Kingdom Christ's Testament doth make both Children and Heires 1. Saints have their new nature from God's Gracious Covenant so they are born of the Covenant that promises a new Heart and Spirit Ezek. 36.26 and on this account are said to be the Children of the promise Rom. 9.8 And they have the Eternal Inheritance from the same gracious Covenant and so are stiled the Heires of promise Heb. 6 17.11 We cannot obtain a blessing by our own Righteousness and Works but by the Sacrifice and Death of Jesus Christ Levit. 9.22 23. This Text of Scripture is observable when Aaron had offered Sacrifice then he was to Bless the people in the Name of the Lord the form of Blessing is expressed Numb 6.24 25 26. The Lord make his Face to shine the Lord lift up the light of his Countenance upon thee When Christ was Sacrificed God hid his Face from him and did forsake him Psal 22.1 Christ's Sufferings purchased and procured this Blessing for us That God's Face may shine on us and the light of his Countenance may be lifted up upon us Jesus Christ bare the Curse Galat. 3.13 He was made a Curse that the Blessing of Abraham might come on us Gentiles Galat. 3.14 God promised to Abraham That in his seed all the Nations of the Earth should be Blessed Gen. 22.18 Christ was the Seed meant and intended Galat. 3.8 There could be no Blessing without Redemption from the Curse and we could not be Redeemed from the Curse if Jesus Christ did not endure it There are blemishes and defects in our best Works and they deserve a Curse and therefore cannot earn and merit a Blessing but we must seek it in Christ they that are of Faith are Blessed with Faithful Abraham Gal. 3.9 It is not said they are Blessed with working Abraham but with Faithful believing Abraham Abraham himself did not get the Blessing by Working but by believing He did not find that in his own Heart or Life that would warrant him to Glory in himself before God The same way that Abraham got the Blessing all his believing seed must attain it Object But here it may be Objected Is it not said Psal 112.1 Blessed is the man that Feareth the Lord that delighteth greatly in his Commandments and Psal 119.1 2. Blessed are the undefiled in the way that walk in the Law of the Lord. Blessed are they that keep his Testimonies and seek him with their whole heart Answ No man since the Fall did ever earn a Blessing by his obedience to the Works of the Law therefore Calvin excellently observes Rom. 32. ver 1 2. that all such passages are grounded on the Blessing we have by the free and full forgiveness of our Sins Psal 32.1 2. Blessed is the man whose Transgression is forgiven whose Sin is covered Blessed is the man to whom the Lord Imputeth not Iniquity Paul asserts that David describeth the Blessedness of the Man to whom the Lord imputeth Righteousness without Works saying Blessed are they whose Iniquities are forgiven Rom. 4.6 7. No man is blessed for any Righteousness or works of his own but as the person is a Believer in Christ and freely Justified by Grace through the Redemption that is in Christ Jesus Rom. 3.24 Fearing God walking in his Law keeping his Testimonies are sweet Indications and Comfortable Characters who the persons are that are Blessed But it is the Forgiveness of Sin that is the true cause of our Blessedness The Mercies that God bestows are not conferred by our Covenant as if we had earned and merited them but by his Covenant as the Fruits of his meer and pure Grace Observe well this distinction which God makes between our Covenant which is a Covenant of Works and his Covenant that is a Covenant of Grace and that Good things are given by his Covenant but not bestow'd by our Covenant Weigh well the Importance of this Scripture Ezek. 16.61 62. 12. We enter into Rest by Faith in Christ and not by our own Works Heb. 4.3 We that have believed do enter into rest It is not said We that have wrought Righteousness do enter into Rest It was the Speech of Fisher Bishop of Rochester Fides Faeta Justificat sed ante partum * Treat of Justiffcation Faith that is impregnated with Good Works doth Justifie but yet before it brings them forth yet Faith doth not Justifie as it is adapted fitted or disposed to bring forth Good Works but as it respects Christ eyes his Righteousness and Obedience The Faith big with Good Works doth Justifie but not because it is so or as it is such but by virtue of its respect to Christ and the Free Promise Noah by Faith entred into the Ark and rested there it had no Rudder or Helm for him to handle and manage no Sailes for him to trim no Rigging for him to look after he did nothing to Stear or Sail the Ark up and down but he sweetly rested by Faith in the Ark He believed God would Stear and Guide it that it should not be broken dashed to pieces sink or miscarry Noah in this Temporal deliverance from the Flood saw and apprehended an Eternal Salvation from the Flood of Divine Vengeance in and by Christ the true Ark of Salvation and that blessed rest and security that is attained by Faith in him Hence the Apostle saith That Noah became Heir of the Righteousness that is by Faith Heb. 11.7 he did believe that by the Righteousness and Obedience of the Messiah to come as an Ark he should be saved from the Wrath to come This is much to be observed that the Sabbath Instituted in Paradise was the Seventh in order after Six Working days and was suited to Man's State of Innocency and did most properly belong to the Covenant of Works that Promiseth a Blessed Life and Rest after perfect Works of Righteousness wrought by us Rom. 10.5 The man that doth those things shall live by them But the Christian Sabbath is the First Day of the Week before our Six Working days and therefore is suited and fitted to the New Covenant that Promiseth a Rest to the Consciences of them that believe before uhey do Works of Righteousness Those that are Justified by Faith have peace with God through Jesus Christ Rom. 5.1 Calvin doth think that God pointed at this in such a severe and rigid injunction of the Sabbath He that would not have us to be weary in well-doing Galat. 6.9 yet commands us to cease from our own works Nonne eo ipso pronuntiat omnia oper a nostra mala esse And Isaiah teaching us that the Sabbath is violated Quando invenitur nostra voluntas Isa 58.13 When we find our own will and pleasure doth shew a necessity of ceasing from our own Wills and Works in our Justification Calvin thus Discourses in the 1st and 6th Book against Pighius concerning Free-will we are Justified not by shewing our Good Works but by our Evil Works being hid and covered
us till the House of the Body is pulled down How else could it be said That the Body is dead by reason of sin Rom. 9.10 If we were perfect how could we die Doth it sute the Justice of God to pull and tare a perfect Creature in pieces and to deliver it up to Corruption If there be no sin within what is that which opens the Door and lets in Death If there be no Bonds of sin on the Soul how doth the Bondage of Corruption come on the Body God hath wisely ordered it that Persons shall not come to the Mark of Perfection till they also arrive at the Prize of Glory How Foolish and False is it for Persons to say they are perfect and yet have not attained to the Prize of Glory but are in a frail and miserable Estate God designs not that Persons shall be absolutely perfect in a Natural Body 1. That the Threatning may be fulfilled Dust thou art and to dust thou shalt return Gen. 3.19 2. That Christians may have an Enemy to Wrestle and Conflict with whilst they are here Ephes 6.12 1 Tim. 6.12 3. That Believers may still act Faith on Jesus Christ and repair to him for Help Healing and Salvation God will not utterly take away the Fiery Serpents Satan and our Lust that we may resort to Jesus Christ for a continual Cure and Christ may never be out of date or use with us 1. Vse If Jehovah be the Righteousness of the Church this may reprove those that do not stop in or satisfie themselves with this Righteousness The Apostle Paul in Galat. 