the pharisee and the publican-第13章

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e　law　and　my　works；　I　die：　therefore　do　not　so　much　as　enter　into　judgment　with　me；　O　Lord。　　Nor　is　this　my　case　only；　but　it　is　the　condition　of　all　the　world：　　〃For　in　thy　sight　shall　no　man　living　be　justified。〃

（3。）　　A　third　instance　is　that　general　conclusion　of　the　apostle；　〃But　that　no　man　is　justified　by　the　law　in　the　sight　of　God　is　evident；　for　the　just　shall　live　by　faith。〃　　By　this　saying　of　St　Paul；　as　he　taketh　up　the　sentence　of　the　prophet　Habakkuk；　chap。　ii。　4；　so　he　taketh　up　this　sentence；　yea；　and　the　personal　justice　of　David　also。　　No　man；　saith　he；　is　justified　by　the　law　in　the　sight　of　God：　　no；　no　just　man；　no　holy　man；　not　the　strictest　and　most　righteous　man。　　But　why　not？　　Why；　because　〃the　just　shall　live　by　faith。〃

The　just　man；　therefore；　must　die；　if　he　has　not　faith　in　another　righteousness　than　that　which　is　of　the　law；　called　his　own：　　I　say；　he　must　die；　if　he　has　none　other　righteousness　than　that　which　is　his　own　by　the　law。　　Thus　also　Paul　confesses　of　himself：　　〃I　（saith　he）　know　nothing　by　myself；〃　either　before　conversion　or　after；　that　is；　I　knew　not　that　I　did　any　thing　before　conversion；　either　against　the　law；　or　against　my　conscience；　for　I　was　then；　touching　the　righteousness　which　is　of　the　law；　blameless。　　Also；　since　my　conversion；　I　know　nothing　by　myself；　for　〃I　have　walked　in　all　good　conscience　before　God　unto　this　day。〃

A　great　saying；　I　promise　you。　　Well；　but　yet　〃I　am　not　hereby　justified；〃　Phil。　iii。　7；　Acts　xxiii。　1；　1　Cor。　iv。　4。　　Nor　will　I　dare　to　venture　the　eternal　salvation　of　my　soul　upon　mine　own　justice；　〃for　he　that　judgeth　me　is　the　Lord；〃　that　is；　though　I；　through　my　dim…sightedness；　cannot　see　the　imperfections　of　my　righteousness；　yet　the　Lord；　who　is　my　judge；　and　before　whose　tribunal　I　must　shortly　stand；　can　and　will；　and　if　in　his　sight　there　shall　be　found　no　more　but　one　spot　in　my　righteousness；　I　must；　if　I　plead　my　righteousness；　fall　for　that。

2。　　That　the　best　of　men　are　afraid　to　stand　before　God's　tribunal；　there　to　be　judged　by　the　law　as　to　life　and　death；　according　to　the　sufficiency　or　non…sufficiency　of　their　righteousness；　is　evident；　because　by　casting　away　their　own　（in　this　matter）；　they　make　all　the　means　they　can　for　this；　that　is；　that　his　mercy；　by　an　act　of　grace；　be　made　over　to　them；　and　that　they　in　it　may　stand　before　God　to　be　judged。

Hence　David　cries　out　so　often；　〃Lead　me　in　thy　righteousness。〃　〃Deliver　me　in　thy　righteousness。〃　　〃Judge　me　according　to　thy　righteousness。〃　　〃Quicken　me　in　thy　righteousness。〃　　〃O　Lord　（says　he）；　give　ear　to　my　supplications：　　in　thy　faithfulness　answer　me；　and　in　thy　righteousness。〃　　〃And　enter　not　into　judgment　with　thy　servant；　O　Lord：　　for　in　thy　sight　shall　no　flesh　living　be　justified。〃　　And　David；　what　if　God　doth　thus？　　Why；　then；　saith　he；　〃My　tongue　shall　speak　of　his　righteousness。〃　　〃My　tongue　shall　sing　of　thy　righteousness。〃　　〃My　mouth　shall　shew　forth　thy　righteousness。〃　　〃Yea；　I　will　make　mention　of　thy　righteousness；　even　of　thine　only；〃　Psalm　lviii。；　xxxi。　1；　xxxv。　24；　cxix。　40；　xxxv。　28；　li。　14；　lxxi。　15；　16。

Daniel　also；　when　he　comes　to　plead　for　himself　and　his　people；　he　first　casts　away　his　and　their　righteousness；　saying；　〃For　we　do　not　present　our　supplications　unto　thee　for　our　righteousness：〃　　And　he　pleads　God's　righteousness；　and　that　he　might　have　a　share　and　interest　in　that　saying；　〃O　Lord；　righteousness　belongeth　to　thee；〃　to　wit；　that　righteousness；　for　the　sake　of　which；　mercy　and　forgiveness；　and　so　heaven　and　happiness；　is　extended　to　us。

