Precious faith considered in its nature, working, and growth

First, Here the Believer is justified privately by the Gospel, but then he shall be ⟨p. 228⟩justified openly by the solemn sentence of God before all the World; here he hath the white-stone of Absolution given in secret, but then it shall be brought forth to view, glittering in all the orient colours of Free-grace. It was a great honour done to Mordecai, to be arrayed in Royal apparel, and to have it proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the King delighteth to honour. But oh! what glory will be upon the Believer at that day; when he shall stand in the glorious righteousness of Christ, and hear it proclaimed before Men and Angels, This is a righteous man, when Christ shall confess him before his Father and the holy Angels, to be a piece of himself, of his flesh and of his bones? As it was with the Sons of Jesse passing before Samuel; Eliab came and was refused, Abinadab came and was refused; and so others; at last David came, and the Lord said, Arise, anoint him, for this is he, 1 Sam. 16th. Chapter: So it will be with the Sons of men, at the great day of Judgment. The great Potentate may come and be rejected as a vile person; the rich Dives may come and be put away as dross; the Learned Rabbi may come, and be turned off as a fool, only when the Believer comes, God will say, This is he; this must reign in glory for ever. This is a Justification before God after a most signal manner.

First, Here the Believer is justified privately by the Gospel, but then he shall be ⟨p. 228⟩justified openly by the solemn sentence of God before all the World; here he hath the white-stone of Absolution given in secret, but then it shall be brought forth to view, glittering in all the orient colours of Free-grace. It was a great honour done to Mordecai, to be arraied in Royal apparel, and to have it proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the King delighteth to honour. But oh! what glory will be upon the Believer at that day; when he shall stand in the glorious rightcousness of Christ, and hear it proclaimed before Men and Angels, This is a righteous man, when Christ shall confess him before his Father and the holy Angels, to be a piece of himself, of his flesh and of his bones? As it was with the Sons of Jesse passing before Samuel; Eliab came and was refused, Abinadab came and was resused; and so others; at last David came, and the Lord said, Arise, anoint him, for this is he,