Two Treatises, Treatise 2 · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII.
Concerning Chriſts Purchaſes of Juſtification, Sanctification, and Glorification.
SECT. I. Of Juſtification by Chriſt.
FUrther to repreſent the excellency ofSect. 1. Of Juſtification by Chriſt. Chriſt, we are to conſider his threefold purchaſe, viz. Of Juſtification, Sanctification and Glorification for all true Believers.
In order we begin with the Purchaſe of Juſtification.
And herein we are to conſider that we are not to treat of any legal Juſtification by works, ſo no Man can be juſtified, for we have all ſinned: None but Chriſt (who was and is God and Man United in one Perſon) could keep the Covenant of works: but we are to treat only of Evangelical Juſtification, which conſiſts in the imputation of Chriſts Righteouſneſs.
In handling of this Juſtification we are to conſider,
Quid Nominis, and Quid Rei, (i. e.) The Name and the Thing.
1. For the Quid Nominis. The Greeks1. For the Name of Juſtification. expreſs it by foreign, and foreign and foreign. The Terms are Forenſical, oppoſite to Condemnation. The Metaphor of Juſtification is taken from a Judge, who abſolves the Priſoner at the Bar, when a Pardon is brought from the King: So though we are Condemned by the Law, at the Bar of Divine Juſtice, yet we are juſtified and acquitted by the imputation of Chriſts Righteouſneſs. We read in Scripture of being Juſtified before God, Rom. 2. 13. and of being made Righteous, Rom. 5. 19. and of imputing Righteouſneſs, Rom. 4. 3. and of being accounted Bleſſed, who have Righteouſneſs imputed, and Sins remitted, Rom. 4. 6, 7.
All theſe are Synonymous Expreſſions, and ſerve for the farther Explication of the Doctrine of Juſtification. From the Quid Nominis let's come to the Quid Rei, and inquire concerning the thing it ſelf or nature of Juſtification.2. Conſider the thing it ſelf or nature of Juſtification.
The Article of Juſtification was ſo highly valued by Luther, that his thoughts Night and Day ran upon it: This indeed is the Foundation of all our Comfort, and all our ſtrength lies in the Doctrine of Juſtification by free Grace.In corde meo regnat iſte unus Articulus, in qu… fiuunt ref…untque m…ae cogitationes theologi… ▪ die n…cteque. Luth.
Inſtead of giving Definitions of Juſtification (becauſe they are many) I will make a farther Inquiry into the cauſes of Juſtification, and the Properties or rather Singularities, which appertain there▪ unto.
1. Let's conſider the cauſes of Juſtification:1. Conſider the Cauſes of Juſtification. The Efficient cauſe is God, Iſ. 43. 25. The impulſive moving cauſe is the Mercy of God, Eph. 2. 2. The Material cauſe is the effuſion of Chriſts Pretio…s Blood: The formal cauſe is the imputation of Chriſts Righteouſneſs: The Inſtrumental cauſe is Faith. But conſidering every Inſtrumental cauſe is to be reduced to it's efficient cauſe, from whence it proceeds, I ſhall diſtinguiſh *Non foreign ut qualitas propriè aut …otus acti… v…l paſſi… aut opus aliquod bonum & eximii pretii, quaſi ipſ… ſit juſtitia aut ejus pars, aut etiam juſtitiae loco ex cenſu & aeſtimatione Dei; ſed foreign, n…mpe ut modus, medium & Inſtrumentum ceu oculus & manus qua Chriſti ejuſque Juſtitiae participes red…mur, adeoque relative ad objectum Jeſum ipſius juſtitiae & pr…ſſ…is gratiae. Purions Theol. Synopſ.with a Learned Author, that we are not Juſtified by Faith primarily in a proper ſence, as a Quality, but ſecondarily as a means and inſtrument, as an Eye to ſee, and as an Hand to lay hold on Chriſt. Laſtly the final cauſe of Juſtification is either in reſpect of God, and ſo it is his Glory, for all things muſt be done to the Glory of God; or as in reſpect of our ſelves, and ſo it's our Salvation.
