnoxious and inexcusable themselves in that they did the same or worse things as Rom. 2. v. 11 12. And
Psam 130.3 And therefore it is added in his sight to shew that whatsoever Man may be in his own sight or in the sight of other Men like himself yet in Gods sight no flesh shall or can be justified by the works of the law And as in Condemnation there are two things First a fixing of the Guilt and therefore we say when a person is found guilty he is condemned so Rom. 3.19 That every mouth may be stopped and all the world become guilty before God 2ly A binding or Obligation unto the punishment which is Death and therefore we say of a Criminal when he is brought in guilty that he is a dead Man because the obligation unto punishment is now fixed upon him and he must inevitably suffer death which is the punishment due to his offence So on the other hand there are two things implyed in Justification first a just discharge and acquitment from the guilt of Sin he that is justified is not guilty in Gods sight his Sin is not imputed to him and Ps. 32 1 2. where David describeth the blessedness of a justified person saying Blessed is he whose Transgression is forgiven whose Sin is covered unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity 3ly There is also a dissolving and making void and null the Obligation unto punishment so that a justified person is no more in danger of that death which is the wages of Sin nor of the curse of the law and the infinite and eternal wrath of God which is the punishment due to Sin to every Sin the least Sin as well as the greatest therefore as Condemnation is called Death because of the Obligation unto punishment so justification is called Life because of the dissolving and making void that Obligation So John 5.24 where the believer is said to be passed from death to life i. e. from a state of Condemnation which is Death to a state of Justification which is Life and Rom. 5.18 It is called justification of Life And upon that account 't is Written the just shall live by Faith i. e. be justified by Faith for justification is his life 3ly But there is yet somewhat more implyed in this word Justified and that is a positive righteousness answering to the perfection of the holy law of God in the utmost extent and demand of it for though non imputation and pardon of Sin makes a Man no more a Sinner nor guilty before God yet to make him a righteous person in Gods sight there must of necessity be a positive righteousness for as it cannot consist with the perfect justice of God to justifie a Man without righteousness so it cannot consist with his veracity and justice to justifie any Man without a perfect righteousness such as is commensurate and adequate to the perfection of his law for otherwise the law should be made void even by faith itself contrary to Rom. 3.31 And to speak with holy reverence as it is impossible for God to lie so it is as impossible for him to be unjust which he should be should he justifie any Man by an imperfect righteousness it is therefore a foolish vain and wicked imagination in any person to think or affirm that a Man may be justified in Gods sight without a perfect righteousness and this I may be bold to say from the clear light of Gods holy word that he which hath not a better righteousness than his own neither is nor ever shall be justified in the sight of God and whoever he be who affims the contrary let him answer it for sure I am the judgment of God is according to truth as it iâ— written Rom. 2.2 and again Rom. 3.4 Let God be true and every Man a liar thaâ— thou mightest be justified in thy sayings anâ— mightest overcome when thou art judged 3. What is here meant and what are we to understand by the deeds or works of the law Ans. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 By the needs of the law of or by or upon the account of the deed of the law 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 works operations or deedâ— do imply all sorts of works deeds or operatiâ—ons Internal and External 1 There are internal deeds and operatiâ—ons deeds of the mind and of the spirit withâ—in works of the inward Man wherein thâ— inward faculties of the Soul the Mind thâ— Conscience the Understanding the will and affections are operative and working in thâ— sight of God before whom our spirits arâ— naked and bare Heb. 4.13 And there arâ— internal vertues and habits and these are opâ—â—rative within and the holy law of God is Spiâ—ritual and reacheth the inward Man yea thâ— very thoughts and imaginations of the Hearâ— and than inward disposition enclination and habits Rom. 7.7 I had not known lust if the law had not said thou shalt not covet 2. There are external deeds the outward actions and deeds and operations of the light and Conversation which should all be regulated and are judged by the law which is the rule of righteousness to the inward and to the outward Man to the inward frame of Heart with all the Imaginations Thoughts Principles Habits Affections Intentions and Designs thereof and to the outward Man in all a Mans external Actions words and deeds together with the nature and tendency of them whether they be good or evil true or false sincere or feigned so Acts 5.3 4 9. and Acts 8.20 21. 2 Chron. 25.2 Ezek. 33.31 32. So that by the deeds of the law we are to understand all the inward qualifications and inherent virtues and goodness of a Mans Heart together with all the external actions of his life done in the utmost conformity and Obedience to the law that Man can reach unto by these deeds of the law whether internal or external there shall no flesh be justified in his sight Quest. But the greater question is what law is here meant whether the Ceremonial law only or the Moral law also Those that are unsound in the Doctrin of Justification do contend that by the law here is only meant the Ceremonial law And that the Apostle Paul here and in other places contending with the Jews in this point of Justification speaketh only of the Ceremonial law and so far they yield that by the works of the Ceremonial law indeed no flesh shall be justified but the works of the Moral law are not here excluded from the matter of Mans justification insinuating thereby that a Man may be justified in Gods sight by good works done in confirmity and obedience to the Moral law Ans. In answer whereunto we do affirm and shall plainly prove that not the Ceremoâ—nial law only but the Moral law also yeâ— mainly and principally is meant by the Apostle And that law unto the works or deed whereof justification in the sight of God iâ— denied to every Man is the Moral law and not the Ceremonial law only though it iâ— true also of the Ceremonial law And this wâ— prove by two Argumenrs
