The Plain Doctrine of the Justification of a Sinner in the Sight of God, Sermon 21
Of the Imputation of Chriſts Righteouſneſs.
THE ONE AND TWENTIETH SERMON
ON
Rom. 3.21, 22.
But now the righteouſneſs of God without the Law is manifeſted, being witneſſed by the Law and the Prophets. Even the righteouſneſs of God which is by faith of Jeſus Chriſt.
Vſe 2. IT is for trial of our Juſtification be fore God, which is of the greateſt concernment in the world to be cleared to our Conſciences, and it was the greateſt queſtion in Jobs time, Job 25.4. How ſhall a man bee juſtified with God? How ſhall it be? truly it is only by imputed Righteouſneſſe: and if we can prove this imputation upon good grounds, wee are juſtified, and ſhall be glorified.
Q. How may we groundedly conclude, that Gods righteouſneſſe it imputed to us?
Tri. Trials of imputed righteouſneſſe.1. It appears by our pulling down of mans righteouſneſſe. It is the nature of it to throw down all other righteouſneſſe, as to the buſineſſe of Juſtification. It is an undoubted effect, of the ignorance of Chriſts righteouſneſſe, to goe about to eſtabliſh our own righteouſneſſe, Rom. 10.3. now the phraſe is taken from the ſetting up of a King, 1 Sam. 15.11. or the ſetting up of a God, as a Chron. 25.24. beſides, ſubmitting our ſelves to the righteouſneſſe of God, implyes as much, viz. the ſoveraignty or rule that Gods righteouſneſſe requires of Sinners; and the Apoſtle ſaith, Gods Kingdome ſtands in it. Now this pulling down of mans righteouſneſſe, it is as the pulling down of one Magiſtrate, and ſetting up another in his ſtead, as Iſa. 22.19. and when hee is down from his place and dignity, no man will reſpect him, or expect any Government or Power from him; ſo in this caſe, the beleever gives no reſpect to, or makes any account of his own righteouſneſſe; he looks at it as droſſe and dung, as Paul did: he expects no acquittance or diſcharge by it from his ſin, or any healing vertue in it. But on the contrary, whatever ſins a Juſtitiary commits or lives in, hee thinks with himſelf hee can heal himſelf again at pleaſure, by ſome ſervices hee can perform. He will faſt, and pray, and hear, and be ſorry, and amend, and then all will be well. It was the guiſe of the people, Jer. 7.4 that cryed, the Temple of the Lord; to whom the Lord ſaid, Verſ. 10, 11. Will yee ſteal, and murther, and commit adultery, &c. See the like, Ezek. 23.37-40. It is ſo with a falſe heart that lives in any vile courſe, when his Conſcience is awakened, he hath his God immediatly to give him a pardon, it is but humbling my ſelf a little the more, and praying a little the more, and ſo he will make God amends: this is ſetting up our own righteouſneſſe, and Mountebanklike, who can wound himſelf, and drink poyſon, and heal himſelf with his Balſoms and Antidotes at his pleaſure. See Ezek. 33.13. If the righteous truſt to his righteouſneſſe, and commit iniquity, all his righteouſneſs ſhal not be remembred; truſting in righteouſneſſe, and committing iniquity goe together, ſo that there is always a ſlighting of ſome ſin, whereſoever there is confidence in our own righteouſneſſe.
2 Imputed Righteouſneſſe is alwayes accompanied with Inherent, 1 Joh. 3.7. Hee that doth righteouſneſs, is righteous even as hee is righteous, and Rom. 8.4. That the righteouſneſs of the Law might bee fulfilled in us, who walk not after the fleſh, but after the Spirit. Now this is the righteouſneſſe of regeneration and ſanctification: which although it bee Legal for the matter of it, yet it is of Grace, and flows from imputed righteouſneſſe, as from its ſpring. Now the doing of righteouſneſs is not the bare performing of duties, but the doing of them from the heart, out of conſcience towards God, and conſtantly for Gods ends. It is our yeelding up our members unto God, Rom. 6.13. Such an one will indeavour to give God and man his due, in his whole converſation. Let no man deceive you, ſaith John, &c. as if he ſhould ſay, every unjuſt perſon will be laying claim to the righteouſneſs of Chriſt in the midſt of his allowed wickedneſs: but know, that imputed righteouſneſs brings forth righteous fruits in the heart.
