An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters…

Thirdly, there are none righteous, that is, none righteous by way of merit or desert, none are so righteous as that they can challenge any thing at Gods hand, of right, the most righteous person is an unprofitable servant; he hath nothing to plead before God but free grace. Nothing to show unto God but Christs fullness, and his own emptiness, the riches of Christ, and his own poverty. Yet there are righteous in Gods acceptance, he accounteth and accepteth them for righteous, and honours them to be called righteous.

Thirdly, there are none righteous, that is, none righteous by way of merit or desert, none are so righteous as that they can challenge any thing at Gods hand, of right, the most righteous person is an unprofitable servant; he hath nothing to plead before God but free grace. Nothing to shew unto God but Christs fulnesse, and his own emptinesse, the riches of Christ, and his own poverty. Yet there are righteous in Gods acceptance, he accounteth and accepteth them for righteous, and honours them to be called righteous.

Lastly, we may answer it thus, there are none righteous in themselves, or from themselves, none have any righteousness of their own making: but the Scripture shows us those who have righteousness, and are righteous in another and from another; we have the righteousness of justification in Christ, and the righteousness of sanctification from Christ: righteousness is both imputed to, and floweth into the soul by virtue of the union which is promised in the covenant of grace with Christ the righteous, with the Lord our righteousness. In these respects there are righteous persons, and of such we may understand this enquiry, where were ever the righteous cut off? The righteous by regeneration, the righteous by inchoation, the righteous by acception, or the righteous by imputation; where were any such righteous in all the world of whom thou canst say, they have ever perished, or have been cut off?

Lastly, we may answer it thus, there are none righteous in themselves, or from themselves, none have any righteousnesse of their own making: but the Scripture shewes us those who have righteousnesse, and are righaeous in another and from another; we have the righteousnesse of justification in Christ, and the righteousnesse of sanctification from Christ: righteousnesse is both imputed to, and floweth into the soule by vertue of the union which is promised in the covenant of grace with Christ the righteous, with the Lord our righteousnesse. In these respects there are righteous persons, and of such we may understand this enquiry, where were ever the righteous cut off? The righteous by regeneration, the righteous by inchoation, the righteous by acception, or the righteous by imputation; where were any such righteous in all the world of whom thou canst say, they have ever perished, or have been cut off?