YER. 9.] SERMONS UPON PHILIPPIANS III. 43
of us have such a personal legal righteousness ; for then there were no gin, no place for confession, nor for Christ. No ; we have all broken with God ; yea, there is no one work perfectly justifiable by the law : ' all are corrupt and abominable, there is none that doeth good, no not one,' Bom. iii. 12.
2. The apostle disputeth also against the works of the Mosaicai or ceremonial law, and proves that by that law no man could be justified ; and therefore the Jews did seek righteousness where it was not to be found, whilst they stuck so close to that law, being guilty therein of a threefold error — First, that they thought pardon of sin and acceptance with God were to be obtained by the bare works of that law ; secondly, that they overlooked, and rejected Christ, who is the end of the law for righteousness to every believer ; thirdly that they would keep up this law when it was to cease and be abro- gated. These are the errors of theirs which Paul everywhere disputeth against.
Thirdly, His different respect to either of those ; he renounced the one and affected the other.
1. That which he renounced was partly the superficial righteousness which consisteth in the external observances of the law, a mere specu- lative righteousness, and partly the righteousness of the law-covenant, which some did falsely imagine they did or might fulfil ; whilst arrogantly holding up the dignity of their own works, they refused to embrace the gospel.
2. That which he affected was, to ' be found in Christ, having the righteousness of God through faith in Christ.' And there —
[1.] The state of his person, or the way how this is applied or con- veyed to us ; by being found in Christ.' The word found is emphatical, and often used with respect to the day of judgment : 2 Cor. v. 3, ' If so be we shall not be found naked ; ' and 2 Peter iii. 14, ' See that ye be found of him in peace, without spot and blameless ; ' Mat. xxiv. 46, ' Blessed is that servant whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.' It implieth two things —
(1.) That the last day is a day of exact search and trial. Wrath maketh inquisition for sinners ; we shall be found out to be what we are.
(2.) That the last day cometh upon the greatest part of the world by way of surprisal. They do not look for it, nor prepare for it. It cometh upon them unawares, like ' a thief in the night,' 2 Peter iii. 10, unthought of, unexpected by the most, who will not be awakened out of their sins, and do not look for it, but are found of it.
[2.] ' In Christ,' that is, incorporated into his mystical body, or united to him by the Spirit ; as a branch ingrafted into the true vine : John xv. 2, ' Every branch in me that beareth fruit ; ' or found in the ark when the flood cometh. Paul was lost before, then found in Christ : ' There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ,' Bom. viii. 1. Being united to him by faith, love, and holiness, we are made partakers of his righteousness.
Again, The righteousness wherewith he would appear before God, the righteousness of God by faith in Christ. The righteousness of the new covenant is twofold — (1.) Supreme, prime, and chief, and that is
44 SERMONS UPON PHILIPPIANS III. [SEE. V.
the righteousness of Christ ; (2.) Secondary and subordinate, and that is the righteousness of faith and obedience. As to our first right, faith \ as to our continued right, new obedience. These things must be a little cleared, that we may not mistake.
1. For the supreme principal righteousness, by virtue of which we are reconciled to God. It is Christ's obedience unto the death. So it is said, Bom. v. 18, 19, ' As by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation ; even so by the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. As by one man's dis- obedience many were made sinners ; so by the obedience of one, many shall be made righteous ; ' that is, our great righteousness before God, by which his justice is satisfied, and by the merit of which all the blessings of the new covenant are procured for us.
2. The subordinate righteousness, or the way, and means, and con- dition by which we get an interest in and right to this supreme right- eousness, is faith and new obedience. But for a distinct use —
[1.] As to our first entrance into the covenant of God, faith is required : Bom. iv. 3, ' Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.'
[2.] As to our continuance in this blessed privilege, new obedience is required ; with respect to which it is said, 1 John iii. 7, ' Little children, let no man deceive you : he that doeth righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.' And thereby his interest in Christ is confirmed : 1 John ii. 29, 'If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of God.' These scriptures are plain and express ; and new obedience has respect to that which is the result of the final judgment: Mat. xxv. 46, ' And these shall go away into ever- lasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal.' And the righteous there are such as are fruitful in good works. Now from this exposition we may learn how we are justified by faith only, without works, which Paul asserteth ; and by works, and not by faith only, which is the assertion of the apostle James. Justification hath respect to some accusation. Now as there is a twofold law, so there is a twofold accusa- tion and justification — the law of works and the law of grace. Now when we are accused as breakers of the law of works, that is, as sinners, obnoxious to the wrath of God, we plead Christ's satisfaction as our righteousness, no works of our own. But when we are accused as non-performers of the conditions of the covenant of grace, as being rejecters or neglecters of Christ the mediator, we are justified by producing our faith or sincere obedience. So that our righteousness by the new covenant is subordinate to our universal righteousness with respect to the great love of God, and that we have only by Christ. If we are charged that we have broken the first covenant, the covenant of works, we allege Christ's satisfaction and merit ; if charged not to have performed the conditions of the law of grace, we answer it by producing our faith, repentance, and new obedience, and so show it to be a false charge. Our first and supreme righteousness consisteth in the pardon of our sins, and in our acceptance in the Beloved, and our right to impunity and glory. Our second and subordinate righteous- ness, in having the true condition of pardon and life. In the first sense Christ's righteousness is only our justification and righteousness.