A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 126 (Question 33 cont.)
SERMON CXXVL
III. WE are now to conſider how … Righteouſneſs of Chriſt becomes … … mal Cauſe of our Juſtification, … Imputation of it to us. This is a … point in the Doctrine of Juſtification, a…d without which the whole F…brick of it … fall. And yet we muſt fight for it againſt Armies of Adverſaries, who ſeek to … it. But my buſineſs at preſent is not P… cal, but only to explain and con… … great Truth. For which end there are … Things, that may come under our … Conſideration, viz.
1. The proper … of the …m, Imputation a… it …s uſed in the … of juſtification.
2. The neceſſary of the … tion of the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt to us, … may he Juſtified by it.
3. The ſufficiency of … Imputation for our compleat Juſtification.
LET us inquire into the proper … of the word or term, Imputation, as it is … in the Doctrine of Juſtification. It is a … leſs cavil of thoſe that ſay, the word … and Imputation, is not expreſly uſed in Scripture, in the ſenſe that we put upon it; … if the thing intended in it, be m…ly … be found in the Word of God, it is … to vindicate the term, in as much, as … are ſeveral other terms uſed, and … hands allowed for the clearing up of Scripture truths, which are not there i… … Words; although the allegation brought i… … of this, is without ground. Imputation is here underſtood in a Law ſenſe; and … thing is then imputed to a Perſon, when it is in Law neckoned to him as his, and his O… is to be determined according to it. This …wing it as his, is the very proper Imputation, in as much as the Law is to proceed …ding to that reckoning. This imputation they be either of Sin or of Righteouſne…. Of the former we read, Pſal. 32.2. Bleſſed is the man unto whom the Lord imputa… at iniquiry. And that Imputation intends …ging of the Guilt of Sin upon the perſon. Of the …tter ſee. Rom. 4.6. Fomes at Davil alſo deſertheth the …eſedneſe of the man … when God imputeth rig…teouſneſs without …. And then it intends the acquitting of the Perſon from Guilt, and reputing him …. Now this Imputation may, in ſuch of theſe reſpects, have a double Foun…. Either it is in reſpect of what the perſon himſelf hath been and done; for a … own perſonal Sin and Righteouſneſs my be imputed to him. It is one thing to he ſinful, or to he righteous, and another to live theſe in Law reckoned to him. Hence … expreſions, 2 Time. 4.16. Rom. 4.4. … theſe things are upon trial, brought is ſin, at againſt the man, then they are imputed to him. Or elſe relarively, when another's ſin is ſo charged on a Perſon, as he is … to hear the Guilt of it, ſo as that …tion is demanded of him for it; or …ar's Righteouſneſs, is reckoned to a …, ſo as he hath a Priviledge or Benefit after to his acquittance of Juſtification. And … of theſe we need look no further, … that famous text, 2 Cor. 5.21. For he … him to be ſin for us, who knew no ſin, there might be made the righteouſneſs of God …. Both of the things there mentioned, … refer to this Imputation, and will … in the Sequel. Nor is this ſort of … a ſtranger from the natural light …, meerly Heathen, as might be abun…ly confirmed.
We proceed to conſider, the Necrſſity of the impution of the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt to as, the we may be Juſtified by it, i. e. That if … be juſtified, it muſt be in this way. … it he here obſerved, that we are confider… in his lapſed ſtate; for if he had … his integrity, and lived in perfect … to the Rule of Obedience … ſ… at firſt gave him, his own perſons … had been imputed to him, … …l have been juſtified by it, but the ca… …wiſe with tallen man. For the cleat… then of this Neceſſity, we muſt go a … back, and ſo proceed to the de…ion of it. Let us then take up the … Concluſions,
1 THAT the man muſt have a Righteouſneſs … h…, if ever he be Juſtified. We are …, God is Judge himſelf, Pſal. 50.6. and … is he who Juſtifieth, Rom. 8.33. and this is muſt be juſt in juſtifying, Rom. 3.26. This Juſtification therefore, muſt have a reſpect to ſome Law, by which the man is to he tried, and according to which he muſt be acquitted; which cannot be, unleſs his caſe be found to anſwer the Law; for if there he a Rule of Righteouſneſs by which the man is to be tried, the Juſtice of the trial, is in conformity to that Rule: The Low therefore muſt ſay, the man is righteous, if the Judge do righteouſly ſay ſo. And hence he muſt have a Righteouſneſs to offer to the Law for this, elſe he cannot be juſtified.
