The fight of faith crowned, or, A sermon preached at the funeral of that…

3. It is called a Crown of Righteousness in the Text; not that it is of right due to us, or comes of merit, as the Papists corruptly gloss; we cannot deserve a crumb at Gods hands, much less a Crown. That which merits must be a gift, not a debt, whatever service we do for God is a due debt; nay, we cannot pay all; nay, that which we pay is not in currant money, our duties are stained with sin, where then is merit? but it is called a Crown of Righteousness, because it is purchased by Christs righteousness, and because God having promised this Crown, it is righteous in him to bestow it.

3. It is called a Crown of Righteousness in the Text; not that it is of right due to us, or comes of merit, as the Papists corruptly gloss; we cannot deserve a crum at Gods hands, much less a Crown. That which merits must be a gift, not a debt, whatever service we do for God is a due debt; nay, we cannot pay all; nay, that which we pay is not in currant money, our duties are stained with sin, where then is merit? but it is called a Crown of Righteousness, because it is purchased by Christs righteousness, and because God having promised this Crown, it is righteous in him to bestow it.

Hence observe thirdly, for the persevering Saint there is laid up a Crown of righteousness in Heaven; ^*a Crown is the highest ensign of worldly happiness. 'Tis only for Kings and Persons of renown to wear; there is a Crown of righteousness laid up for the Elect. 'Tis a massy Crown. The Hebrew word for glory signifies a weight^*; things that are precious, the more weighty they are the more they are worth. The weightier a chain of Pearl is the more it is worth. The Heavenly Crown is expressed by a weight of glory, 2 Cor. 4. 17. This Crown of righteousness doth out-vie, and exceed all earthly Crowns.