Of Free Justification by Christ, Book 1 · Part 6
Concerning Evangelical Righteousness.
AND hitherto these things have been explained by us concerning the Righteousness of the Law, as it is considered out of Christ. Now let us again turn our eyes unto Christ, and consider, what his Righteousness without the Law worketh in us. And here first of all a wonderful and most manifest difference between the The difference between the Law and Christ.Law and Christ presents it self unto us. For seeing the Law, as hath been said, can give no Life according to the rigour of its Iustice, but only to perfect Men: Therefore it comes to pass, that because it finds nothing perfect in us, it being hindered through the infirmity of our flesh, can give no help, nor work any thing in us but wrath: Therefore being repulsed by the Law, and destitute of the help of Works, let us seek another Patron Christ the only Antidote against the Stings of the Law.of Salvation, whosoever he be, who may help us: But there is none who doubts, that He is no other but Christ the only Son of God; whom we all alike profess through all Churches. There is therefore no Controversie remaining between us and our Adversaries concerning the Author of Salvation. Nevertheless there remains here another ambiguity or question, perhaps not yet cleared enough by all Divines. For whereas there is no man but confesses that Righteousness is in Christ in its highest perfection: And we have already heard from the Law, that there is no fellowship of Righteousness with Unrighteousness; A question by what righteousness can Christ deliver the unrighteous.here some difficulty comes in, how it comes to pass, that the Lord Christ, all whose Iudgments are most just, can or ought against Righteousness favour those, who having forsaken their duty, have turned aside to Unrighteousness? For if the Law of God according to the nature of Righteousness, cannot avoid condemning of those that are guilty of wickedness, some perhaps may ask, What way Christ, who doth not any thing, but what is most righteous, can procure Salvation to those without the violation of his Righteousness, whom the Law of Righteousness justly condemns? Or if he do it, how, for what cause, and in what manner he does it, by Faith, or by Works? If by Faith, whether by Faith only, or by the What way, and in what manner the benefits of Christ are derived to us.help of Works joyned with it; if upon the account of Works, whether before Works, or after Works, or in the very Works? But if by Faith only without Works, hence ariseth a threefold question; 1. What then do good Works avail? 2. What Faith that is, and of what sort it is, which is said to justifie? 3. Whom this Faith justifies? for they must be either sinners or righteous; if A threefold question.sinners, they are either penitent or stubborn; if you say both, you will speak against Righteousness, which cannot be well called Righteousness, unless it reward according to every mans deeds and merits. But if they are righteous and not sinners, whom Christ helps: What need have the Righteous of a Redeemer? What need have the whole of a Physician? Moreover, how will that saying of Paul hold true; whereby Christ being made Man, is said to have come into the World, not to save the Righteous 1 Tim. 1. 1.but Sinners.
I beseech you now, O ingenuous Man! according to your Modesty, that I may deal very modestly with you: If any Man treat with you on this manner, in disputing about the Doctrine of Iustification, what would you answer him, if he should ask these things of you? If any such Man should come to you, who being affrighted in his mind, and astonished at the greatness of his sins, and burdened with horrour of Conscience, and almost dead with the fear of the Iudgment of God, should ask the help of counsel and comfort from you? of which sort there are found not a few Examples in the Folds of the Lord's Flock; what Remedy would you reach forth unto him? Perhaps you will send him to those Books of yours concerning Righteousness; and what will he find there, whereby his afflicted and cast down Mind may be refreshed and recover it self? what? will you send him to the Law? but what will he draw from thence fit for healing his wounds? especially seeing that Law of Righteousness can only bring us in guilty, because we have not kept the Law, and oblige us thereunto, as by bond; at least it cannot by any means restore Righteousness that was once lost, or satisfie the Iudge. It remains then, that you should bring over the miserable Soul of a Sinner from the Law, in which there appears no hope of defence, unto Christ, seeing it is He only by whose Wounds and Stripes we are healed; and In a desperate condition Christ only can help.who hath taken upon himself all the Impieties of us all, that he might communicate unto us his own Righteousness. That is very true indeed, and upon that account I think you and yours are to be commended, who, though you seem not to have a clear enough sight of the genuine Office of Christ, and his Divine Greatness in procuring our Salvation; yet ye refuse not to profess his Name, and a certain external reverence of Faith. But because at present you have to do with men that are troubled, and to whom it is not sufficient to retain only the Name of a Saviour, unless we have also a right understanding of the Efficacy of his Death which he suffered for us, and It is not sufficient to retain the … of Christ only, unless also we learn the Greatness of his office and his Power to save.of the Power that he hath to save, and the great benefits he hath bestowed upon us, and his exceeding great Love and Goodwill towards us, and the infinite Riches that are promised to us in him.
Therefore you must proceed further, and help the afflicted Minds of the Godly, as much as may be, that they may know and believe not only that there is eternal and durable Life in Christ, but also that they may be taught the way, and means, and manner how that Life comes to us, and to whom it belongs, and what we must observe in attaining unto it.