knowledg or conviction of Sin then such a Man might be justified by the deeds of the law but forasmuch as there is no such Man in the World since the fall of Adam there can no Man be justified by the deeds of the law in Gods sight Second Reason Because by the deeds or works of the law there is no Man righteous in Gods sight it hath already bin shewed that it cannot consist with the perfect justice and veracity of God to justifie any Man without righteousness and without a perfect righteousness commensurate to the Perfection Purity and Holiness of his law but no Man under Heaven since the fall of Adam ever had or can have such a righteousness by the deeds of the law as they are or can be done and performed by Man therefore by the deeds of the law can no Flesh be justified in his sight as Gala. 3.21 Is the law therefore against the promises of God God forbid for if there had bin a law given which could have given life verily righteousness should have bin by the law The Argument is plain namely that the law is not against the promises of God i. e. the free promise of Justification by Grace through Faith in Jesus Christ therefore the law cannot justifie because if it could justifie any Man it would be against i. e. frustrate and make void the free promise of justification by Faith for if a Man could be justified by the works of the law there could be no need of the free promise of righteousness and justification by Faith so that the promise is made void if righteousness be or could be by the law And then it is added If there had been a law given that could have given life verily righteousness should have been by the law if the law could have given life i. e. Justification verily righteousness should have been by the law supposing and taking it for granted that if there had been a law that could have given Life and Justification the same law should have given righteousness also for without righteousness there can be no Justification and Life to any Man in Gods sight But there is no Man righteous or can be righteous in Gods sight by the deeds of the law therefore no Man can be justified or have life thereby Now that there is no Man righteous or can be by the works of the law is plain from the context Rom. 3.10 19. Where the words of the Prophet David and Isaias are quoted out of the Old Testament that there is none Righteous no not one there is none that doeth good no not one Now as at the 19. v. Whatsoever the law saith it saith to them that are under the law i. e. to the Jews as well as to the Gentiles that there is not in the whole World both Jews and Gentiles one righteous Man by the deeds of the law no not one no not one that doth good no not one i. e. according to that which the law doth require And this will more clearly appear by a just consideration of the obedience which the law doth require in these Four particulars 1. The law doth require personal Obedience to the Holy and just commands thereof And every Man is under Obligation to fulfil the law in his own Person and therefore it is said Rom. 10.5 The Man which doth them shall live by them and here is one essential difference betwixt the law of Faith and the Law of works that the law of Faith accepteth the Obedience of another but the law of works requireth thee to obey and fulfil in thine own Person and if thou failest of Personal performing and fulfilling the law doth curse thee Personally as it is written Gal. 3.10 Cursed is every one that continueth not c. 2ly The Law doth require perfect Obedience in all things So that if a Man keep the whole law and fail but in one point he is guilty of all as James 2.10 and the least Sinful thought or idle word cuts off and forfeits all a Mans hope of righteousness by the Law Now forasmuch as there is no Man that ever did or since the fall of Adam ever can come up unto perfect Obedience in all things which the Law doth require so as not to fail in any one point For if such a Man were found there should be found a just Man upon Earth that doth good and sinneth not Yea there would a Man be found that might say I have not Sinned which would be to make God a liar as 1 Kings 8.46 Eccles. 7.20 1 John 1. v. 10. It is plain that there is none righteous by the works of the law no not one there is none that doth good no not one i. e. as the Law doth require 3ly The Law doth require perpetual Obedience i. e. the Perseverance Persisting and Continuance in all things that are written in the law as Gal. 3.10 Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the Book of the law to do them So that if a Man could perfectly keep and fulfil the whole law so as not to fail in one point to his very dying Day and yet at last though in the Moment of Death should commit one Sin or once fail in his Obedience he hath lost all his righteousness and is become a Sinner and Transgressor of the law in Gods sight 4ly The law doth require a Sinless Person the law doth suppose and require every Man to be such as Adam was in the estate of Innocency to have the same rectitude and perfect integrity of Nature that Adam had which we call Original Righteousness and is directly contrary to Original Sin And the want of Original Righteousness as well as least the tincture of Original Sin is a Sinful defect of conformity to the law and renders a Man uncapable of fulfilling the righteousness which the law doth require so that by the law it is impossible for him that is once a Sinner ever to become righteous by all that he can do or suffer afterward Now that the want of Original righteousness as well as Original Sin is a Sinful defect of conformity to the law is plain Rom. 8. To be carnally minded is Death and the reason is added v. 7. For the Carnal Mind is enmity against God and is not subject to the law of God neither indeed can be That which we render the Carnal mind is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the minde of the flesh i. e. of Mans Nature now corrupted by sin and destitute of Original righteousness this mind of the flesh is enmity egainst God and is not subject to the law of God neither indeed can be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so that it is impossible to a man in the carnal mind or mind of the flesh to be Obedient or subject to the law sincerely and much more impossible to fulfil or keep the law perfectly And thence it is further inferred v. 9. so then they that are in
