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A79435 Yahweh Tsidkenu or The plain doctrin of the justification of a sinner in the sight of God; justified by the God of truth in his holy word, and the cloud of witnesses in all ages. Wherein are handled the causes of the sinners justification. Explained and applied in six and twenty sermons, in a plain, doctrinal and familiar way, for the capacity, and understanding of the weak and ignorant. By Charles Chauncy president of Harvard Colledge in Cambridge in New-England. Chauncy, Charles, 1592-1672. 1659 (1659) Wing C3739; Thomason E979_11; ESTC R222074 232,660 312

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will not carry your load or bee it he will not pardon c. this is spoke of Jesus Christ by God the Father and the Israelites that rebelled against him found that the Lord made it good whereas so many thousands perished in the Wilderness and so shall all the like persons finde in these daies and to the end of the world for certainly to a wicked man nothing is pure To him that is defiled and unbeleeving Tit. 1.15 but grace teacheth to deny ungodliness c. Tit. 2.12 Heb. 10.22 therefore ungodly unrenegerate unsanctified disobedient persons have no portion or lot in this business 3 There is no greater sign of an unsanctified unregenerate and wicked heart than to make an unsanctified use of the grace of God and to abuse the doctrin of it to wantonness and licentiousnesse There can bee no greater character of an ungracious heart and a swinish spirit that hath nothing to do to challenge these Gospel pearls neither knows the nature property and worth of them Remission of Sins through Christs blood THE EIGHTEENTH SERMON ON Rom. 3.25 Through Faith in his blood 4 LET every true beleever know his duty and the bounds of their comfort in this case and this will bee opened by two sorts of conclusions Quest 1 How far a true beleever that hath interest in Christ and his sins forgiven him may charge his soul with sin This must bee cleared that wee may avoid the Rocks that some Sectaries do clash against and I shall clear it in these Conclusions 1 Every beleever is bound impartially to find out by strict examination of himself the secret corruptions that are in his heart or any ungodly practices that are in his Life and Conversation yea so as to judge himself for them that the very least of them is sufficient to bring Gods curse on him and the guilt of eternal condemnation should not the Lord of his free grace in Christ prevent it Every sin in its own nature and power doth and will procure guilt and condemnation to the soul unless that Christ by the merit of his death doth free us from it God called for this searching formerly in times of the Churches calamities Lam. 3.40 Hag. 1.5 7. Thus saith the Lord set your hearts upon your ways Yea this is commanded to every one that receives the Lords Supper 1 Cor. 11.28 31. Let a man examine himself not onely concerning his Faith but also concerning his sins Yea hee addes that wee should discern and judge our selves which self-judging is to proceed to self condemnation Ezek. 36.31 When God hath given his a new heart and spirit then they shall remember their own evil waies and doings that were not good and loathe themselves in their sight or judge themselves worthy to bee destroyed I say not that beleevers should judge that they shall be condemned but onely that they are worthy to bee condemned 2 Beleevers notwithstanding this forgiveness ought to mourn for their sins Ezek. 7.16 They that escape shall every one mourn for their iniquities like the doves in the vallies Isa 59.11 We roar like Bears mourn like doves for our transgressions are multiplyed So Peter having denyed his Lord remembred the words of Jesus and went out and wept bitterly Matth. 26.75 yea this the Lord commands us Jam. 4.8 9. Bee afflicted and mourn and weep and let your laughter bee turned into mourning Sin pardoned is sin and calls for sorrow and sorrow according to God 2 Cor. 7.10 3 Beleevers are bound for all the forgiveness of sin to confess and acknowledge their iniquities it is notable to this purpose that was practised by Paul even in his last daies 1 Tim. 1.13 15. where hee laies open his sins of persecution and blasphemy hee calls himself the chiefest of sinners and therby hee arises to say that the grace of God was exceeding abundant towards him c. This also the Lord requires of us Jer. 3.13 Onely acknowledge thine iniquities and 1 Joh. 1.9 If wee confesse our sinnes c. as if hee should say that otherwise wee cannot lay claim to the promise of forgiveness It is woful divinity of some in these times that a Christian should not confess sin 4 Repentance and that often renewed for sins frequently committed is still required of the best beleevers Ezek. 8.30 Thus saith the Lord Repent and turn your selves from all your transgressions so iniquity shall not bee your ruine and Christ said to the Disciples Matth. 