The Plain Doctrine of the Justification of a Sinner in the Sight of God, Sermon 19
Of the Righteouſneſſe of Chriſt.
THE NINETEENTH SERMON
ON
Romans 3.21.
But now the righteouſneſs of Chriſt, &c.
IN the handling of the point of Juſtification, I have ſpoken of the ſeveral cauſes thereof, and the end thereof in regard of men, viz. Remiſſion of ſins, and thereupon immediately followes, the accounting of the beleeving Sinner righteous unto Salvation; that is, by the imputation of the righteouſneſſe of Jeſus Chriſt unto the Sinner; and that being deſcribed in the context, and ſame portion of Scripture, I ſhall proceed unto it now, where the handling of it may come in at the due place, for our better underſtanding thereof.
In the two verſes, 19, 20. the Apoſtle ſhewed before Negatively, that Juſtification is not by the works of the Law; now he ſhewes Affirmatively how we are juſtified, and that is expreſſed. 1 By the matter of it [The righteouſneſſe of God] amplified by way of oppoſition to the Law [without the Law, i. e. without the works of the Law] any way Co-working, or meriting our juſtification. 2 This is ſet forth by the Adjunct, of the approbation, and teſtimony of the Law and the Prophets. 3 By the inſtrument, that is, faith of Jeſus Chriſt, underſtand it not actively, for the faith whereby Chriſt beleeved; but paſſively, the faith whereby Chriſt is beleeved on. 4 The ſubject, beleevers, and thoſe univerſally and emphatically ſet down [unto all, and upon all that beleeve.]
Queſt. What is meant by the righteouſneſſe of God?
Anſ. It is not to be underſtood of that whereby God himſelf is righteous (as Oſiander ſaid) for that is eſſential to God, and cannot be communicated to the Creature; but this righteouſneſſe is elſewhere called the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt, and the righteouſneſſe of faith; this may appear clearly by the oppoſition, Rom. 10.3, 4. The Jewes went about to establiſh their own righteouſneſſe, and would not ſubmit to Gods righteouſneſſe, and there Gods righteouſneſſe (in contra-diſtinction to that which is our own righteouſneſſe) is yet explained to be our righteouſneſſe for theſe reaſons.
1 Becauſe God appointed this righteouſneſſe, for the juſtification of a ſinner, The righteouſneſſe which is of God by faith, Phil. 3.9. i. e. of Gods inſtitution and appointment, and 2 Cor. 5.21.
2 It is called Gods righteouſneſſe, becauſe Chriſt who is the ſubject of it, is God-man, Phil. 2.6-8.
3 It is ſo, becauſe it is God who is the giver of it, and not only ſo (for he gives inherent righteouſneſſe alſo) but that God only imputes it out of the free riches of his Grace; whence the Apoſtle calls it, Phil. 3.9. The righteouſneſſe which is of God by faith, i. e. ordained and imputed by God, and made ours by faith apprehending of it.
4 It is called Gods righteouſneſſe, becauſe it is ſuch as pleaſeth God, and which he in his ſtrict juſtice doth approve of; for this will make the man bleſſed, to whom it is applyed, Rom. 4.6.
There are here two Points I deſire to inſiſt on.
Doct. 1. It is the righteouſneſſe of God, Gods righteouſneſſe.which the Scripture holds forth for the Sinners juſtification, and this righteouſneſſe of God is made the ſinners, by way of imputation; this I take to bee the meaning of that phraſe [Ʋnto all, and upon all them that doe beleeve] i.e. Gods righteouſneſſe is beſtowed on them for juſtification.
For the opening of this, it will be inquired, What is the righteouſneſſe of God that is here ſpoken of?