were blnded 2ly That so he might make way for the coming of his Son Jesus Christ into the World for his coming forth into and in the Human Nature and being made and manifested in Flesh both to Angels and Men This Mystery of Godliness as the Apostle hath it 1 Tim. 3.16 God manifested in the Flesh had never been exhibited in the sight of Angels and Men had not the transgression of the law and the utter inability in the law to give Man life and righteousness in Gods sight first prepared and opened a way for it had there been no Sin there had needed no Sacrifice no need of God manifested in Flesh could righteousness have been by the works of the law there had been no need of a Christ to take away Sin to make an end of Sins and to bring in everlasting righteousness as Dan. 9 24. Rom. 8.3 And as the Apostle hath it Gala. 2 21. If righteousness come by the law then Christ is dead in vain Christ coming in the Flesh his being made of a Woman made under the law his being made a curse for us yea all that he did suffered for us in his life death yea his resurrection from the dead his Ascension into Heaven and his intercession for us there hath been altogether in vain if Sin could be expiated and righteousness obtained by the deeds or works of the law But Christ is not dead in vain his coming into the World is not in vain Now consider what a glorious work the work of redemption is above all the works of Gods Creation and above all the other works of his mighty wise and holy providence and be filled with admiration and wonder at the infinite wisdom power and Grace of God in Christ who hath thus over-ruled so great an evil as Sin is and the frustration of the hope of righteousness by the law for the manifestation of the riches of his glory and Grace in his Son Christ Jesus and the greater advancement and good of his own Elect who are no losers by their disappointment and loss of the hope of righteousness by the deeds of the law having now obtained a better hope of a better and greater righteousness by Faith in Christ than could have been obtained by the law if they had never Sinned and if they had fulfilled the righteousness of the law in themselves Glory be to the triumphant Grace of God in Christ. 3. That so also just occasion might be offered for the promulgation and making known amongst Men the everlasting Covenant of Grace Now consider what a great blessing the Covenant of Grace is above the Law and Covenant of works which the Apostle saith Had no glory in comparison of the new Covenant of Grace which so far excelled 2 Cor. 3.7 8 9 10 11. verses And consider how the manifestation and revelation of this better Covenant hath filled Heaven and Earth with a greater light and manifestation of the Divine glory than any the World knew before or could ever have known without it and you will fall Down and worship before the throne of God and of the Lamb saying Blessing Glory and Praise be unto the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath thus blessed us with the blessings of such a Covenant all Spiritual blessings all Heavenly blessings all Spiritual blessinngs in heavenly places in Christ Ephes. 1.3 This Covenant of Grace is called the New Covenant but only with respect to the promulgation of it forasmuch as it was not promulgated till after the fall of Man and the frustration and making void the law or old Covenant as a Covenant of works and utter incapacity of that Covenant to give Man righteousness and life by the deeds or works of it as the Apostle argueth Heb. 8. v. 7 8 11 13. But the Covenant of Grace is also called the everlasting Covenant with respect to the institution and establishment of it betwixt the Father and the Son not only because it is to everlasting and endureth for ever but also because it is from everlasting and before all time and is therefore said to be given us in Christ before the World was Tit. 1.2 In hope of eternal life which God that cannot lie promised before the world began that this is the Covenant of Grace is plain because it is that upon which the hope of eternal life is builded and it is called the promise as it is often called in Scripture as Gala. 4.28 Now we Brethren as Isaac was are the children of the promise i. e. of the new Covenant for this is the new Covenant which is compared to that Jerusalem which is above and is the Mother of all the children of God as Gala. 4.22 23 24 25 26. Upon this account they are called heirs of the promise i. e. of the new Covenant or Covenant of Grace and not of the old Covenat or Covenant of Works as Gala. 4.31 So then brethren we are not children of the Bond-woman but of the Free i. e. not of the old Covenant but of the new Now of this promise viz. this promise of God that cannot lie it is said to have been before the world began i. e. given us in Christ the Mediator of this Covenant and unto whom this promise was given for us before all time before the World began i. e. from Eternity And if any shall enquire why then was the law or Covenant of works at all added and promulgated The Answer is ready as the Apostle Gala. 3.19 It was added because of transgression i. e. that by the occasion of Sin and transgression of that Covenant Men might be prepared to entertain and embrace the Promise and Covenant of Grace and so look unto the free Promise and Covenant of Grace in Christ for Life and Salvation and so Rom. 5.20 21. The law entred that sin might abound c. Now as it was for the further manifestion of Gods greater glory and for Mans greater good that this new Covenant or Covenant of Grace should be declared so it was necessary that Sin should first enter in the transgression and frustration of the law as a Covenant of works that a fit occasion and season might be offered for the declaring and making known this blessed Covenant this new and everlasting Covenant of Grace And thus by the disannulling and making void the old or first Covenant as a Covenant of works which could not have bin without the entrance of Sin is way made for bringing in the Covenant of Grace 4ly That God might cut off all occasion of boasting from Man and that no flesh might glory in his sight had Man been justified by the works of the law and his own righteousness he should have had whereof to boast as the Apostle Rom. 4.2 For if Abraham were justified by works he hath whereof to Glory but not before God Now therefore God in his infinite wisdom hath ordered and over-ruled things unto this issue that by the workâ—