18.3 Except you bee converted and become as little Children c. The Disciples themselves have need to bee converted still So that Repentance is necessary to beleevers by necessity of Precept as it is also by necessity of Means to dispose and quality at least for the comfort of remission yea no childe of God can have the comfort of pardon before hee hath repented Object But you will say a true beleever hath pardon of his sin though hee hath not the comfort of it without repentance yea it is possible that a beleever sinning may dye without repentance and go to heaven as David lying so long in his great sins might have been taken away without repentance Ans It is possible yet God usually gives space to repent to all beleevers and Christ hath purchased repentance for those that hee hath purchased remission for and gives them together Repentance and Remission go hand in hand together hence ariseth another necessity of repentance viz. a necessity of intent and constitution as an inseparable evidence of faith and forgivenesse and a determined means or condition of escaping death and damnation Luke 13.1 3. Mark 1.15 Rev. 2.5 3.19 Eph. 6.7 Isa 1.16 18. Jer. 36 3. Act. 26.18 Jer. 31.20 Heb. 10.22 Oh! let us bee perswaded to maintain and increase repentance in our hearts as long as wee live not as though thereby wee can make God amends or satisfy the justice of God by it that is an ignorant and Popish conceit nothing can satisfy but the death of his Son and his blood but consider that 1 Christ hath commanded that repentance and remission of sins should in his Name be preached to all nations Luk. 24.47 Those things that are to bee preached together are to bee received together It is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the bitter sweet of the Ministry and must bee joyned yea mixed together as a most wholesome confection So the Passeover was to bee eaten with bitter hearbs Christ also gives them together Act. 5.31 and God hath exalted him for this end Act. 5.31 2 By our continued and unfeigned repentance wee shall have many and singular benefits as 1 Hereby wee shall come to know experimentally the bitterness of sin as well as the sweetnesse of it It is good to look upon sin as full of gall and wormwood Jer. 2.19 See and know what evil and bitter thing it is c. Zach. 12.10 They shall bee in bitterness as for a first born 2 Thy repentance will cause thee to
woful condition come upon you Take heed as it follows there vers 46. Seeing that you put away the Word from you and Judge your selves unworthy of everlasting life you that have a pardon offered to you being condemned male-factors and yet will bee prophane unclean and proud still you do as good as say wee care not for the pardon wee scorn the offer of remission of sins though we bee damned for them Let such desperate souls know they judge themselves unworthy c. Object You will say why whatsoever my sins are though I go on yet grace is sufficient to save mee at last Answ But doth not the Apostle say shall wee continue in sin c. far bee it that ever such a thought should enter into any heart Rom. 6.1 2. Sodomites themselves had they had this grace preached by any Messenger from God they would in all likelihood have beleeved and repented What is this but turning the Grace of God into wantonness that branded sin of Jud. 4. Ordained of old to Condemnation and the very characteristical Note of Reprobation to turn Gods grace into Lasciviousness T is true God doth not presently reject where grace proffered is neglected Rom. 10 ult All the day long c. yet it is oft a sad presage that grace will depart from those for ever that prophanely set it at nought The day of Grace is short Luke 19.41 2 Cor. 6.2 Col. 1.6 the Gospel brought forth fruit in the Colossians The first day they heard of it and knew the grace of God in truth Use 3. Comfort to beleevers that this grace is free It is an unspeakable ground of comfort to poor beleevers What better Cordial can you take than this what Doctrin should you rather learn you complain of sins before Calling of corruptions yet remaining of coldness in duty and you say how can such a wretch as I bee accepted or justified The Doctrin takes away the ground of your Lamentation in saying you are justified and pardoned freely not onely by Gods Grace and Mercy but altogether freely Rom. 5.16 the free gift is of many offences to justification So vers 18. the free gift came to justification Luth. in Epist ad Gala. Let Moses saith Luther bee dead and buried and his Sepulchre never bee found in point of justification This is your security and makes your justification such as a man may have peace in and boldness and confidence in the inward Combates of Conscience and in the panges of death for it makes the promises sure Rom. 4.16 unmortified corruption would make justification upon any other terms uncertain but Gods free grace is a sure Rock to build on a foundation that cannot bee undermined It puts you under the Kingdome of grace where grace must as surely reign unto life as sin did unto death Rom. 5.21 Further this Justification gives safety and perpetuity of happiness because this feee grace is unchangeable Rom. 5.2 Being justified by Faith wee stand in Grace wee never fall from it and vers 