A history of the work of redemption. Containing the outlines of a body of…

2. The contrary hap•y lot and portion of God's church, expressed in these words, My righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation. Who are meant as those that shall have the benefit of this, we also learn by the preceding verse, viz. They that know righteousness, and the people in whose heart is God's law; or, in one word, the church of God. And concerning this happiness of theirs here spoken of, we may observe two things, viz. 1. Wherein it consists; 2. In continuance.

(1) Wherein it consists, viz. In God's righteousness and salvation toward them. By God's righteousness here, is meant his faithfulness in fulfilling his covenant promises to his church, or his faithfulness towards his church and people in bestowing the benefits, of the covenant of grace upon them; which benefits though they are bestowed of free and sovereign grace, as being altogether undeserved; yet as God has been pleased, by the promises of the covenant of grace, to bind himself to bestow them, so they […] bestowed in the exercise of God's righteousness or justice. Therefore the apostle says, Heb. vi.10. God is not unrighteous, to forget your work and labour of love. And so, 1. John i.9. If […] confess our sins, he is faithful, and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all our unrighteousness. So the word righteousness is very often used in scripture for God's covenant-faithfulness so it is used in Nehem. ix.8. Thou hast performed thy words, for thou art righteous. So we are often to understand righteousness and covenant-mercy for the same thing; as Psal. xxiv.5. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Psal. xxxvi.10