shall reprove or convince the World of Righteousness i. e. this Righteousness of Christ because saith he I go to my Father for he went as a publick person and second Adam the Head of the Church and there is set down in our Nature and in our stead as he that hath wrought out for us and brought in to us perfect and everlasting Righteousness in whom as such all the Seed of Gods Israel shall be justified and glory Isa. 45.25 Now that this Exaltation of Christ and the setting of him down at the right hand of God in the heavenly places is a wonderful and glorious work of Divine Power see Eph. 1.19 20 21. According to the working of his mighty Power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places Now consider this work of Divine Power and it will appear admirable for God to take this Creature Man made by Nature lower than the Angels a Creature of the Earth earthy as Psal. 8.5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the Angels and 1 Cor. 15.47 The first man is of the earth earthy Now I say to take this Nature and to advance it to Heaven and to set it above Angels both in its Union with the Godhead in the Person of the Son and in its Superiority Authority and Power over all the Angels in Heaven and over all things in Heaven and in Earth and under the Earth as Phil. 2.10 11. and Eph. 1.21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named not only in this World but also in that which is to come and thus to put all things under his feet as v. 22. And hath put all things under his feet This I say is such a work of glorious power as fills Heaven and Earth now and will fill Eternity hereafter with wonder and admiration But then consider again that this Creature Man was now faln under sin the Curse of the Law and the Wrath of God stript of its Original Righteousness which it was created in conformable to the Law of God and utterly uncapable of Righteousness by the Law and the Works thereof and so separate from the Actual Union which he had with God his Creator and set by sin at an infinite and eternal distance from God as to what this Creature Man could now do and for God to take this Creature Man and by a new Creation of it in Christ to make all new to purge and separate it from sin take it into Union with the Godhead it self in the Person of his own Son raise it from under sin and guilt cloath it with perfect and everlasting Righteousness and receive it up into glory above the highest Angels in Heaven Oh what a work of divine and glorious Power was this beyond whatever was seen in the Works of the old Creation or in all the Works of Providence from the Foundation of the World 5. But then again fifthly What a manifestation is there of the Power of God and the working of it towards all them that Believe in order to the making of them partakers of this Righteousness of God by Faith in Christ Divine Power hath not done in bringing forth and accomplishing this Righteousness by Christ for us But there is a further work of the mighty power of God required and manifested in applying this Righteousness to us and working that Faith in us by which alone this Righteousness of God is made ours and we are made partakers of it unto Justification of Life For this Righteousness of God is unto all and upon all them that Believe and as Rom. 10.10 For with the Heart man believeth unto Righteousness Now this Faith is not a work of a mans own Heart nor is it of a mans self to believe in Jesus Christ unto Righteousness No no this Faith is not of our selves It is the gift of God Ephes. 2.8 And as this Faith is the gift of Divine Grace or the Grace of God in Christ to us so it is also the work of his mighty power which worketh in us and therefore it is called the work of Faith with power as well as the good pleasure of his will 2 Thes. 1.11 And fulfill all the good pleasure of his will and the work of Faith with Power And without the mighty power of God put forth upon a mans Heart in the hearing of the Word there is not one man in the whole World that would or could believe in Jesus Christ unto Righteousness Isa. 53.1 Who hath believed our report And to whom is the Arm of the Lord revealed The Arm of the Lord is his Power his Mighty Power and unless the Arm i. e. the Mighty Power of Jehovah be revealed or manifested in the Heart of a man he doth not he cannot believe the report which the Holy Prophets gave Christ Who testified before hand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow 1 Pet. 1.11 And this I may say from the word of God there are no more men in the World that have believed this report than there are persons in whom this Arm of the Lord hath been revealed Now that there is a Mighty Power of God put forth upon them that believe See Eph. 1.19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his Power to us-ward who believe according to the working of his Mighty Power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the Dead and set him at his own Right hand in the Heavenly places Now look what manifestation there was of the exceeding greatness of his Power in raising Christ from the dead and setting of him at his own Right hand in the heavenly places as hath been shewed the same manifestation of his Power the exceeding greatness of his Power and the Energy or working of it is to be seen in towards all them that believe For indeed no less Power can be sufficient to raise a Dead Soul from Death to Life than to raise a Dead Body from the Grave i. e. no Power less than the Infinite no Power less than the Mighty Power of God and therefore it is so exprest 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The superlative or exceeding greatness of his Power and according to that which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the Dead For no less instance and pattern of Divine Power and the working of it could reach and set out the working of this Power in and towards all them that believe than this of its working in the raising of Christ from the Dead And indeed to raise a man from the Death of Sin and Unbelief under which all are shut up as in the Grave Rom 11.32 is no less a manifestation of Divine Power than was the raising of Christ from the Dead And when this comes to be fully known and understood by the Saints it will fill them with deep wonder and admiration
