A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 124 (Question 33 cont.)
SERMON CXXIV.
… this Act of Juſtification, God accepts … righteous in his ſight. This is by … called the ſecond port of it; and it … …ys be in conjunction with pardon … the redring of a perſon complea… … … For, although a perſon cannot … ſenſe juſtified, as long as the Guilt … …n lies upon him, and there… poſition of ſuch a Guilt, he muſt be … the juſtifying of him; yet a meer … not amount to Juſtification, but … ſomething more go into it, and … finding and declaring him righte… for this reaſon it is, that a godly … Scripture ſo fre…ently called a … man, which muſt needs have a … proſect to his ſtate of Juſtification … then do here come under our …, viz 5. Th…s in juſtification, the … be found and …e…i…ed Righteous. … God accept of him as righteous in … it is enough for his Juſt ….
…IT in Juſtification, the man muſt be … declared Righteous. And here two … be inquired into, viz. 1. What is … …ſneſs that must be found for him. … muſt be found …ed to ſuch a …
… …AT is then Righteouſneſs which muſt … for him?
… THERE is a twofold Righteouſneſs … in the Word of God; both … be found for the Man in order …ation, though it is but one of them … any inga…te into the Juſtification. … the Righteouſneſs which was re… the C… of Works, which is … called a Legal Righteouſneſs, and … in an noi…erf…l and entire confor… … Law of God, which was given to … the rule of his Obedience, under the … of a Covenant; the leaſt defect in … whereof, whether in omiſſion or …, renders the man unrighteous and … under the guilt of breaking the … J…m. 2.10. For whoſoever ſtall keep the whole law, end yet reſſend in one paint, he is guilty of all. And there is the Righteouſneſs which is accepted of us in the Covenant of Grace, and is called Evangelical, and ſlows from a new p…ciple of Sanctification infuſed by the Spirit of God in Regeneration, by which the man is wrought to a conformity to the revealed Will of God. Hence ſaid to be renewed in righteouſneſs, Eph. 4.24. And that ye … on the new m…n, which after God is cremed in righteouſneſs, & true holineſs. And is at leaſt included, if not altogether intended in that of our Saviour, Mat. 9.20. For I ſay unto you, That except your righteouſneſs … exceed the righteouſneſs of the Scribes and Phariſees ye ſhall … no caſe…er into the kingdom of b…men. Now, though as a rule, it …ſcribes to us an entire perfection, as Mar…ult. Be ye therefore perfe… as your Father which it in heaver as p…ſ…l. And the gracious Soul is re…ly a…;pi…ing after is, as, Phil. 3.13, 14. Brethren, I … my ſelf to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting thoſe things which are behind, & reaching forth … thoſe which are before. I proſe record the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Chriſt Jeſus. Yet God in the New Covenant, and through Chriſt, accepts of that which is ſincere, though it be imperfect, Eph. 1.6. Now, though this … ter he neceſſary in order to Salvation, yet it hath no manner of cauſality in our Juſtification And that may be one reaſon why God is ſaid to Juſtify the ungodly, Rom 4.4. to ſignify the antecedency of our Juſtification, in order of nature, to any inherent righteouſneſs of our own, and conſequently, that our Piety contributes nothing towards it. It is then the former of theſe, viz. A perfect enure legal Righteouſneſs, and no other, that must ſtand for our Juſtification, before God. That which will bear the exact trial of the Law, and not have the leaſt ſlaw, defect, or exorbitancy found in it. And this will be made fully evident by the next. Hence,