2. Now let's conſider the Properties or2. Conſider the Properties or Singularities of Juſtification. 1. Juſtification is an Act of free Grace. rather the Singularities of Juſtification.
1. Juſtification is an Act of free Grace. No Intuition of merits; no concurrence of Good Works moved God to ſet his Heart upon any. How free this Act of Juſtification is, we may read, Rom. 3. 24▪ Being juſtified freely by his Grace through the Redemption that is in Jeſus Chriſt: The Word is foreign freely: nothing that we can do of our beſt works merits any favour at the Hand of God. For when we were in our blood in a moſt loathſome forlorn condition, he ſaid Live, that was a time ofQui docet in opera confidere, is neg…t merit… Chriſti ſufficere. Aug. Love. So then here's not the leaſt ground to truſt in our works: That were to derogate from Chriſt's righteouſneſs. Can any thing be freer than free-gift? The Juſtification of a Sinner ſprings from free Grace, free Love, and Mercy. Faith is the inſtrumental, but not efficient cauſe of Juſtification; neither can the bare foreign Credere, the Act without the Object Juſtifie. Chriſt is he that juſtifieth. Faith is the Hand to lay hold on Chriſt: Neither is Faith the Hand of a Work-Man, that earns his Wages, but the Hand of a Beggar that receives all of Favour and Mercy.
2. Juſtification by Faith conſiſts in the2. Juſtification conſiſts in the Remiſſion of Sins. Remiſſion of Sins, and non-imputation of Tranſgreſſions, Pſ. 31. 1, 2. Bleſſed is he whoſe Tranſgreſſion is forgiven, and whoſe Sin is covered; Bleſſed is the Man to whom the Lord imputeth not Iniquity. Likewiſe the Apoſtle declares how the great work of Reconciliation was tranſacted, 2 Cor. 5. 19. Not imputing their Treſpaſſes unto them. It's true, that the beſt of Gods Children have their Failings: For in many things we offend all, and he that is without Sin. let him caſt the firſt Stone, and it will recoil upon himſelf that caſts it: But Gods Children are humbled for Sin, they water Pſal. 6. 6.their Couches (as David did) with their Tears. They ſigh with Ezekiel to the Ezek. 2…. 6. Jer. 31. 19.breaking of their Loins, with Ephraim they ſmite upon their Thighs. Sin is their Sorrow, Grief and Burthen, wherefore they are by Chriſt call'd unto Repentance, and Chriſt imputes their Sins not unto themſelves, but unto himſelf: They indeed are the Principal Debtors, but Chriſt hath made himſelf liable to pay their Debts, and make full ſatisfaction, becauſe he hath become ſurety for them unto the Father.
3. Juſtification conſiſts in the Imputation3. Juſtification conſiſts in the imputation of Chriſts Righteouſneſs. of Chriſts Righteouſneſs, 2 Cor. 5. 21. We are made the Righteouſneſs of God in him. Of Unrighteous we are made Righteous, of Ungodly we are made Godly: And though we are Ungodly Chriſt juſtifieth us, for he doth not find us good, but he makes us ſo. Now this Righteouſneſs of Chriſt is altogether a Righteouſneſs without us, not depending on any inherent Righteouſneſs, nor any work in us: But it's free, and Gratuitous, without any Praeviſion or Intuition of Grace in the Perſon to be juſtified. St. Bernard Aſſignata eſt homi… juſtitia … lien…, qui… car…it ſu… Juſtitia. Bern. Ep. 190.fully expreſſeth it ſaying, that anothers Righteouſneſs is aſſign'd to Man, becauſe he wants a Righteouſneſs of his own. Hence our Works and Services (though Failings in themſelves) are accepted Righteous by imputation of Chriſts▪ Righteouſneſs. How miſerable would our condition be, if our Services were no better offer'd to God than they come from us! But Chriſt mends our Services in the carriage by offering them to the Father in his own Name and Mediation, ſo that though our Duties be raw, weak, and imperfect, yet Chriſt makes them perfect by the imputation of his own Righteouſneſs, and ſo they obtain acceptance with the Father.
