BY righteous here,1 is meant that Evangelical righteousness which we have in the state of the Gospel, (namely) the righteousness of Christ imputed to us; for Christ himself being ours, his obedience and all that he hath, becomes ⟨p. 98⟩ou•s also; and whosoever partaketh of this righteousness which is by faith, hath also a righteousness of sanctification accompanying the same, wrought in his soul by the Spirit of God, whereby his sinful nature is changed and made holy: for if any man be in Christ he is a new creature. The same Spirit that assures us of our interest in Christ, purifies and cleanseth our hearts, and worketh a new life in us, opposite to our life in the first Adam, from whence flows new works of holiness and obedience throughout our whole conversation: There must be an inward inherent righteousness before there can be any works of righteousness; an Instrument must be set in tune before it will make music; so the Spirit of God must first work a holy frame ⟨p. 99⟩and disposition of heart in us, before we can bring forth any fruits of holiness in our lives; for we commend not the works of grace as we do the works of Art, but refer them to the worker: all that flows from the Spirit of righteousness, are works of righteousness. When the soul submits it self to the spirit, and the body to the soul, then things come off kindly. Take a man that is righteous by the spirit of God, he is righteous in all relations, he gives every one his due; he gives God his due, spiritual worship is set up in his heart above all; he gives Christ his due by affiance in him; he gives the holy Angels their due, by considering he is always in their presence, that their eye is upon him in every action he doth, and every duty he performs; the poor have ⟨p. 100⟩their due from him; those that are in authority have their due; if he be under any, he gives them reverence and obedience,2 &c. He will owe nothing to any man but love, he is righteous in all his conversation, he is a vessel prepared for every good work: I deny not but he may err in some particular, that is nothing to the purpose, I speak of a man as he is in the disposition and bent of his heart to GOD and goodness, and so there is a thread of a righteous course, that runs along through his whole conversation; the constant tenure of his life is righteous;
BY righteous here,1 is meant that Euangelicall righteousnesse which wee have in the state of the Gospell, (namely) the righteousnesse of Christ imputed to us; for Christ himselfe being ours, his obedience and all that hee hath, becomes ⟨p. 98⟩ou•s also; and whosoever partaketh of this righteousnesse which is by faith, hath also a righteousnesse of sanctification accōpanying the same, wrought in his soule by the Spirit of God, whereby his s•nfull nature is changed and made holy: for if any man be in Christ hee is a new creature. The same Spirit that assures us of our interest in Christ, purifies and clenseth our hearts, and worketh a new life in us, opposite to our life in the first Adam, from whence flowes new workes of holinesse and obedience throughout our whole conversation: There must bee an inward inherent righteousnesse before there can bee any workes of righteousnesse; an Instrument must bee set in tune before it will make musicke; so the Spirit of God must first worke a holy frame ⟨p. 99⟩and disposition of heart in us, before we can bring forth any fruits of holinesse in our lives; for we commend not the works of grace as we doe the workes of Art, but referre them to the worker: all that flowes from the Spirit of righteousnesse, are workes of righteousnesse. When the soule submits it selfe to the spirit, and the body to the soule, then things come off kindly. Take a man that is righteous by the spirit of God, hee is righteous in all relations, he gives every one his due; he gives God his due, spirituall worship is set up in his heart above all; hee gives Christ his due by affiance in him; hee gives the holy Angels their due, by considering hee is alwayes in their presence, that their eye is upon him in every action he doth, and every duty hee performes; the poore have ⟨p. 100⟩their due from him; those that are in authority have their due; if he be under any, hee gives thē reverence and obedience,2 &c. He will owe nothing to any man but love, hee is righteous in all his conversation, he is a vessell prepared for every good worke: I deny not but hee may erre in some particular, that is nothing to the purpose, I speake of a man as hee is in the disposition and bent of his heart to GOD and goodnesse, and so there is a thread of a righteous course, that runs along through his whole conversation; the constant tenure of his life is righteous;
- 1What is meant here by righteous, to wit, a man endued with Evangelical righteousness.What is meant here by righteous, to wit, a man indued with Euangelicall righteousnesse.
- 2Rom. 13. 8.