Anſ. Of Chriſts active and paſſive obedience.1. It is the whole obedience of Chriſt, both Active and Paſſive, that is, ſuch a righteouſneſſe as every man ought to yeeld and perform unto God, and that is, firſt paſſive, in a way of ſuffering penalty for his tranſgreſſion; this every ſinner doth owe to God by the ſentence of the juſt Law, which requires that the ſinner ſhould ſuffer Death and Curſe for his ſin, Rom. 6.23. Gal. 3.10. 2 The ſinner oweth obedience unto God, beſides ſatisfaction for his former breaches; for the Law ſaith, Gal. 3.12. the man that doth theſe things ſhall live in them; not the hearers, &c. but the doers of the Law ſhall be juſtified, Rom. 2.13. Rom. 11.5. It ſtands not with reaſon, that laying or inflicting the penalty threatned for tranſgreſſions, ſhould make man thereby become lawleſſe, or not bound to the poſſitive duties of obedience. Therefore ſeeing the ſinner oweth all this righteouſneſſe, Chriſt our Suerty muſt needs fulfill all this righteouſneſſe for ſinners, that is, both dying, and doing as it is ſaid, Matth. 3.15. and all is comprchended in Phil. 2.8. That hee was obedient unto the death, which implies that there is an obedience that falls ſhort of death; as alſo a further obedience in ſuffering death: in which reſpect it is alſo ſaid, that Chriſt is the end of the Law, &c. Rom. 10.4. now the end of the Law, is perfect righteouſneſſe, both in doing what is commanded, and ſuffering the due puniſhments: therefore Chriſt was to perform both.
2 The righteouſneſſe of Chriſt was moſt perfect, that nothing could be added to it; but that righteouſneſſe that is both active, and paſſive, is more perfect than his paſſive righteouſneſs alone. For ſuppoſe that a Malefactor hath ſuffered the whole puniſhment of the Law for his offence, it is required to his future righteouſneſs, that hee ſhould doe that which the Law requires; ſo it is required of us; but wee cannot fulfill the Law our ſelves, therefore Chriſt muſt fulfill it for us, Rom. 8.3.
3 That which Chriſt did as a Mediator, he did not for himſelf but for us; but all that Chriſt did after his Incarnation, were Actions of a Mediator; for as ſoon as ever he was God-man, he was our Mediator, and if his active obedience were the obedience of a Mediator, then it was performed for us, as ſuch; for it is certain that every action of a Mediator tends to reconciliation. Now to ſay that his active obedience did fit him to be a Mediator, cannot conſiſt, for how could that fit him to bee God-man, that was done after the word was made fleſh? Gal. 4.4.
Queſt. Why is the righteouſneſſe of God requiſite for our Juſtification?
Reaſ. 1. Mans inſufficiency in his righteouſneſſe.From the inſufficiency of the righteouſneſſe of man, to reach to ſuch an end, or to anſwer the righteouſneſs of the law, Rom. 8.3. That which was impoſſible for the Law, in that it was weak through the fleſh, &c. for this conſider theſe three particulars.
1 That no man in this life hath perfection of grace and holineſſe in him, by reaſon of the remaining fleſh and corruption, Rom. 7.14. The Law is ſpiritual, I am carnal, verſ. 23. I ſee a Law in my members, &c. ſo that a man can neither doe the good that he would, nor avoyd the evil that he hates, unleſs he be holier, and perfecter than Paul.
2 No man in this life can perfectly obſerve all thoſe good works that the Law requires; every mans experience might prove this. Yet adde, 1 King. 8.46. There is no man that ſinneth not, Eccleſ. 7.20. there is not a juſt man upon the earth that doeth good and ſinneth not, Paul himſelf profeſſeth that he was not perfect, Phil. 3.12. who ever loved the Lord in the Law ſenſe? Deut. 6.5.
3 No man can perform any one particular duty, or in every point work ſo exactly, that he ſhall in full anſwer the rigour of the Law, Job 9.3. If he will contend with a man, none can anſwer him one for a thouſand. So Pſal. 130.3. Pſal. 43.2. I dare appeal to any man alive, even the holieſt (for I ſpeak not of Hereticks, and Atheiſts, &c.) dareſt thou appear before the Lord, with any prayer that ever thou didſt make? or any other duty? and ſay, Lord proceed againſt me, according to any ſin or weakneſſe that was in this prayer, or that duty? alas ſaith Paul, 1 Cor. 4.4. I know nothing by my ſelf, yet am I not hereby justified, &c. though I my ſelf could diſcern no defect in my righteouſneſſe, yet I would not plead it before God, for he can eſpy evils enough in my beſt righteouſneſſe, Job 9.30, 31. If I waſh my ſelf with ſnow water, and make my hands never ſo clean, yet ſhalt thou plunge mee in the ditch, and mine own cloathes ſhall abhor me.