17. They which receive abundance of Grace and of the gift of Righteousness shall reign in Life by one Jesus Christ Consider seriously that this grace is given when wee are enemies to God lying in our blood besmeared in our filthiness Now it is not likely a poor beleever shall ever fall into a worse estate than this was So that the same grace must needs be still continued to him Use 4. Exhortation to all sorts 1 to unjust 1 Exhortation first to unjustified persons If justification bee of free grace then let carnal and prophane men see a little chink of light beaming into their dungeon of darkness Here is some possibility of obtaining mercy and pardon at the Lords hands Free Grace is the main motive to the Lord for to give Remission of sin Let it also bee a strong Motive to you to seek out after it If free why may not you have a share in it as well as others If the fault bee not in your selves it may bee yours as well as others T is not sins hainousness nor multitude can keep you out God keeps open house for Grace and Mercy and every poor beggar that will may come The Dole is not given because a man hath better Cloaths better Parts or abilities but to poor souls that come to fetch it Avoid discouragement and prophaneness when God is dispensing his grace to others as bad as thee Go then among the crowd of Prodigals thrust in among them Rom. 4.5 To him that works not that never did a good work but beleeves on him that justifieth the ungodly i. e. There are none justified but ungodly for all are ungodly before justification though afterward they are not ungodly in that they fall to working the work of God though not to trust in any work set their hearts on all the works of the Covenant though not on the Covenant of works Hear what the Spirit saies to thee Rev. 22.17 Whoever will let them take of the water of Life freely Here is a dram of Aqua vitae for a dead soul freely offered if thou wilt accept of it and wilt thou not accept of it say not I have no good work to commend mee for they that work not are not shut out Isa 55.2 but without money though not a penny in thy pocket not one good work at all To direct you in it 1 Know that Justification presupposes Damnation in a way of justice Directions to attain justification Thou therefore that desirest justification must bee convinced and certainly conclude thou art a condemned person in the rigour of Gods Justice according to that Ezek. 36.31 You shall remember your own evil waies and doings were not good and shall loathe your selves or judge your selves worthy to bee destroyed so Rom. 3.19 that all the World may become guilty Your soules must come to the bar of Gods justice and hold up your hands and cry guilty guilty yea and pass the sentence of condemnation on your own souls 2 Bee zealously diligent Direct 2 that you receive not the grace of God in vain 2 Cor. 6.1 Paul in 2 Cor. 5.21 having spoken of free justification before hee addes wee then as workers together with him beseech you that you receive not the grace of God in vain You have heard of Gods grace now wee Apostles and Ministers of Christ beseech you that this grace bee not lost or in vain If our intreaties may prevail with you Oh! suffer not this water of life to bee spilt in vain 3 You must for ever resolve to live in the Kingdome of grace Rom. 5. ult Grace ought to reign Direct 3 you must not think to subject it to your lusts for grace must have the command of all Tit. 2.12 it denies ungodliness the throne 2 To justified Persons Are you justified freely by his grace 2 To such as are justified first learn to adore free grace lye low in the dust with Paul
sake of the imputed righteousness of Christ In this sense faith is no cause nor hath any influence at all into a sinners justification but Justification taken passively is that whereby beleevers by faith as by an hand do receive apprehend and apply to themselves the merits of Christs death and in this sense faith is an instrumental cause viz. A passive Instrument and cannot bee denyed its place in and influence into a sinners justification And this distinction you may see clearly grounded both in the places mentioned and Rom. 8. and in this chapter and in Rom. 5.1 the word is used in a passive sense Quest 2 How are Paul and James reconciled for James Ch. 2.21 saith that Abraham and Rahab were justified by works and ver 22. hee sets down this general conclusion that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone Answ Paul and James reconciled The conclusion of the Apostle is not as the Papists say that good works are a part of our righteousness and the cause of our justification before God neither as many of our Divines say That good works do justify as they declare us to bee just before men though that be a truth also but he shews that justifying faith is such as is effectual by good works or that it is a working faith that doth justify us which he proves both by comparing the faith of men and devils together as also by the example of Abraham and Rahab thence hee hath a distinction of faith which is lively and fruitful in good works and of a false