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They are, therefore, only mentioned as they enter into the character of thofe that fhall be faved, and whom the righteous and merciful judge will acquit according to the tenor of the new covenant: As one * juftly observes, that "Chrift's righteoufnefs is never imputed to any "but where there is an inherent righteoufnefs "alfo; that is no caufe for our falvation, but "the character of the faved." A like inftance to which we have in what our Lord fays concerning Mary, Luke vii. 47. that her fins, which were many, were forgiven her; for he loved much. Where Mary's love to Chrift is not mentioned as the caufe of her forgiveness, but as the fruit and evidence of it: Whilft ftill the righteoufnefs of Chrift, and the free grace of God in and through him, are what alone found and fupport our claim and title to eternal life. Hence believers are defcribed as looking for the mercy of our Lord Jefus Chrift unto eternal life, Jude, verfe 21. And the Apoftle prays for Onefiphorus, when recounting his many labours of love towards himself, 2 Tim. i. 16, The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day.

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VI. But ftill it is faid, if we are juftified by the righteousness of Chrift alone, and faith therein without the concurrence of any works of ours, what need then of good works? I apprehend I have already obviated this difficulty, by fhewing, that tho' we are not to be jus tified by our own works of obedience, yet are

*How, Vol. II. Page 475.

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we nevertheless under the strongeft obligations to obey the law as the unchangeable rule of duty, being not without law to God, but under the law to Chrift. But I would farther add, that tho' good works are not neceffary as the caufes and means of our justification, which were to fruftrate the whole defign of the gospel for if righteoufnefs came by the law, then Chrift is dead in vain Yet are they ftill neceffary, as evidences of the fincerity of our faith, as teftimonies of our love to God, as the means by which we are to glorify him, and credit the profeffion we make of his grace, and, in one word, as the way in which we must walk as ever we would maintain communion with God here, and get fafe to heaven at last. And therefore the Apostle Paul, who with fo much strength and evidence eftablishes the doctrine of juftification by faith in exclufion of all works; none more copious and earnest than he in exhorting Chriftians, upon all occafions, to the diligent and careful practice of them in their fullest extent. And it is very remarkable to my present purpose, that when he had given a plain and full account of the gofpel method of juftification and falvation as being all of grace, Titus iii. 57. Not by works of righteousness, which we have done, but according to his mercy he faued us- that being justified by his grace, we fhould be made heirs according to the hope of eter nal life he prefently fubjoins, verfe 8. This is a faithful faying, and these things I will that thou affirm conftantly, that they which have believed in God, might be careful to maintain good works: thefe things are good and profitable unto men.

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I will conclude what I have to fay upon this head, with a remark that I have fomewhere met with in the writings of the excellent Dr. Owen, "that they, who know no use of good "works but to be juftified thereby, feem to "know little or nothing of the whole gospel."

REFLECTION S.

1. WHAT a firm foundation does the righ teoufnefs of Chrift lay for our faith and hope in God! It is perfect and complete, and most extenfive to answer all our guilt; what infinite juftice cannot impeach, nor an holy-law charge with any defect. It is moreover, the righteoufnefs of a glorious perfon, the righteoufnefs of God-man Mediator; and the righteoufnefs of God-man Mediator, how effectual muft it be for our relief, and how fully meritorious of every bleffing? O how fuitable is a Redeemer's righteoufness to our cafe and wants; and how fafely may we venture the weight of our falvation upon it!

2. How nearly does it concern us to look after and fecure an intereft it it! The highest and greatest purposes are answered by it; it is our only title to the bleffings of falvation, and in vain do we hope to ftand in judgment before God without it. Shall we not then look after our own intereft in it? To this purpose we fhould enquire-What deep convictions we have had of our own want of it; and what engaging discoveries of its fuperior excellency and glory. Have we received it by humble

faith, and do we count all things but less for the excellency of the knowledge of it? Is our dependance drawn off from every thing else, and all our ftrefs laid upon it for acceptance with God now? and when we look forwards to the great day of accounts, is this righteoufnefs the only ground of all our claims and hopes? And is that faith which we profefs in it productive of the true and proper fruits of faith in our hearts and lives? In love to God, and all holy obedience?

3. How happy is the state of believers! They have a righteousness to fly to, and truft in, that will be found fufficient and effectual to protect from wrath, and entitle to every bleffing. It is what difarms the law, and answers the challenges of every enemy; fcreens from the whole curfe due to fin, and draws the fting of every affliction; brings into a ftate of favour and acceptance, and in it the humble faint fhall at length lift up his face before the throne with everlasting joy. On the other hand, and to conclude,

4. How great must be the misery of those who are without a gofpel-intereft in this righteoufnefs, nor are seeking after it? What wilft thou do, O finner! when a holy, juft and righteous God comes to debate with thee, and charge thy guilt home upon thee? when the law comes to open its terrors before thee, and thou feest awful juftice closely pursuing thee, and thou fhalt be found among thofe, who have rejected the grace of God against themselves? What an aggravation will this be of all thine other fins?

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Those who under the power of unbelief reject the provifion, which God hath made in death and righteoufnefs of Chrift for their pardon, what do they but in effect take upon them to bear the guilt and punishment of their own fins?

But I do but juft hint thefe things; the fuller confideration of which muft be referved as the fubject of our next difcourfe.

SERMON

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