The second object that Faith is exercised about, is the Righteousness of ⟨p. 364⟩Jesus Christ. Phil. 3. 9. I desire to be found in Christ, not having my own Righteousness, which is of the Law, but that which is through the Faith of Christ, the Righteousness which is of God by Faith. Paul would not be found in a legal righteousness, for he knew all his legal righteousness was but as filthy rags,1 all his legal righteousness sowed together, would but make up a coat of patches, a beggars coat, that is good for nothing, but to be cast away; therefore he desired to be found in the righteousness of Christ by Faith; he knew that Christs righteousness was a pure righteousness, a spotless righteousness, a matchless righteousness, a complete righteousness, a perfect2 righteousness, an absolute righteousness, a glorious righteousness. Faith loves to fix her eye upon that rich and royal Robe, that blameless and spotless3 righteousness of Christ, wherewith the soul stands gloriously clothed before God, as being all fair, as being without spot or wrinkle in divine account. O it is the actings of Faith upon this blessed object, this glorious righteousness of Christ, that makes a ⟨p. 365⟩man familiar and bold with God, that makes a man active, and resolute for God, that strengthens a man against temptations, that supports a man under afflictions, that makes a man long for the day of his dissolution, that makes him prefer his Coffin above a Princes Crown, the day of his death above the day of his birth, that makes him triumph over Sin and Satan, Hell and Wrath. Adams righteousness4 was but the righteousness of a Creature, but the righteousness about which Faith is exercised, is the righteousness5 of a God. Adams righteousness was6 a mutable righteousness, a righteousness that might be sinned away; but the righteousness that a Believers Faith is exercised about, is an Everlasting Righteousness, a righteousness that cannot be sinned away. Prov. 8. 18. vide Dan. 9. 24. Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people, and upon thy holy City, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in Everlasting Righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy. Psal. 119. 142. Thy Righteousness ⟨p. 366⟩is an Everlasting Righteousness; and thy Law is the Truth.
The second object that Faith is exercised about, is the Righteousness of ⟨p. 364⟩Jesus Christ. Phil. 3. 9. I desire to be found in Christ, not having my own Righteousness, which is of the Law, but that which is thorow the Faith of Christ, the Righteousness which is of God by Faith. Paul would not be found in a legal righteousness, for he knew all his legal righteousness was but as filthy rags,1 all his legal righteousness sowed together, would but make up a coat of patches, a beggars coat, that is good for nothing, but to be cast away; therefore he desired to be found in the righteousness of Christ by Faith; he knew that Christs righteousness was a pure righteousness, a spotless righteteousness, a matchless righteousness, a compleat righteousness, a perfect2 righteousness, an absolute righteousness, a glorious righteousness. Faith loves to fix her eye upon that rich and royal Robe, that blameless and spotless3 righteousness of Christ, wherewith the soul stands gloriously cloathed before God, as being all fair, as being without spot or wrinkle in divine account. O it is the actings of Faith upon this blessed object, this glorious righteousness of Christ, that makes a ⟨p. 365⟩man familiar and bold with God, that makes a man active, and resolute for God, that strengthens a man against temptations, that supports a man under afflictions, that makes a man long for the day of his dissolution, that makes him prefer his Coffin above a Princes Crown, the day of his death above the day of his birth, that makes him triumph over Sin and Satan, Hell and Wrath. Adams righteousness4 was but the righteousness of a Creature, but the righteousness about which Faith is exercised, is the righteousness5 of a God. Adams righteousness was6 a mutable righteousness, a righteousness that might be sinned away; but the righteousness that a Believers Faith is exercised about, is an Everlasting Righteousness, a righteousness that cannot be sinned away.
- 1Isa. 64. 6.
- 2Col. 2. 10.
- 3Cant. 4. 7. Revel. 145. Ephes. 5. 27.
- 4Rom. 3. 21. & 10. 3.
- 52 Cor. 5. 21.
- 6The righteousness of Angels, is but the righteousness of Creatures, but the righteousness that the Saints are clothed with, is the very righteousness of God; and in this respect the meanest Saint is more excellent and glorious, then the most glorious Angel.The righteousness of Angels, is but the righteousness of Creatures, but the righteousness that the Saints are cloathed with, is the very righteousness of God; and in this respect the meanest Saint is more excellent and glorious, then the most glorious Angel.