2. WHY be must be ſound entituled to ſuch a Righteouſneſs?
…nſ. THE ſubſtance of the Reaſon for this is expreſt, by our Saviour Chriſt, with the ſtrongeſt aſſeveration; in, Mat. 5.18. And the force of the Reaſon ſercht from hence, will be ſeen in the following Concluſions,
1. THE Law w…s given to man at firſt, to be a rule of rel…ve Juſtice. God in his ſpecial government over reaſonable Creatures, deſigned the peculiar manifeſtation of thoſe two glorious moral Perfections of his, viz. His Juſtice and his Mercy. Now, the former of theſe was provided for in the firſt Covenant. And heace a foundation was in it laid for that purpoſe. God had been eſſentially juſt for ever, though there had been no Subject to diſplay it upon: But his Relative Juſtice is diſplayed in the relation between him and man, and the conſtitution of a Rule according to which, the will proceed with man, in the adminiſtration of his Government over him. And on this account, he is called a righteous Judge, Pſal. 7.11. And that Law it ſelf is ſaid to be juſt, Rom. 7.12. And indeed, without ſome Rule or Law given to the Subject, there can be no diſcovery of Juſtice in the adminiſtration of Government over him; it being arbitrary Government. Juſtice ſuppoſeth a Rule, and ſhews it ſelf in proceeding exactly according to it.
2. THAT as man was bound in duty to the Rules of that Law, ſo God was obliged by Covenant to the Sanctions of it. The Tranſaction between God and man at firſt, is called a Covenant, becauſe both ſtood in it mutually engaged. Now the Command was man's part in it, and both the Authority of God over him, and his ſtanding related to God as his Creature, and the equity of the Law it ſelf being ſuited to man's nature, and porper to direct him to his great end, brought him under a tie of Obedience to it, and man's righteouſneſs conſiſted in that Obedience. And God, to ſhew his Authority over man, treated him with a Covenant Promiſe and Threatning, according as he either kept or violated that Law. The Threatning is in, Gen. 217. For in the day that thou eateſt thereof, thou ſhalt ſurely die. The Promiſe in, Rom. 10.5. The man which doth thoſe things ſhall live by them. Now God would have his Juſtice manifeſted, as in the Righteouſneſs of the Law, ſo in the execution of the Sanctions of it, and for that reaſon he bound himſelf to proceed accordingly, and did not leave it as an arbitrary thing. And this was ſo expreſt in the confirmation of the threatning, Gen. 2.17.
3. THAT by theſe Sanctions. God alſo deſigned the diſplay of his Holineſs. We conceive of this Attribute, to be his ſtanding bound for his own Glory in all his Works; but this more peculiarly to be manifeſted in his loving Righteouſneſs, & hating Iniquity. Hence that, Hab. 1.13. Thou art of purer eyes then to behold evil, …nd canſt not look on iniquity. Hence there can be no greater diſcoveries of it, then in his making the Sanctions of his Law to take place, according as men are related to it. Hence, His Law of Righteouſneſs is diſcovered, in the glorious Rewards which he hath provided to beſtow on them that are found in it; and his Abhorrence of Sin, in thoſe fearful Penalties which he executes upon thoſe, that come under the guilt of it. Hence that, Pſal. 9 16. The Lord is known by the judgments which he executeth. And Pſal. 99.8, 9. Hence therefore his Honour is engaged, and that not only of his Truth, but of his Holineſs too, to ſee that man be dealt with according to the tenor of the Covenant, which paſt between them.
4. THAT the Promiſe of Life, was inſeperably connected with man's Obedience, and tha… perfect too. There is this difference to be obſerved between a Covenant Promiſe, and one that is Abſolute: That an Abſolute promiſe ſecures the good promiſed to the ſubject of it, without any exception, and therefore he … any after-conſideration revoke it, wi… ing falſe to his word. Whereas, a C… promiſe, hath a proper reſpect to … … tion to which it is connected, and … promiſer to performance, no further … condition is complied withal; ſo … the ſubject's failing in it, he is at libe… … his promiſe, and no challenge … of the benefit ſo engaged: yes, and … ſtands joyned with a Threatning, in … ſuch failure, it then cuts off the fi… … only from a claim, but any hope of … it, becauſe he ſo falls under the … threatning. So, that there can be n… … ous adjudging of the man ſo failing, … the Reward of Life, becauſe the rule … … teouſneſs on which it is to be bellow … complied withal. Hence that R… … For Moſes deſcribed the righteouſneſs … of the law, that the man which doth theſe … ſhall live by them.
