here, that their sins shall be forgiven, when they have attained such an age ; but, that they are even now already forgiven to them, notwithstanding their infantine weakness and insuffi- ciency. We must go further still, and say, that, though the believer should be in the very article of death, and have no time left him for the performance of good works, yet should the blood of Christ, sprinkled by faith, cleanse him from all sin ; and the righteousness of Christ, apprehended and applied by faith, shall justify him perfectly before God. The penitent thief had reviled our Saviour on the cross, no less than the impenitent one : yet, the very instant he cast himself on the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, he was accepted ; and our Lord himself said to him, " This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise." The promise being made to all who believe, it is as sure to the believer, as the power and veracity of God can make it.]
To improve this subject, we shall,
1. Guard the doctrine from abuse —
[That the doctrine of justification by faith may be abused, is certain : for so it was in the days of St. Paul himself q. But truth is not therefore to be renounced because it may be perverted ; but we must, as Paul himself did, hold fast the truth, and rescue it from those perversions to which it is exposed.
We have stated with all possible plainness, that we are to look for our justification solely by faith, without the smallest dependence on any works of our own. But are we therefore at liberty to neglect good works ? or can our final salvation be secured without them, where an opportunity is afforded for the performance of them? Assuredly, in their place, good works are as necessary as faith itself: only we must take care not to confound their respective offices. The use of faith is, to apprehend Christ ; and the use of good works is, to glorify Christ. In no other way can Christ be apprehended, than by faith; and in no other way can he be glorified, than by good works1". Now God has clearly pointed out the way in which his people must walk : and it is only by walking in that way that they can arrive at the mansions prepared for thems. It is necessary therefore that we should cultivate all Christian virtues, adding one to another throughout their whole extent : and it is by this course of action that we are to " make our calling and election sure*." Here we would particularly remind you, that the very same word which is used in my text by
<i Rom. vi. 1, 15. r John xv. 18.
s Eph. i. 4. and ii. 10. » 2 Pet. i. 10, 11.
1838. J NECESSITY OF JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH. Ill
St. Paul in reference to faith, is used by St. Peter in reference to works". And how are we to explain this? Are we to set the two Apostles against each other ? No : they are easily reconciled : the one is speaking of faith as securing an interest in the promises ; and the other is speaking of works as the appointed road in which we are to walk, and which alone will lead us safely to the kingdom of heaven. As, on the one hand, without faith we can never be united unto Christ, or be par- takers of his righteousness, so, on the other hand, if it produce not obedience, our faith will be of no more avail than the faith of devils. And this is exactly what St. James tells usx ; as also does St. Paul in this very epistle, where he says, that " to them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, God will give eternal lifey." If the Apostle therefore did not contradict himself, neither are we to consider the other Apostles as contradicting him, but only as affirming, that in their place good works are necessary, no less than faith is in its place. Behold then, whilst we maintain with all steadfastness the doctrine of justi- fication by faith, we declare to all that the King's highway is the way of holiness2, and that "without holiness no man shall see the LordV]