those that are saved and them that that we are justified by our love perish. The texts in which propo- and its fruits, as by our faith, if sitions to this effect are contained, any distinction were admitted: but are more numerous than can easily how different this is to the language be. conceived by persons who have of the sacred oracles need not be not particularly examined the sub-said; and surely in this case we ject as may easily be seen by should be justified by "works of looking over the articles of faith, righteousness that we had done," believing, &c., in a good concord-though not by the works of the law. ance. By faith we pass from death Neither hath it ever been shown in unto life; by faith we are saved, what part of the New Testament we walk, we stand, we work, we this mitigated law may be found: fight, and conquer: we come unto and surely nothing like it is conGod, we receive the Spirit, and tained in our Lord's sermon on the we are sanctified by faith; and mount, or in the preceptive part of every thing pertaining to our peace, the apostolical epistles: nor are we stability, fruitfulness, comfort, and told precisely what it requires, or eternal felicity, are evidently sus-what exact measure of obedience pended on, and inseparably con-will justify a man according to it. nected with our faith in a peculiar On this plan, it is not easy to unmanner, and wholly different from derstand how Christ " magnified the relation which they bear to any the law, and made it honourable :" other holy disposition or act of" how the law is established by obedience, that we possess or per- faith" for which of our sins the form. So that it is really surprising death of Christ atoned (seeing the that any, except avowed infidels or law is repealed, and a milder law sceptics, should deny the doctrine given, by obedience to which we of justification by faith only, what-are justified :) or how boasting can ever method they adopt of explain- thus be excluded. In fact, this ing the meaning of the words faith sentiment totally makes void the and justification. holy, just, and good law of God;

I shall, therefore, next proceed and alters the standard of our duty, to consider the distinguishing na- from the exact requirements of the ture and effects of faith, and the holy precept, to a vague, indetermanner in which it justifies. Some minate idea called sincere obedience; opposers of this fundamental doc- which may be modelled and varied, trine attempt to explain it away, by according to the reasonings and inrepresenting faith as a compendious clinations of mankind: and thus it term, denoting the whole of that virtually sets aside both the law profession and obedience which and the gospel. But as faith in Christ requires of his disciples: so respect of justification is not only that they suppose we are justified opposed to the works of the law, by embracing and obeying the gos- but distinguished from repentance, pel, as a mitigated law of works; hope, charity, &c. as required of, and that Christ purchased for us and exercised by believers; and as the acceptance of sincere, instead none of these, nor any kind or deof perfect obedience. Their defi-gree of obedience is ever said to nition of faith comprises in it re-justify a man in the sight of God; pentance, love, obedience, &c.: and so we are warranted to decide withit seems that on this plan it would, out hesitation, that the apostles at least, be equally proper to say, never meant by faith such a com

pound of all the distinct parts of the sinner's first justification; whilst Christianity; and that such a sup- the dead works of a mere formalist position would imply, that they used are generally meant by the obedithe most unsuitable and obscure ex-ence which is at last to justify such pressions that could possibly be de-a believer: so that the sentiment vised. We allow indeed, that true verges on the one hand to an antifaith inseparably connects with, or nomian abuse of the gospel, and on produces all the other essential the other to a pharisaical opposiparts of Christianity: and in like tion to it. manner, in a complete human body, But what then is faith? To anthere are ears, hands, feet, &c., as swer this question, I would observe, well as eyes; yet the eyes alone that faith, or believing, in common can perform the function of seeing: language, implies credit given to a and thus the tree produces the fruit, report, testimony, or promise, or yet is distinct from it; and the stem confidence placed in any person; or branches of the tree may answer and almost all the affairs of life are purposes for which the fruit, though conducted on this principle, that valuable, is totally unfit. It is, men in ordinary circumstances are therefore, a very different thing to entitled to a measure of credit and say, that living faith is connected confidence. But "if the testimony with repentance, works by love and of man be great, the testimony of produces obedience; than to contend God is greater;" yea, "it is sure, that it includes them, and that we and giveth wisdom to the simple.” are justified by repentance, love, Divine faith is, therefore, a dispoand obedience as parts of our faith. sition readily to believe the testimony