3.1 thus addresses himself to the Galatians O foolish Galatians Who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the Truth before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth as Crucified The Apostle Paul and others had drawn the Picture of Christ Crucified in beautiful and lively Colours he had described the Causes the Ends the Greatness and Grievousness of Christ's Sufferings and he wonders that any should darken their Minds and as it were bewitch their Eyes that they should not see the Loveliness and Excellency of this Glorious Object and comply with the Ends and Designs of Christ's Death Would Jesus Christ stoop so low Would he endure such hard and heavy things to have only a share in our Justification Shall any put in a joynt-stock with Christ Shall they contribute to their own Redemption and Justification Will Christ be a Partner only with our Works and Righteousness Shall a Crown be put on the head of the Creature as well as one set on the Head of Christ Is this the utmost product of all Christ's bitter Sufferings to do but half in our Justification Will not a Man both deceive and indanger himself that sets one Foot on a strong Bough and another on a rotten one Will not such an one fall So he that leans on Christ in part and on his own Righteousness in part will be frustrated and disappointed will miscarry and perish The Church is thus described as leaning on her Beloved Cant. 8.5 It is this Arm only that can support us and it is Christ's Righteousness that must keep us from sinking into Destruction How ignorant are Men of their Sins if they think these Waters are not so deep but they can Wade through them and not need Christ as an Ark to carry them over How blind are they that think their Wounds are not so dangerous but they can heal them or that Judge their Transgressions are not so heavy but they can cast in Religious Duties and Good Works enough to fetch up the Scale from the Ground and make a Compensation for their Offences and to Ransom themselves from Destruction The Papists here are highly guilty of darkening this Glorious Name of Christ and of Robbing him of the Honour of it they assert that a Man may do such Good Works before Justification that render it meet that God should give him Grace and that by Good Works done after Justification he may Merit Glory They affirm that we are Justified not by Forgiveness or not imputing our Trespasses as the Scripture saith 2 Cor. 5.19 but by the infusion of Righteousness into us Alensis saith that Justificatio est rectitudo liberi arbitrii that is it is the Reforming and Rectifying of Man's Free-will the bringing of the Soul to love God But this is a proud and false Doctrine in this as well as other Senses Rome is Egypt Revel 11.8 as it asserts a River of Inherent Righteousness below and that they need not that God should Rain an Imputed Righteousness on them as the Poet said of the Ground and Herbs of Egypt Nec pluvio supplicat Herba Jovi their Ground and Herbs did not Pray to Jupiter to send Rain A part of Egypt is satisfied with the River Nilus and hath no Rain as the Scriptures teach us Zech. 14.18 They think to climb to Heaven by a proud Babel of their own Building and not to ascend thither by the Ladder of Christ's Righteousness As this is a proud so it is a false Doctrine 1. It destroys the Parallel that the Apostle Paul makes between Christ's being made Sin and our being made Righeousness 2 Cor. 5.21 as Christ was made sin though he had not Inherent sin but only our sins Imputed to him so we are made Righteousness by the Imputation of Christ's Righteousness to us though we have not a perfect Inherent Righteousness of our own 2. Nothing Justifies before God but a Perfect Obedience and Righteousness our own at best is not such therefore we need Christ's Righteousness Christ as applying himself to us is the efficient cause of our Righteousness and Christ as applied is the formal cause of it as Amesius in his Bellarminus enervatus excellently asserts 3. If we are Justified by an Inherent Righteousness of our own there would be no room pretence or colour for that Objection that the Jews and all Natural Men are ready to make against the Doctrine of Justification Shall we not sin then that Grace may abound Rom. 6.1 If God Justifies by pardoning our sins and not imputing our Trespasses then the more we offend then the more Glory Grace will have in forgiving our Iniquities and so we may let the Reins loose to our Lusts But if Paul did assert our Justification to be by infusing of Righteousness into us the more Righteousness is Infused into us the more we should be restrained from sin and the less need Mercy to Pardon our sins and there would be no colour for such an Objection as the Jews did raise from the Apostle's Doctrine 2. There are others that we own as Brethren and account as sound in the main of the Doctrine of Justification yet we may modestly enquire whether some of their notions or expressions are calculated to advance the Glory of Christ's Righteousness in the Justification of the Ungodly 1. They assert that Faith and Repentance are proper conditions of the Covenant of
of Sin and the Spirit that was signified by the Water that flowed out of Christ's side is a sovereign Remedy against the Filth and Reigning power of Sin And Jesus Christ the Tree of Life beares Leaves for the Healing of the Nations Revel 22.2 No other Tree hath Healing Leaves but only Jesus Christ his Word Doctrine Promises are Healing Leaves We do not Work to Cure our selves tho' we are Patients yet we cannot be our own Physitians but we are Justified by Christ's Condemnation and live by his Death 4. We are not Washed in any Water of our own providing or in any Bath of our own making but God the Father hath opened a Fountain for sin and uncleanness Zech. 13.1 and this Fountain is opened where we could never have thought of or imagined any such thing even in the pierced side and wounded heart of the Son of God His Head was Crowned with Thornes his Hands and Feet were nailed to the Cross his Side was pierced and Blood did flow from thence to Purifie our Souls This is noble and precious Blood indeed that affects Conscience and reaches so far as to purifie it The Blood of Sacrifices the Ashes of an Heifer and Clean Water availed only to the Purification of the Flesh to take off Ceremonial Uncleanness but Christ poured out his own Blood and thereby made a Precious Laver a Costly Bath This Blood purgeth Conscience from sins that are dead Works as they are the Fruits of Spiritual Death and the Seeds of Eternal Death Though Conscience be stupid and doth not feel the weight of these dead Works yet if they remain unpurged they will revive and sting the Soul to death they will return upon it and sink it to Hell There is no other means to purifie and pacifie Conscience but this Blood and we exceedingly need it There is a Fountain of Iniquity in us that continually flows to defile us Jer. 6.7 As a Fountain casts out its Waters so Jerusalem casts out her Wickedness It is well for us that there is a Fountain without us in Christ to take off that Guilt that is contracted by the Flowings of that Filthy Fountain that is within us Christ's Blood though it is little in quantity yet it is mighty in Virtue There is a deep Sea of Merit in it Micah 7.18 19. Thoug it was poured out of his Body but a few hours yet it is a Fountain that Flowes in all Ages and Generations to take away Sin And is not this most sweet and comfortable that Jesus Christ did not only shed his Blood but sprinkles it also Ezek. 36.25 I will sprinkle clean water upon you and ye shall be clean from all your filthiness Clean Water to wash the Body is common but clean Water to purifie the Soul is rare and no where to be found but in Christ This is wonderful Grace that Christ would not only shed his Blood but undertakes also to sprinkle it He shed it with unexpressible Pain and Anguish but he Sprinkles it with much Pleasure and Delight As he pitied Souls and shed his Blood for them so he Loves Soules and Sprinkles it on them and Washes them in this Fountain from their Uncleanness Revel 1.56 We are not clothed by our own Works or Righteousness Our Webs cannot become Garments Isa 59.6 Our best Performances cannot clothe us Our Righteousnesses are as filthy Rags they cannot hide our Shame cover our Nakedness they are too narrow and short to do it Isa 64.6 Shall we be proud of or trust upon filthy Rags Our own Righteousness is but a Garment full of Patches So Piscator renders the Hebrew words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vestimentum frustrorum panni veteris attriti A Garment of Pieces of old and worn-out Cloth How long have we been serving in the Oldness of the Letter Rom. 7.6 and so our Garment may be called Old Cloth Sometimes we do good Works and then are apt to turn aside and to commit evil Works There are interruptions in our obedience Sin doth too often intervene so that these patches of the Old Man do much blemish and disfigure the Garment of our Righteousness There are Breaches in our Walls and Spots in our Garments As we need clean Water to Purisie us Ezek. 36.25 so we also want clean Linnen to Clothe and Adorn us Revel 19.8 Jesus Christ invites us to come to him to buy White Rayment that the shame of our Nakedness may not appear Revel 3.18 Christ was the Angel that commanded the Filthy Garments to be taken from Joshuah the High-Priest he caused his Iniquities to pass away and Clothed him with change of Rayment Zech. 3.4 The Garments of our Bodies do put us in mind of our Sins and bring to Remembrance our Transgression therefore they are called in Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bidge from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bagad that signifies to Rebel Because if Man had not Apostatized from and Rebelled against God he had not needed Clothing or Garments But the Righteousness of Christ may well be called the Garment of Praise Isa 61.3 It is a Garment for Beauty and Glory and so to be exceedingly praised when God puts it on us then we begin