4. Juſtification brings forth choice and4. Juſtification brings forth choice and excellent Fruits. excellent Fruits, as we may read Rom. 5. 1, 2, 3. All thoſe choice Fruits grow on that Tree of Juſtification. Faith is the Mother-Grace there mentioned. Peace, and Acceſs unto the Throne of Grace, Joy, Hope, Glorying in Tribulation are the Daughters or the Fruit which grow on this Tree. Wherefore though Faith only Juſtifies, yet Faith is not alone when it Juſtifieth: For it is accompanied with a Goodly Train of Graces. Though Faith Juſtifieth the Perſon, yet Works Juſtifie the Faith, or declare the Faith to be true. Faith works by Love and purifies the Heart; Gal. 5. 6. Act. 15. 9.and it's the Apoſtles charge, Tit. 3. 8. This * Hujus fid…i charit… non eſt forma, ſed fr…ctus, & p…nit…ti… eſt juſtificati conditi… non cauſa juſtificationis: fid…s … qu… juſtificat, non quae juſtificat eſt ſine operibus, & ſola dicitur in iſto munere non ſolitaria reſpectu comitatus aliarum virtutum. … foreign, non foreign, Per, non propter fidem Juſti decla…r, & per … …ic…t …. Prideaux, Manuductio ad Theologia….is a faithful ſaying, and theſe things I will that thou affirm conſtantly that they which have Believed in God might be careful to maintain good Works. A Learned Profeſſor very dextrous in ſtating of Controverſies concludes thus, Love is not the form but the Fruit, and Repentance is the Condition of him that is Juſtified, not the cauſe of Juſtification, &c. This then is the Purchaſe of Chriſt who imputes his perfect Righteouſneſs to his Members, and their Sins to himſelf; and this Juſtification is active whereby Chriſt fulfilled the whole Law, and paſſive whereby Chriſt became obedient unto Death even the Death of the Croſs.
SECT. II. Of Sanctification by the Spirit of Chriſt.
A Second Purchaſe of Chriſt is Sanctification.2. Purchaſe of Chriſt, Sanctification … the Spirit. For whom Chriſt juſtifies by his Grace, thoſe he Sanctifies by his Spirit. In order of Nature Juſtification may be conceived to preceed Sanctification, becauſe Juſtification is the Root or Mother Grace. The Works of Sanctification are the Fruit proceeding from it, yet in order of time they are ſimultaneous. Thoſe who are purged from the guilt of Sin, labour to be purged from the filth of Sin. It's a good Character to be as ſolicitous and deſirous for Mercy to ſanctify, renew and purify, as for Mercy to pardon us. Wherefore Sincerity is an undoubted evidence of a juſtified Condition, Pſal. 32. 2. It's an infallible ſign of Juſtification, In whoſe Spirit there is no Guile. In handling of the Doctrine of Sanctification, we are to conſider theſe enſuing Particulars, which may ſerve as ſo many ſtrong Arguments to perſwade, or as ſo many Motives to ſtir us up to the practice of Holineſs.
The firſt Motive is drawn from Election,Motive 1. We are elected unto Holineſs. we are elected unto Holineſs, Eph. 1. 4. According as he hath choſen us in him before the Foundation of the World, that we ſhould be holy and without blame before him in love. Election doth not give the leaſt licentious Liberty, but engageth us unto Holineſs. Obſerve the Words now cited, It is not ſaid that we ſhould live as we liſt,Non eliguntur Paulus & qui ei ſimiles ſunt, quia …rant ſancti & immaculati, ſed eliguntur & praedeſtina…tur, ut in ſequenti vita per …pera atque virtutes ſancti & imm…cula…i fia…t. Hieron. in …ph. 1. 4. but that we ſhould be holy.
