(2.) For the life of glorification, we are incapable of that, and can- not hope for it with any comfort till we are pardoned : Eom v. 18, ' The free gift came upon all to justification of life.' Life follows justi- fication, as death doth condemnation. All men by nature are dead in law, and by justification this sentence is repealed, and men are invested with a new right to everlasting life : John v. 24, ' fie that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death to life.' They are not only put into a living condition by sanctification, but have a sentence of life passed in their favour, for justification is a sentence
OS THE LIFE OF FAITH.
of life ; so that if we would live the life of grace, or hope for the life of glory, we must be put into a condition for both by justification.
2. What doth faith do with reK{)ect to this benefit ?
[1.] It assents to the truth of the gospel offering this benefit to us, and causeth the soul to be fully persuaded that God is appeased in Christ with all those that cast themselves upon his grace, and seek God's favour in and through him. This is the work of faith, to believe that it is the good pleasure of God revealed in the gospel to pai-don and justify all them that do believe in Christ : 1 Tim. i. 15, ' This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.' Assent goeth before pursuit ; first we must beUeve that this is a true and faithful saying, before we shall look after such a benefit from him. 8o Heb. xi. 13, ' They saw the promises afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them.' When a man can be persuaded that it is even so, that God will be gracious to them that believe in Christ, then he wall hug and embrace these precious promises. And Eph. i. 13, 'In whom also ye trusted, after ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.' You see under what notion they took up the gospel ; first we must be per- suaded that the gospel is a word of truth, before we stir either hand or foot to look after any benefit by it. I do the rather ])ress this, be- cause the justification of a sinner is the great secret revealed in the gospel, which was hidden from nature till God revealed it. And therefore doth the apostle so operously prove the truth of this in the three first chapters to the Romans. His argument stands thus — that all the world being guilty before God, they must either be condemned, and that will not consist with the mercy and goodness of God, or there must be some way of justifying a siimer ; but his wisdom hath found out that way : Rom. iii. 21-23, ' But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the ])rophets; even the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all that believe ; for there is no difference : for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.' All the world was at a loss about this, how the sinful creature should get rid of the dread of God's justice ; for every man that hath a conscience knoweth that it implies a law, and a law implies a judgment for the breach of the law. Now all the world was afraid of this judgment of God ; the apostle proves this both of Jews and gentiles. Now faith looks into the gospel, and there finds this secret revealed by the holy men of God ; and therefore, whenever the gospel is spoken of, and this mystery of justification, you shall find there is some addition or note of assurance added, that it is a word of truth, or a faithful saying, because the heart of man is apt to doubt of the truth of this glorious mysteiy.
[2.] Faith exciteth us to put in for this benefit of being justified in God's sight. We fell from God by unbelief, and nothing exciteth us to seek after God again but faith. Now this faith doth by setting before us, on the one side, our own sinful and cursed estate , and on the other side, God's promises of pardon and free justification by Christ. In Heb. vi. 18, the heirs of promise are described to be tho.se 'who fly for refuge to lay hold upon the hope that is set before them.'
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There is a })lain allusion to the avenger of blood and the city of rcfu.s^e. A man that had killed another, if he were taken before he came to the city of refuge, he was to be put to death ; now such a man, when his life was concerned, he would fly to the city of refuge. Such are the heirs of promise ; they run to take hold of the hope set before them ; the curses of the law drive them, and the promises of the gospel draw and allure them ; and we never put in seriously and in good earnest for a share in this benefit till faith stirreth up active and lively thoughts about these things, and then we never leave till we see ourselves in- terested therein.