heartily to praise God Christ is stiled the Sun of Righteousness Mal. 4.2 he hath healing Beames for wounded Consciencies The Church is said to be Clothed with the Sun Revel 12.1 And is not this a Glorious Garment Doth it not deserve praise in it self and call for the highest Praises from us God provided Coats of Skins and Clothed our First Parents with them Gen. 3.21 The matter of those Coats was the Skins of Beasts that probably were slain and offered in Sacrifice to God This might instruct and teach them that the Spiritual Cloathing of their Souls was to be borrowed from the Obedience and Righteousness of the Great Atoning Sacrifice As many as are Baptized into Christ have put on Christ Gal. 3.27 Our First Parents did sow Fig-leaves together to make Aprons to hide their shame Gen. 3.7 but when God provided Coats of Skin for them then they threw away their Aprons of Fig-leaves as useless So every Man Naturally seeks some Aprons of Works and righteousness of his own to cover his Nakedness when Conscience accuses them for sin and the Law of God Condemns them for Iniquity The Whore in Prov. 7.14 pleads That she had Peace-offerings with her and that day she had paid her Vowes and with this Apron she thought to hide the Filthiness of her Adultery But when Men come acquainted with Jesus Christ and have that Glorious Clothing revealed to them which he hath proved for Souls then they cast away their Aprons of Works and their own Imaginary Righteousness Paul saith That those things that he reputed his Gains that he thought would gain him the Favour of God Acceptance with God a Title to Everlasting Life these he counted loss for Christ Phil. 3.7 8 9. that is he cast them away not only as unprofitable
is Ascended to Heaven sits at the Right Hand of God to make Intercession for us that we may see and share with him in his Glory and be with him for ever John 17.24 The Apostle Paul hath as it were pointed at all the Rongs of this Spiritual Ladder and shews us it is compleat Rom. 8.33 34. Though Satan stands at our right hand to accuse us for our Sins as he did Joshua for his Filthy Garments Zech. 3.3 yet Jesus Christ is at God's Right Hand to Plead and Interceed for us Our Sins Cry and Satan Accuses but the Blood of Jesus the Mediator Speaks for us Heb. 12.24 God that is infinitely Wise Holy and Just saw our need of this Ladder else he would not have provided it by the wonderful abasement and grievous Sufferings of his Son we cannot get up to Heaven by our own Righteousness Many of the Elect continue several years in an Unconverted Estate all these years are lost and so the Ladder is too short to reach Heaven their Righteousness doth not begin soon and early enough when they are Converted there are many stops and Interruptions of their Obedience The Ladder when it is begun it is much broken many Rongs or Rounds of the Ladder are wanting Who can possibly climb or ascend up to a high place where there are many Rongs or Rounds of a Ladder broken This will put a stop to them much more are we then unable to Ascend to a Heavenly Habitation and Glory by the Ladder of a broken Righteousness and by Duties or Works so interrupted blemished and Defective 10. We do not purchase a Heavenly Kingdom or Inheritance by our Works of Righteousness but we as Heires possess it by the Testament and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ Heb. 9.15 We are Heires not by our Doing but by Christ's Dying Job complaines that God made him to possess the Iniquites of his Youth Broughton Renders the Hebrew word Thou makest me to Heir the Iniquities of my Youth Job puts this Construction on all his Afflictions and Sufferings that God made him in them to Heir the fruits of all his youthful sins If God should deal with us according to our deservings by bitter and sharp Afflictions we might Heir the Sins of Youth and riper years and not only Heir them in Temporal Evils but in Eternal Punishments How much therefore do we need to be made Heires of Glory by Christ's Testament This is very observable that Isaac the Son of the Free-woman a Type of the Children of the Covenant of Grace is declared Heir while he was but an Infant and had done no Works of Obedience or Service to oblige Abraham his Father Gen. 21.8.10 Sarah speakes of Isaac as the Heir yea the Sole Heir of Abraham while he was but an Infant and Hagar and Ismael after many years service were turned out and cast off and that with a very poor pittance a little Bread and a Bottle of Water Gen. 21.10 14. Hagar and Ismael were utterly cut off from any hope of Enjoying Abraham's Rich Estate So many that do live Civilly Morally and add some Tincture and Sprinkling of Religion will yet come short of Heaven for as many as are of the Works of the Law are under the Curse Gal. 3.10 That is those that mainly cleave to and Build on the Works of the Law for Justification are under the Curse by reason of the defects that are in their Works Rom. 9.30 31 32. Israel that followed after the Law of Righteousness hath not attained to the Law of Righteousness Wherefore Because they sought it not by Faith but as it were by the Works of the Law 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is 1. They sought it by Works that had but the shadow shew and appearance of Works but were not Solid and Substantial Isa 1.13 Bring no more vain oblations or empty Sacrifices that had only bodily service but there was no Spiritual Worship in them no Faith in the Messiah to come no Mortification of the Old Man did attend them Revel 3.1.3 Thou hast a name to live but I have not found thy Works perfect before God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they were not filled up with Spiritual Worship and gracious acts of the Soul they were Specious and Glorious before Men but vile and Contemptible before God they might be Pretious as to the Matter of them but were vile and base as to the Form of them as the Present and Offering that the Philistines made to the God of Israel even Golden Mice They were Pretious as to the Matter of them being of Gold but contemptible as to the Form of them for they were but Mice Sam. 1.6.4 So the acts of Natural men may be good as to the matter of them as Praying doing Justly with all yet may be vile as to the Form of them because all doth flow from a Mercenary Spirit and is designed for their own Honour and applause or 2. Men may be said as the Jews to seek Justification as it were by the Works of the Law because though they may Complement God and pretend they are beholding to God's Grace for what they are and do as the Pharisee said God I thank thee that I am not as other men Luke 18.11 yet they put the greatest weight and stress upon their own Works and Righteousness for their Justification before God So the Pharisee did make an Inventory of his Spiritual Riches and drew up a Catalogue of his Good Works I am no Extortioner not Unjust or an Adulterer or as this Publican I Fast twice a week I give Tithes of all that I Possess This was the Foundation that he did build upon for his acceptance before God this was his plea at his Bar and Tribunal so that indeed they seek Justification as it were by the Works of the Law they give little to Grace and most to Works these are the Foundation of their Confidence and carry the main stroke with them but Christ Teacheth us other things he tells us that when we have done all that is commanded us we should say we are unprofitable servants Luke 17.10 There is a double sense that may be given of this Phrase 1. We are unprofitable servants that is to our selves we have laid no obligation on God we have earned no wages no reward from him 2. We are unprofitable servants that is if God would deal with us according to the defects and Sin that cleaves to our best services he might deal with us as with unprofitable servants Math. 25.30 Cast ye the unprofitable servant into utter darkness there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Therefore Men must not trust to their own best Works for the obtaining of the Heavenly Inheritance God doth freely give the Kingdom to his Children Fear not little Flock it is your Father's pleasure to give you the Kingdom Luke 12.32 And Jesus Christ doth freely bequeath it Luke 22.28 29. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I bequeath to you a