5. THAT the declaring of the man … is in order to his participating in the … m…ſed. This declaration is ſupport … made by one that hath …ower and … to do it, and that in a juridicial way … ſuppoſeth a Trial, in which there is … preſumed to be a Queſtion to be dec… … that lies thus: There was a pro… … made in the firſt Covenant to man, … his perfect Righteouſneſs. Now … the man is, whether he have a ju… … this Life, ſo promiſed; whether, … to the rule of Government, under … was placed, he is to be pronounced … Life or of Death. And in the p… … this Queſtion, that it may be rightly … the inquiry muſt be, Whether … of ſuch a Righteouſneſs, as that … entailed upon: And hence, what … righteouſneſs, he may be found o… … if it amount not to this, it is alien… … caſe under deciſion, and will make … the determination of it. Hence … makes that acknowledgment, w… … his own righteouſneſs Evangelical … 3. If thou, Lord, ſhouldest murk … Lord, who ſhall stand?
6. THE Law is the ſquare or m… … Righteouſneſs, and cannot baulked. … were not …o, there would be no … fulfilling of it in every iota, … aſſures us that there is, Math. 5.1… … will as a Sovereign beſtow Life … without it, who ſhall call his power … in queſion; but if he will do it … there muſt then be a rule of … according to which he proceeds … Sentence; and that Rule can … than the Law of the firſt Cove… … his ſpecial Government, by which … the Creature to an everlaſting … … pineſs or miſery, according to his … or diſobedience, was eſtabliſhed i… … reaſonable Creature is therefore … Law, ſo as that a regard muſt be … … his juſtification, elſe it is not fulfilled; … …trayed, which may nor.
… HENCE the man cannot be righteouſly … without ſuch a Righteouſneſs. Nor … he may. To be without ſuch as one … perſonal; and me to all the race … without, if it were not ſuch as much as … no meer man, that ever could or ſhall … produce ſuch an one for his Juſtifications, and Claim to Eternal Life. But how… ſuch as one there muſt be, and he muſt … Title to it, elſe his Juſtification, … Juſtification, but afforce put upon … of Juſtice, which is inconſiſtent with … righteouſneſs of God to do, a… God muſt … in juſtifying the Believer, and that he … be there muſt be a Righteouſneſs on … this act proceeds, and that muſt be … Righteouſneſs as comports with the … of Life, and ſhears clear of the …, of Death: According to Rom. 3. …. And that can be no other, their what … already taken notice of.
… HENCE, the Grace of the New Covenant … in that God indulgeth the man by …, but that he provides ſuch a Righteouſneſs … him. Men make a clamour, if … in the Judgment upon this rigoury … the Grace by which we are ſaved? … this; ſome carnal minds have found … Righteouſneſs perſonal, accom… of infirmities, to be the rule of …. But this contradicts the whole … of the Covenant, and makes the New … not to be a remedial Law, but truly … of the firſt. Here therefore the … appears, that when upon Trial, … is fear…d not to have any ſuch … of his own perſonal, and can… … on account of his b…ſt: Ac… …, Pſal. 145.2. For in thy … living be juſtified. God looks upon, … reſpect to, a Righteouſneſs that he … for him, and finding it ſufficient … the utmoſt demands of the Law, … …he ſake, and on the account of it, … him righteous, and accordingly … him to receive the promiſed … righteouſneſs. How far this is con… … his Juſtice in this proceedure, … …wards confidered. But this is …, and ſo is accommodated to that … and myſterious Truth, celebrated …. 10. Mercy & truth are was … righteouſneſs & peace have kiſſed each … Rom. 3.26. And is a confirming … of the truth of that, ter…uls, … ſhall go before him … and ſhall … of his ſteps. For this reaſon in … Righteouſneſs of God, a… becauſe … who performed … ſo becauſe … wiſdom and powerful Providence … …ght it in: According to Dan. 9. … therefore abjuring his own perſonal …, aſpires after a title to and inte… … them he ſhall come upon his …. 3.…. And be found in him, not … him own righteouſneſs, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Chriſt, the righteouſneſs which is of God by faith.
