into our text, and see what David's principles were : Of all the Old-Testament saints, there was not one who more determinately sought to be justified by the righteousness of Christ without any works of his own, than he. Hear what is said of him by St. Paul, in confirmation of the very sentiments which Paul him- self maintained; **To him that worketh not, but believeth in him that justijieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness: even as David describeth the blessedness of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousness without ivorks, saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered ; blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin^" Here we have a full exposition of David's views respecting the Gospel. And how did these views operate on his soul ? Did the idea of being justified by a righteousness not his own, a righteousness without works, a righteousness imputed to him, and apprehended solely by faith, did this, I say, make him regardless of good works ? No : look at the text, thou Objector, and be convinced: look at the text, thou Calumniator, and blush.
Search, next, the writings of St. Paul, and see whe- ther there was any difference in this respect between him and David ? Was there in theory ? No : for St. Paul affirms, that " the grace of God which bring- eth salvation teaches us, that, denying ungodliness ^,nd worldly lusts, we should live righteously, soberly, and godly, in this present world." "Was there in practice ? No : neither David nor any other Saint ever made higher attainments in holiness than St. Paul : •** he was not a whit behind the very chiefest Apostles."
Perhaps it will be said, that the professed follow- ers of St. Paul differ from him in this respect ; and that, whilst in speculation they adopt his doctrine, in practice they deny its sanctifying efficacy. That there are Antinomians in the world, we confess: there were in the days of Christ and his Apostles ; some who called Christ, " Lord, Lord, whilst yet they did not the things which he commanded ;" and some, who
" professed
' Rom. iv. 6 — 8.