God by Isaiah tell us Isa 48.8 Thou wast called a Transgressor from the Womb. God might call us Backsliders Revolters Rebels and Enemies And is not our own Name both reproachful dangerous and pernicious too if we keep and retain it Is it not then absolutely necessary that we should lose our old Name and put on the Honourable and Glorious Name of Christ that we may be Justified in it 1 Cor. 6.11 The Apostle Paul hath this expression Justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus The Apostle seems to me plainly to refer to the Name of Christ in the Text and to this Name as communicated to and put on the Church Jer. 33.16 in this Name of our Husband must we be Justified If our old Name stick on us and cleave to us we must surely be Condemned in this Name and the Wrath of God will abide upon us But Christ's Name will draw Salvation on us and procure a Blessing for us As a Husband must Cloath his Wife so Christ spreads the Skirt of the Robe of his Righteousness on and over us to hide our Shame and cover our Nakedness Ezek. 16.8 as a Husband is a cover to the Wife he protects her from Debts Arrests Law-suites so the Spouse of Christ is under Covert he secures her from the wofull effects of Sin and Wrath. 4. It is by Faith that we become interested in and related to Christ as a Surety Heb. 7.22 Christ is the Surety of a better Covenant and Testament If Jesus Christ had not undertaken to stand under feel and endure the curse of the Old violated Covenant of Works Deut. 27. last Gal. 3.10.13 and to Merit for us the Blessings of the New Covenant as a Priest of Good Things Gal. 3.14 Heb. 9.11 God would never have made a New Covenant or Tastament it is built on Christ's Suretyship as a Foundation Christ in this dissers from all other Testators that he Bequeaths nothing in his Testament but what he Merits by his Sufferings and purchases by his Death For whom is Christ a Surety And to whom doth the Benefit of Christ's Suretyship redound but to those that Believe on him their Ransom he paid their Debt he discharged As the Payment of a Surety is imputed to the Principal Debtor so the Payment of Christ is imputed to all Indebted Sinners that come to Christ and receive his Righteousness Rom. 5.17 it availes and advantages no others but God reckons Christ's Obedience and Satisfaction to every Believer Some have conceived * Witsus de Faedere that the word Imputation is borrowed from Arithmetick and keeping of Accounts God doth as it were keep a Book Isa 65.6 Behold it is Written before me Our Sins Transgressions and Provocations are as Debts set down in one Page of this Book and the Obedience Sufferings and Satisfaction of Christ is set down as it were in another Page of God's Book When God accounts the Obedience and Sufferings of Christ to us this Ballances the Account this Crosses the Book and makes all even between God and us God sets Christ's Obedience against our Disobedience his Righteousness against our Unrighteousness because we come into this Righteousness by Faith and trust on his Blood Psal 69.27 Rom. 3.25 God now saith Poor Souls let it be to you according to your Faith you trust in Christ's Righteousness 2. Pet. 1. so let it cloath and cover you and secure you from all your sins and the Curse of my Law As Christ is one with us in Nature as a Man so he is one with us in Law as a Surety Christ did put his Name into our Bond and was as a Surety bound in our Obligation that in a Righteous way he might blot our Sins out of God's Book and Insert our Names into his own Testament Jesus as a Surety vailed his own Innocency covered his own Personal Purity and Righteousness took on him our Sins became Heir of our Punishment and Curse that he might hide and cover our Sins and we become Heirs of his Righteousness and Blessings As the Sentence of Death passed against and was executed on Christ our Surety so we partake of Justification of Life and reign in Life through Jesus Christ Rom. 5.18 21. God punished our sins in Christ and God rewards Christ's Obedience and Sufferings in us Our Sins were punished in Christ's Condemnation his Obedience is rewarded in our Justification There is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Gift of Righteousness and for this there is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the free forgiveness of many Offences Rom. 5.16.17 This Glorious Name The Lord our Righteousness being put on us the Reproachful Chains of Guilt do fall off from us 4. Who is it that shall call Christ by this Name Answer 1. Such as know Jesus Christ John 5.20 He hath given us an understanding to know him that is true By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justifie many Isa 53.11 that is many by knowing of Jesus Christ shall be Justified Faith is called Knowledge because those that truly know Jesus Christ cannot but trust in him Psal 9.10 This is very observable that Christians are said to be Justified by the Knowledge of Jesus Christ it is not what we know in our selves or by our selves it is not by the knowledge of what we are or have done that we are Justified we must purely look off from our selves and wholly fix the eye of Faith on Christ Such as know the Insufficiency of their own Righteousness and the All-sufficiency of Christ's Righteousness do call him The Lord their Righteousness 2. Such as fly to Christ lay hold of him and do know their own Union with Christ and Relation to him such will say Surely in the Lord we have Righteousness Isa 45.24 A true Believer disclaims disavows and denies Righteousness to be in himself and Glories in this that he hath Righteousness in Christ 3. God may be said to call Jehovah our Righteousness when Jesus Christ is of God made Righteousness to us 1 Cor. 1.30 God the Father that Loaded Christ with our Sins Isa 53.6 he Clothes us with his Righteousness Isa 61.10 I will greatly Rejoyce in the Lord for he hath covered me with the Robe of Righteousness God gives Jesus Christ and with him gives his Righteousness Rom. 8.32 Quest Is not Repentance requisite in order to Pardon Isa 1.16 17 18. Wash you make you clean put away the euil of your doings cease to do evll and learn to do well Come now let us reason together saith the Lord though your sins be as Scarlet they shall be as white as Snow though they be red like Crimson they shall be as Wooll He that confesseth and forsakes his sin shall find mercy Prov. 28.13 Let the sinner forsake sake his ways and the unrighteous Man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and be will have mercy upon him and to our God and he will abundantly pardon Isa 55.7 Answ Repentance is necessary in its place
as an Antecedent not as a Cause or proper condition of Pardon Faith precedes in order of Nature and Repentance infallibly follows when we see the wonderful Grace of God that he stops and heales the Breach our Sins have made with the Dead Body of his Son quenched the Fire of his Anger with the Blood of his Son made War with him to make Peace with us Sheathed his Sword in his own Son that he might Draw it out Sheath it and for ever lay it asleep towards us This Grace of God softens hard Hearts melts the Rebellious and Obstinate Wills of Men. When we believe that God will repent of his Righteous Enmity against us this indures and inclines us to Repent of our unjust and wicked Enmity against him When we are perswaded that God is ready to heal us Matth. 13.15 this swayes us to desist from wounding him in his Authority and Glory when God declares he will turn from his Anger this influences sinners to change their mindes towards God and to turn from their Provocations and Rebellions against him How can Men possibly Love God or subject themselves to him if they Believe he is inexorable inflexible will Retain his anger pursue his Controversy and take Vengeance on Offenders for their former Transgressions If God will never open his Prison if he will shut up his Bowels against and pour out his Fury on Transgressors this will harden them against God But when they see God is not implacable this causes them to relent and induces them to return to God Jer. 3.22 God saith Return ye backsliding Children and I will heal your backslidings They Eccho to God Lo we come unto thee For thou art the Lord our God They believed God would forgive Iniquty and this influenced them to depart from Iniquity As God puts it away he will not impute it 2 Sam. 12.13 So we must put it away and not obey it Isa 2.16 17. As God will not remember Iniquity with anger so we must not remember it with delight when God casts Sin behind his back Isa 38.17 We must set no wicked thing before our eyes Psal 101.3 Repentance in Scripture is said to be to God and Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ Acts 20.21 By Faith we first return to our Lord Jesus the great Shepherd 1 Pet. 2. last and then by Repentance we return to God the Father Jer. 3.22 As by Faith we receive the Righteousness of Christ Rom. 5.17 So by Repentance we Recognize the Rights of God the Dominion he hath over us as his Creatures and the advantage he hath against us as Sinners As Faith abases us in that we must fly to Christ for Righteousness so Repentance doth lower stoop and empty us that we must have Recourse to meer pure Mercy for our Pardon Faith humbles as to the matter for which we are Justified and Repentance humbles us as to the manner in which we are Justified as we are Justified by the Obedience and Redemption of Christ so we are also Justified freely by the Grace of God the Father Rom. 3.24 A Sinner then advances and magnifies Grace when he is cast down in himself when a Sinner seeth the Plague of his heart the Spiritual Leprosy of his Soul the Filthy Fountain of Iniquity that is in his Nature he abhors himself for the evil Treasure that is within and loathes