An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…

I answer, There is no created righteousness can answer God. God chargeth his Angels with folly; he saw evil in them, compared to himself. A righteous Angel cannot stand it out with God, much less the most righteous man. God indeed would have accepted man in the righteousness of works, had he continued in innocency; and yet he might have seen folly in man abiding in innocency, as he doth in those Angels, which continue innocent. No created righteousness can answer God.

I answer, There is no created righteousnesse can answer God. God chargeth his Angels with folly; he saw evil in them, compared to himself. A righteous Angel cannot stand it out with God, much lesse the most righteous man. God indeed would have accepted man in the righteousnesse of works, had he continued in innocency; and yet he might have seen folly in man abiding in innocency, as he doth in those Angels, which continue innocent. No created righteousnesse can answer God.

But there is a righteousness in which we may answer God; Jobs supposition excludes not that; namely, the righteousness of faith which we have by Christ. Man righteous by faith, or by imputed righteousness may answer God; but man righteous by works, or inherent righteousness cannot. He that is righteous by the righteousness of faith, hath to answer God, because he hath somewhat of God to answer God with; faith doth not bring man to answer God, but God to answer God; Christ answers God for every believer: and Christ can answer God fully to all the demands of justice, without abatement. Christ hath not compounded with our creditor, for our debts, but paid them to the utmost farthing. A believer is able to answer God, and doth answer him every day: when he asks the pardon of sin, he offers the righteousness of Jesus Christ. And that which he offereth by faith, he will stand to and plead with God upon; God hath what he can ⟨p. 263⟩desire, or his justice expect; the believer bids him try to the uttermost, if there be any imperfection or flaw in it, he will venture his soul upon it. In this sense man answers God. But Job speaks about inherent personal righteousness, the righteousness of his ways. Upon this he will not venture a hair of his head, much less his soul and everlasting peace.