Use \st. See from hence that there is no- thing within us could justify us but some- thing without us; not any righteousness inherent, but imputed; we may as well look for a star in the earth as for justification in our own righteousness. The papists say we are justified by works. But the apostle confutes it, " not of works, lest any man should boast," Eph. ii. 9. But the papists say " the works done bv an unretrenerate man indeed cannot justify him, but works done by a regenerate man mav justify." This is most false, as may be proved botli by example and reason.
1. By example. Abraham was a regen- erate man, but Abraham was not justified by works, but by faith, Rom. iv, 3., Abra- ham " believed God, and it was counted t<» him for righteousness."
2 By reason. How can those Morks justify us, which defile us? Isa. Ixiv. 6., " Our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." Bona opera non prcecediint justi/iratiomm, sed sequuntur justijicatinn, — good works are not an usher to go before justification, but an handmaid to follow it.
Onj. Bid doth not the apostle James say Abraham xvasjiisfijicd by works ?
A. The answer is ea*<y : works declare us
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to be righteous before men, but tliey do not make us rigliteous before God. Works are evidences of our justification, not causes. Tliis name only must be graven upon the golden ])late of our higli priest Christ, The Lord our Righteousness.
Use 2d. Of exhortation. Branch 1. Adore the infinite wisdom and goodness of God, to find out such a way to justify us by " rich grace and precious blood." We were all involved in guilt: none of us could plead, not guilty, and being guilty, we lay under a sentence of death ; now that the judge him- self should find out a way to justify us, and the creditor himself contrive a way to have the debt paid and not distress the debtor, this may fill us with wonder and love. The angels admire tlie mystery of free grace in this new way of justifying and saving lost man, 1 Pet, i. 12., and should not we, who are nearly concerned in it, and on whom the benefit is devolved, cry out with the apostle, " O the deptli of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God !"
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Branch 2. Labour for this high privilege of justification. There is balm in Gilead ; Christ hath laid down the price of our jus- tification, viz. his blood ; and he offers him- self and all his merits to us, to justify; he invites us to come to him ; he hath promis- ed to give his Spirit, to enable us to do what is required. W[\y then, sinners, will ye not look after this great privilege of jus- tification ? Do not starve in the midst of plenty ; do not perish when there is reme- dy to save you. Would not he be thought to be distracted, who having a pardon of- fered him, only upon the acknowledgment of his fault, and promising amendment, should bid the prince keep his pardon to himself; for his part, he was in Ioac with his chains and fetters, and would die ? Thou who neglectest justification offered thee freely by Christ in tlie gospel, art this distracted person. Is the love of Christ to be slighted ? Is thy soul and heaven worth notliing? O then look after justification through Christ's blood !
Consider, 1. The necessity of being jus- tified. If we are not justified, we cannot be glorified, Rom. viii. 30., " Whom he jus- tified, them he also glorified." I le who is
outlawed, and all his goods confiscated, must be brought into favour with his prince, before he can be restored to his former rights and liberties : so, we must first have our sins forgiven, and be brought into God's favour by justification, before we caii be restored to the liberty of the sons of God, and have right to that happiness we forfeit- ed in Adam.
2. The utility and benefit : by justifica- tion we enjoy peace in our conscience, — a richer jewel than any prince wears in his crown : Rom. v. 1., " Being justified by faith, we have peace with God." Peace can sweeten all our afflictions, it turns our wa- ter into wine. How happy is a justified person who hath the power of God to guard him, and the peace of God to comfort him I Peace flowing from justification, is an anti- dote against the fear of death and hell, Rom. viii. 33., " It is God that justifies, who is he that condemneth ?" Therefore laljour for this justification by Christ. This privi- lege is obtained by believing in Christ, Acts xiii. 39., " By him all that believe are jus- tified." And Rom. iii. 25., " Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood." Faith unites us to Qn*ist ; and having union with his person, we partake of liis merits, and the glorious salvation which comes by him.