because reconciliation supposeth a breach first made by sin now the breach made betwixt God and Man by sin was not from Eternity but in time and therefore reconciliation could not be from Eternity and without reconciliation by shedding of blood there is no remission as Heb. 9.22 i. e. No Justification to the Church of Gods Elect for Remission of sins is their Justification Part. 3. This Doctrine of Justification from Eternity destroyeth and overthroweth the true Doctrine of Justification it self also which is another fundamental point of the Christian Faith and therefore this Doctrine of Justification from Eternity cannot be true Now the true Doctrine of Justification is that Act of Gods Grace passed or put forth upon the person Elect whereby of a guilty ungodly and unrighteous person before he is really made and doth become a righteous person in Gods sight through Faith in his Son Jesus Christ given unto him I say he is made and doth become a righteous person in Gods sight and that really and not by opinion only as some would imagine and here are two things to be cleared as namely 1. That every man in this World is really made and doth become a guilâ—y and condemned person in Gods sight by the first sin of Adam justly imputed to him by the Law so Rom. 3.9 10 and again ver 19 20. which the Apostle plainly affirmeth by a comparison of the two Adam's Rom. 5.19 For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners c. ver 18. Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came or it came upon all men to condemnation in Gods sight So that 't is plain the many ver 19. is all men ver 18. even the Elect of God as well as others 2. That as in the first Adam all men did become and were really made sinners in Gods sight by the just imputation of Adam's sin to them by the Law even so in Christ many as v. 19. or all men as ver 18. i. e. all that believe are justified i. e. are made and do become righteous in Gods sight through Faith in Christ by the righteousness of one or by the obedience of one justly imputed to them by the Law of Faith and Grace So that as before Justification every man was really a guilty and unrighteous person in Gods sight So now that Faith in Christ is come every man that believeth is justified and doth become and is made a righteous person in Gods sight So that Justification maketh a real change of State from a state of sin and unrighteousness and death to a state of Grace Righteousness and Life Now therefore he that is Justified from Eternity was from Eternity in a state of Grace Righteousness and Life and never was in a state of Sin Unrighteousness and Death he never was a Sinner Ungodly and condemned in Gods sight and Sin had never raigned in him unto Death in whom Grace had raigned unto Life through Righteousness from all Eternity but the contrary is true in all them whom God Justifieth as Rom. 4.5 Now to him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly his Faith is counted for Righteousness and Rom. 5.6 For when we were yet without strength in due time Christ died for the Ungodly and v. 21. That as sin hath reigned unto death even so might Grace reign through Righteousness unto Eternal Life by Jesus Christ our Lord So that we who are now Justified by Faith in Christ were without strength were ungodly were under the reign of Sin unto Death but he that was Justified from Eternity was never any of these and therefore no man was or could be Justified from Eternity there is a contradiction in the things themselves and therefore this Doctrine is inconsistent with the truth for Sin did not reign unto death in any from Eternity but in Time therefore Grace could not reign through Righteousness unto Life in any from Eternity but in time Part. 4. This Doctrine of Justification from Eternity destroyeth also the Doctrine of Adoption which inseparably followeth Justification and is another inseparable point of the Christian Faith I say Adoption followeth and is an inseparable companion of Justification by Faith in Christ he that is Justified by Faith in Christ is also adopted and taken into the number of Gods Sons or Children by the same Faith as Gal 3.24.25.26 That we might be justified by Faith v 24. But after that Faith is come v. 25. Ye are all the Children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus by the same faith by which any man is Justified by the same Faith also he is Adopted and made a Son or Child of God and so again Gal. 4 4 5 7. Now no man was Adopted from Eternity and therefore no man was Justified from Eternity And he that was Adopted from Eternity was never a Servant but a Son was never a Child of Disobedience a Child of Wrath as Ephes. 2.2 3. but a Child of God from eternity and then there never could be any Predestination to the Adoption of Children as Ephes. 1.5 that the Adoption of Children had been from eternity Part. 5. This Doctrine of Justification from Eternity denieth destroyeth and overthroweth by consequence the truth and doctrine of discrimination or making a difference betwixt the state of Nature and the state of Grace which the holy Scriptures do every where establish The state of Nature according the Scriptures is a state of Sin and so of Death and Condemnation as hath been already shewed But the state of Grace is a state of Righteousness and so of Life and Justification as hath also been declared through Faith in the Son of God Rom. 9.30 and Rom. 10.4 John 5.24 and 1 John 4.14 Now he that saith he was Justified from Eternity saith that he was in a state of Life from Eternity and by consequence never was in a state of Sin and Death for Justification is Life as Condemnation is Death Rom. 5.18 but most certain it is that all were dead and in a state of sin and condemnation before they believed on Christ even the Elect of God as well as others as 2 Cor. 5.14 And the death of Christ for all the Elect doth prove that they were all dead and in a state of Death Jews and Gentiles for else Christ needed not to have died for them and the love of Christ doth constrain all them to acknowledge that they were dead and therefore are debtors to Christ for their Life and Justification through Faith in him and so no more to live to themselves but to him that died for them and rose again The words are most plain and the sense most genuine For the love of Christ constraineth us because we thus judge that if one died for all then were all dead And that he died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him which died for them and rose again Therefore seeing they were once dead
