2. With respect to faith itself, whereby the merits of Christ's obedience and death are applied and made beneficial to us. When we believe, we are qualified ; and therefore it is said that ' Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness,' Rom. iv. 3 ; that is, God accepted him as righteous for Christ's sake. And so he doth every one that believeth ; for, Rom. iii. 22, ' The righteousness of God is by faith of Christ Jesus, unto all, and upon all them that believe ; ' without any difference. If Abraham was justified by faith, we are justified by faith. Now, if you ask me what kind of believer is
218 SERMON UPON GALATIANS V. 5.
qualified and accepted as righteous, I answer— It is the penitent behever and the working believer.
[1.] The penitent believer ; for faith and repentance are insepar- able companions: Mark i. 15, ' Repent, and believe the gospel; ' Acts xii. 38, ' Repent, and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost ; ' Acts xi. 21, ' The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.' These two cannot be severed ; for till we are affected with that miserable estate whereunto we have plunged ourselves by our sins, and there be an hearty sorrow for them, and a perfect hatred and detestation of them, and a full and peremptory resolution to forsake them, that we may turn to the Lord and live in his obedience, we will not prize Christ nor his benefits, nor see such a need of the spiritual physician to heal our wounded souls ; nor will God accept us as righteous Avhile we con- tinue in our unrighteousness. So that, though it be righteousness of faith, and the believer be only accepted as righteous, yet it is the penitent believer whose heart and mind is changed, and is willing by Christ to come to God.
[2.] It is the working believer ; for so it is explained in the next verse, ' Faith working by love ; ' and so expressed elsewhere : Heb. xi. 7, ' By faith, Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark, to the saving of his house, by which he became an heir of the righteousness which is by faith.' Observe there, the saving of Noah from the flood is a type and shadow of salvation by Christ. The flood drowned and destroyed the impenitent world, but Noah and his family were saved in the ark. We are warned of the eternal penalties threatened by God ; if we do not repent and believe, we shall not be saved from wrath ; but if we believe, and prepare an ark, diligently use the means appointed for our safety, then we become heirs of the righteousness of faith, are accepted by God, and have a right to all the benefits which depend thereupon. It was a business of vast charge, and an eminent piece of self-denying obedience, to prepare an ark. So true faith showeth itself by obedience. We read of the * Obedience of faith,' Rom. xvi. 26, as the fruit of the gospel.
3. With respect to its rule and warrant, and that is the gospel and new covenant, called the ' word of faith,' Rom. x. 8 ; ' The hearing of faith,' — 'Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hear- ing of faith .? ' Gal. iii. 2 ; ' The law of faith,' Rom. iii. 27. This is the doctrine which is believed. Now all that the new covenant requireth may be called the righteousness of faith. For look, as to be justified by the law, or works required by the law, is all one ; so to be justified by faith, and to be justified by the new covenant, is all one also. And therefore, whatever the new covenant requireth as our duty, that we may be capable of the privileges thereof, is a part of the righteousness of faith. Now it requireth repentance from dead works : Acts xvii. 30, ' He hath commanded all men to repent, because he will judge the world in righteousness.' We are to repent in order to the judgment, which will be either of condemnation or justification. So the new covenant requireth faith in our Lord Jesus Christ : John v. 24, ' He that believeth in Christ shall not come into condemnation.' So it
SEBMON UPON GALATIANS V. 5. 219
requireth new obedience : Heb. v. 9, ' He is become the author of eternal Balvation to them that obey him.' None are qualified for eternal life but those who perform sincere obedience to his commands. It is not absolutely perfect obedience that is required, but only sincere and upright. And there is a necessity that we should be sincerely holy, not only in order to salvation, but pardon : 1 John i. 7, ' If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesiis Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.' And in order to the application of the blood of Christ to our souls, or to the obtaining of the gift of the Spirit, or any new-covenant gift : Acts V. 32, ' We ai-e his witnesses of these things, and so is also the holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.'