Others again suppose, that faith and to rely on the promises of God. is nothing more than an assent to The apostle Paul briefly calls it the truth of Christianity: and that" the belief of the truth" (2 Thess. a Jew or Christian, on embracing ii. 12, 13); of every revealed truth, and professing the gospel, was freed and especially of "the word of the from the guilt of his former sins; truth of the gospel;" and he dethat being thus brought into a jus- fines" faith to be the substance of tified state, he would continue in it things hoped for, the evidence of or fall from it, according to his sub- things not seen" (Heb. xi. 1). In sequent behaviour: and that his general it gives implicit credit to justification at the last day must be the Divine veracity, in respect of by his own works, if he escape final all the invisible things that God condemnation. But here again we hath attested; some of which are inquire, how this system can consist past, as the creation, the fall of with the very meaning of the word man, the deluge, the crucifixion justify, or account righteous, when and resurrection of Christ, &c.; the sinner is merely put upon a others exist at present, as the allnew probation, to work out a righte- pervading Providence and all-seeing ousness for himself? How it con-eye of God, the intercession of sists with believers "not coming Christ in heaven, &c.; and others into condemnation," and " having are future, as the coming of Christ eternal life abiding in them?" How to raise the dead and judge the it excludes boasting? And where world, and the state of eternal reit is found in the sacred oracles? tributions: but faith credits all of In fact, the dead faith exploded by them, and so receives the testimony James, is thus brought forward for of God, both respecting the evil

and the good, that it realizes them this great High Priest. Faith in to the mind, as if they were indeed the Divine testimony and promises perceivable by the bodily senses. influences him to entrust his soul But in its more particular exercise, and all his eternal interests into it especially regards, embraces, the hands of Christ, relying on his realizes, and looks for the future power, truth, and love: he comes blessings which God hath promised; to the Father through him and in and thus gives the soul, as it were, his name; he shelters his soul from a present possession of things hoped the wrath of God and the curse of for. The examples recorded in the the law, under the protection of his last mentioned chapter, evince that atoning blood; and confides in his this faith always receives the Di- power and grace to deliver him from vine testimony, not only as true, all his outward and inward foes; but as interesting in the highest de- he sits at the Redeemer's feet, hears gree; and thus as a living principle and observes his directions, lives it influences a man to flee from, or by faith in him for every thing; and provide against the threatened evil, this faith working by love, and and to pursue with earnestness and learning daily lessons from his decision the promised good. But word, and from the cross, gives the record which God hath given him the victory over the fear of us of his Son and of eternal life in man and the love of the world, inhim, is the centre of revelation; creases his hatred of and humiliafaith therefore always pays a pecu- tion for sin, and furnishes him with liar regard to it, and thus especially motives, encouragements, and aids "sets to its seal that God is true' " for all holy obedience.

(John, iii. 14-21, 33-36; 1 John, But whatever faith may effect as v. 10-13): whilst unbelief makes the active principle of a man's conhim a liar. Other divine testimo- duct, it justifies him before God nies having shown a man that he only as it unites him to Christ, and is a lost sinner deserving of, and interests him in his righteousness exposed to the wrath of God; these and atonement, and in the promises discover to him his only refuge. of God in him. The other operaThe Holy Spirit, through the "be- tions and effects of this precious lief of the truth," has convinced faith serve to distinguish it from a him of sin ;" and now "he glorifies worthless, dead faith; but do not Christ," and shows to his enlight- at all concur in our justification by ened mind the nature, suitableness, it: for we are justified as one with and value of his salvation, as re- Christ, on which account it is meet vealed in the word of the gospel. that we should share his purchased The Father, as it were, says to him, blessings; whilst he that hath not "This is my beloved Son,-hear faith stands in no such relation to him:" and his heart answers, "Lord, him, and is not entitled to such disI believe, help thou mine unbelief." tinguished advantages. But then He credits the testimony of God all who have this faith do repent, concerning the Person and Media- do love the Lord and his people, tion of Emmanuel; he feels his need and uprightly obey his commands; of the teaching of such a Prophet; by which they are distinguished the deliverance and protection of from mere professors.

such a King, and the blessings of We must not then suppose that his kingdom; and above all, of the we are justified by the merit of our sacrifice, merits, and intercession of faith, any more than by our good