before the new Therefore Justification and Life through Faith in Christ was not from Eternity but in Time though these things were laid in the purpose and counsel of God from Eternity yet they were not nor could be but in time And if any will say God calleth things that are not as if they were 't is most true but let such consider that all those things are still things that are not till God brings them forth in time Thus have we tryed this Doctrine and find it most contrary to the holy Scriptures As the Apostle Paul â—ryed the Doctrine of them who denied the Resurrection under pretence that it was past a ready whom he convinceth and confuâ—eth by the necessary consequences of their Doctrine as 1 Cor. 15 12 20. And having finished the tryal of the first opinion or doctrine of Justification from Eternity we now proceed to the second namely 2. Doctrine That they that are Christs were all justified in Christ their head from the time of Christs Death or Resurrection when the price was paid and satisfaction made by Christ and he as head was justified and discharged by his Resurrection the question therefore is Quest. Whether the Church of Gods Elect were Justified at from or in the time of Christs Death and Resurrection Or whether Believers may and ought to dteâ—he time of their Justification from the time of Christs Death and Resurrection Answ. To this we answer by distinguishing and that truly betwixt the Time and the Thing it selfe and accordingly 1. We do affirm and conclude and that most surely according to the Scriptures that all that are Christs the whole Church of Gods Elect are â—ustified from by through and upon the satisfaction Merit Virtue and Efficacy of Christs Death declared by his Resurrection as Rom. 3.24 25 26. and again Ephes. 1.7 Rom. 4 ult and Rom. 5.8 9. and Luke 24.46 47. Thus it is written and thus it behoved Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day that repentance and remission of sins should be Preached in his name among all nations beginning at Jerusalem And this is certain that Remission of Sins or Justification cannot be preached to any but upon the account of Christs Death and Resurrection viz. The satisfaction merit and efficacy of his Death manifested and declared by his Resurrection according to Rom. 1.4 and 1 Tim. 3.16 Manifested in the Flesh Justified in the Spirit 2. We do also affirm and conclude according to the Scriptures that all that have been are now or shall hereafter be Justified from the beginning of the World to the end thereof have been are now and shall hereafter be Justified by the same satisfaction vertue merit and efficacy of Christs Death declared by his Resurrection and no otherways as Heb. 13.7 8. Whose Faith follow considering the end of their Conversation Jesus Christ the same yesterday and to day and for ever 'T is evident from the context that he setteth before them the doctrine and example the faith and conversation of such as had spoken the Word of God to them in which expression he comprehendeth all the Holy Prophets under the Old Testament and those Holy Servants of God whom he had mentioned chap. 11. particularly and then more generally referred them to ch 12.1 as so great a Cloud of Witnesses I say all these of the Old Testament as well as the Apostles under the New Testament together with their present Ministers when he saith Remember them which have Rule over you or which are the guides and so rule by way of conduct for other rule the Servants of God have none or ever had who have spoken unto you the Word of God whose Faith follow considering the end of their conversation Jesus Christ the same yesterday and to day and for ever by yesterday is meant all the time that is past by to day the present time and by forever is all the time yet to come from the foundation of the World to the end of it And if so the same Christ Jesus was promised prophesied and preached to them as truly as unto us and was believed on by them as well as by us and by the same Faith which they had in this Jesus Christ they were justified and saved and became the Heirs of the same Righteousness of Faith as well as we Heb. 11.1 This Faith is described and then Abel Enoch Noah Abraham Sarah Isaac and Jacob the heirs with Abraham of the same promise and the promise was Christ Justification and Salvation in Christ with Eternal Glory and then mentioning Joseph Moses Rahab also a Heathen And then Gideon Barak Sampson Jeptha David and Samuel the Prophet with others Men and Women tells you These all obtained a good report through Faith before Christ the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of Abraham and David promised was come in the Flesh or Humane nature before his Death and Resurrection and yet believed on Christ embraced him and were justified and saved by Faith in him all along as well as we are now Christ is come hath died and rose again so Rom. 4.23 24 25. So that 't is most plain Christ is the same yesterday as he is to day and so forever i. e. in all Ages and Generations yet to come as John 17.20 Neither pray I for these alone but for them also that shall believe on me through their word that they all may be one This shall believe on me reacheth to the end of the World so long as Christ shall be Preached and men shall believe on him through their word of whom Christ saith Mat. ult ult and lo I am with you alway even to the end of the World So that Christ Jesus is the same yesterday and to day and forever And all that are justified to day as well as all that were justified yesterday and all that shall be justified for ever i. e to the end of the World have been are and shall be still justified by the satisfaction merit vertue and efficacy of Christs Death declared by his Resurrection who was the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World Rev. 13 8. as all the sacrifices types and prophecies did there concerning him that he should be slain and riâ—e again and in that respect was both the Goat for our Sin Offering or Sacrifice and likewise our Scape-goat let go and escaped from Death when he had born our Sins I say let go and escaped by a glorious Resurrection and so as the Lamb of God did bear away or take away the Sins of World John 1.29 Did bear or carry them away into a Land of forgetfulness i. e. where none of them shall be remembred And thus far we do affirm and consent concerning the justification of the whole Church of Gods Elect from the death of Christ i. e. from and upon the satisfaction merit virtue and efficacy of his death and that none are justified or have redemption but through his blood and faith