and dead faith which is a bare profession of faith and formal acknowledgement of the Articles of Religion destitute of all good fruites so that James his discourse comes to this upshot That wee are not justified by a false or a dead faith and though James saith wee are justified by works he means by a common Metonymy a working faith Infants justifi cation Quest How are Infants justified by Faith Answ 1 Justification by faith belongs to persons grown and of understanding Rom. 10.17 2 Without doubt God hath his secret waies of applying the righteousness of Christ to infants by his Spirit which hee gives to them Isa 44.3 Quest Why is it rather through Faith than any other grace Why faith justifies Answ 1 Because by Faith is our union with Christ and our ingrafting into him and justification is a special priviledge and benefit properly arising from our union with Christ And then is the imputation of Christ's righteousness to us according to the Gospel dialect when it is apprehended by faith and hence justification is set after vocation Rom. 8.30 and therefore after faith because faith is wrought in vocation 2 The proper nature and office of faith is to rely and rest on Christ or the grace of God in Christ for Righteousness and Salvation hence the phrases of resting beleeving leaning on him as on the Rock the Corner stone c. 1 Pet. 2.6 Isa 26.3 4. and other places Faith makes it its proper distinguishing action to look out for a righteousness for justification and finding it in Christ wholly rests and relies on it as the Rock and Foundation the poor Sinner must be stayed by and built upon 3 Faith makes a special use of all the Promises draws water out of those wells receives and imbraces all the good things held forth in them but especially imbraceth remission of sins as one of the highest and chiefest Gospel concernments which hee hath to appropriate and improve to his greatest comfort and the foundation for to build on and exercise all other graces and duties and thence the just is said to live by faith Hab. 2.4 4 Because faith is constituted and ordained of God in the Covenant of grace as a necessary and indispensible means for attainment of this end in adult persons He did from eternity pitch on the grace of faith above all other for the applying the righteousnesse of Christ unto the soul of a Sinner 5 Because faith gives more glory to God and Christ than any other grace having free grace for its support and in a special manner free grace in Justification and going out of and denying it self more than any other grace receiving all from and attributing all to Christ and his fulnesse Joh. 1.16 and most especially whatever it hath or expecteth for justification Which makes the Apostle speak as hee doth Eph. 2.8 and every true beleever with him by grace we are saved through faith Use 1. This Doctrin doth clearly discover the dangerous estate of unbeleevers The danger of unbeleevers above all others there being no other way to receive that grace that is offered unto us in Christ or to attain unto the comfort of it Heb. 11.6 Without faith it is impossible to please God and what comfort or support can that man have who is not pleasing unto God There is but one Ark in all the World to save a poor sinner from the deluge of destruction that is Christ Jesus and no getting into this Ark but by faith There is death all the World over but in Christ As it was in the daies of Noah c. So shall the comming of the Son of man bee Matth. 24.38 39. how many on the face of the earth shall the second deluge or overwhelming destruction finde out of Christ the only Ark for poor sinners to bee saved by When the flood came the world knew nothing i. e. beleeved nothing and therefore rejected and despised the Ark that was preparing Oh! unbeleef is a soul-damning sin 2 Thess 1.8 9. especially in those that live under the clear dispensation of the Gospel Matth. 16.15 16. It was for this sin the Jews were broken off Rom. 11.20 even the whole body of the Nation and have been ever since the most accursed people in all the world Mark it all yee unbeleevers your curse is doubled and your Condemnation is The Condemnation Joh. 3.19 The Law pronounceth a curse for the breaking of it but the Gospel a far greater for not receiving Christ and your Life and Salvation which is offered unto you through him A Malefactor dies by the Law justly because by his wickedness hee hath deserved it but if hee hath an offer of a pardon and refuseth it hee is doubly guilty of his own destruction And this is the misery of poor unbeleevers in the daies of the Gospel Joh. 3.18.36 Obj. Why do you tell us of the danger of unbeleef which are not Infidels but hristians Ans Innumerable multitudes of souls do perish like the herd of Swine in the Sea that are driven headlong to destruction by Saran upon this conceipt that they are in the faith when they are not Therefore Use 2. Let this teach us to examine and try our selves whether wee are in the faith 2 Cor. 13.5 seeing we are justified by Faith Say thus have I gotten this precious grace viz. faith in Christs blood yea or not and bee