2. THAT this muſt be a Righteouſneſs, which every way anſwers the demands of the Law of the firſt Covenant for him. It is true, the way of our Juſtification i… accommodated to the Covenant of Grace, according to which only we can have any reaſon to expect it. Both the proviſion, and the application of it to us, is all of Grace, Eph. 2.8. For by grace ye are ſoved, through faith, and that not of your ſelves: it is the gifts of God. But yet, the Righteouſneſs it ſelf is ſuch as is commenſurate with the Law of the Covenant of works, and nothing ſhort of that will do. And the reaſon of it is manifeſt, becauſe the vey ground of the neceſſity of our Juſtification, in order to our Salvation, is in our relation to that Covenant, and the eſtabliſhment of the Sanctions of it, ſo as that the demands of … muſt be fully anſwered, before it will give us a diſcharge from the Obligation to it. Chriſt therefore tells us, Mat. 5.18. Till heaven & earth paſt, one you or one title ſhall in no wiſe paſt from the law, till all be fulfilled. So that, whatſoever imperfect Obedience, if ſincere, may be accepted of us, in the way of Grace, through Chriſt, Yet none leſs than, of ſhort of that, which the Law requires, will do for our Juſtification before God.
3. THERE is no ether Righteouſneſs but that of Chriſt, which will there anſwer the Law for bow. He that conſiders the nature of the Law, and the relation which fallen man hears to it, muſt needs ſubſcribe to this. The Law requires perfect & perſevering Obedience, and the leaſt defect at any time brings the man under the curſe of it, Gal. 3.10. Curſed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. There is not only an active but a paſſive Obedience too, requiſite for the … the Law, on account of fallen … is nothing leſs than Death, Gen. … day that thou eateſt thereof, thou … …rely die. Ezek. 18.4. The ſoul that ſinneth, it ſhall die. As for Angels, they are of another kind, and ſo cannot ſtand for man to anſwer the Law on his account. As for men, they are all in the ſame condemnation naturally, Eph. 2.3. And were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. And ſo one man cannot anſwer for another, Pſal. 49.6. &c. And as for the man himſelf, he is come ſhort, &c. Rom. 3.23. For all have finned, and come ſhort of the glory fo God. And ſo cannot be Juſtified, Pſal. 143.2. In thy fight ſhall no man living be juſtified. For, Pro. 20 9. Who can ſay, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my ſin Eccl. 7.20. For there is not a juſt man upon earth that doth good, and ſinneth not. So that he cannot pay the active Obedience which he owes. And in regard of paſſive Obedience, if he muſt ſuffer it in his own Perſon, he muſt then he condemned to it, how then can he be juſhfied, and his Sufferings muſt be Eternal, &c. Now there remans no other but the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, for the Juſtification of ſuch an one, but for which, the whole unhappy race of fallen Adam muſt needs have miſerably periſhed.
4. THAT he muſt have a title to this Righterouſneſs as his own…legally, if ever it anſwer for him. Whatever jufficiency there is in the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, as certainly there is vertue enough in it, to juſtify the whole World, if applied to, and accepted for them, yet the efficacy of it can extend no farther then this Application. That all are not juſtified by it is certain, for then all would be ſaved, which they are not. All have not the offers of this Righteouſneſs made to them, and they are loſt. 2 Cor. 4.3. But if our Goſpel be bid, it is bid to them that are loſt. And of thoſe to whom the offers are made, there are multitudes that reject them and it; and refuſing the tenders of this Grace, they come under the threatning of Damnation. Chriſt doth not profit them, becauſe they ſeek a Juſtification ſomewhere elſt. Every man muſt give an account of himſelt to God. He muſt therefore have a Righteouſneſs to plead, that is, on the acceptance of the Law, ſome way his own. For the Queſtion is Hath this man kept the Law perſectly? And it is rain to ſay, there is ſuch an one hath kept it, unleſs it can be pleaded, that he did it for him. Hence that, Gal. 2.20. I am crucified with Chriſt. Never theleſs I live; yet not I but Chriſt liveth in me: and the life which I live in the fleſh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himſelf for me.