himself for all the evil things that have been brought forth out of it The offender is now ashamed to lift up his Eyes to Heaven Luke 18.13 He blushes and is ashamed to look God in the Face Ezra 9.6 Innumerable evils now Compass the Sinner about his Iniquities take hold of him that he cannot look up Psal 40.12 As we are Justified by Faith so we Justifie God by Repentance 1. In his Commands Rom. 7.12.14 The Commandment is Holy Just and Good Holy with respect to God Just with respect to Man Good with respect to our selves 2. We Justifie God in all his threatenings Psal 51.3 4. David did acknowledg his Iniquity that God might be Justified when he did Speak and be clear when he did Judg. Whatever God had spoken against David however he had Judged him and his House by Nathan 2 Sam. 12.10 11 12.14 Whatever Judgments he had denounced as a War to rise out of his own House and the defiling of his Wives the death of his Child yet David doth Justifie God in all this Guilt did seale up his Lips shame did cover his Face he could enter no Action against God complain of no wrong done by him If God should cut down Barren Trees if he should Execute Condemned Creatures if he should Bury those in the Bottemless Pit that have been long Dead in Sin they confess they cannot spot him with Cruelty or blot him with Injustice Repentance is so far form lessening of or detracting from Grace that it commends heightens and exalts it that God should Justifie a Sinner that Arraigns himself and judges himself to be Guilty of Innumerable Transgressions and worthy of Eternal Death that God should cover those Sins in Mercy that were laid open and represented as exceeding Heinous and Sinful by the Transgressor himself the poor Publican could not plead but only petition he could mention no Righteousness of his within or good Works without he had nothing to look or fly to but Mercy only God be Mercyful to me a Sinner It is observable he doth not say My God be merciful to me a Sinner but God be Merciful to me a Sinner Adam accused Eve Eve accused the Serpent and so thought in some measure to excuse themselves but the Publican charged himself only I am the Sinner he accuses no other though Sinning yet presumptous Israel saith My God we know thee Hos 8.2 But this Publican pleads no relation to God claims no Interest in him yet he ventures to cast himself into the Arms of Mercy to lye down prostrate at the feet of Mercy And was not this Free and Rich Grace to cleanse a Spiritual Leper to wash one that accounts himself a Lump of Guilt and Filth To bind up a broken heart to Raise a Spirit bowed down and ready utterly to sink under a weight of Guilt To take away Filthy garments and to bring forth the best Robe to Cloath a naked Soul to kill the fatted Calf to Feast a Famishing Sinner If the very Redemption of Christ if his Attoning Sacrifice doth not detract from God's Free Grace Rom. 3.24 * Vid. Bolton on the place Surely the Sacrifice of a Broken Heart doth not Wrong or Rob Grace of its glory it was the express will and Law of God that on the very day of Attonement when Sacrifices were offered for Typical Expiation of Sin that the Israelites afflict their Souls Levet 16.29 Much more when we Beleive that Jesus Christ hath made a real Attonement for our Sins we must deeply afflict our Souls for our Iniquities that kindled the Wrath of God against us that procured so
bitter a Cup for and pluck so Heavy a Burden on Christ and exposed him to so grievous a storm and Tempest of Divine Vengeance That should not be sweet to us that was so bitter to Christ That should not be Light to us that lay so Heavy on Christ Did God forsake his Son Psal 22.1 And shall not we forsake our sins Isa 55.7 The Blood of Christ purgeth Conscience from dead works Heb. 9.14 yet with our Faith in this Blood we must joyn Repentance from dead works Heb. 6.1 As a Guilty so also a Filthy Conscience must be purged away Heb. 10.22 yet here we must be cautious Repentance doth not interest us in Christ's Righteousness neither doth it earn or deserve Pardon As Moses turned the Waters of Egypt into Blood Exod. 7.19 so the Law would turn our very Tents into Blood if there were not a Mediator and a New Gracious Covenant Repentance is the Gift of God Acts 11.18 2 Tim. 2.25 If this Gift doth oblige us to God Can the exercise of it Indebt God to us We are not Justified by or for our Repentance we shall greatly mistake if we think that Repentance and New Obedience do come in the Room and place of a Perfect Legal Righteousness by Divine Acceptance but only the wise and gracious God hath so ordained it that there shall be an Order in disposing of the Benefits of the New Covenant God gives Faith and Repentance first to prepare Men to receive other Benefits of the Covenant One Grace makes way for another God strikes the Rocky hearts of Sinners and breaks them he turns the Flint into a Fountain of Water Psal 114. last And when God hath broken the Hard heart then Christ binds up the Broken heart and drops in the precious Balsom of his Blood by wounding Sinners with his Arrows and the Sword of his Word he prepares them to be his Patients and doth a Cure on them Men must be Mourners first before Christ can comfort them Isa 61.1 2. they must become Guilty in their own eyes Hos 5.15 and confess God's Actions to be Just and his Indictments to be True before Christ doth purge their Consciences and roll away their Guilt When the Sinner is Plowed with the Spirit of Contrition then Christ Sows it with the Seed of his Righteousness and the Promise of Pardon Object A great Objection is raised from James his Doctrine and words against all that I have asserted concerning Jehovah his being our Righteousness and our being Justified by his Righteousness Was not Abraham our Father justified by Works when he offered up Isaac James 2.21 Was not Rahab the Harlot justified by works when she received the Messengers and sent them out another way James 2.25 Again in the 24th v. it is said Ye see then how that by works a Man is justified and not by Faith only Doth not James seem to contradict Paul Rom. 4.9 We say that Faith was reckoned to Abraham for Righteousness Rom. 4.2 If Abraham were justified by works he hath whereof to glory but not before God that is Abraham hath not Righteousness of his own or Works done by himself to glory in before God therefore he cannot be Justified by Works To him that worketh not but Believeth on him that Justifieth the Ungodly his Faith is counted for Righteousness God imputeth Righteousness without Works Rom. 4.5 6. To this Objection I shall Answer many things 1. We must distinguish between the several sorts of Persons that Paul and James had to do with Paul's Discourse is bent against proud Justiciaries that thought to build up a Righteousness of their own by which they designed both to adorn themselves in the eye of God's Holiness and to secure themselves from the Sword of his Justice And therefore Paul Teacheth that no Righteousness of Man can weigh in God's Balance or is pleadable at the Bar of Justice We are all as an unclean thing and our Righteousnesses are but as filthy rags By the deeds of the Law shall no flesh living be Justified Rom. 3.20.21 Our Works before Regeneration are all as Brass Money our Works after Regeneration are as Mixt Mettal therefore neither of them both will pay our Rent of Obedience or satisfie our Great Landlord But James hath to do with Boasting and self-deceiving Hypocrites that pretend to Faith but it is a barren idle dead Faith They did say they had Faith but they had no Works James 2.14 they could not shew or evidence their Faith because they had no Works As the Body 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is without breathing is dead James 2.18 so is Faith if it doth not breath in Works James his design was to shame confound and silence these Hypocrites and to demonstrate that they had no true Faith at all but did grasp a Lie and hug an Idol of their own instead of True Faith Strong Faith in Abraham did shew it self in Offering up Isaac James 2.21 and weak Faith in Rahab did discover it self in aiding the Israelitish Spies and sending them safe away though this might have proved dangerous to her own Life James 2.25 2. Paul speaketh of Faith as it respects Christ's Righteousness and builds and is acted only on this before God James speaks of Faith as it is to come forth and to be demonstrated before Men. Luther compares Faith to a Queen that is in the Bride-chamber alone with Christ the Bridegroom But as this Queen comes forth and walks abroad before Men so it is attended with many Good Works that are its Handmaids that wait on it it is Faith alone that Justifieth but yet that Faith that Justifieth is not solitary or alone but always is fruitful in Good Works and hath influence on the whole Life to guide and direct it by the Light of God's Word The life that I live in the flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God Galat. 2.20 Faith animates the very Natural Life and runs through all the acts and parts of it and so subordinates them to God's Will and refers them all to his Glory Luther says Faith sweeps the House and Milks the Goats 3. The Justification that James speaks of is not a Justification of the Person but of the Faith of Abraham of his sincerity and integrity Gen. 22.12 Now I know that thou fearest God seeing thou hast not withheld thy Son thy onely Son from me Not that God acquired any new knowledge that he had not before concerning Abraham but it is an expression in which God condescends to our weakness and intimates that if God had not known Abraham's Faith and Sincerity before this Illustrious Fact this Eminent Self-denying Obedience of Abraham would evidently and notoriously prove the Truth of Abraham's Faith and the sincerity of his heart towards God When Abraham did shew such readiness to offer up his Son the Scripture was then fulfilled That Abraham believed God and that it was counted to him for Righteousness This demonstrated that the