works: for though true faith is fore justification may be ascribed pleasing to God, because honour-either to the source, the meritorious able to his name, yet it cannot atone cause, or to the recipient of it; even for our sins, or purchase heaven; as a drowning person may be said nay the imperfection of our faith to be saved, either by the man on would condemn us, if we were to the bank of the river, or by the be judged according to the merit of rope cast out to him, or by his hand it. But "we are justified by faith apprehending the rope; according alone," because by it we receive to the different ways in which we and become interested in " that speak on the subject. The manner righteousness of God which is upon in which faith justifies may be ilall, and unto all that believe," lustrated by considering in what (Rom. iii. 21-28): and this right- sense a bank-note pays a demand eousness being the perfect obedience made on any one: the intrinsic vaunto death of God incarnate, and lue of the paper is not one farthing, so of infinite value, and having been but it refers the creditor to a comdevised, appointed, wrought out, pany who are engaged, and compeand revealed for this very purpose, tent to answer the demand, and is fully sufficient to justify all who therefore it is accounted to the are interested in it, how numerous debtor as so much paid in specie. soever they are, or how vile soever Thus faith refers God the Father they have been. We are therefore to Christ, who is able and willing said "to be justified freely by the to answer for every believer, and grace of God," to "be justified by therefore "it is imputed to us for the blood of Christ" (for by shed-righteousness:" so that if a man ding his blood he finished his obe- should die, immediately after the dience as our surety); to have first exercise of true faith (as the "righteousness imputed to us with- thief on the cross did), and before out works," and to be "made the he had time to perform one further righteousness of God in Christ" act of obedience, he would cer(Rom. iv., v. ; 2 Cor. v. 21). Even tainly enter heaven as a justified as Paul counted all but loss, that person; though all who are spared he might win Christ, and be found will as certainly show their faith in him-having the "righteousness by their works. Nor can there be of God by faith" (Phil. iii. 3-9). any doubt, but that the justifying We are also justified as ungodly faith of Abraham, &c., had a similar persons for though true faith is respect to the promises and testithe effect of regeneration, and the mony of God concerning a Rebeginning of godliness, yet the man deemer that was to come, and jusin himself, according to the law, is tified him in exactly the same liable to condemnation as ungodly, manner. and is only justified, as viewed in The Scriptures inform us, that Christ, according to the gospel." the only wise God our Saviour," Hence it appears, that the grace hath appointed this method of jus(that is, the gratuitous favour, sove-tification, that the benefit might be reign love, or everlasting mercy) of of grace; for faith, of that nature God is the source of our justifica- which hath been described, extion; the righteousness and atone-pressly renounces all claim in the ment of Emmanuel are the merito-way of merit; it allows, "that by rious cause of it; and faith is the the works of the law no flesh can only recipient of the blessing: there-be justified in the sight of God;" it

comes to him, not to buy, earn, or ates the blessing—not by believing demand a recompense, but to crave without evidence that Christ is ours, mercy, the gift of righteousness, and but by applying to him, according to the gift of eternal life through Jesus the word of God, that he may be Christ; and in that way, by which ours. Should it be further objected, the desert of sin and the justice of that the decision of the day of judgGod were most clearly displayed to ment is always stated to be made the universe. So that in this way" according to men's works;" it may of justifying the ungodly" by faith suffice to answer in this place, that alone, the whole glory is secured to no faith justifies except that which the Lord; and his justice, holiness, works by love; that love uniformly truth, and wisdom, as well as his produces obedience; and that the abounding grace, are explicitly ac- works thus wrought will certainly knowledged and honoured: and as be adduced as evidences in court, faith itself is the gift of God, whilst to distinguish between the true bethe weakest faith justifies as cer- liever and all other persons. Fitainly as the strongest (though it nally, the objection that this docdoes not bring such evidence of it trine tends to licentiousness, seems to the conscience); so boasting is to have been already sufficiently excluded, every ground of self-pre- answered by the explanation given ference is thus removed, and a foun- of the nature and effects of saving dation is as it were laid in the be- faith: and I shall merely add a liever's heart, for the constant exer- most earnest exhortation to all who cise of humility, dependence, pa- hold this doctrine, to walk so cirtience, and meekness, and that love cumspectly, "that whereas many which constrains the redeemed sin-speak evil of them, as evil-doers, ner "to live no longer to himself, they may be confuted and ashamed, but to him that died for him and who falsely accuse their good conversation in Christ" (1 Pet. ii. 12; iii. 16).

rose again."

But it may be objected, that the Scriptures speak of repentance, con- Thus, having explained the docversion, love, obedience, doing the trine of justification by faith alone, will of God, and forgiveness of ene- through the righteousness of God, mies, &c. as requisite in order to even of our Saviour Jesus Christ" our acceptance and admission to (2 Pet. i. 1); and proved it to be the enjoyment of our heavenly in- that of the holy Scriptures; I would heritance; and how can this con- conclude by reminding the reader sist with the doctrine of justifica- of its vast importance. "How shall tion by faith alone? No doubt man be just with God?-All our these things are necessary; nay, eternal interests depend on the anthere is no salvation without them, swer, which, in our creed and expeaccording to the time afforded, nor rience, we return to this question: does any man come short of salva- for if God hath, for the glory of his tion in whom they are found. They own name, law, and government, are things which accompany salva-appointed such a method of justifytion: they either prepare the heart ing sinners, as that revealed in the for receiving Christ by faith, or they gospel; and they, in the pride of are effects of, and evidences that he their hearts, refuse to seek the is thus received: yet Christ him- blessing in this way, but will come self is our whole salvation, and faith for it according to their own dealone receives him, and appropri- vices, he may justly, and will cer