[1.] Because faith is always said to justify as complicated with its object, from whom it receiveth all its virtue.
[2.] Because the righteousness of faith is always contradistinct and opposed to that which is in ourselves : Rom. x. 3, * For they, being ignorant of God's righteousness, they go about to establish their own righteousness.' Now how anything in us can be called God's righteousness, judge ye. So Phil. iii. 9, ' And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.' Eom. i. 17, in the gospel, ' the righteous- ness of God is revealed from faith to faith ; ' Rom, iii. 22, ' Even the righteousness of God, which is by the faith of Jesus Christ, unto all and upon all that believe.'
[3.] Because the apostle speaketh of imputing righteousness for faith, as well as faith for righteousness : Rom. iv. 6, ' Unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works.'
[4.] Because we are never said to be }\\iii\fie(\. propter fidem, but per Jidem ; not because of faith, but by laith. But I shall speak to the matter of imputation in the next i)oint.
3. Faith doth not justify, that is, merely receive the witness of our justification, as those that make it assurance ; that is a thing that followeth faith. We are not justified before faith, for then actual un- believers would be subject to no condemnation ; whereas ' he that believeth not is condemned already,' John iii. 18,
But to show allirmatively how faith justifieth, as an instrument which God hath deputed to the aj)j)rehension and application of Christ's righteousness, the whole order is thus : —
[1.] By effectual calling God begetteth faith, and uniteth us to Jesus
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Christ. Faith is the grace of union, and we are said to ' live in liini by faith,' Gal. ii. 20. And he is said to ' dwell in our hearts by faith,' Eph. iii. 17.
[2.] And being united to Christ, we are possessed of all that is in Christ ; so that whatsoever he hath suffered or done becometh ours : 2 Cor. V. 21, ' For he was made sin for us, that knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.' As Christ had our sins, so we have his righteousness. So that we find imputation a real thing.
[3.] Then God looketh upon us as righteous ; and so —
(1.) He absolveth us from all sin by a free and full pardon, and we are as if we were not sinners in the sight of God : Jer. 1. 20, ' The iniquities of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none ; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found ;' Ps. ciii, 12, ' As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.'
(2.) He accepteth us as righteous to eternal life, so complete as we cannot be challenged : Kom. viii. 32, ' Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth ;' Kom. v. 21, ' That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord.'
Use 1. It showeth us the excellency of faith. God hath put a high honour upon it ; all the conveyances of Christ come into the soul this way, but especially of justification ; and what a mercy is it that God would require nothing of us but faith !
2. It presseth us to get faith ; it is the instrument of justification, the grace that maketh all sure to the people of God. The world liveth by guess or random ; and alas ! what a misery is it to have only our own contrivances and good meanings ! Faith is designed to clothe us with the righteousness of Christ, and that is the best robe. Oh, labour only for that ! Take heed it be a justifying faith. To this end take two cautions : —
[1.] Get such a faith as will endure the sight of God. If you be justified it must be by faith, a righteousness that will endure that: Ps. cxliii. 2, ' For in thy sight shall no man living be justified.' And that is the reason why the deeds of the law are excluded. Nay, get such a faith as will endure the appearance of J.esus Christ, even his terrible appearance in judgment. Graces are true when they can endure that brunt : Luke xxi. 36, ' Watch and pray, that you may be able to stand before the Son of man at his coming.' 1 John iv. 17, ' That we may have boldness in the day of judgment;' that is a sen- sible proof of the truth of graces. 1 John ii. 28, ' And now, little children, abide in him, that when he shall appear, you may have con- fidence, and may not be ashamed at his coming.'
[2.] Let it be such a faith as taketh Christ out of God's hand, such a faith as will stand with knowledge and more discoveries of Christ. The more ignorant any are, the more presumptuous. It must be such a faith as apprehends Christ in the use of all the means appointed. To talk of faith while we contemn or neglect the means, is but an idle fancy, an imaginary persuasion, not faith, and will easily discover our lolly.