Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

he had from Eternity; but his mediatory Righte oufnefs which he fulfilled in his State of Humiliation: Matth. iii. 15. Thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteoufnefs. The Parts whereof that Righteousness of Christ consists, are, the compleat Holiness of Nature, Righteoufnefs of his Life, and Satisfaction of his Sufferings: Heb. vii. 26. For 'fuch an high priest became us, who is holy, harmlefs,, undefiled, feparated from finners. Rom. v. 19. By the obedience of one, fhall many be made righteous. Phil. ii. 7. 8. Christ Jefus made himfelf of no reputation, and took upon him the ❝ form of a fervant, and was made in the likeness of men and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." And, in our Juftification, the Righteoufnefs of Chrift is imputed to us, in all the Parts thereof, Rom, viii. 3. 4. Compared with Chap. iv. 6.

The Party imputing Chrift's Righteousness to us is God the Judge, Rom. iv. 6. forecited. God's imputing it to us, is his reckoning it ours: Rom. iv. 10. 11. 'How was faith then reckoned to A'braham for righteousness? when he was in cir'cumcifion, or in uncircumcifion? not in circumcifion, but in uncircumcifion. And he received the fign of circumcifion, a feal of the righteoufnefs of the faith which he had yet being uncircumeised that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcifed; that righteoufnefs might be imputed to them alfo.' Chap. v. 19. forecited. Jer. xxiii. 6. This is his name whereby he fhall be called, 'THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.' God can reckon Chrift's Righteoufhefs ours, because it

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

is ours, before he reckon it fo: Rom. ii. 2. Wè ⚫ are fure that the judgment of God is according ' to truth.'

[ocr errors]

The Righteousness of Chrift becomes ours, through Faith: Phil. iii. 9. Rom. iii. 22. forecited. It is ours through Faith, by Right of free Gift, and Right of Communion with Chrift himself. The Believer poffeffeth it as his by Right of free Gift, inafmuch as Chrift's Righteoufnefs being made over in the Gospel, as Heaven's free Gift to Sinners, he hath received it by Faith: Rom. i. 17. For therein [the gospel of Chrift] is the righte ousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.' Chap. . 17. They which receive abundance of grace, and of the gift of righteousness, shall reign in life by one, Jefus Chrift.' He poffeffeth it as his by Right of Communion with Chrift himself, inaf much as, being united to Chrift, he hath a common Interest or Communion with him in his Righteousness: Eph. iii. 17. That Chrift may dwell in your hearts by faith.? 1 Cor. i. 9. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jefus Chrift our Lord.' Phil. iii. 9. And be found in him, not having mine own righteoufnefs, which is of the law; but that which is through the faith of Chrift, the righteousness ❝ which is of God by faith.' Chrifl's Righteouf nefs, then, is not therefore ours, because it is imputed to us; but therefore it is imputed to us, because it is ours, Rom. ii. 2. forecited. Chap. iv. 23.24. Now, it was not written for his fake alone, that it was imputed to him; but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe

[ocr errors]

' on

C. on him that raifed up Jefus our Lord from the 'dead.'

The Righteousness of Chrift imputed to a Lawcondemned Sinner, is a good Ground for his Juftification, Pardon, and Acceptance, as a Perfon truly righteous, inafmuch as thereby the commanding and condemning Law is judicially found, at the Throne of Grace, to be fully fatisfied in all its Demands for Righteousness that it had upon him: Rom. iii. 31. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.' Chap. viii. 3. 4. forecited. Chap. x. 4. 'Chrift is the end of the law for righteousness to ' every one that believeth." Chap. vii. 4. Wherefore, my brethren, ye alfo are become dead to the law by the body of Chrift; that ye fhould be married to another, even to him who is raised 'from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.' Compared with Chap. viii. 1. There

therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Chrift Jefus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.'

As to what we are juftified by, we are justified by Faith alone: Gal. ii, 16. Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the 'faith of Jefus Chrift: Even we have believed in Jefus Chrift; that we might be justified by the faith of Chrift, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law fhall no flesh be jufti'fied. To be juftified by Faith alone, is to be juftified by Faith, and not by Works, in whole, nor in part: Rom. iii. 28. Therefore we conclude, that a man is juftified by faith without the deeds of the law. Paul's Doctrine, That we are juftified by Faith alone; and the Doctrine of James, K 4

That

That we are justified by Works, and not by Faith only, Jam. ii. 24. do not difagree, (2 Pet. i. 21. For the prophecy came not in old time by the 'will of man: but holy men of God fpake as they were moved by the Holy Ghoft.'); and that, inafmuch as they speak of very different Subjects. What Paul fpeaks of, is God's justifying us by an Act of his, declaring us to be righteous: Rom. iv. 6. 7. 8. Even as David alfo defcribeth the blessednefs of the man unto whom God imputeth ⚫ righteousness without works, faying, Bleffed are they whofe iniquities are forgiven, and whose ⚫ fins are covered. Bleffed is the man to whom. the Lord will not impute fin.' What James fpeaks of, is but our juftifying ourselves, by a Course of Life fhewing us to be righteous: Fam. ii. 18. Yea, a man may fay, Thou haft faith, and I have <works: fhew me thy faith without thy works, * and I will fhew thee my faith by my works.' verf. 21. Was not Abraham our father juftified by works, when he had offered Ifaac his fon upon the altar? Now, a man juftifies or fhews himfelf righteous by Faith in the Sight of God, by good Works: Fam. ii. 21. forecited. verf. 25.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Likewife alfo, was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, ❝and had fent them out another way? John xv. 14. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.' Rom. vi. 14. Sin fhall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. For though we are justified of God by Faith alone, yet Faith is not alone, without good Works, in the Juftified: Fam. ii. 17. Even fo faith, if it hath not works, is dead being alone. verf. 26. For as the body without

the

[ocr errors]

:

:

[ocr errors]

the fpirit is dead, fo faith without works is dead alfo. Rom. viii. I.There is therefore now no • condemnation to them which are in Christ Jefus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Nevertheless, Faith is alone, without good Works, in Juftification; Rom. iv. 5. To him that worketh not, but believeth on hini that juftifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.' That appears, inasmuch as no Man can do a good Work, till once he is justified by Faith 1 Tim. 1. 5. Now the end of the commandment is charity, out of a pure heart, and of a good confcience, and of faith unfeigned." Luke vii. 47. • Wherefore I fay unto thee, Her fins which are many, are forgiven; for fhe loved much but to whom little is forgiven, the fame loveth little.' Rom. vii. 4. forecited. No Man can do a good Work, till once he is justified by Faith, because till then he is under the Curfe of the Law: Rom. vii. 5. 6. For when we < were in the fiefh, the motions of fins which < were by the law, did work in our members to 6. bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are ' delivered from the law, that being dead wherein " we were held; that we fhould ferve in newness ' of fpirit, and not in the oldness of the letter." The Act of Believing, whereby we are juftified, cannot be reckoned a good Work done by us, before we are juftified, forafmuch as it is the Effect of a quickening or creating Act of God in us, by which we pafs from under the Curfe, into a a State of Juftification: Eph. i. 19. 20. That ye may know what is the exceeding greatnefs of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the 'working of his mighty power; which he wrought

[ocr errors]
« AnteriorContinuar »