Reaſ. Perfect righteouſneſſe required for juſtification.2. Taken from the perfection of that righteouſneſſe that is required for the juſtification of a beleever. Perfect and Meritorious righteouſneſſe muſt have theſe conditions in it.
1 In regard of the thing, that is to be obeyed: it muſt be all the revealed will of God, both for the ſubſtance, and every circumſtance thereof. Jam. 2.10. Deut. 6. ult. it muſt bee all Gods Commandements, and as he hath commanded.
2 In regard of the perſon obeying: it muſt be with the whole man, outward and inward, Deut. 6.5.
3 In regard of the time of this obedience; it muſt bee with perſeverance to the end, Jam. 1, 23. Gal. 3.10. One ſin committed in mans whole life makes a man accurſed, whatſoever his righteouſneſſe hath been in the reſt.
4 That his righteouſneſſe may be meritorious, it muſt have infinite worth in it, Rom. 5.17. there is an infinite evil in ſin, and that requires an infinite righteouſneſs to cover and remove it. Now theſe conditions cannot bee found any where but in Jeſus Chriſt God-man; who firſt knowes no ſin, 2 Cor. 5.21. 2 He kept the Law with his whole man, Luk. 1.35. Pſal. 40.8. 3 He perſiſted to the end, Joh. 17.4. Joh. 4.38. 4 There was an infinite value and worth in his righteouſneſs, he being God-man in one perſon, Pſal. 71.19. there is none like unto God, and ſo no righteouſneſs like unto his, verſ. 15. My mouth ſhall ſhew forth thy righteouſneſſe, all the day, for I know not the number of it. It can neither be numbred, nor meaſured by any Creature; it holds by the ſame rule for Chriſts righteouſneſs as for Gods.
Reaſ. Gods righteouſneſſe is witneſſed to.3. Take that in the text for another ground, that this righteouſneſs of God is witneſſed by the Law and the Prophets, and that ſundry ways.
1 By evidence and clear Teſtimony, and that is moſt famoſe in Jer. 23.6. this is the name wherewith hee ſhall bee called, Jehovah our righteouſneſs, and Iſa. 53.11. by his knowledge, ſhall my righteous Servant juſtify many.
2 By Types and figures, which went before in the Old Teſtament; as the Brazen Serpent, Paſchal Lamb, the Cloud, the Rock, the Mercy Seat, the Garment of the High Prieſt, with an Inſcription of Holineſs to the Lord, the Urim and the Thummim; all theſe pre-figured this, as alſo all the ſacrifices, Offerings, and Ceremonies, of the Law; the blood of the Lambs and Goats, did ſignify the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt.
3 The Sacraments, as Circumciſion, and the Paſsover, do bear witneſs that its the righteouſneſſe of God, by which wee muſt be juſtified. Rom. 4.11. Rev. 3.17.
Uſe 1. To convince us of the greatneſs of the ſin, To deſpiſers of grace.and of the juſtneſs of the Condemnation, of thoſe that neglect, or deſpiſe, the proclamation of the Grace of God in Chriſt, and his great ſalvation. The righteouſneſs offered, is Gods righteouſneſs, every way perfect and compleat, and it is not poſſible any thing ſhould bee added to it; and can any ſoul bee content now to bee deſtitute of this righteouſneſſe? or dare to ſleight or refuſe the offer of it? or when its offered to be indifferent about the receiving of it? this is ſure a high contempt of God, and affront put upon his grace in Chriſt; this very ſin undid the Jews, Rom. 10.3, 4. They would not ſubmit to Gods righteouſneſs; what is that? They would not receive it being offered, but ſtubbornly refuſed it, and caſt it from them, as a ſuperfluous thing, and this is called. Act. 13.16. The judging of our ſelves unworthy of everlaſting life; and the Lord caſts off poor creatures for it, and their blood ſhall bee upon their own heads, Act. 18. See Rom. 1.17, 18. in the Goſpel is revealed the righteouſneſs of God; But what if a man cares not for it? Truely, then the wrath of God is revealed from heaven againſt all ungodlineſs, &c. Gods vengeance is poured forth upon them, though it may bee they feel it not, for it is ſpiritual vengeance that takes away all ſenſe.