therein for the propitiation of their Sins as Rom. 3.25 whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through Faith in his blood to declare his Righteousness for the Remission of Sins and v. 26. to declare I say at this time his righteousness that he might be just and the justifier of him which beâ—elieveth â—n Jesus Neg. But as concerning the Doctrine of Justification from the time of Christs Death and Resurrection more or rather than any other time or that the Church of Gods Elect are justified from the time of Christs Death or Resurrection we do utterly deny and reject and say the justification of his Body the Church doth no more commence from or depend upon the time of his Death and Resurrection than upon any other time before or after for 1 st If the justification of Gods Elect did commence from and depend upon the time of Christs Death and Resurrection so that they were not nor could be justified before that time then all those that were fallen asleep in Christ before the time of Christs Death and Resurrection are perished as 1 Cor 15.18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished The Consequence is plain and invincible for if they were not justified their Sins were imputed and not forgiven and if so then they died in their Sins and so are perished as John 8.12 If ye believe not that I am he ye shall die in your sins and this is eternal perdition or to perish for ever if they were not justified they were not righteous righteousness was not imputed to them and so they neither did not could inherit the Kingdom of God as 1 Cor. 6.9 Know ye not that the Unrighteous or Unjustified shall not inherit the Kingdom of God And so Abel Enoch Noah Abraham Isaac and Jacob Moses and Samuel and all the Prophets until John are perished and excluded out of the Kingdom of God yea John Baptist â—lso is perished and good old Simeon that took the Babe in his arms and blessed him and said Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in peace according so thy word for mine eyes have seen thy Salvation Luke 2.29 30 and Anna the Prophetess also v. 36. are perished For all these died before the time of Christs Death and Resurrection as is most plain and manifest But now these are not perished but were justified by Faith in their Life time and blessed in their death and live now unto God eternally in the Mansions of Heavenly Glory and for all this we have a sure word of Prophecy Abraham lived 430 years before the Law of Moses and above 2000 years before Christ came in the flesh and 30 years more before Christs Death and Resurrection and yet was as much justified by Faith in Christ as any man ever since or that will be to the end of the World and so were all the rest aforementioned and therefore justification is not reckoned from the time of Christs Death and Resurrection seeing all these were justified so long before that time 2. Then Christ himself is found a false Witness who came from the bosom of the Father and could declare and did declare the truth as John 1.18 I say then Christ himself is found a false Witness who testified of Abraham Isaac and Jacob and all the Prophets to be in the Kingdom of God Luke 13.28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth when you shall see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the Prophets in the Kingdom of God and you your selves thrust oâ—â— Now who are these ye and your selves these are many such as lived in and after the time of Christs Death and Resurrection and great Professors too as appeareth v. 26. When they shall say we have eat and drank in thy presence and thou hast taught in our Streets and also in that parallel place Mat. 7.22 Have we not Prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out Devils and in thy name have done many wonderful works all which must be after the time of Christs Death and Resurrection for the Spirit was not given for these extraordinary works and miracles till Christ was glorified and yet saith Christ ye shall see Abraham Isaac and Jacob and all the Prophets in the Kingdom of God and ye your selves thrust out so that those that lived before the time of my Death and Resurrection as Abraham Isaac and Jacob and all the Prophets ye shall see them hereafter when that day shall come which revealeth all things ye shall see them in the Kingdom of God and ye your selves who lived professed my name Prophesied and did miracles in my name after the time of my Death and Resurrection ye shall see your selves thrust out and though you cast out Devils in my name yet ye did not cast him out nor was he cast out of your own hearts But Christs Witness is most true and will be found so at the great day therefore let men take heed how they make him a Liar who is Truth it self for certainly Christ did not bear false witness when he testified to the Sick of the Palsie Mark 2.5 Son thy Sins be forgiven thee and when he testified in the House of Simon concerning the Woman that was and had been a great Sinner when she washed Christs feet with her tears and wiped them with the hairs of her head and brake so costly a Box of Ointment and poured it upon his head that all the room was filled with the odour thereof I say when he testified to Simon and all that were in the house concerning her Luc. 7.47 Wherefore I say unto thee her Sins which are many are forgiven for she loved much and when he testified to her v. 48. And he said unto her thy Sins are forgiven Forgiveness of Sins is justification and they had Faith in Christ wrought in them for Mark 2.5 when Jesus saw their Faith and Luke 7.50 And he said to the Woman thy Faith hath saved thee and yet the time of Christs Death and Resurrection was not yet come so that justification and Salvation through Faith in Christ was as sure and certain and as full and compleat to them that believed before the time of Christs Death and Resurrection as ever it was to any since or shall be to the end of the World therefore the justification of Gods Elect is no more dated or doth commence from the time of Christs death than from any time before or after 3. If the justification of Gods Elect should commence and bear date from the time of Christs Death and Resurrection then thousands of Gods Elect that were Born were Converted and called and have believed on Christ since the time of Christs Death and Resurrection in Ages and Generations until now were justified before they were Converted and Called before they receiv'd the Spirit by the hearing of Faith before they believed God or his word before they had any Faith wrought in them for they were