3 Imputed righteouſneſs is alwaies joyned with poverty of spirit, habitual humility, & ſelf abaſement: that is a marvellous low apprehenſion of a mans ſelf, or whatever he hath, or doth, ever did, or can do, ſo as to expect by vertue therof any acceptation with the Lord. Paul is an eminent example of this, Phil. 3.6, 7. Paul a Phariſee was very ſtrict, touching the righteouſneſſe of the Law, blameleſs, and had many other priviledges which hee before accounted gain to him; but now thinks them loſs. How can that bee? can a man bee a loſer by his righteouſneſs? zeal, ſtrictneſs? yea, the greateſt loſer in the world, when hee exchangeth Chriſts righteouſneſs for them: ſo that when a man thinks hee is rich enough in his priviledges and duties (as Laodicea) and therefore will not look out after the riches of Chriſt, hee is an undone man, but now Paul looks at Chriſt as his only gain. As if he ſhould ſay, I am a very loſer by my righteouſneſs, it had been better for mee never to have had it, than that it ſhould hinder me from Chriſt. (Beloved) this will be the frame of heart in him that hath imputed righteouſneſs; but hee that is full with his Duties, and Parts, and Gifts, will bee ready to ſleight Chriſt. Why, hee hath ſuch gains comming in this way, that though hee profeſs Chriſt and his righteouſneſs, yet hee makes little account of him. And ſo will prove at laſt like the proud Phariſee, Luke 18. to deſpiſe and ſleight the parts and duties of ſincere-hearted juſtified Publicans, and go away himſelf at laſt unjuſtified.
Vſe 3. Comfort.Comfort unto beleevers in regard of this imputed Righteouſneſſe of God unto them. It is truely the very well of Salvation, Iſa. 12.3. whence flow all other ſtreams of Comfort, and the faithful may with joy continually draw waters of life from it. Yea, that which David ſpeaks of the Church, That all his springs were in her, is grounded upon this, that the righteouſneſs of Chriſt is held forth in the Church of Chriſt, Zach. 13.1.
The grounds of Comfort are many.In want of inherent righteouſneſſe.
1 It ſerves in the want of inherent righteouſneſs, whereby the ſoul may ſtand as accepted before God. It was the complaint of the Church, Iſa. 64.6. Wee are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteouſneſs is as filthy rags. This is ſometime a great ſinking to the ſoul, that hee hath no ſufficient righteouſneſs to make him accepted before God. The Church her ſelf could ſee abundance of filthineſſe in her righteouſneſſe, how much more can the Lord? But the comfort of a beleever is, that although hee hath no righteouſneſſe of his own, wherein hee can ſtand before God; yet hee hath Gods righteouſneſſe, which is far better than his own, and ſuch as in Gods account goes for his, as if he had done it himſelf. As the poor unrighteous Gentiles finde, they have attained to righteouſneſs, that which is of faith. Rom. 9.30, 33. They have attained, i. e. they have reached to it. And this is no leſs than the name of God, that tranſcendent, excellent name, that poor ſinners attain unto. For the branch Chriſt Jeſus is called by the name of Jehovah our righteouſneſſe, Jer. 23.6. where mark, 1 To bee called by this name is to bee ſo really, for Chriſt is never called what hee is not, and ſo hee is to the ſame purpoſe called Immanuel, Mat. 1.23 i.e. hee ſhall bee ſo indeed, God with us; ſo here, hee ſhall bee called our Righteouſneſs, and hee is ſo indeed. 2 This is one of his glorious names, that is one of his attributes, which hee accounts his excellency, and the attributes of Chriſt are unchangeable; So that hee can as eaſily change his nature as his name.
