A12184:283
An exposition of the third chapter of the Epistle of St. Paul to the…
An exposition of the third chapter of the Epistle of St. Paul to the Philippians also two sermons of Christian watchfulness. The first upon Luke 12 37. The second upon Revel. 16.15. An exposition of part of the second chapter of the Epistle to the Philip. A sermon upon Mal. 4. 2.3. By the late reverend divine Richard Sibbes, D.D. master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher at Gray's-Inn.An exposition of the third chapter of the Epistle of St. Paul to the Philippians also two sermons of Christian watchfulnesse. The first upon Luke 12 37. The second upon Revel. 16.15. An exposition of part of the second chapter of the Epistle to the Philipp. A sermon upon Mal. 4. 2.3. By the late reverend divine Richard Sibbes, D.D. master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher at Grayes-Inne.
London: printed by T. Cotes and John Dawson for Peter Cole, 1639
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
VERS. 9. Not having mine own righteousness which is of the Law.
VERS. 9. Not having mine owne righteousnesse which is of the Law.
IN these words and those following, the Apostle, lays down summarily his desire; fi•st negatively in these words, he desired not to be found in Christ trusting to his own righteousness, implying a difference and distinction between his righteousness by the Law, and that by Christ: the righteousness by the Law he disclaims (as any way meritorious) and that as well habitual, wrought by God in him, or actual righteousness, consisting in the outward works that he did, and that with good reason: for first mans righteousness is but finite, and therefore unfit to work or deserve infinitely, and impossible to deserve heaven and the joys thereof. Secondly, this righteousness is imperfect and stained as a menstruous cloth and unable to quiet or satisfy our own consciences, much less God, who is greater than our own consciences: and therefore the Saints prayed, Enter not into judgement with thy servants Lord, for in thy sight shall no flesh be justified. But the Papists answer, the work of God is perfect, but our righteousness is the work of God, and therefore perfect. We say, that the works of God are within us or without us, the works of God without us are perfect, but those that are within ⟨p. 109⟩us are imperfect, still savouring of our pollution and corruption, by reason that the old man in us perverteth all that is good in us, and therefore partus sequitur ventrem. Secondly, it is true that the works of God within us are so far perfect, as tend to the end he works them for in us, but our righteousness was never ordained of God to that end, as to save us by them, and therefore they cannot accomplish that end; but God works this righteousness in us, to convince us of our own weakness, and to be a testimony of the presence of his spirit in us: Paul therefore says not, I will not have mine own righteousness, but I desire not to be found in my righteousness; so as to merit salvation thereby.