Christs Righteousness Imputed, Application
APPLICATION.
Is this ſo? That it is the Character of juſtified Believers, to acknowledge that that Righteouſneſs whereby they are juſtified, is in the Lord not in themſelves: We may make a Threefold Uſe of it.
1. By way of INFORMATION.
2. CAUTION..
3. EXAMINATION.
1. By way of INFORMATION, in theſe Ten Things;
1. If this be ſo, then it informs us, how ſincere and right Proteſtants may be diſcerned and diſtinguiſhed from Popiſh Socinians, Arminians, Quakers, and the whole Tribe of Hetrodox Perſons; the Name Proteſtant was given to the Profeſſors in Germany in Luther's Time, for proteſting againſt the Errors of Popery, whereof Juſtification by Works is the chief; therefore he that ſymbolizeth with Papiſts, Socinians and Arminians in this Doctrine, deſerves not the Name of a Proteſtant; for whoever oppoſes this Doctrine, oppoſes Chriſt and the Goſpel way of Salvation, as has bin proved.
2. This informs us, what a miſerable State all Men by Nature are in, that have no Righteouſneſs, nor are capable of doing any thing to juſtifie themſelves; no, neither Men nor Angels can furniſh us with a Righteouſneſs, to preſent us righteous at God's Bar; but it muſt be a Righteouſneſs of God's providing, yea, the Righteouſneſs of his own Son; none elſe will do us any Good. O how far was Man gone from God! How deep was he ſunk into the deep Abyſs of Miſery! Without Chriſt and his Righteouſneſs we periſh for ever, Acts 4.12.
3. See here the infinite Mercy and Kindneſs of God to undone Sinners, to provide us ſuch a Righteouſneſs when we had none of our own, John 3.16. God ſo loved the World, as to give his Son; Rom. 10.4. He is the End of the Law for Righteouſneſs. O Let us admire Grace! Pſal. 103.1, 2.
4. This gives us a Reaſon, why Satan and his Inſtruments are, and have always been ſo buſie in depraving and corrupting this Doctrine: Wicked Herod did not more deſire to have killed Chriſt in the Cradle, than Satan and Seducers do to crucifie this Heavenly Doctrine. Learned Chemnitius ſaith, he could not but tremble to think of a Paſſage of Luther, who ſaid, That he foreſaw after his Death, the Doctrine of Juſtification would be corrupted: This was Ominous and proved too true, how did the Galatians warp from this Doctrine, which is like its Maſter, crucify'd among Thieves; the Arminian and Antinomian on the one hand, the Socinian and Papiſt on the other.
5. Inference. That if we would preſerve this Glorious Doctrine, we muſt keep cloſe to Scripture, and have a Care of making our own Carnal Reaſon the Standard of this Doctrine; God's Thoughts are above our Thoughts, and his Ways above our Ways; the Socinian will believe nothing, but what accords with his own depraved Reaſon, tho' in the Goſpel there is nothing contrary to ſound Reaſon, yet there are many things above Reaſon, whereof this of Juſtification by imputed Righteouſneſs is one; 'tis utterly impoſſible that any thing ſhort of Divine Revelation, ſhould diſcover the way of a guilty Sinner's becoming righteous before God.
6. This informs us, that Pardon of Sin is not the all of Juſtification; for in Juſtification there is two Parts.
1. A Diſcharge from the Curſe of the Law, the Guilt of Sin, this is properly the Pardon of Sin.
2. 'Tis poſſible one might be pardoned and annihilated: Therefore in Juſtification, there muſt be a Righteouſneſs, which muſt conſtitute us righteous at God's Bar, and give us a Title to Eternal Life, 2 Cor. 5.22.
7. This informs us whence it is, that this Doctrine of Juſtification is ſo little underſtood, even amongſt Profeſſors; who have a good meaſure of Knowledge, and can talk hanſomely of other Truths, yet are very dark and muddy in this: The Reaſon is, this is one of the Myſteries of the Goſpel, that Fleſh and Blood, Carnal Reaſon cannot fathom.
8. If this be ſo, then a juſtified Believer may walk very comfortably, and enjoy a ſweet ſenſe of the Love of God and Eternal Life, notwithſtanding remaining Infirmities, which do ſtill cleave to the beſt of God's Children; we may, and ought to be humble for remaining Infirmities; but our remaining Infirmities do not make void our Juſtification, we ſtand accepted at God's Bar, not for our own but for Chriſt's Obedience; No Condemnation to them that are in Chriſt, Rom. 8.1. 1 John 2.1. If any Man ſin, we have an Advocate with the Father.