2. THAT if God accept of the man as Righteous in his ſight; it is ſufficient for his Juſtification. Our Catechiſm, thus expreſſeth the …d part of Juſtification, to let us underſtand that it is of free Grace, in as much as it derives from God's gracious acceptance: But for which, he might ſee enough in us to condemn us. Pſal. 130.3. Yet intimates, that he doth it righteouſly, elſe it would not be a right Juſtification. Let us then look into the ground and ſtrength of this Aſſertion, in the following Concluſions,
1. THAT God's Accepting us for Righteous, implies two things, which are obſervable,
(1.) Our paſſing in his account and eſteem for Righteous. That he doth really repace us to be ſo Juridically; according to that in Numb. 23.21. He hath not beheld iniquity in Jaw, neither hath he ſeen perverſeneſs in Iſrael. Not that he doth not know all our follies & ſinful infirmities that we labour of, but that in relation to the Law, and Sanctions of it, we are righteous; for he doth not paſs a ſentence upon us contrary to his own mind, but as he eſteems us.
(2.) HIS declaring in to be ſuch, according to that eſteem. For in Juſtification there is a Sentence paſt, declared, entred, recorded; which is the perſons ſecurity againſt any after demands or challenges of the Law. Juſtification belongs to Application, and is one of the benefits of Chriſt's Redemption that is applied to us. And being a judicial Sentence, it can be applied in no other way.
(2.) THAT God in ſo accepting of us, judgeth us worthy of Eternal Life. The acceptance it ſelf, is a declaration hereof, and it flows from the relation that there is in the Covenant, between that Righteouſneſs, and this Life. The Scripture makes mention of ſuch a worthineſs as this, on this very account, Rev. 3.4. Thou haſt a ſew names in Sardis, which have not deſiled their garments, and they ſhall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. And there is no other account can be given of it but this, viz. That as the Covenant declared the reward of Life to be given to ſuch who had a Righteouſneſs anſwering it fully, and they having a Righteouſneſs ſtanding for them in their Trial, which doth fully quadrate with that which was required, ſo it is meet and juſt that they ſhould be adjudged to receive that Reward; and for that reaſon it is called a Crown of Righteouſneſs: and ſaid to be given by a Righteous Judge, 2 Tim. 4.8.
3. THAT God doth this as a Judge. There is a vaſt difference between the declaration of a private Perſon, and of a Judge. The one can only declare us righteous Charitably, whereas the other doth it Authoritatively. God accepts, declares, and judgeth us worthy from a Tribunal, as Lord and Lawgiver, and having the power of Life and Death in his hands, and therefore this Juſtification is limited to him, Rom. 8.44.
4. THAT He doth it at a Righteous Judge. Righteouſneſs is a vertue neceſſary to be found in every one who occupieth the place of a Judge, elſe he cannot anſwer the end of ſuch an Office. And though men may come ſhort of this quality, and ſo abuſe their Truſt, and do unrighteous actions, yet this is far from God. Gen. 18.25. This therefore is aſcribed to him in reſpect of his Judging the World, Pſal. 96.13. He ſhall judge the world with righteouſneſs, and the people with his truth. Yea, for this very reaſon the Apoſtle argues the Righteouſneſs of God, Rem. 3.5.6.