Scripture had truly asserted that Abraham believed God his Faith wrought with his Works to evidence him a sincere Believer and his Faith was made perfect by his Works that is it was provided to be genuine the strength and power of it was declared as God's strength is said to be made perfect in weakness 2 Cor. 12.9 that is discovered to be perfect 4. Paul speaks of the causes of Justification he searches after the Springs of it viz. Christ's Righteousness and Faith as receiving it but James speaks of the effects of Justification A Man whose Person is Justified before God will certainly Justifie his Faith and Sincerity before Men by Works of Righteousness 5. Paul speaks of the Justification of a Sinner James Treats of the Approbation of a Believer Paul discourses of the Righteousness that must Justifie viz. the Righteousness of Christ James Treats of the Faith that must Justifie of what kind and sort it must be not an Idle Lazy but a Working Faith Paul speaks of Justification before God Rom. 3.20 21. James of Justification before Men James 2.18 Shew me thy Faith prove it if thou canst to be a right Faith if it bring not forth Good Works 6. That James doth not speak of a proper Justification of the Person of a Man before God by Works is evident by several Arguments 1. The proper Justification of a Man is from Sins that he hath done not for Works of Righteousness that he hath wrought Good Works are not shewed before God's Tribunal but Iniquities are Covered Psal 32.1 2. Blessed is he whose sin is covered By Christ we have forgiveness of Sin and are Justified from all things from which we could not be Justified by the Law of Moses So that a Gospel Justification is a clearing us not from a false Charge but from a true Accusation Our Consciences do accuse convince and condemn us for sin John 8.9 Rom. 2.14 15. We know our Transgressions they are with us Isa 59.12 but there is no such charge of Hypocrisie that lies before God against true Believers and Saints They can appeal to God as Job Job 10.7 Lord thou knowest that I am not wicked My witness is in Heaven my Record is on high Job 16.19 Thou knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee John 21.17 Therefore there is no proper Justification from a false Charge before God Works will only witness and Justifie from a false Charge before Men. 2. Nothing will properly Justifie us but what is Commensurate to the demands of the Law and that which will satisfie the Justice of God But there is no Obedience of ours that answers the Demands of the Law or will satisfie Justice therefore we cannot be Justified by our Works Yea Works are not the cause by which we are Justified for he that is Justified is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he that worketh not Rom. 4.5 neither are Works a Causa sine qua non a Cause without which a Man is not Justified for he that is Justified is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ungodly Rom. 4.5 Abraham himself had been an Idolater Josh 24.2 and in that sense was Ungodly 3. Nothing will properly Justifie us but that which did Justifie Jesus Christ he could not be Justified except he had been fully conformable to the Commands of the Law and endured the Curse also Nothing will Justifie us the Debtors but what Justified Christ our Surety Therefore we cannot be Justified by our Works if we could then would Christ have Died in vain 4. In a proper Justification we are Justified before God Rom. 3.20 21. But our own Works cannot be imputed to us for a Righteousness before God because he seeth so many Faults Blemishes and Defects in them Philosophers say there are no pure Elements for they are mixed one with another and Divines may say there are no pure Duties and Performances in the best of Saints Paul Complains that he did not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 go through with finish and perfect any Good Work 5. Our best works need a Pardon and therefore cannot be our Righteousness to Justifie us that which needs Forgiveness that which deserves Punishment cannot earn a reward and be accepted for a Justifying Righteousness we need an High-Priest to bear the Iniquity of our Holy things 6. If we could be Justified by our Good works we should Justifie our selves but it is God's act and not ours to Justifie It is God that Justifieth Rom. 8.33 7. In a true Justification we receive a Righteousness Rom. 5.17 And an Attonement Rom. 5.11 But our Works cannot make an Attonement for us or be a Righteousness to us 8. Works both before and after Faith are shut out from Justification before Faith Rom. 4.5 6. Rom. 3.21 22. The Righteousness of God is Manifested without the Law and the Apostle Paul not only suffered loss of all that he accounted his gain while a Pharisee but also after he was Converted he Esteemed all but Dung that he might win Christ Phil. 3.7 8 9. He durst not then dwell at home or be found in his own Righteousness 9. Abraham himself had not whereof to boast or wherein to Glory before God He could not find such a Righteousness in his Heart or such Works in his Life that he durst to trust to Hath Abraham our Father found as touching the Flesh Rom. 4.1 No surely he did not find any Righteousness or Works of his own to plead before God Therefore he that cannot find this Righteousness in himself had need to be found in Christ Phil. 3.9 Though Moses was Eminently Holy yet when he drew near to God and saw that Terible Glory that appeared in the Mount he said I exceedingly Fear and Quake Heb. 12.21 He could not stand before the Law that he gave Saints have waved a Trial before God on the account of Works Psal 143.2 Though David was the Lord's servant though he did set the Judgments of God before him and was devoted to his Fear Psal 119.30 38. yet he deprecated a Trial before God on the account of his own Righteousness Enter not Lord into Judgment with thy Servant Why doth he pray so much against God's entring into Judgement with him The reason he gives is strong For in thy sight shall no Man Living be Justified For by the Law is the Knowledge of Sin Rom. 3.20 21. The Law was not given to Fallen Men to Justifie them but to discover their Sins By the Law comes nothing else to an unregenerate Man but the Knowledge of Sin it allows such no Good Works at all If the Law once discovers Sin in Men farewel a Justification by the Law for ever Faith cannot Justifie it self it is so weak and accompanied with such doubts staggerings and fears And how shall Works Justifie themselves that have such defects and defilements cleaving to them Observe these four Weighty Questions proposed in the Scripture 1. The Heart is deceitful and desperately wicked Who can know it Jer. 17 9.2 Who can
destitute of the Love of God and God that is a consuming Fire to Sinners and therefore this is a fit season for the Singing of Birds Justified Souls will sing Praises to God that heals their Backslidings and to Jesus Christ that is their Righteousness and Ransom The Redeemed of the Lord shall return to Zion with Songs Isa 35. last Though the Ark was heavy laden with Noah his Family all the Birds Beasts living creatures and suitable Food for them that was laid up in the Ark yet it did not sink but was born up by the Waters so what matter of Praise is it that we that are heavy laden with Iniquity are born up by the blood of Christ and do not sink into Predition We are guilty Creatures our mouths are stopt as we are Sinners Rom. 3.19 But O! what a wonderful and amazing change is this that we should be so Justified by the Grace of God and thorugh the Redemption of Christ that the mouths of Spiritual Enemies and accusers are stopt Rom. 8.33 34. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's Elect it is God that Justifieth Who shall condemn it is Jesus Christ that hath died Our Lips were sealed up with Guilt now the mouths of Accusers are stopt by Christ's Satisfaction And shall not our Lips be opened and our Tongues loosed to Sing aloud of God's Grace and of Christ's Righteousness 8. Are we willing to go out of this World to die and to be with God and Jesus Christ those that are Justified have Peace with God and rejoyce in hope of the Glory of God Rom. 5.1 2. Those that are in a Storm do dread the Shore least they should be Shipwrackt but they that have good weather do desire it Tho' Condemned Sinners shall be cast away on the Shores of a miserable Eternity yet Justified Souls shall be landed safe in the Harbour of a blessed Eternity When others pass into the Prison Justified Persons enter into the Palace of God When the Tares are reaped for the Furnace Believers are reaped for and gathered into the Garner Matth. 3.12 Will Justified Persons shun the Glorious Presenc of God or slavishly dread his Tribunal Shall Pardoned and Adopted Persons be afraid to go home to their Father and be put into the possession of their Heavenly Inheritance Are you therefore willing to be absent from the Body and to be present with the Lord 2 Cor. 5 6 8. It is a great thing to be willing to part with the Body that is one half of us to leave it in the dark Chamber of the Grave to feed Worms to crumble to Dust to sleep for a long Night till the Morning of the Resurrection Yet Paul saith We are always confident and willing to be absent from the Body and to be present with the Lord. The sight of Christ's Face the enjoyment of his Glory is more to me then Union with the Body Can you therefore conquer the Fears of Death Are you willing to leave your place on Earth to enjoy the Place prepared for you in Heaven to put off the Rags of Mortality that you may be clothed with the Robes of Glory to quit your Tabernacle for a Heavenly House 4. Vse O! desire earnestly and seek diligently to partake of this Righteousness of Christ 2. If you are interested in it if Jehova be your Righteousness O be thankful for it 1. O seek that Jehovah may be your Righteousness For the prosecuting of this First Branch of the Use of Exhortation I shall do two things 1. I shall lay down some Motives to quicken and urge you to seek an Interest in Christ's Righteousness 2. I shall lay down some Directions how you may partake of and be Invested with the Righteousness of Christ 1. Consider the great want and need you have of this Righteousness 1. In your Natural State you are far from Righteousness Isa 46. Ye stout-hearted that are far from Righteousness and You are free from Righteousness Rom. 6.20 that is a Carnal Man hath nothing to do with it they are not under the Empire Dominion and Command of it Men are dead Trees and therefore can bring forth no good fruit but they are corrupt Trees and are laded with evil Fruit. As they are alienated from the Life of God they cannot act for him or please him Ephes 4.8 Rom. 8.8 but as they have a Carnal Life they cannot act against him and walk contrary to him Mens thoughts are evil from their youth Gen. 8.21 yea they are born flesh John 3.6 yea the Holy Ghost goes one step farther In sin they are conceived in iniquity they are shapen Psal 51.5 they are not only idle and do not work Matth. 20.6 but they are dead and cannot work for God 2 Col. 13. A corrupt Tree cannot bring forth good fruit Matth. 7.17 18. The carnal mind is enmity to God it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be they that are in the flesh cannot please God Rom. 8.8 A Natural Man is so far from being Sanctified by his Religious Services that he pollutes them all Hag. 2.14 15. The Sacrifice of the Wicked that is his best Actions and the way of the Wicked that is his common Actions are both an Abomination to the Lord Prov. 15.8 9. The Law will not acknowledge in or allow to an Unconverted Man one good Work Rom. 3.20 by the Law comes only the knowledge of sin The Scripture that is the Law hath concluded all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all things of an Unregenerate Man under Sin all done by him all that flows from him all the Thoughts Intentions Affections Words and Actions of such The Mind is darkness Ephes 5.8 And can a blind Archer aim right at the Mark The Heart is Whorish Ezek. 6.9 And will a Whorish Heart love God or direct any action to please him Can a corrupt Fountain send forth sweet waters Men till Regenerate do nothing else but sin the Plague of the Heart infects all the Leprosie of the Soul defiles all that a Man doth 1 Kings 8.38 as a Fountain casts forth its water so they cast forth their wickedness Jer. 6.7 The whole Life of Men is cursed barrenness or wicked fruitfulness Christ is said to be the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the World 1 John 29. it is expressed in the singular number the sin of the World to Note and signifie to us that the whole Life of an Unregenerate Man is one continued sin wholly a course of Enmity Provocations and Rebellions against God Zech. 3.3 4 We have that expression Take away the filthy garments This Notes that all the acts of an Unregenerate Man are filthy and only filthy Garments They are all over defiled and therefore wholly to be taken away But the expression is otherwise concerning the Saints that they washed their Garments white in the blood of the Lamb Revel 7.14 the Garments were not wholy cast off or put away but washed There
Hos 11.9 it is an Allusion to the Angels entring into Sodom to find out matter of Accusation against the Sodomites Gen. 19.3.5.18 But as God blots out Sin for the present so he seeks not out occasions for the future but when God blots out our Transgressions only our Good Deeds are Remembred and shewed Mal. 3.16 17. A Book of Remembrance was Written for Good Thoughts Words Actions when Sins are expunged and forgotten for ever Our sins are removed far from us as far as the East is from the West Psal 103.12 but our Good Works do follow us to testifie our Sincerity and to obtain a Reward Revel 14.13 God will never remember our Iniquities Jer. 31.34 but he will never forget his People Isa 49.14 15. nor forget the least of their Services If it be but a Cup of cold Water given to a Disciple of Christ it shall not be forgotten but Rewarded Matth. 10. last the greatest Sins are forgotten and not Revenged on us the least Service is Remembred and Rewarded in us John 5.29 They that have done good shall come forth to a Resurrection of Life Tho' they did many evil things yet they shall be blotted out and covered and they shall be pardoned as if they had only done good and nothing but good God is Righteous to forgive us our Sins 1 John 1.9 But God is not unrighteous to forget our Labour and Service of Love Heb. 6.10 6. What Praise doth this deserve that our Justification is so inseparably joined with Glorification Rom. 8.30 Whom he hath Justified them also he Glorified Justified persons cannot miscarry or Perish The Righteousness of Christ is called Everlasting Dan. 9.24 and this Everlasting Righteousness is the Foundation of an Everlasting Covenant Heb. 13.20 Because the Blood of Christ is still fresh therefore the Covenant of Grace and the way to the Heavenly Sanctuary is still new Heb. 6.8 Heb. 10.19 they that do wash their Robes white in the blood of the Lamb do enter into the Heavenly Sanctuary and are before the Throne Rev. 7.14.15 As Jesus Christ being first Justified Isa 50.8 1 Tim. 3.16 was soon after Glorified John 17.5 And now Father glorifie me with thy own self So sin being blotted out what remains to shut out Justified Persons from the Kingdom and Glory of God Not to see God is the greatest loss and penalty Where Sin is Forgiven How can such a Penalty remain 7. Bless God that Jesus Christ is Revealed to thee and bestowed on thee as the Lord thy Righteousness How many Thousands of Persons yea how many Nations do not hear of this Glorious Righteousness of Christ are utter strangers to this pretious Name of his and have no Interest in this Righteousness of Christ The Soldiers took Christ's Coat and four of them did cast Lots for it but only one of the four did obtain it John 19.23 24. So I may truly say that scarce one in four of those that are called Christians do get this Spiritual Garment of Christ's Righteousness to put on and wear It as a sweet Expression of Augustin's on Psal 31. Ego Sorte perveni ad tunicam Christi I by Lot came to the possession of Christ's Coat O happy Souls on whom the Lot of free Grace falls and that get and possess this Coat of Christ's Righteousness Ephes 1.11 in whom that is in Christ we have obtained an Inheritance In the Greek it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is we obtained an Inheritance in Christ by Lot The Apostle doth humble himself and other Christians and Magnifie God he did not deserve a Portion in Christ but the Lot of Grace fell on him The Ephesians did not earn any thing but the Lot of Grace fell on them O Admire God Glorifie Christ that you should sit under the shadow of his Righteousless when others are exposed to the Schorching heat of the Wrath of God that your Iniquities should be covered when the Sins of others are naked and open before God that your Transgressions should be blotted out when all the Wickedness of others stands upon record against them till the Judgement of the great day That you as Noah and his Family should be born up and carried above the Waters when others like the Men of the Old World do sink into the deep and Bottomless Sea of the Wrath of God O what Mercy is it that God should Cloth thee with the Garment of Salvation and cover thee with the Robe of Righteousness Isa 61.10 when others have no Ragg to hide their Shame but will be abhorred by God be loathed by Angels and Saints to Eternity O what Grace is it that thou like Aaron art hid in a Cloud of Christ's Incense Levit. 