Queſt. Who are they that ſet this righteouſneſs at nought?
Anſw. 1 Such as with-hold the truth in unrighteouſneſſe, ſuch as ſhut up the known truth, by their luſts: they live wickedly in and under the Goſpel.
2 They that are careleſs in ſeeking it, and bee content to bee without it, Rom. 10.3. Who are ignorant of Gods righteouſneſs, &c.
3 They that put off the ſeeking of it, and ſeek it not firſt, and chiefly, Matth. 6.33.
4 They that reſt contented in a doubting condition, about their Salvation and condemnation.
Uſe 2. The miſery of, an unjuſtified eſtate.To ſhew unto every ſoul the miſery of an unjuſtified eſtate, upon this conſideration, that it is Gods righteouſneſs onelyonly that can juſtify; and in this I dare to appeal to the Conſciences of many that hear this truth, can yee dare to ſay, that you have gotten Gods righteouſneſſe to appear before God in? have it you in, and of your ſelves? if there bee any ſuch blinded, hardned, preſumptuous wretch that dares bely God, and his own conſcience, and ſay that hee hath this righteouſneſſe of God, I might ſay as in another caſe was ſaid of Ananias, Act. 5. Why hath Satan filled thy heart, to lye to the Holy Ghoſt? It is a marvellous and mighty work of Satan to perſwade a poor creature, that hee hath ſuch a bleſſing of God as this is, when he hath nothing like it.
Object. But you ſhall never drive me from this, that I have part in the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt?
Anſw. Why, but if thou haſt Chriſts righteouſneſſe, thou haſt Gods righteouſneſs, and haſt thou gotten Gods righteouſneſſe? then thou ſpeakeſt of great and coſtly matters, doſt thou know what thou ſayeſt? what was Laodicea the better, for ſaying ſhee was rich, and increaſed in goods? Rev. 3.17. they were very beggars for all this; or if thou haſt Gods righteouſneſſe, how long haſt thou had it? waſt thou born with this Garment? no man is, nor with any other; or if thou haſt it, how cameſt thou by it? is it by purchaſe, or free gift? Rev. 3.18. It is there gotten by buying. Buy white raiment, &c. didſt thou buy it? what did it coſt thee? what didſt thou ever part with to make this purchaſe with? true it is, that Chriſt needs nothing of thine, but thou canſt not have this righteouſneſſe without parting with ſomething for it, with much that this righteouſneſs cannot conſiſt withall.
Object. But it is a free gift?
Anſw. Whatſoever a man parts with for it, it is ſo, and muſt bee ſo; yea, it is a mighty gift, and of infinite value; and doſt thou think that the moſt high God, hath beſtowed this infinite gift upon thee? ſuſpect thine own heart, whether thou art not ignorant of this righteouſneſſe, as the Jews were, Rom. 10. though otherwiſe a knowing people; let mee tell thee, that none can know what this righteouſneſſe of God is, but hee that knows the infinite malignity of ſin, Joh. 16.8, 9. and hee that knows that, will not eaſily run into it, and commit ſin with greedineſs. Yea, none knows this righteouſneſs, but hee that loves the Goſpel and miniſtry thereof dearly: for therein is the righteouſneſſe of God revealed, Rom. 1.17. and the Goſpel preached is the miniſtration of righteouſneſſe, 2 Cor. 3. Moreover, if thou doſt not firſt ſeek it, Matth. 6.33. a kingdome is worth the firſt and chiefeſt ſeeking, eſpecially ſuch a Kingdome, as is founded in Gods righteouſneſs. Oh! that poor deluded ſinners, would take heed of Couzening their own ſouls, in a matter of this great importance; for beloved, know it, that Gods righteouſneſs is the wedding garment, Matth. 22.11. and there bee many will thruſt in themſelves, amongſt thoſe that have it; whom the Lord will find to bee without it one day, to their utter expulſion out of his preſence.
Uſe 3. Comfort.It lerves for the ſtrongeſt ground of comfort to poor diſcouraged beleevers, that is in all the World; that it is no other than Gods righteouſneſs, upon which their juſtification and ſalvation is grounded; the comfort is ineſtimable, and cannot poſſibly bee reacht by our weak underſtandings; ſee the particulars.