Neither is it ſaid that we are elected for any Holineſs foreſeen. Election and effectual Calling go together, and to be aſſured of our Election, we muſt make ſure of our effectual Calling, 2 Pet. 1. 10. Calling is put before Election in the ſituation of the Words, and in reſpect of our Duty incumbent on us. Wherefore (ſaith the Apoſtle) the rather Brethren give diligence to make your Calling and Election ſure. Now if we ask why doth Chriſt purchaſe Sanctification for us? The Anſwer is, becauſe he loved us. His Love moved him to waſh and put ſuch Royal Dignities upon his Children. Rev. 1. 5, 6. Ʋnto him that loved us and waſhed us from our Sins in his own Blood, and hath made us Kings and Prieſts unto God and to his Father. This Election was before the Foundation of the World was laid, 2 Theſſ. 2. 13. God hath * Primum dixit ſanctificationem ſpiritus, ut … ſte…deret quod nequaquam ad fidem veniſſemus, niſi ipſa gratia Spiritus Sancti d…iſſet. O…cum. Quomodo eos ſeparavit Deus ſanctificando eos per Spiritum, & quomodo pervenitur ad illum Spiritum per fidem habitam Evangeli…. Grot.from the beginning choſen you to Salvation, through ſanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the Truth. Wherefore the Apoſtle calls the Saints Elect, and that according to the fore-knowledg of God the Father, through Sanctification of the Spirit unto Obedience. Thoſe that are elected unto Glory are elected unto Holineſs: No Holineſs, no Happineſs.
A ſecond Motive is drawn from Creation,Motive 2. We are created unto Holineſs. we are created unto Holineſs. All the Members of our Bodies, and all the Faculties of our Soul ſhould be employed for holy uſes to ſerve God. External and Internal Purity are required, 2 Cor. 7. 1. Let us cleanſe our ſelves from filthineſs of the Fleſh and of the Spirit. The Heart muſtJam. 4. …. be purified and the hands cleanſed; the Tongue muſt miniſter Grace to the Hearer: Holineſs muſt ſit upon the Lips, Heart, and Life. To this purpoſe were we created, Eph. 2. 10. We are his workmanſhip, created in Chriſt Jeſus unto good Works, which God hath before ordained that we ſhould walk therein. Good works are (as a Father ſaith) The way to the Kingdom, Via ad Regnum, non cauſa r…g…di. Bern.not the cauſe of reigning there. We may not, we dare not truſt to our own Merits, and expect to be juſtified by our own Works, yet we muſt perform them in Obedience to God's Command, in Teſtimony of our Duty and Thankfulneſs. They are neceſſary neceſſitate praecepti, non neceſſitate cauſae. Wherefore let us ſeriouſly reflect upon our Creation, and conſider that we are ingaged thereby to Holineſs of Life. The frequent remembrance of our Creation, ſhould excite us unto the practice of Holineſs.
3. Let's conſider our Redemption, andMotive 3. We are redeemed unto Holineſs. this was purchaſed at the deareſt rate, even the purchaſe of Blood, and that not of an ordinary Blood, but of Royal Blood, and more than that, it was the Blood of God, Acts 20. 28. (So we muſt underſtand it by a communication of Idioms.) To this purpoſe hath Chriſt redeemed us out of the Hands of our Enemies, that we might Luke 1. 74, 75.ſerve him without fear in Holineſs and Righteouſneſs before him all the days of our Life. Chriſt did not redeem … that we might live to our ſelves, or as we liſt, but (as the Apoſtle expreſſeth it) Chriſt gave himſelf for his Church, that he might Eph. 5. 26, 27.ſanctify it and cleanſe it with the waſhing of Water by the Word, that he might preſent it to himſelf a glorious Church, not having ſpot or wrinkle, or any ſuch thing, but that it ſhould be holy and without blemiſh. Whoſoever then hath an Intereſt in the Blood of Chriſt, is ſanctified by the Spirit of Chriſt, He is redeemed from his vain Converſation; 1 Pet. 1. 18. 2 Cor. 5. 17. Eph. 4. 23.He is a new Creature; He is renewed in the Spirit of his Mind: The Image of Chriſt is imprinted in him, and that conſiſts in Righteouſneſs and Holineſs.Eph. 4. 24.
SECT. III. Of Glorification.