5. THAT hence He hath a reſpect to a Righteouſneſs that anſwers the Law according to which this Judgment ſaſſeth. This is a neceſſary inference from the premiſes. For, in paſſing a Judgment upon a perſon, it is impoſſible that it ſhould proceed righteouſly, unleſs the Law according to which it is to paſs, be applied in it, according to the true purport or meaning of it. We may then hence ſafely conclude, that God will nor as a Judge, repute any perſon to be righteous, unleſs the Law according to which he ſo doth, be fully anſwered. For, tho' the Believer is not under the Law as a Covenant, but under Grace, Rom. 6.14. Yet he was under it before his Juſtification, being diſcharged from it by this act, and ſo in this diſcharge the Juſtice of God, hath a Righteouſneſs which it reſpects in it.
6. THAT His Judgment is Supreme, & finally determines the Cauſe. He hath Authority to reverſe all the Judgments of men, if they paſs wrongfully, and ſo there lies an appeal from them to Him; but there is no appeal from his Judgment to any other, becauſe there is no Court Superiour to his. When once he hath declared the man righteous, it is a vain thing for men or Devils, to bring in Articles againſt that man, or lay any thing to his charge. So the Apoſtle argues, Rom. 8.33. Who ſhall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. If once God ſaith, this man is Righteous, and the Law is ſatisfied in him, the Cavils and Accuſations of men and Devils, will ſignify nothing.
7. THAT hence upon this Acceptance, we cannot fail of the Reward of Righteouſneſs. As it is God who juſtifyeth, ſo it is he who recompenceth; and he will do it according to the Sentence that he hath pronounced. And hence the Apoſtle ſpeaks of it, as of a thing already done, Rom. 8.30. And whom he juſtified, them he alſo glorified. And it muſt needs be ſo, for the promiſe is paſt, and God cannot in righteouſneſs withhold the performance of it. Hence that, Tit. 1.2. In hope of eternal life, which God that cannot lie, promiſed before the world began. And hereupon the recompence of Glory is attributed to God's Righteouſneſs, 2 Theſ. 1.6.7. Thus ſhall it be done to the man whom God ſhall ſee meet to accept. And what more is neceſſary to a compleat Juſtification.
USE. I. HENCE it is of Infinite Concernment, what Righteouſneſs we have to rely on for our Justification. How many do ſhew their egregious folly in this reſpect? Did you ever call your ſtate to the bar of your Conſciences, and put your ſelves on this Trial, And Juſtified? Know it, to be Juſtified, in no is declared Righteous by God; for which you muſt be accepted as ſo, in his account: And that you may be ſo, there muſt be a Righteouſneſs that ſtands for you. But whereas one is it? Do you think any ſhort of on the perfection will do? You then deceive yourſelves. And is not your own ſo? To be head of relying on it: You will not ſtand the charge of your own heart, which tells you, this anſwers not the Law. Reſt not then, till you have gotten a title to one that will bear the moſt exact trial, and be found compleat, which can be no other than that of Chriſt. And how it may ſtand righteouſly for you, as if it had been your own, will afterwards be conſidered. But account this to be your main concern, and do not neglect to proſecute it.
USE. II. LEARN hence alſo, that it is ſufficient ground of Conſolation, that … accepted by God in the New-Covenant. Tho' the Righteouſneſs for which God accepts of us be that which anſwers to the firſt Covenant, yet the acceptance it ſelf is a fruit of his rich Grace, and belongs to the New-Covenant diſpenſation. However, this acceptance of us is according to his Righteouſneſs, becauſe Righteouſneſs & Peace kiſs … other in it. Have we then any wi… of this Acceptance in us? Doth the Spi… God ſpeak peace to, and in us? We are ſafely infer from hence, that the … anſwered, that Juſtice is ſatisfyed, … there is a Righteouſneſs made … which we are accounted worthy of … Life. And how may we triumphantly … upon cry out as he, Pſal. 118.17. I ſhall … die but live, and declare the works of the ….
[SEPTEMBER 27. 1698.]