Precious faith considered in its nature, working, and growth

which, as appears in Scripture, was, that Christ should be made our righteousness, 1 Cor. 1.30. that we might be the righteousness of God in him, 2 Cor. 5.21. that his blood may cleanse us from all sin, 1 Joh. 1.7. that his obedience might make many righteous, ⟨p. 215⟩Kom. 5.19. but what need all this if Faith be accepted for a complete righteousness? what room for Christs righteousness, as long as Faiths will suffice? You will say perhaps, that Christ by his merits hath purchased this of God, that faith should be accepted for a perfect righteousness; but if that be so, then Christ died not properly for Persons, but for Graces: Christs righteousness was not to clothe poor souls in, but to advance faith above it self. Faith is become our immediate, material righteousness, and Christ only a remote cause of it. The Lord Christ walks a foot as a mere servant to Faith, and the servant Faith rides in his Masters robes as if it were the very matter of our righteousness; all which is to subvert the Gospel. True Faith will confess, as John did, I am not the Christ; I never was crucified for you; I never fulfilled all righteousness for you; I am but the Echo to the Gospel-grace; I do but prepare a way in the heart for Christ and his righteousness, to receive all praise and glory there.

which, as appears in Scripture, was, that Christ should be made our righteousness, 1 Cor. 1.30. that we might be the righteousness of God in him, 2 Cor. 5.21. that his blood may cleanse us from all sin, 1 Joh. 1.7. that his obedience might make many righteous, ⟨p. 215⟩Kom. 5.19. but what need all this if Faith be accepted for a compleat righteousness? what room for Christs righteousness, as long as Faiths will suffice? You will say perhaps, that Christ by his merits hath purchased this of God, that faith should be accepted for a perfect righteousness; but if that be so, then Christ died not properly for Persons, but for Graces: Christs righteousness was not to cloath poor souls in, but to advance faith above it self. Faith is become our immediate, material righteousness, and Christ only a remote cause of it. The Lord Christ walks a foot as a meer servant to Faith, and the servant Faith rides in his Masters robes as if it were the very matter of our righteousness; all which is to subvert the Gospel. True Faith will confess, as John did, I am not the Christ; I never was crucified for you; I never fulfilled all righteousnes for you; I am but the Eccho to the Gospel-grace; I do but prepare a way in the heart for Christ and his righteousness, to receive all praise and glory there.