3 7N"mnD. The Hebrew useth to note excellent things, by adding the name of God ; as cedars of God, Ps. Ixxx. 10 ; rivers of God, Pa. Ixv. 19 ; wrestlings of God, Gen. xxx. 8 ; harps of God, Rev. xv. 2,
44-8 HEAVEN ON EARTH. [ROM. VIII. 32-34.
ness within his own reach, and a righteousness within Satan's reach ; it was not so high, but Adam could lay his hand upon it, as I may say ; it was not so high, but Satan could reach to the top of it, yea, to the over-topping of it, as we have all found by woful experience. Oh, but that righteousness that faith is conversant about, is a righteousness of such a height, as that neither Satan nor the world can reach to it : Ps. Ixxi. 15, 16, 19, ' My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day ; for I know not the numbers thereof. I will go in the strength of the Lord God : I will make mention of thy right- eousness, even of thine only. Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hath done great things : O God, who is like unto thee ?' This glorious righteousness of Christ, about which faith is busied, is called the righteousness of faith, because faith apprehends it, and applies it, and feeds upon it, and delights in it, Rom. iii. 28. Rom. iv. 13, ' For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteous- ness of faith.' Chap. ix. 30, ' What shall we say then ? That the Gen- tiles which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.' The righteousness of Christ about which faith is employed, is called the righteousness of faith, because faith puts on this righteousness upon the soul. Faith wraps the soul up in this righteousness of Christ, and so justifieth it before God instrumentally.' The actings of faith on this glorious righteous- ness doth most strengthen the soul : Isa. xlv. 24, ' Surely fehall one say, In the Lord have I righteousness and strength.' The actings of faith on this blessed righteousness, doth most glad and rejoice the soul : Isa. Ixi. 10, 'I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God ; for he hath clothed me with the garment of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness.' The actings of faith upon this complete righteousness of Christ, renders souls just and righteous, pure and holy, in the account of God : Rom. x. 4, ' For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness, to every one that believeth.' Christ fulfils the law for believers, and they by believing do fulfil the law in hiiti ; and so Christ by doing, and they by believing in him that doth it, do fulfil the law, and so are reputed fair and spotless, complete and perfect, before the throne of God. Faith's putting this righteousness on the soul, brings down blessings upon the soul. When Jacob had put on his elder brother's garment, he carried the blessing away. The actings of faith upon this peerless righteousness of Christ, brings down the blessing of peace, and the blessing of joy, and the blessing of remis- sion of sins ; and, in a word, all other blessings that contributes to the making us blessed here and happy hereafter, &c.
(3.) The third object of faith. Thirdly, The third object that faith is exercised about is, tJie precious promises, which are a Christian's
• Rom X. 6, but the righteousness which is of faith, i. e. which is apprehended by faith, &c. Mark, faith is only the instrument ; it cannot be the substance of that rigiiteous- ness, as it were, whereby we are justified and saved, (1.) because it is imperfect ; (2.) the acts of faith are transient ; (3.) then should men have something within them whereof to boast ; (4.) faith is a part of inherent holiness ; (6.) then some men should be justified more, and some less, according to the different measures of faith in them, Gen. zxvii. 15 ; Rom. V. 1 ; 1 Peter i. 8 ; Acts x. 43.
Rom. VIII. 32-34] heaven on earth. 449
magna charta} As every precious stone hath an egregious ^ virtue in it, so hath every promise. The promises are a precious book, every leaf drops myrrh and mercy ; and upon these precious promises, precious faith looks and lives. From these breasts faith sucks comfort and sweetness. Ps, cxix. 49, 50, ' Remember thy word (that is, thy pro- mise) unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, for thy word hath quickened me.' So in Ps. xxvii. 13, 'I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living ;' Heb. xi. 13, ' These all died in faith (or according to faith), not having received the pro- mises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them' (or, as the Greek hath \i, saluted them by faith ; they kissed the promises, and kissed Christ in the promises^), ' and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.' It would be an endless thing to shew you how the faith of the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and other saints have been acted and exercised upon promises of sanctification, upon promises of justification, upon promises of salva- tion, upon promises of glorification, upon promises of protection, upon promises for direction, upon promises for supportation, &c. Look, as the lamp lives upon the oil, and the child upon the breasts, so doth faith upon the promises.
For the further advantage and comfort of your souls in eyeing the promises, let me give you these two sweet hints :
First, In your looking upon the promises, mind most, eye most, spiritual promises, absolute promises, viz., those and such like that you see in the margin.* These spiritual and absolute promises are of nearest and greatest concernment to you ; these carry in them most of the heart of Christ, the love of Christ, the good-will of Christ ; these are of greatest use to satisfy you, and to settle you when you are wavering ; to support you when you are falling ; to reduce you when you are wandering ; to comfort you when you are fainting ; to counsel you when you are staggering, &c. Therefore make these your choicest and your chiefest companions, especially when it is night within your souls, when you are sensible of much sin and but a little grace, of much corruption but of little consolation, of much deadness but of little quick- ness, of much hardness but of little tenderness, of many fears and but a little faith. The Jews under the law had more temporal promises than spiritual, but we under the gospel have far more spiritual promises than temporal ; therefore sit down at this fire, and be warmed ; drink of these springs, and be satisfied; taste of these delicates, and be cheered. Let the eye of faith be cast upon all the promises, but fixed upon spiritual promises, upon absolute promises ; they will have the greatest influence upon the heart to holiness, and to prepare it for everlasting happiness.**