3 In his daies Judah ſhall bee ſaved, i.e. By this righteouſneſſe the Church is become truely righteous.In his daies the Church of God in all ages ſucceſſively ſhall bee ſaved; and herein ſtands the ſalvation of the Church, i.e. in the Meſſiah, who is Jehovah our Righteouſneſſe. Now compare this fore-quoted place, with Jerem. 33.16. where this name is alſo given to the Church, In thoſe daies Judah ſhall bee ſaved, and Jeruſalem ſhall dwell ſafely, and this is the Name wherewith ſhee ſhall bee called, Jehovah our Righteouſneſs. That which was ſpoken before of Chriſt, in the latter place is ſpoken of a woman, that is the Church: She is called in the daies of the Meſſiah, The Lord our Righteouſneſs.
It is wonderful that this ſhould bee ſpoken of poor ſinners: but the Church is ſo called, as being one with Chriſt, and having Chriſts righteouſneſſe imputed unto her. Go too now, yee poor broken-hearted ſinners, yee diſmayed ſouls, that are affrighted at the report of the Judgement to come; which indeed muſt needs bee dreadful to every ſinner; your Name, which is the name of Chriſt, is enough to comfort and ſupport you. Gods righteouſneſſe is become yours. You may plead it now, and it will plead for you, and ſtand by you in the evil day, when you cannot bee without ſuch a perfect righteouſneſſe: and though then all others that are not righteous in this righteouſneſſe ſhall bee deſerted of their righteouſneſſe and Gods too: yet you ſhall have this righteouſneſs about you; and Chriſt deeming himſelf ſo highly concerned in your caſe, that hee will bee known to poor beleevers by that Name of Jehovah our Righteouſneſs. Yea, they themſelves ſhall bee called by that Name; and is there any fear that Jehovah our Righteouſneſſe ſhould bee condemned?
1 Becauſe this Righteouſneſſe is of infinite value and worth.
2 It cannot bee loſt, Dan. 9.24.
3 It is unchangeable; the Sun of Righteouſneſs hath no ſhadow of change in him, though the Moon bee ſubject to it.
4 It is unſpotted and without blemiſh, therefore God cannot miſlike it.
5 It is in a ſure hand, and cannot be loſt.
2. All our inherent righteouſneſſe accepted.Comf. This imputed righteouſneſſe hath procured acceptance for our inherent righteouſneſſe. The faithful do many times complain of their inability to do good duties; the weakneſſes of their Prayers, and the imperfections of them, and the many infirmities in all other ſervices and performances; but this imputed righteouſneſſe ſhall bring forth theſe infirm, weak, ſinful, performances, perfect, ſpotleſs, and ſinleſs, and approved according to the Tenour of the Goſpel; ſo that they become spiritual Sacrifices, 1 Pet. 2.5. For as there is an imputation of righteouſneſſe to the perſons of beleevers: ſo there is alſo an imputation to their ſervices and actions. As the fact of Phineas was imputed to him for righteouſneſs, Pſal. 106.31. So the imperfect good works that are done by the faithful, are accounted righteouſneſſe; Or (as Mr. Calvin ſaith) are accounted for righteouſneſſe; they being dipped in the blood of Chriſt (tincta ſanguine Chriſti) i.e. they are accounted righteous actions; and ſo the faithful ſhall bee judged according to their good works, though not ſaved for them: and in that famous proceſs of the laſt judgement, Matth. 25.34, 35. the ſupream Judge makes mention of the bounty and liberality of the faithful: and ſo beſtows the eternal inheritance upon them; ſo that though we have great cauſe to bee troubled for the weakneſſes of our beſt duties, as they are in themſelves; yet wee have wonderful cauſe of comfort, that they are made perfect through Jeſus Chriſt. Heb. 13.20, 21. and that the Lord looks at them, (through the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt) as fruits of his own Spirit. 1 Cor. 6.11. The Son of Righteouſneſſe hath healing enough in his wings for all our ſpiritual maladies. Mal. 4.2. And ſhall bring forth all our righteouſneſs as the light: and here beleevers have exceeding ſtrong conſolation, and good hope through grace, that both perſons and ſervices do find acceptation with the Lord: as having no ſpot nor blemiſh at all in them. So that, This is our bleſsedneſſe, to have righteouſneſſe Imputed, Rom. 4.5, 6.