16.13 when others Stink in God Nostils and shall be covered with a black storming Cloud of anger for ever O that Jesus Christ should die for you as a Lamb and then seek you out as a Shepherd to Cloath you with the Fleece of his Righteousness and to feed you with the Flesh of his Sacrifice when others Famish their Souls by the Neglect of Christ's Feast and Poyson their Souls by doting on and glutting themselves with Carnal dainties Sensual and Sinful delights O what Grace is this that Jesus Christ should as a Surety undertake for your debts and as a Sacrifice bear and bleed for our Sins That as a Fore-runner should take up possess and prepare a place for you in the highest Heavens that by your Iniquities deserved a place in the lowest Hell Worthy is the Lamb that was Slain to receive Blessing Honour Glory and Praise Revel 5.9 Debters are the Redeemed Reconciled and Justified to Render and ascribe it to his and Time and to Eternity THE Humble Sinners Supplication for Pardon Opened and Applied IN A SERMON PREACHED On the late FAST June 26 1696. By Samuel Comlyns M. A. a Minister of the Gospel in Marleborough London Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercer's Chappel 1696. To the Right Honourable the Lord JAMES RVSSEL Son to the Duke of Bedford Grace Mercy and Peace be multiplied from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ My Lord EVery awakened humble Soul should with the Publican cry earnestly God be merciful to me a sinner Without a pardon God's Armoury cannot be shut or his Treasury opened God cannot take us for his Inheritance Exod. 34 9. Times of refreshment cannot come to us from the presence of the Lord if our sins are not blotted out Acts 3.19 If our Consciences are not purged from dead works with the clean water of Christ's Blood we cannot now walk in peace go out of the world with comfort enter into the heavenly Sanctuary with confidence How therefore should pardoning mercy endear God to us ond engage us to God We are naturally without strength to help our selves and are also ungodly and so provoke God to withhold and deny his help to us We had robbed God and an Arrest should have
Israel out of his sight and cast Judah and Jerusalem also out of his presence 2 Kings 24.20 And God removed Judah out of his sight 2 Kings 24.3 because the King and the People did evil in his sight 2 Kings 24.9 19. They were not cast out of the sight of God's Omniscient Eye but from the Eye of his gracious and Fatherly Providence 3. God will at last Rain a Hell from his Angry Face 2 Thes 1.9 Those that known not God and obey not the Gospel shall be Punished with everlasting Destruction from the Presence of the Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the Face of the Lord the same Face shall shine a Heaven of Happiness into the Souls of the Saints and shall Frown an Hell of Misery into the Souls of the Wicked 2. If God hide his Face from our Sins Love will come up into his Face and look out at his Eyes on Believers and Saints Psal 4.6 Lord lift thou up the light of thy Countenance on us the Love that was secret and hidden in the Heart comes up into his Face and is manifested to and shed abroad in the Hearts of Believers by the Holy Ghost Rom. 5.5 Cant. 8.10 I found Favour in his Eyes Love and Kindness sparkles in and looks out from the Eyes God looks with a pleasing Countenance on his People the Spiritual Day doth break and Dawn and the Sun of Righteousness doth Arise and Shine in the Hearts of Believers Malachy 4.2 Psa 130.5 6. and the Countenance of God is said to behold the upright Psal 41. last that is with complacency and delight he withdraweth not his Eyes from the Righteous Job 36.7 He sets his Eyes on them for good Jer. 24.6 I will set mine Eyes on them for good If Sin be not set before God's Face God may take good out of his Treasury for us and bestow it on us Hos 14.2 yea God will set us before his Face for Ever Psal 41.12 That we may still dwell in his Presence Psal 140. last and behold his Face in Righteousness Psal 17. last Psal 16. last 2. It is most desirable for God to blot out all our Iniquities for 1. It is the most dreadful Evil and Curse that can be wished for Sin not to be bloted out Psal 109.14 Let not the Iniquity of his Mother be blotted out 2. If God do not blot out Iniquitie he may by sudden Judgement and sore Vengeance blot persons out of the Land of the Living Gen. 7.4 Every Living Substance that I have made I will destroy in the Hebrew it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I will blot out Corrupt Men are Evil lines of being and it is said It repented God that he had made Man on the Earth it greived him at his Heart Gen. 6.5 Man is so cross and contrary to the very end of his Creation that God did blot out the Old World of Men by the Flood if Men are bloted out of the World in their Sins Where must they be lodged but in a miserable Eternity 3. If we consider what Sin is What a valuable Mercy is it for it to be bloted out 1. It is a mist a thinner or a thicker Cloud according to its Nature and aggravations Isa 44.22 I have blotted out as a thick Cloud thy Transgressions and as a Cloud thy Sins Sin is as a hiding Cloud it hinders the light of God's Countenance from shining on us Isa 59.2 Your Sins have hid his Face from you 2. It is as a storming Cloud Psal 11.6 The Lord will rain Fire and Brimstone on the Wicked this shall be the portion of their cup. If Men suffer here They are cast into the hand of their Transgression Job 8.4 In the Hebrew it is That God did cast Job's Children into the hand of their Transgression If their Iniquities are punished hereafter they do for them fall into the hands of God Heb. 10.31 2. Sin is a debt Matth. 6.12 Forgive us our debts These debts are recorded in the Creditor's Book God saith Behold it is written before me Isa 65.6 and it is registred also in the debter's Book Jer. 17.1 It is written it is graven that is the Sin of Judah on the Table of their Heart Sin is called a debt because the Sinner owes God Glory to be raised out of his Sufferings and Eternal Torments And it is desirable this debt should be blotted out to prevent God's arrest and our Eternal Imprisonment 3. Sin is a crime a capital crime and that which is kept safe as matter of accusation against the Sinner It is as it were sowed up in a bag Job 14.17 As the depositions of Witnesses and the confessions of Malefactors are kept safe against the Assizes and day of Trial. Yea Mens Sins are sealed up among God's Treasures Deut. 32.34 God speaks of the Israelites bitter and corrupt Fruit and then puts this question Is not this laid up in store with me Is it not scaled up among my Treasures God hath a Treasury of knowledg of all past things and Sins are sealed up among these Treasures But what a kind of capital crime is Sin I answer 1. It is Rebellion against God I have Nourished and brought up Children and they have Rebelled against me A Rebellious Subject with us a Rebellious Son among the Jews was put to Death What Homage do we owe to God our King What Obedience should we render to God our Father 2. Sin is Spiritual Whoredom and Adultery Hos 4.12 They have gone a Whoring from under their God Thou hast destroyed such as go a Whoring from thee Psal 73.27 Adultery was capital it was punished with death by the Law of God Men loath God and love the Creature 3. Sin is Robbery and Stealing Mal. 3.8 Ye have Robbed me God saith My Son give me thy Heart Prov. 23.26 But the Heart of Men goeth after their Coveteousness Ezek. 33.31 Though they are by Baptism and a Solemn Covenant devoted to God yet they Sacrilegiously alienate themselves from God Isa 24.5 They broke the Everlasting Covenant Is it not our benefit to have our Crimes blotted out 4. If Sin be not blotted out God cannot write his Laws in our Hearts Jer. 31.33 34. God promiseth to write his Laws in the Heart And why It is thus answered vers 34. For I will forgive their Iniquity and I will Remember Sin no more Forgiveness of Sin is the root of all the Promises and Covenant-Blessings 5. God cannot record any Good thoughts words or works of ours if Sin be not blotted out Mal. 3.16 A Book of Remembrance was written before him for those that feared the Lord and thought on his Name Sin doth so corrupt and stain our best Works that nothing might be recorded for our honour or advantage Nehemiah prays that God would not wipe out his good deeds Neh. 13.14 6. If Sins be not blotted out the time is coming when God's Book will be opened Revel 20.12 God will review Men's Sins look on them and