SAnctification is here begun in thisSect. 3. Glorification is th… Purchaſe of Chriſt. Life, and it muſt receive daily Augmentations, till it be conſummated in Glory. Now Glorification is Chriſt's Purchaſe. The Kingdom of Heaven, the Crown of Glory, the price of our high C…lling, Abrahams Boſom, the purchaſed Poſſeſſion, the lot of the Saints in Life, an Inheritance immortal, undefiled, which fadeth not away, reſerved in Heaven for us; all theſe are ſynonymous Expreſſions to ſet forth the State of Glory, and all theſe are the Purchaſe of Chriſt. Glorification is one of the Links, even the higheſt of them in that Golden Chain, Rom. 8. 30. Whom he did predeſtinate, them he alſo called: and whom he called, them he alſo juſtified: and whom he juſtified, them he alſo glorified. Chriſt himſelf is in Glory, and he the Head, would have Glory put upon all his Members. Chriſt is in all the Saints the Hope of Glory. The Salvation which is Col. 1. 27. 2 Tim. 2. 10. Cum ibi erimus ubi ipſe eſt, tum quidem eum perfecte & coram videbimus, c…m autem videbimus …um ſicut …ſt, tum plene perfecteque …pſi glorificabimur: …am ſi fides nos glorificat ex parte, hoc eſt dum …um quaſi eminus intu…mur, profecto aſpectus nos pl… perfecteque glorificabit. Rolloc.in Chriſt Jeſus is with eternal Glory; and this is Chriſt's grand Petition unto his Father, John 17. 24. Father, I will that they alſo whom thou haſt given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my Glory which thou haſt given me: for thou lovedſt me before the Foundation of the World. Chriſt is gone before to prepare a place for his Children: He ſits at the right hand of the Father in Glory, and hath purchaſed Glory for all his Members. Hence the Apoſtle aſſuredly concludes in his own Name, and in the Name of all true Believers, Col. 3. 4. When Chriſt who is our Life ſhall appear, then ſhall ye alſo appear with him in Glory. And there ſhall not only be Glory put upon the Bodies, but alſo upon the Souls of the Saints, Phil. 3. 21. Who ſhall change our Here then is a notable comfort for all God's Children that not only our Souls after this Life ſhall go unto God that gave them, but our Bodies likewiſe in the laſt day ſhall be raiſed up again and made like unto Chriſt his glorious Body, that our Souls and Bodies being united together: We may live for ever with him in his Kingdom of Glory. Dr. Ayry, on Phil. 3. 21. foreign, i. e. Excellentiſſimè gravem gloriam, Hic Hebraeo more per verbum geminans Apoſt…lu… ſummam quandam excellentiam indicavit. Grot.vile Bodies that it may be faſhioned like unto his glorious Body, according to the working whereby he is able even to ſubdue all things unto himſelf. Whatſoever Sufferings we meet withal they are not to be compared to future Glory. There's a Superlative above a Superlative, mentioned beyond the capacity of our Language to expreſs to the full, 2 Cor. 4. 17. For our light Affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory.
Thus I have endeavoured to repreſentA brief recapitulation of the Premiſes. the Excellency and Dignity of Chriſt, and have endeavoured to make good this Aſſertion, That Chriſt is of ineſtimable Dignity: This I have handled in five Particulars.
1. By reckoning up ſeveral Names of Honour and Dignity appropriated unto Chriſt.
2. By unfolding the Grand Myſtery of the Divine and Human Nature of Chriſt, hypoſtatically united in one Perſon.
3. By repreſenting the unvaluable worth of thoſe threefold Offices of Chriſt, viz. Sacerdotal, Prophetical, and Regal.
4. By ſetting down ſeveral Metaphors applyed to Chriſt.
5. By conſidering thoſe great Purchaſes that Chriſt hath made for his People, viz. of Information, Sanctification and Glorification.
Now then follows the practical Improvement of this Doctrine which ſhall be in Uſes, viz. Information, Reproof, Examination, and Exhortation, Direction, and Conſolation.