Uſe 4. Let it bee the care of every ſoul to labour for, and ſeek earneſtly after this imputed righteouſneſſe. Oh bee convinced of this, that wee muſt have a perfect righteouſneſſe to ſtand before Gods judgement Seat with. Therefore the ungodly ſhall not ſtand (but bee caſt) in Judgement, nor Sinners in the (general) aſſembly of the righteous. Pſal. 1.5, 6.
The ungodly ſhall ſtand to bee judged, but they ſhall not ſtand accepted and approved. It will bee our happineſſe one day (as Paul) to bee found in Chriſt. Oh! woe bee to that ſoul, that the Lord finds, or death finds, or ſickneſſe findes, or judgement findes, without imputed righteouſneſſe. To move you.
Mativ. 1. This is the firſt righteouſneſſe, and there cannot bee inherent righteouſneſſe before imputed, Rom. 5.19. And without faith it is impoſſible to pleaſe God, Heb. 11.6. It is a great miſtake, to help our ſelves on our own reformations, and good duties. Till Faith, wee cannot pleaſe God with any performance.
Motiv. 2. This is the end of all the book of God, to bring a poor ſinner to this imputed righteouſneſſe. Rom. 10.4. Chriſt is the end of the Law for righteouſneſſe. &c. that is, the end of the Law, was not that a ſinner ſhould ſeek to be juſtified thereby, ſeeing that when it is broken, … can onelyonly condemn a man: But this is the main end of the Law, that it is directed unto Chriſt, where the ſinner may finde imputed righteouſneſſe. But now this end doth not pertain to the Law as ſuch, as it contains the Covenant of Works; for ſo it conſiſts in man onelyonly, and exacts perfect obedience at his hands, upon pain of the curſe, and eternal condemnation: neither hath any reference unto Chriſt, but as the law is turned into another way, into the Channel of the Goſpel; to bee a promoter and help to the Covenant of Grace, and as an handmaid to the Grace of Jeſus Chriſt. Therefore Chriſts righteouſneſſe is ſo imputed to beleevers, that in it, they have the end of the Law, and the law it ſelf doth acknowledge, that in Chriſts righteouſneſſe it hath attained its end. Hence well might the Apoſtle ſay, the Jews followed after righteouſneſſe, yet attained not to the Law of Righteouſneſſe, Rom. 9.31. becauſe they miſſed Chriſt; and therefore the Law muſt thus needs miſſe its end. But by imputed righteouſneſſe we do fully attain to the end of the law, and the end is more excellent ſtill than the means. It gives perfection, meaſure, and amiableneſs, to the means. Now this end ſhould make us love and highly eſteem the Law it ſelf. But how much more the Goſpel, ſeeing it is not only the end of it, but the main drift, ſubject, and ſcope of it, properly as ſuch; Rom. 1, 16, 17. I am not aſhamed of the Goſpel of God, for therein is the righteouſneſſe of God revealed from faith to faith, &c. This then is the main end, and proper work, and ſcope of the Goſpel, to reveal effectually the righteouſneſs of God to a ſinner. So that wee are aiming here at the right mark, and very intent and ſcope of the whole book of God: Where wee have an eye to this righteneſs, and preſs after it. But if wee miſs it, and ſleight it we ſleight and miſs all the benefit of the Scripture, and whole book of God; and all the work of the miniſtry is in vain, our praying, hearing, reforming, and all in vain. Oh (then beloved) as wee love either Law, or Goſpel, or both; yea, as wee love our own ſouls, let this righteouſneſs bee in our eye, and in our hearts, by all means and indeavours.