1 A Beleever hath a righteouſneſs that can ſatisfy the Law fully; the Law requires perfect obedience, and the Goſpel returns perfect obedience, Rom. 3. laſt. Do wee then make void the Law? &c. i.e. the very doctrin of faith doth eſtabliſh the Law.
1 Becauſe whatever the Law requireth, wee perform it in Chriſt by faith.
2 By faith we glorify God his juſtice, and make a full payment thereof by God in Chriſt.
3 If wee had ſtood in innocency, or had had as much righteouſneſs as Adam before the fall, or the Elect Angels, yet all this had been but the righteouſneſs of a poor creature; but this is Gods righteouſneſs.
4 This righteouſneſs can make a ſinner righteous; but ſo the Law could never do.
2 This is everlaſting righteouſneſs, Dan. 9.24. i.e. firſt continual; though wee commit new ſins continually, yet this righteouſneſſe is like a fountain opened, Zach. 13.1, 2. it can never bee loſt, as Adams righteouſneſs was, and the Angels too. It was a great miracle that the Lord wrought for his people in the Wilderneſs, that forty years together their cloathes waxed nor old upon them, Deut. 29.5. than is nothing in compariſon of this everlaſting righteouſneſs, which is a Garment of Salvation, that will never wax old, Pſal 119.142.
3 This Righteouſneſs is the righteouſneſſe of the Judge himſelf, its Chriſts own righteouſneſſe, and who is there may not tremble to remember that fearful day, of moſt ſtrict and exact account? But Jeſus Chriſt himſelf, cannot finde any ſpot in his own righteouſneſs, or any fault with it, and therfore the great comfort of the faithful is in this, againſt the great day. If any man ſin, wee have an advocate with the Father, Jeſus Chriſt the righteous, 1 Joh. 2.1.….
4 This is the Marrow of the whole book of God, on which the ſalvation of all that ſhall bee ſaved, depends. To ſuch as fear my Name the Sun of righteouſneſſe ſhall ariſe, &c. Mal. 4.2. and this is witneſſed by the Law and the Prophets, as the text hath it; but is far more gloriouſly revealed in the New Teſtament, Rom. 1.17. and if this righteouſneſſe of God ſhould fail us, then were preaching in vain, faith in vain, (as the Apoſtle ſaith in another caſe) yea, the Scriptures ſhould bee in vain. Moſes, and the Prophets, and the Apoſtles ſhould not onelyonly bee lyars, but falſe witneſſes; and that in open Court. and upon record. Now can wee think that the God of truth would deceive us, by ſending ſuch a company of falſe witneſſes to us? far be it from him. Mark, Rev. 19.8, 9. To her (i.e. to the Lambs wife) was granted that ſhe ſhould be arayed in fine linnen, which is the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt, the Fleece of the Immaculate Lambe. But is there no queſtion of this? v. 9. we are aſſured of the truth of it: theſe are the true ſayings of God, viz. the certain and undoubted ſayings of God, who will not lye, and his hand, and ſeal for it. Therefore it is ſaid in the daies of the Goſpel, … ſhall ſay, ſurely in the Lord I have righteouſneſs and ſtrength. Iſa. 45.24. Oh! what a foundation is here of faith and ſtedfaſtneſs to reſt our ſelves on; So that we may ſay, we are arrived at the fair Havens, the faireſt port in all the World.
Conſider wee, but what wee are in our ſelves, it may make us prize it, wee are but ſhameful, naked creatures, Rev. 3.18. but this righteouſneſſe will cover our nakedneſs; nay, but this is but a ſmall matter in compariſon, to what the Prophet ſayeth. Iſa. 61.10. I will greatly rejoyce in the Lord, &c. for hee hath cloathed me with garments of ſalvation, hee hath covered me with the robe of righteouſneſs, as a bride-groom decketh himſelf with ornaments, and a bride adorneth her ſelf with her jewels.
