the only Saviour, they might recommend themselves to him, and confirm their interest in him, by the observance of these rites. Thus, in fact, he adulterated and undermined the Gospel, and endangered the eternal welfare of all his fol- lowers. On this account St. Paul blamed and reproved him before the whole Church : and the reprehension which he gave to Peter has been transmitted to us, that we may see of what importance it is to maintain the doctrine of salvation by faith, uncontaminated and undisguised. Hear the account which Paul himself gives of it : " When I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the Gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of the Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why com- pellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews ? We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law : for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified6." This shews us, that nothing is to be blended with, and nothing to be added to, the faith of Christ; but that all who are justified, must be justified simply, and solely, by faith in Christ.
We must not be understood to say, that good works are not necessary after we are justified ; for they are indispensably necessary, to prove the sincerity of our faith : but it is in reference to the matter of justification only that we now speak : and there they must be excluded altogether. Christ is our only righteousness : and it is by faith only that we can ever apprehend him.]
The whole state of the Apostle's argument in the passage before us, leads us to conclude with the following advice :
1. Seek not to establish any righteousness of your
own —
[Self-righteousness is deeply rooted in the heart of man. Its workings are numerous and subtle : and the danger arising from it is more than can be conceived. It robs God of his glory : it subverts the very foundations of the Gospel : it usurps the office of the Saviour: it invades the unalienable prerogatives of God. Do not think it a light sin. Do not nastily conclude that you are free from it. Search and try your hearts : see what is the ground of your hopes : see whether you are willing to go to Christ as the very chief of sinners ; or
e Gal. ii. 14—16,