5. THAT this Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, can be theirs, ſo as to Juſtify them, in no other way but that of Imputation. On the ſuppoſition, that we muſt have a Righteouſneſs to be juſtified by of which the word of God hath given us full aſſurance, it muſt be either that that is inherent in us, or imputed to us, for a third ſort cannot be ſuppoſed. If it be inherent in us, it muſt be either congenerate, acquired, or infuſed, for in no other way can we come by it: but in neither of theſe ways do we come to be owners of an inherent Righteouſneſs which will juſtify us, becauſe all perſonal Righteouſneſs whatſoever is diſclaimed, Phil. 3.8, 9. Yea, we are aſſured, that Chriſt is of God, made our righteouſneſs, 1 Cor. 1.30. And for that reaſon, he hath that Name put upon him, Jer. 23.6. THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Now he is ſaid to be ſo, either becauſe he is Efficient or Author of a Righteouſneſs in us, by infuſion, whereby we are enabled to anſwer the Law fully; or elſe, becauſe he hath is his own Perſon, in our nature, performed ſuch a Righteouſneſs on our account, as any ſtand for us, and give full ſatifaction, to God, which muſt be ours neceſſarily by impor…tions. But not the former, and therefore the la…. Man hath no Righteouſneſs in him naturally, but is full of all the ſeeds of unrighteouſneſs. We have the deſoription of the natural men, Rom 3 10, &c. Man hath not any ſtrength left in him, by himſelf to acquire an habit of righteouſneſs, which may anſwer the Law, Rom. 5.6. For when we were yet without ſtrength, in due time Chriſt died for the ungodly. Eph. 2 1. And you bath be quickned who were d…d in treſpaſſes and ſins. It remains then, … it muſt be either an infuſed, or an … Righteouſneſs. Now that it muſt be this latter, will appear from the following Remarks. (1.) THAT individul Righteouſneſs of Chriſt which ſatisfied for us, cannot be infuſed into as, and thereſore if it be ours, it muſt be … to us. Reaſon it ſelf tells us, that individed actions and paſſions, are terminated in the ſubject of them, and ſo cannot actually be done or ſuffered by another. Another any do a like thing, but he cannot do the ſome thing, becauſe it implies a contradiction. Chriſt in his own Perſon performed actor Obedience to the Law, and it was mediatorial. On which account he fignities that be … obliged to it, Mat. 3.15. For thus it bu… us to fulfill all righteouſneſs. He alſo is his own perſon bare our ſins. i. e. The penalty of them, and that in Obedience to the Law, and therefore God laid them upon him. Hence ſuch expreſſions, Iſai. 53.4. Surely he hath born our grieſs, and carried our ſu…. And ver 6. The Lord hath laid on him the iniquiry of us all. 1 Pet. 2.24. Who his own ſelf have our ſins in his own body on the tree, that we being dead to ſin, ſhould live unto righteouſneſs; by whoſe ſtripes we are bealed. And becauſe in this way we come to be juſtified, viz. by the vertue of his active and paſſive Obedience perſonal, it muſt needs be by imputing of this to us. (2.) THE Righteouſneſs which is in…ſed into us is an imperſect Righteouſneſs, & cannot therefore ſtand for our Juſtification. It is a vain pretence of thoſe that acknowledge Chriſt's perſonal Righteouſneſs to be the meritorious cauſe of our Juſtification, but will have our own duties of new Ohedience the matter of it: As if he by his Merits had ſatisfied the Law Covenant, and ſo proceeded for us an eaſier way of Juſtification by the New Covenant; ſince our Juſtification is properly from the condemnation of the Law, and giving a title to Life conſiſtent with it, which our own holineſs cannot do. The beſt that we do will not bear the trial of the Law, and therefore it cannot juſtify us from it, David therefore makes that ingenious acknowledgement, Pſal. 130.3, 4. If thou, Lord, ſ…l… …rk in…quirties: O Lord , who ſhall … there is forgiveneſs with there: this the ma…eſt be ſeared. And the Apoſ…le Paul … ſuch an expreſſion, 1 Cor 4.4. But I … making by my ſelf, yet an I am hereby j…ed: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. J…tion is now con…erred upon us, Rom …. 1 Therefore being juſt…ſ…ed by ſaith, we have … with God through our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. And is not deferred till our Sanctification is p…ſect, but whiles in navy things …e offend of. It is then unreaſonalbe to think, that we can be juſtified, on account of that, for which, in the Laws rigour we muſt be con…ed; ſuch are our moſt ſincere ſerv…ces: yea, ſuch are our Perſons, whiles we are re… but in part. (3.) TO be ju…c…ſed by another's Righteouſneſs, is … juſtiſfied by …. There two expreſſion moſt …eeds be Symery…rial. Paul mani…y oppoſes being found in his …, a…d in … which is of God by ſ…th, Phil. 3.9. And that we are juſtified by another's Righteouſneſs is according to the whole curren… of the Goſpel; and this is intimated in the Leviti… when God promiſed forgiveneſs upon the Offering of the Sacrifice, as, L…v. 4. as, 46, 31, &c. And this is plainly intimated in that famous Text, 2 C…r, 5. 