Mot. 3. Herein lies all the ſtrength of a Chriſtian, Pſal. 7.16. I will go forth in the ſtrength of the Lord God, and make mention of thy righteouſneſs, even thine only.
Queſt. By what means may wee attain to this imputed righteouſneſs?
Anſw. There be many helps, and diverſe directions, given or hinted in the Scripture to this purpoſe. 1 That a man muſt cloſe with the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt, hee muſt renounce his own righteouſneſſe.
Queſt. How ſhould a man come to renounce his own righteouſneſs?
Anſw. There are two ſorts of Actions required to this end,
1 In the Underſtanding.
2 In the Will.
1 Something muſt bee wrought in the underſtanding, as appears, Rev. 3.17, 18. Laodicea knew not that ſhee was wretched, and miſerable, and blinde, &c. I Counſel thee to annoint thine eies with eye-ſalve, that thou mayeſt ſee, i.e. her ſelf to bee blind and miſerable, &c. The ſoul muſt bee convinced of the inconceivable miſery of its natural eſtate, that every Childe of Adam hath loſt all righteouſneſſe, being dead in ſin, a Childe of wrath, and under the power of the Devil. Rom. 7.18. I know that in me, that is, in my fleſh, there dwelleth no good thing. Mat. 7.18. A corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit. Rom. 8.8. They that are in the fleſh cannot pleaſe God. This eye-ſalve, to bring this diſcovery by opening our eies, muſt bee had of, and derived from the Lord Jeſus; and it is called the Spirits conviction, Joh. 16.8. The Spirit's convincing the world of ſin.
2 The ſecond thing is Conviction of the righteouſneſs of God, Joh. 16.9. For it is the ignorance of Gods righteouſneſs that makes us truſt in our own. It is exceeding requiſite, to have a diſcovery of the righteouſneſs of Chriſt made unto us, this white raiment, that we may buy it to cover our nakedneſs, and that wee may ſee this raiment, wee have need of Chriſt's eye-ſalve, and this is not a general diſcovery only, that Chriſts righteouſneſs is provided for ſinners, and that it is to bee attained, but it is particular and reſpecting our ſelves. It is for a man to bee wiſe for himſelf, and to bee convinced of the nature, worth, and excellency of the righteouſneſs of Chriſt, in relation to the naked and needy condition that hee himſelf is in; And this will make a man deſire, as Paul, that hee may be found in him. It alſo breeds deliberate thoughts, and ſerious projects for the ſupplying our wants. Beſides, it is ſo ſtrong and effectual, that it will not ſuffer the ſoul to reſt without it, and concludes thus, I muſt go unto Chriſt for his righteouſneſs, or elſe I periſh. This being backed with infallible, and undeniable arguments, taking ſuch impreſſure in the knowledge and judgement, muſt needs ſet the will and affections on work, to go to chooſing this ſo great bonum apparens, or rather real good, now appearing, preſented unto them.
2 The next main duty concerns the will, and its ſubjection to this righteouſneſſe, and it is ſpoken of by Paul, Rom. 10.3. That the Jews would not ſubmit to it. Now this ſubmiſſion is eſpecially of the heart and will, and ſtands,
1 In a ſerious renouncing of all confidence in the fleſh, Phil. 3.3. it is the reſolving to ſay no more to the works of our hands, that they are our Gods, Hoſ. 14.3. It is a kinde of habitual deſpair of all help, by any thing in us, or done by us; and that not only in our firſt converſion, but afterwards when the ſoul is more acquainted with God, and with its own ſelf.
2 In the ſubjecting our ſelves to Gods righteouſneſſe, the bowing and abaſing the ſoul before the Lord, in a thorow ſight of our miſery and unworthineſſe, and this is called the receiving the ſentence of death in our ſelves, 2 Cor. 1.10. to become an afflicted and poor people, that will truſt in the name of the Lord; for it is nothing but pride that keeps up the heart above God and his righteouſneſs.
