SPIRITAAL REACEAND COMFORT., Q75 we must confess all, and plead the righteousness of Christ's satis- faction for our justification. So when we are accused to be final unbelievers or impenitent, and so not to have performed the ,condi- tions of the new covenant, we must be justified by our own faith and repentance, the performance of that condition ; and must plead not guilty. And so far our own acts are our evangelical righteous- ness, and that of such necessity, that without it no man can have part in Christ's righteousness nor be saved. I would desire any man else to tell me, what else he will plead at judgment, when the accuser chargeth him (ot' if he doso charge him) with final unbe- lief? Will he confess it and say, ' Christ hath believed and re- pented forme ?,' That is as much as to say, ' Christ was a believer for infidels, that he might save infidels.' All false. If he will not say thus, (and lying will do no good,) their must he plead his own believing and repenting, as his righteousness, in opposition to that accusation. And if it be of,such use then, and be called a hun- dred times in Scripture, ' our righteousness," and we righteous for it, then doubtless we may accordingly try by, it now, whether we, shall then be able to come off and be justified, or no; and so may build our comfort on it. 3. Conscience is a witnessand judge within us, and doth, as under God, accuse and condemn, or excuse and acquit. Now, if conscience must absolve us only so far as we are innocent, or do well, or are qualified with grace, then it is impossible but these our qualifications and actions should be some ground of our comfort. See Acts xxiv. 16. xxiii. 1. Rom. i%. 15, 16. 4: Those which are our graces and works, as we are, the sub- jects and agents, are the graces and works of God, of Christ, of the Holy Ghost dwelling in us. If, 'therefore, we may not rejoice in our own works, or graces, then we may not rejoice in the works or gifts of God, Christ, or the Holy Ghost. And, 5. Our graces are the spiritual life or health of the soul, and our holy actions are the vital operations. Now, life and health are necessary ; , rejoicing, delighting things of themselves ; and vital actions are necessarily pleasant and delectable. 6. Our graces and holy actions must needs rejoice us in respect of their objects ; for the'object of our love, trust, hope, meditation, prayer, conference, lac., is God himself, and the Lord Jesus, and the joys of heaven. And how Can such actions choose but re- joice us! 7. Yea, rejoicing itself, and delighting ourselves in God, is not only one part of our duty, but that great duty wherein lieth the height of our Christianity. And how vain a speech is it to say, that we may not take- up oui comforts from our own works, nor
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