INTRODUCTION. General Confiderations previously necessary to the Expla- THAT HAT we may treat of the Doctrine of Juftificati- I. The first inquiry in this matter is, What is the The inquiry then, with refpect to fuch a perfon is, count of any thing in the finner, as his faith, his re- It is neceflary that we fhould keep this always in 66 I, even 1, am he in his II. A due confideration of HIM with whom we have to It is It is neceffary for any one who is to be tried for his The * Rom. xi, 6. † Rom. viii. 33. ‡ Ifa. xliii. 25. || Pfal. cxliii. 2. The Scripture represents to us what thoughts of him and of themselves, not only finners, but faints also, have had upon peculiar difcoveries of God and his greatnefs. Thus a fenfe of guilt filled our first parents with fear and shame, and put them on that foolish attempt of hiding themfelves from him. Nor is the wisdom of their pofterity, under their convictions, at all fuperior, without the difcovery of the promife. That alone makes finners wife, which tenders them relief. In ge neral, men are fecure, and expect, on their trial, tỏ come off eafily; hence they care not what doctrine concerning Juftification is taught and received; generally they incline to that which is most adapted to their selfconceit and corrupt affections: the fum of which isthat what they cannot do themselves, Chrift will, fome how or other, make up: the ufe or abufe of which perfuafion is the greatest fountain of fin in the world, next to the depravity of our nature. But when God is pleafed to manifeft his glory to finners, all their poor contrivances iffue in horror and diftrefs. "The finners in Sion are afraid; fearfulness hath furprised the hypocrites: Who among us fhall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us fhall dwell with everlasting burnings * ?”. Nor is it is thus only with profligate finners, but the best of men, upon near and efficacious difcoveries of the greatnefs, holiness, and glory of God, have funk into the deepest felf-abafement, and the moft ferious renunciation of all felf-confidence. 'Thus the prophet Isaiah, on his vision of the glory of Chrift, cried out, "Woe is me, I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips +." So holy Job, in all his contefts with his friends, who charged him with hypocrify, with affured confidence justified his fincerity, refers to his conduct, and appeals to God himself for the truth of his plea. But being, at length, called into the immediate prefence of God, to plead his own caufe; not now, as ftated B 2 * Ifa. xxxiii. 14. † Ifa. vi. 5. count of any thing in the finner, as his faith, his rẻpentance, the renovation of his nature, inherent habits of grace, or actual works of righteousness? or, will he do it on account of the obedience, righteousness, fatisfaction and merit of the Son of God, imputed to him? On one of thefe accounts it must be done; for they are not capable of mixture or compofition *. Which of these it is the duty and wisdom of a convinced finner to rely upon, is the fum of our prefent inquiry. It is neceflary that we fhould keep this always in view in treating on the fubject of evangelical Juftification, or else we shall foon wander into curious difquifitions, in which the confcience is not at all concerned. I fhall therefore avoid, as much as poffible, all thofe philofophical terms and diftinctions, which have rather perplexed than illuftrated this doctrine : for more weight is to be put on the fteady guidance of one convinced confcience, really exercised about acceptance with God, than on the confutation of ten wrangling difputants. II. A due confideration of HIM with whom we have to do in this matter, is neceffary to a right ftating of our thoughts about it. "It is God that juftifieth +." He affumes it as his fole prerogative. I, even 1, am he that blotteth out thy tranfgreffions ‡.” It is in his fight"-before his tribunal that men are justified or condemned; therefore David prays" Enter not into judgment with thy fervant; for in thy fight fhall no man living be justified ||.” It is neceffary for any one who is to be tried for his life, feriously to confider the JUDGE before whom he is to appear, and by whom his caufe is to be determined. And if we manage our difputes about Juftification without a continual regard to HIM, by whom we must be acquitted or condemned, we shall not know what plea to make. Wherefore, the greatnefs, the majefty, and the holiness of God, muft always be prefent with us in this matter. The * Rom. xi, 6. † Rom. viii. 33. ‡ Ifa. xliii. 25. || Pfal. cxliii. 2. The Scripture represents to us what thoughts of him and of themselves, not only finners, but faints also, have had upon peculiar difcoveries of God and his greatnefs. Thus a fenfe of guilt filled our firft parents with fear and shame, and put them on that foolish attempt of hiding themfelves from him. Nor is the wisdom of their pofterity, under their convictions, at all fuperior, without the difcovery of the promife. That alone makes finners wife, which tenders them relief. In general, men are fecure, and expect, on their trial, tỏ come off eafily; hence they care not what doctrine concerning Juftification is taught and received; generally they incline to that which is most adapted to their selfconceit and corrupt affections: the fum of which is→→ that what they cannot do themfelves, Chrift will, fome how or other, make up: the use or abuse of which perfuafion is the greatest fountain of fin in the world, next to the depravity of our nature. But when God is pleased to manifeft his glory to finners, all their poor contrivances iffue in horror and diftrefs. "The finners in Sion are afraid; fearfulness hath furprised the hypocrites: Who among us fhall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us fhall dwell with everlasting burnings * ?”. Nor is it is thus only with profligate finners, but the beft of men, upon near and efficacious difcoveries of the greatnefs, holiness, and glory of God, have funk into the deepest felf-abafement, and the moft ferious renunciation of all felf-confidence. Thus the prophet Isaiah, on his vision of the glory of Chrift, cried out, "Woe is me, I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips +." So holy Job, in all his contefts with his friends, who charged him with hypocrify, with affured confidence juftified his fincerity, refers to his conduct, and appeals to God himself for the truth of his plea. But being, at length, called into the immediate prefence of God, to plead his own caufe; not now, as B 2 * Ifa. xxxiii. 14. † Ifa. vi. 5. ftated |