Well, then, these are the conditions to be found in us before we are made partakers of the full benefit of Christ's merit ; repentance towards God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and new obedience. And all these are comprised in the expression, ' The righteousness of faith ; ' for faith receiveth Christ, and the promises made to us in Christ, upon the terms and conditions required in the gospel. Only these things are of a different nature, and concur differently. The obedience of Christ in a way by itself of merit and satisfaction ; faith, repentance, and our obedience, only in a way of application. And in the applica- tion, the introduction is by faith and repentance, and the continuance of our right by new obedience. Yea, in the introduction repentance respects God and faith Christ : Acts xx. 21, ' Testifying both to Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.' We return to God, as our chief good and sove- reign Lord, that we may love, serve, and obey him, and be happy in his love. Faith respects Christ as redeemer and mediator, who hath opened the way for our return by his merit and satisfaction, or recon- ciliation wrought between us and God, and given us an heart to return by the renewing grace of his Spirit. Coming to God and being accepted with God is our end ; Christ is our way ; and indeed in the righteous- ness of faith the chiefest part belongeth to him, who by his blood hath procured this covenant for us, for whose sake only God giveth us grace to repent, believe, and obey ; and after we have done our duty, doth for his sake only accept of us and give us our reward. These are not co-ordinate causes, but he is the supreme cause ; all that we do is sub- ordinate to his merit and obedience.
II. What is the hope built upon it, or the things hoped for by virtue of this righteousness ? and they are pardon and life.
1. Certainly pardon of sins is intended in the righteousness of faith, as appeareth by that of the apostle : Rom. iv. 6-8, ' David describeth the blessedness of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered ; blessed is the man unto whom the Lord will not impute sin.' If this be the description of the righteousness of faith, or the privileges which belong thereunto (for now we are upon the hope of the righteousness of faith), then certainly remission of sins is a special branch of this felicity.
2. There is also in it salvation or eternal life : Titus iii. 7, ' That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs, according to the
220 SERMON UPON GALATIANS V. 5.
hope of eternal life.' The crown of glory is for the justified, called therefore 'the crown of .righteousness,' 2 Tim. iv. 8. You have both together : Acts xxvi. 18, ' That they may receive forgiveness of sins, an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith.' These two benefits are most necessary, the one to allay the fears of the guilty creature, the other to gratify his desires of happiness. Therefore the apostles, when they planted the gospel, they propounded this motive of forgiveness of sins : Acts xiii. 38, ' Through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins ; ' and also the other of life eternal : 2 Tim. i, 10, ' That Christ hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.'
These two benefits give us the greatest support and comfort against all kind of troubles. Our troubles are either inward or outward. Against troubles of mind, or inward troubles, we are supported by the pardon of our sins : Mat. ix. % ' Son, be of good cheer ; thy sins be forgiven thee.' Against outward troubles we are supported by the hopes of a better life being secured to us : 2 Cor. iv. 17, 18, ' For our light afiliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory ; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen ; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.' Again, both are eminently accomplished at the last judgment, when the righteousness of faith standeth us in most stead : Acts iii. 19, * Kepent ye, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.' Then by the one we are freed from the guilt of sin, and so have deliverance from eternal death ; by the other we have not only right, but entrance into eternal glory. What is our whole scope but to be absolved by Christ at last, and enter into eternal life ?
Finally, These two are to be regarded, to obviate their mistake who think indeed that faith, and it may be repentance, is necessary to pardon, or to dissolve our obligation to punishment, but not new obed- ience. But in their place all the conditions are necessary. They think new obedience is necessary to salvation or eternal life, but not to justi- fication. But salvation is as gracious an act of mercy, as free and undeserved a gift, as pardon : Kom. vi. 23, ' The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.' Eternal life is not oyp-Mvcov, ' wages,' but x^P'''' &^(^^' ' the gift of God.' It is as much merited by Christ as the other ; and therefore as proper a part, yea, the chief part of the hope of righteousness by faith, and that which is only waited for, and not enjoyed.