A discourse of the saving grace of God

Faith and Obedience are not our Righteousness; now, as Perfect Obedience was to be in the State of Innocency, they are not in the stead of it, they have not the Virtue and Office of it, they are not Conditions of the Covenant of Grace, as that was of the Covenant of Works; i. e. They are not the Righteousness by which we are Justified, and have Title to Life: It is Christ that is the End of the Law for Righteousness to those Purposes; and to ascribe that to our Performances, which is proper to him, is injurious to the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Faith and Obedience are not our Righteousness; now, as Perfect Obedience was to be in the State of Innocency, they are not in the stead of it, they have not the Vertue and Office of it, they are not Conditions of the Covenant of Grace, as that was of the Covenant of Works; i. e. They are not the Righteousness by which we are Justified, and have Title to Life: It is Christ that is the End of the Law for Righteousness to those Purposes; and to ascribe that to our Performances, which is proper to him, is injurious to the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And how is it of Grace upon these Terms? how is the Covenant of the Gospel more Gracious than that of Works? It cannot be said that it is more Gracious, because it requires and accepts less, sincere Obedience being not so much as that which is Perfect: For sincere Obedience may be counted as much to Man in his present State of Sin and Impotency, as Perfect Obedience in the State of Innocency and Perfection. But the transcendent Graciousness of the Gospel Covenant, consists not in requiring less Righteousness to give Title to Life, than was due at first; but in not requiring a Perfect Righteousness of us Personally for that end, but providing and accepting that of a surety, according to that of the Apostle, Rom. 8. 3, 4. The Law could not give us Life, because being weakened by sin, we could not Perform the Perfect Righteousness which is required; but what the Law could not do, Christ has done, giving us Title to Life, fulfilling the Righteousness of it in our behalf. But does not the Scripture declare, that our Obedience is the Obedience which gives Title to Life?