21. It our … were laid upon Chriſt, and his Satisfaction was accepted for us, it muſt needs be by th… Imputation, that ſuch a manſlation …. (4.) THAT Juſtiſfication which is of the ungodly … needs be by …epa…. We have a …ge expreſſion uſed in, Rom. 4.5. Bus to … our heth not, but believeth on him that juſſi… the ungolly, his ſaith is counted for righteouſneſs. Which muſt needs intimate, the when God beſtows this Juſtification upon … be hath no Godlineſs to recommend him to God, for the obtaining of this benefit … hi… hands, on the account of that. God did not firſt make him Godly, and for that ju…y him; but that Juſtification in order of …, is antecedent to and in order of time is …taneous with Sanctification. Now it is …, that there muſt be a Righteouſneſs for this man's Juſtification, or elſe the Judge would have no foundation to pro… upon, and ſo ſhould not do that which …. It is impoſible that he ſhould find this …rent, in one that is ungodly, he muſt … find it abroad, and accept it for …, and reckon it as his, and this can be in … way but by Imputation.
… let us take an accouns of the Suffi… this Imputation for our Juſtification. … and Blood cavil here; the Oppugners … Doctrine, call imputed Righteouſneſs, … Righteouſneſs, a chimerical fancy, … to be found, but in mens crazed …. And though ſome do acknow… rational in matters pecuniary, to … an exchange of perſons, yet they … mallow it, in matters capital, pretend… th… Juſtice is not ſatisfied but eluded by ſuch an exchange. That therefore which l…es before us, is to make it appear, that the Jufitication of a Summer, by the Imputation of Chriſt's Righteouſneſs to him, fally anſwers the ends of God's relative Juſtice. For which, let the following Concluſions be conſidered,
1. THAT the firſt Covenant in which God treated man, was for the diſplay of his Ho…neſs and Juſtice. God ſought his own declarative Glory in all his Works of Emciency, and his infinite Wiſdom contrived all ſuitably lot this end. Now that be might make way for the illuſtration of theſe preci…es attributes of his. He treated with man in a Covenant, in which he eſtabliſhed a rule of his ſpecial government over his reaſonable Creatures, wherein he laid the foundation for the exerciſe of theſe in his after dealing with them, according to the te…or of this Core ant. It is true, Pſal. 145.17. The Lord is righteouſly in all his ways, and … in all his works. But there are more emineat diſcoveries of the e… in his tranſactions with men. And for this reaſon is that encomium put the Law, Rom. 7.12. Wherefore the laws is holy, and the commandment boy, and juſt, and good.
2. THAT the dighty of theſe Attributes was …caliarly deſigned, in the diſcovery of his loving of Righteouſneſs, and b…ing of Iniquiry. That God doth ſo, be hath aſſured us in his Word. This therefore is aſcribed to Chriſt, as God, Pſal. 45.6, 7. Thy th… are, O God, is for ever and ever: the ſcepter of thy kingdom is a righ ſcepter. Thou k…eſt righteouſneſs, and baſeſt …kedneſs. We are therefore told, that God takes Celight in the works of Righteouſneſs, Jer. 9.24. And that he abo,inates Sin, Jer. 44.4. O do not this abominable thing that I hate. And when the Prophet would ſet forth the Holineſs of God, he doth it is ſuch terms, Hab. 1.13. Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cauſt … ſeek on iniquity. And his Righteouſneſs is accordingly exhibited, Pſal. 11…, 7. When God rewards Righteouſneſs, and puniſheth Sin, with the greateſt Rewards & Puniſhments, he therein gives an illuſtrious proof of his being Holy and Jeſt.
3. THAT in order to this, the S…mtions of the …m … be ſully anſwered. It was by theſe Sanctions that God ſecured the honour of theſe Attributes, in his government of men, and therefore they cannot be ſuitably glorified but in the accompliſhment of them. For this reaſon God did as firmly oblige himſelf to theſe Sanctions as he did man in the Duty required of him in that Law. As therefore man ſtands related to them, ſo they muſt take place upon him, and that not only, becauſe elſe his Veracity might be called in queſtion, with whom it is impoſible to lie, but the Glory of theſe Perfections of his, which he contrived to advance in this way would fail Hence that Pſal. 119.160.