3 In the haſtening of the ſoul unto Chriſt and his righteouſneſs, a labouring conſtantly to go beyond the means, though a man ſhall uſe the means never ſo diligently. As it is with the Mariner, though his hand bee upon the Oar and Helm, yet his heart is ever towards the Haven: So it is with the Sinner, that longs after the ſatisfaction of Chriſt; though his hand bee on the means, yet his heart is on the righteouſneſs of Chriſt, 1 To make the means powerful on the ſoul, to bring it to Chriſt, to bee as winde to his Sails. For if a ſhip have never ſo good tackling, and have no winde, and be becalmed, it makes no ſpeed towards its haven. 2 Hee ſees the need of Chriſt to cover the weakneſſes of his ſervices; and for this his heart is on Chriſts righteouſneſſe: ſeeing that no ſacrifice will bee accepted, but what comes thorow the hands of this High Prieſt; who is alſo the only Altar, Heb. 13.10. 3 As the ſubſtantial injoyment in all means and ordinances. Theſe hee looks at but as diſhes, to bring to him the bread of life in: and diſhes are onelyonly for the meats ſake. Hee looks at them but as boats to bring him to Chriſt; and therefore intends to dwell in them, no longer than he is on his journey; and therefore he often ſtirreth up himſelf to lay hold on Chriſt.
4 In a conſiderate, ſerious, deliberate choice of Chriſt, or the paſſing over the ſpiritual and everlaſting eſtate to the Lord Jeſus; and this is the frequent caſting the ſoul upon the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt, Pſal. 91.16. and it is a work of faith and prayer, Pſal. 62.8. Trust in the Lord at all times yee people, &c. Pour out your hearts before him, or roule your hearts upon him; and all this is the Lords working, and he muſt be mightily intreated, to do this great work for us.
Vſe 5. It is a ground of everlaſting Thank fulneſs unto God, for all beleeving ſinners, That the God of all grace hath thus provided for their eternal peace. What an Incomparable mercy is it, that the Lord when hee findes his poor Church and People in their blood, polluted, and caſt forth; That hee ſhould love them, and spread his skirt over them, Ezek. 16.8, &c. That hee ſhould cover their nakedneſſe, annoint them with oyle, cloath them with broidered work, fine linnen, &c. the very deſcription of the juſtification of a ſinner. What a wonderful love is it, that makes a Great Monarch take a beggar in raggs and naſtineſſe, and marry her to himſelf? yet it is the King of Glory doth ſo with us. Oh let us magnify the Lord for this great mercy, and think often upon his love, and take heed of the Sin of the Church of the Jews: verſ. 15. They truſted in their own beauty, and ſo went a whoring away from Chriſt. But take heed of ſo much as ſpeaking in thy heart, for my righteouſneſſe the Lord hath done this, Deut. 9.4, 5. underſtand, that it is not for thy righteouſneſſe, for thou art a stiffe-necked people. It is ſpoken of bringing of the people into the land of Canaan, but apply it to the preſent point. Ezek. 36.32. when the Lord had ſpoken of Juſtification, &c. hee addes, not for your ſakes do I do this ſaith the Lord God, bee it known unto you, bee aſhamed, and confounded, &c. ſtill the Lord beats upon this in all the mercies he beſtows, that it is not for our ſakes, or for our righteouſneſſe: we muſt all know and underſtand this. So Tit. 3.4, 5. Eph. 2.8. 1 Cor. 1.30, 31. Hee is made unto us of God, wiſdome, righteouſneſſe, &c. That hee that glorieth might glory in the Lord. Let not the dung-hill boaſt it ſelf of the Sun, becauſe it ſhines upon it: neither let us boaſt of our ſelves becauſe the Sun of righteouſneſſe ſhines upon us. But let us glory in this, that the Lord of his rich grace (not for the leaſt worth in our ſelves) hath cloathed us with the Fleece, and waſhed us in the blood of the Immaculate Lamb of God.