2. Such as there is between the sign and the thing signified. Faith hath always confession and obedience joined with it, as its proper sign. As flame or smoke is of fire, or breathing of life, so is confession with the mouth, or an holy life, an individual^ companion and note of true faith, by which it is demonstrated to be sincere and real : ' Show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works,' James ii. 18. Men know not our hearts, whether we believe in God, yea or no, or what we believe of him, till they hear and see it in our profession and actions ; here is the sign, the proof of it. Look, as an evil principle bewrayeth itself by its proper signs ; as atheism by men's ungodly and unholy lives — (Ps. xxxvi. 1, ' The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart. There is no fear of God before his eyes.' What could they do more in a way of sin or less in a way of duty if there were no God ? The current of a man's life and actions doth best expound and interpret his heart ; any considerate man may conclude from their manner of living that they have no sense of the being of God, nor ever expect to be accountable to him) — so for the belief of Christianity ; it is discovered by owning Christ in the greatest dangers, by a ready obedience to his precepts, that seem to be most cross to the inclination and interest of the flesh ; or by an holy and heavenly life. It is a sign we believe those blessed, sublime, and weighty truths which are contained in the gospel. In short, we judge others by external works alone, for the tree is known by its fruits, Mat. vii. 16. We judge of ourselves by external and internal together; both by the belief of the heart and the confession of the mouth also.
III. The order God hath established ; appointing faith as a means to be justified, and confession as a means to be saved.
1. Let us speak of what is requisite to righteousness ; so faith is the means whereby this righteousness is applied, received, and freely given us.
^ Tlii>Ms» indiviaible or inseparable. — Ed.
256 SERMON UPON ROMANS X. 10.
To explain this I shall inquire — (1.) What is righteousness; (2.) Show you that this righteousness is applied by faith ; (3.) That the cordial and heart believer is the penitent, working believer.
[1.] What is righteousness ? It is here taken in a legal and judicial sense, not for a disposition of mind and heart to please God, but for the ground of a plea before the tribunal of God, that we may be exempted from the punishments threatened, and obtain the grace offered, or a right to the reward promised : Kom. v. 18, ' As by the offence of one judgment came upon all to condemnation, even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men to justifica- tion of life.'
[2.] That we are qualified for this righteousness by faith. So it is said, Rom. iii. 24, 25, 'Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ, whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins.' We get absolution from sin by free pardon, through the merit of Christ, and are accepted as righteous before God, when we enter into the new covenant, taking God for our Lord and happiness, Christ for our redeemer and saviour, the Holy Ghost for our sanctifier and comforter. More especially with respect to Christ, when we subject ourselves to him as our Lord, and depend upon the merit of his death and intercession for our acceptance with God. Now that this believing with the heart is required in order to righteousness is everywhere manifested in the scriptures. Therefore the new covenant righteousness is called ' the righteousness of faith,' Rom. ix. 30, ' The gentiles have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.' So Gal. v. 5, ' We through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith ;' because faith qualifieth us for it. A right- eousness we must have, that we may be exempted from wrath, which sin hath made our due, and that we may be accepted with God unto eternal life, which they that are destitute of all righteousness can never attain unto. A righteousness of our own according to the law of works we are far from. The legal way, therefore, can never stead us. We must only run for refuge to the evangelical course or way set down in the gospel ; namely, that upon the account of the merit and obedience of Christ God will pardon the sins of all penitent believers, and accept them to grace and favour. Well, then, it is by faith that Christ's death and obedience are applied and made beneficial to us : Rom. iii. 22, ' The righteousness of God is by the faith of Jesus Christ, unto all and upon all that believe, and there is no difference.' Well, then, every believer is qualified. If you ask me therefore —