2. Uſe of CAUTION.
If this be ſo, then are we juſtified by nothing in our ſelves, but only by the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt imputed to us. Then,
1. Take heed of reſting in a meer Doctrinal Soundneſs in this Point, without a renewed and ſanctified Heart; Some pleaſe themſelves with this, that they are right in Point of Opinion, they diſclaim Works in Juſtification, expect to be juſtified only by Faith; but in the mean time, that which they call Faith is nothing but Opinion, a dead Faith that bears no living Fruit; this is what St. James doth ſo much ſet himſelf againſt, Jam. 2.17. Faith if it hath not Works, is dead being alone: O ſee that your Faith be a living, working Faith.
2. On the other Hand, take heed of relying or truſting to your own Duties, Graces of Holineſs; Without Holineſs you can never ſee God, Heb. 12.14. and yet you muſt not truſt to, or make Saviours of your Holineſs, Faith looks only to Chriſt.
3. Take heed of confounding Faith with Obedience, as too many do; our Juſtification conſiſts in receiving from God, not giving any thing to him: Chriſt is offered in the New Covenant, Faith is the Hand whereby we receive Chriſt.
3. Uſe of EXAMINATION▪
Now let us ſearch our Hearts, whether we are made Partaker of this bleſſed Priviledge or no: But how ſhall I know that?
Firſt, If you are juſtified then your Sins are pardoned, and if your Sins are pardoned, Then,
1. You have been truly humbled and melted down for Sin, Iſa. 57.15. Iſa. 66.2. Mat. 5.3.
2. If your Sins are pardoned, you have abandoned and forſaken all Sin, and that both in Practice and Affection, Iſa. 55.7. Let the Wicked forſake his Way, and the Unrighteous Man his Thoughts, and return to the Lord, and he will have Mercy on him, and to our God, and he will abundantly pardon.
3. A pardoned Soul hates all Sin, Gen. 39.9. How ſhall I do this great Wickedneſs, and ſin againſt God? Pſal. 119.113. I hate vain Thoughts, but thy Law do I love.
4. A pardoned Soul is an humble Soul, i. e. One who hath very low Thoughts of himſelf, of Parts, Duties, Graces, Phil. 3.5. Rom. 7.24.
5. A pardoned Soul is a thankful Soul, 1 Cor. 15.10. By the Grace of God I am what I am, Pſal. 103.1, 2, 3.
6. A pardoned Soul is one, who has uſed in a due manner, all the Means appointed by God, in Order to obtain the Pardon of Sin; as True Repentance, a conſtant Uſe of all Ordinances, Hearing the Word preached, Reading, Prayer, Reformation, Luke 13.3. Iſa. 55.7. Confeſſion and Acknowledgment of Sin, 1 Kin. 8.30, 33, 34.
Secondly, Some Rules to know when you are Partakers of the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt; and if you believe in Chriſt then are you Partakers of Chriſt's Righteouſneſs. John 3.36. He that believeth on the Son, hath Everlaſting Life: Look well to your Faith that it be not Common, but a Special and Saving Faith.
Now True Faith may be known.
1. By the Manner, how the Holy Spirit works Faith in the Soul: The Spirit finds us dead, Eph. 1.2, 12. dark, blind, Enemies to God and Chriſt; his firſt Work is to Convince of Sin, John 16.8. Acts 2.37. He Enlightens the Mind, Eph. 4.23. He Bows the Will, Pſal. 110.3. makes the Soul willing to part with all Sin, and to have Chriſt upon his own Terms.
2. By its Activity for God and Holineſs: True Faith is obedient, the Language of Faith is, Lord, What wilt thou have me to do? Acts 9.6.
3. Saying Faith is never alone, but always accompanied with all other Graces; as Love to God, Gal. 5.6. Faith which works by Love; Self-denial, Gal. 2.20. I live, yet not I, but Chriſt liveth in me, &c.
4. Saving Faith is a prayerful Grace, ſo ſoon as Paul believes he prayeth; ſee in Jacob, how Faith ſpirits him in Prayer, Gen. 32.9, 10.
FINIS.