for many false Prophets are gone out into the World And we shall first try the first of these Doctrines As namely Quest. 1. Whether Gods Elect or any sort of men were justified from all Eternity as some do say and affirm And unto this we answer affirmatively in two things Namely 1. That there is and was a gracious purpose which God had purposed in himself from all Eternity to Justifie and save his Elect through Faith in his Son Jesus Christ Ephes. 1.9 According to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself And again 2 Tim. 1.9 But according to his own Purpose and Grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the World began And the Apostle in the Context doth not only plainly imply but expresly declare the same when he saith Rom. 8.28 To them who are the called according to his purpose and then ver 30. Whom he called them he also justified Therefore there is and was such a purpose in God before the World began to call and justifie them 2. That all that have been are now or hereafter shall be justified through Faith in Jesus Christ from the Foundation of the World to the end thereof have been are now and shall be Justified according to this Purpose which God hath Purposed in himself before the World began and no otherwise as Ephes. 1.11 In whom also we have obtained an Inheritance And this Inheritance cannot be obtained without free Justification by Grace as Tit. 3 7. Being Predestinated according to the Purpose of him who worketh all things after or according to the Counsel of his own Will For in that he saith all things 't is manifest that he worketh this one thing amongst all the rest even his Justifying his Elect through Faith in his Son Jesus Christ after or according to this Counsel of his own Will and Ephes. 1.3 4. Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Heavenly places in Christ Amongst which Spiritual Blessings that of Justification must be acknowledged to be one and none of the least or last of those blessings It followeth ver 4. According as he hath chosen us in him before the Foundation of the World And again 2 Tim. 1.9 Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and graee which was given us in Christ Jesus before the World began And this also is plainly declared in the Context Rom 8.30 Whom he did Predestinate them he also Called and whom he called them he also Justified And if you will ask how The answer is According to his Purpose as ver 28. According to this Purpose he calleth them and according to this Purpose he justifieth them So that thus far we do consent and agree 1. That there is and was a purpose in God from all Eternity to Justifie his Elect through Faith in his Son Jesus Christ And 2. That all that are justified are justified according to this Purpose which God had purposed in himself But then we distinguish betwixt being under a purpose of Grace from all Eternity to be justified And being Justified from all Eternity and therefore though we grant and affirm the former yet we deny the latter Namely Neg. That Gods Elect or any person in this World are or is or ever were or was justified from all Eternity This Doctrine of Justification from Eternity I say we truly reject disown and deny as a false and unsound Doctrine and contrary to the Holy Scriptures all which will more than sufficiently appear in these following Particulars Part. 1. This Doctrine in the consequent of it doth deny destroy and overthrow the truth and true Doctrine of Gods Election and Predestination which the Holy Scriptures do establish and which is one fundamental point of the true Christian Faith and from whence doth spring as from a Fountain all the parts of our Salvation This is called The Foundation of God which standeth sure 2 Tim. 2.19 And this is that from whence as from a Fountain all the parts of our Salvation do spring and proceed Ephes. 1.3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12. There are two parts of this Election of God namely foreknowledge and predestination Rom. 8.29 For whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate Now there neither is nor can be any foreknowledge or fore-ordaining of that which is from Eternity for nothing can be said to be before Eternity And foreknowledge and predestination must be before the things foreknown and predestinated and therefore if Justification were from Eternity there could be no foreknowledge or predestination thereof To speak with a holy reverence God cannot be said to foreknow himself or to fore-ordain his own blessedness and enjoyment of himself alone 't is true the blessedness of God doth consist in that knowledge and injoyment of himself which he hath in and of himself eternally But he could not fore-know himself or fore-ordain himself this blessedness because he hath and had this eternally and nothing can precede or be before eternity Even so God could not be said to foreknow and predestinate his Elect to Justification and Salvation through Faith in his Son Jesus Christ if they were Jâ—stified from all Eternity And besides it is â—ritten Gal. 3.8 For the Scripture foreseeing thaâ— God would justifie the Heathen through Fâ—â—â—h preached the Gospel before-hand to Abraham saying in thee shall all the Nations be blessed Now the Scripture could not foresee that which was from Eternity the Scripture may and doth declare that which was from Eternity as John 1.1 2. and 1 John 1.2 3. but the Scripture cannot be said to foresee that which was from Eternity yet the Scripture did foresee that God would justifie these elect Heathen through Faith therefore these Heathen were not Justified from Eternity though they were elected from eternity he therefore that saith he was justified from eternity and doth teach men so doth by consequence overthrow the Foundation of Gods Election and deny that himself and those he so teacheth were either fore-known or predestinated of God to Justification and Salvation through Faith in Christ. Part. 2. This Doctrine of Justification from Eternity doth by necessary consequences destroy and overthrow the Doctrine and Faith of reconciliation which is also another fundamental point of the Christian Faith Reconciliation must go before Justification at least in the order of Nature though not of time God must be first reconciled to that person in Christ whom he justifieth in Christ as 2 Cor. 5.18 19. God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself and then their justification follows not imputing to them their trespasses Reconciliation must be first and then Justification follows for God Justifies a sinner upon the account of the price paid and satisfaction made by Jesus Christ as Rom. 5.10 If when we were Enemies we were reconciled to God by the Death of his Son c. Now reconciliation was not nor could be from Eternity