It is the joy of a true Beleever, that God is his God in Chriſt, and that hee hath in Chriſt, ſuch a Princely and Prieſtly robe as is called the robe of righteouſneſs, and the garment of Salvation (i.e. the righteouſneſs of God) a Garment of Gods own making; and it is as the bride-groomes robe, and hee will at his marriage not onelyonly cover our ſhame, but appear with his Ornaments too, and if this bee too little, hee addes alſo the Brides Ornaments and Deckings alſo, wherewith ſhee is attired on her wedding day; thus Pſal. 45.13, 14, 15. The Kings Daughter is all glorious within, &c. ſhee ſhall be brought to the King in ralment of needle work, &c. theſe are ſuch things as wee are wont to admire for beauty and excellency, but there are far greater things than thoſe in the Lord, and his righteouſneſs.
Uſe. 3. Exhortation to every ſoul to ſeek after this righteouſneſs: Seek after Gods righteouſneſſe.Surely the name that is here given it is a ſufficient motive.
1. It is Gods righteouſneſs, efficiently, not onelyonly in a General ſenſe, as the earth is the Lords, and every good gift comes down from him as the Father of lights: but ſubjectively, that inherent righteouſneſs that is in the Saints, may bee called Gods righteouſneſs, as an effect of Gods grace; but man is the ſubject of that; but that perſon who is God, is the ſubject of this righteouſneſs.
2 This puts a ſinner not only into a ſafe eſtate, but into a ſtate of abſo lute perfection. Underſtand it, not as the deluded Familists and Quakers imagine, as though there were no ſin in him, or done by him: but that, though conſidered in himſelf hee hath many corruptions, wants and weakneſſes; yet in Juſtification hee hath none at all, but is compleat in Chriſt, 2 Pet. 1.4. Col. 2.10. there are many that do boaſt of outward excellencies, and ſeek them only to have profit, pleaſure, and credit, but account baſely of the children of God that want ſuch low things; but alas theſe outward things are not our compleatneſs, but many times do hinder it, and you that do content your ſelves with your Philoſophy and knowledge of arts, conſider that it will not make you compleat, yea, if you reſt in it, it is vain deceit, and will ſpoil you in the main. Col. 2.8.10. And what though you adde to it an outward profeſſion, frequent ordinances, verſ. 11, 12. yet neither will theſe make you perfect.
3 This will be your ſecurity in the day of wrath, Prov. 11.4. Riches profit not in the day of wrath, but righteouſneſs delivereth from death.
Queſt. How may a ſinful man or woman get he righteouſneſs of God? There being a wide diſtance betwixtt God and man, yea, that which is infinite.
Anſw. To let paſs the things before preſſed and inſiſted on, there be theſe things in this place and context obſervable.
1 Let us bee ſettled in the certainty, not onelyonly that there is ſuch a righteouſneſs of God, but alſo that the ſame is attainable by poor ſinners. This is here witneſſed by the Law and the Prophets, ſuch as God hath ſent, whoſe Teſtimony hee hath approved of, and ſealed to, yea, ſuch who many of them have ſealed this, and the like truths, with their bloods, and ſuch as Chriſt himſelf hath appointed witneſſes to him, Act. 1.8. and all concurring in this Teſtimony. So that the witneſſes are beyond exception.
2 See the evidence thereof in the Goſpel, where it is revealed, Rom. 1.17. See it there ſhining with its own light; it was more implicite and veiled heretofore, it was but darkly propoſed in the Law and the Prophets formerly, but in the Goſpel it appears as the Sun in the firmament, in all its luſtre and brightneſs.
3 Labour for a deep apprehenſion and ſenſe of this righteouſneſs of God, it is a proved truth, that both Jews and Gentiles are under ſin, Rom. 3.9.—21. and hee addes, that it is written, there is none righteous, no not one, and verſ. 19. all the world is guilty before God, and nothing but the righteouſneſs of God will remove this guilt.
4 Conſider the nearneſſe of Gods righteouſneſs, Iſa 46.13. I will bring neer my righteouſneſs, it ſhall not bee far off, and my ſalvation ſhall not tarry. Iſa. 50.8. Hee is near that juſtifieth mee, &c. 1 In that this righteouſneſs is the righteouſneſſe of God-man, Rom. 5.15, 17. By the obedience of one man, &c. 2 It is the righteouſneſs of Faith, Rom. 9.30. it is made ours by faith. 3 This is wrought and applyed in the Miniſtry of the Goſpel, 2 Cor. 3.10.