4. THAT hence, if theſe S…actions be ſo anſwered, according to the true intent of them, theſe Attributes are therein manifeſted glori…ſty. if God do advance the glory of his H…lineſs & Juſtice, in rewarding Obedience with Life, and puniſhing Sin with Death, ſo as that the deſign of the firſt Covenant be fully complied withal, and the truth of his Promiſe and Threatning therein declared do ſtand, this will fully manifeſt his Glory. Indeed if any of theſe ſhould be loſers upon the account, and the Sanctions of the Law be ſuperſeded or perverted, that would be derogatory to the Glory of God. And it would be an impeachment of the Wiſdom, as well as of the Immutability of G…d, if he ſhould contrive a way to ſave Sinners, to the diſhonour of any of his Perfections. But we are told, Rom. 3.26. To declare, I ſay, at this time his righteouſneſs: that he might be juſt, and the juſtifier of him which believeth in Jeſus.
5. THAT the firſt Covenant did not exclude the Interpoſition of a Surety to anſwer for man, in caſe there ſhould be need of one. It is true, it did not include one, becauſe that was reſerved to be diſplayed in another Covenant: but it did not ſhut one out; there was no clauſe in it, that excep…ed againſt it, not needs there any more be ſaid to prove this, but that God upon man's failing in his Obedience to that, preſently diſcovered the way of recovery by a Surety, Gen. 3.15. which he would not have …one,…t… he had not before purpoſed it. And indeed, the firſt Covenant was but a ſoil on which the Grace of the new one was to be drawn, ſo far as God's Elect were concerned in it. Hence that, Rom. 5.21. That as ſin hath reigned unto death: even ſo might grace reign through righteouſneſs unto eternal life, by Jeſus Chriſt our Lord.
6. THAT Chriſt did thus interpoſe, and was a ſufficient Surety. He is ſo called, Heb. 7 22. God made him ſo, and therefore could not but accept of him as ſuch. And touching his ſufficiency every way to anſwer the demands of that Law, both in performing the condition of Life, and anſwering the condition of Death, according to the tenor of that Covenant, we have already confidered, in the treating of his Redemption & Mediatorſhip.
7. HENCE the Holineſs & Juſtice of the Law were no loſers by this Suretiſhip of Chriſt. The exchange that was made between him, and thoſe for whom he undertook, not only made way for the aſtoniſhing diſcovery of the riches of God's Grace, but did moſt illuſtriouſly exalt the honour of his Holineſs and Righteouſneſs; in as much as, not only was the ſatisfaction made by him to the Law of infinite value, and ſo ſufficient to anſwer for all on whoſe account he did it, as hath formerly been made to appear. But, theſe Attributes ſhone forth in the clea…eſt demonſtration of them, when the Son of God, who was his Father's delight, was not ſpared, when he ſtood in our place, and was proſecuted by the Law on our account, but his Soul was made a Sacrifice for Sin.
8. HENCE the Juſtification of a Sinner by the Impataion of the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, every way anſwers the ends of the firſt Covenant, and exalts the glory of the Grace of the … Covenant. And what more is requi… … make it ſufficient for our Juſtification? … if that be fulfilled in it, Pſal. 83.10. … needs no more. If the Law ſaith, … ſatisfied, and the Sinner is hereupon acq…, the Law and Goſpel do intirely ha… … in man's Salvation.
USE. LET us all then make this ou… … buſineſs to get this Righteouſneſs of Chriſt … by Imputation. Reſt not in any other, … ſatisfyed till you have gotten this: Get, …his long White Robe, this Wedding G…rment …, if you would not be found naked in the … Day. Wait upon God for this Grace, … moſt earneſt importunity, and let him … alone, till he hath entertained you … Prodigals with this beſt Robe. And let … ſuch as have through mercy, obtained … unparallel'd favour at his hands, bleſs … for it, and reſt ſatisfied in it. And let … as are ſtrangers to the Goſpel Grace, … at you for it, and endeavour to mock … out of it, but do you look upon your … to be ſafe, and accordingly rejoyce & ni…gh in it, being aſſured, that in this Righteouſneſs you ſhall ſtand in the Great Day, when … as relyed on any other ſhall be found without a Wedding Garment, and be caſt into … Darkneſs.
[NOVEMBER 22. 1698.]