Righteousness　belongeth　to　thee；　and　is　thine；　as　nearly　as　sin；　shame；　and　confusion；　are　ours；　and　belongeth　to　us。　　Read　the　16th　and　17th　verses　of　the　9th　of　Daniel。　　〃O　Lord　（saith　he）；　according　to　all　thy　righteousness；　I　beseech　thee；　let　thine　anger；　and　thy　fury；　be　turned　away　from　thy　city　Jerusalem；　thy　holy　mountain；　because　for　our　sins；　and　for　the　iniquities　of　our　fathers；　Jerusalem；　and　thy　people；　are　become　a　reproach　to　all　that　are　about　us。　　Now；　therefore；　O　our　God；　hear　the　prayer　of　thy　servant；　and　his　supplications；　and　cause　thy　face　to　shine　upon　thy　sanctuary　that　is　desolate；　for　the　Lord's　sake：〃　　For　the　sake　of　the　Lord　Jesus　Christ；　for　on　him　Daniel　now　had　his　eye；　and　through　him　to　the　Father　he　made　his　supplication；　yea；　and　the　answer　was　according　to　his　prayer；　to　wit；　that　God　would　have　mercy　on　Jerusalem；　and　that　he　would　in　his　time　send　the　Lord；　the　Messias；　to　bring　them　in　everlasting　righteousness　for　them。

Paul　also；　as　I　have　hinted　before；　disclaims　his　own　righteousness；　and　layeth　fast　hold　on　the　righteousness　of　God；　seeking　to　be　found　in　that；　not　having　his　own　righteousness；　for　he　knew　that　when　the　rain　descends；　the　winds　blow；　and　the　floods　come　down　on　all　men；　they　that　have　but　their　own　righteousness；　must　fall；　Phil。　iii

Now；　the　earnest　desire　of　the　righteous　to　be　found　in　God's　righteousness；　ariseth　from　strong　conviction　of　the　imperfections　of　their　own；　and　the　knowledge　that　was　given　them　of　the　terror　that　will　attend　men　at　the　day　of　the　fiery　trial；　to　wit；　the　day　of　judgement。　　For　although　men　can　now　flatter　themselves　into　a　fool's　paradise；　and　persuade　themselves　that　all　shall　be　well　with　them　then；　for　the　sake　of　their　own　silly　and　vain…glorious　performances；　yet　when　the　day　comes　that　shall　burn　like　an　oven；　and　when　all　that　have　done　wickedly　shall　be　as　stubble　（and　so　will　all　appear　to　be　that　are　not　found　in　Christ）；　then　will　their　righteousness　vanish　like　smoke；　or　be　like　fuel　for　that　burning　flame。　　And　hence　the　righteousness　that　the　godly　seek　to　be　found　in；　is　called；　The　name　of　the　Lord；　a　strong　tower；　a　rock；　a　shield；　a　fortress；　a　buckler；　a　rock　of　defence；　unto　which　they　resort；　and　into　which　they　run　and　are　safe。

The　godly　therefore　do　not；　as　this　Pharisee；　bring　their　own　righteousness　into　the　temple；　and　there　buoy　up　themselves　and　spirits　by　that　into　a　conceit；　that　for　the　sake　of　that　God　will　be　merciful　and　good　unto　them；　but　throwing　away　their　own；　they　make　to　God　for　his；　because　they　certainly　know；　even　by　the　word　of　God；　that　in　the　judgment　none　can　stand　the　trial　but　those　that　are　found　in　the　righteousness　of　God。

3。　　That　the　best　of　men　are　afraid　to　stand　before　God's　tribunal　by　the　law；　there　to　be　judged　to　life　and　death；　according　to　the　sufficiency　or　non…sufficiency　of　their　righteousness；　is　evident；　for　they　know；　that　it　is　a　vain　thing　to　seek；　by　acts　of　righteousness；　to　make　themselves　righteous　men；　as　is　the　way　of　all　them　that　seek　to　be　justified　by　the　deeds　of　the　law。

And　herein　lieth　the　great　difference　between　the　Pharisee　and　the　true　Christian　man。　　The　Pharisee　thinks；　by　acts　of　righteousness；　he　shall　make　himself　a　righteous　man：　　therefore　he　cometh　into　the　presence　of　God　well　furnished；　as　he　thinks；　with　his　negative　and　positive　righteousness。

Grace　suffereth　not　a　man　to　boast　before　God；　whatever　he　saith　before　men。　　His　soul　that　is　lifted　up；　is　not　upright　in　him；　and　better　is　the　poor　in　spirit　than　the　proud　in　spirit。　　The　Pharisee　was　a　very　proud　man；　a　proud；　ignorant　man；　proud　of　his　own　righteousness；　and　ignorant　of　God's：　　for　had　he　not；　he　could　not；　as　he　did；　have　so　condemned　the　Publican；　and　justified　himself。

And　I　say　again；　that　all　this　pride　and　vain…glorious　show　of　the　Pharisee　did　arise　from　his　not　being　acquainted　with　this；　that　a　man　must　be　good　before　he　can　do　good；　he　must　be　righteous；　before　he　can　do　righteousness。　　This　is　evident　from　Paul；　who　insinuateth　this　as　the　reason　why　none　do　good；　even　because　〃There　is　none　that　is　righteous；　no；　not　one。〃　　〃There　is　none　righteous；〃　saith　he；　and　then　follows；　〃There　is　none　that　doeth　good；〃　Rom。　iii。　10；　11；　12。　For　it　is　not　possible　for　a　man　that　is　not　first　made　righteous　by　the　God　of　heaven；　to　do　any　thing　that　in　a　gospel…sense　may　be　called　righteousness。　　To　make　himself　a　righteous　man；　by　his　so　meddling　with　them；　he　may　design；　but　work　righteousness；　and　so　by　such　works　of　righteousness　make　himself　a　righteous　man；　he　cannot。

The　righteousness　of　a　carnal　man　is　indeed　by　God　called　righteousness；　but　it　must　be　understood　as　spoken　in　the　dialect　of　the　world。　　The　world　indeed　calls　it　righteousness；　and　it　will　do　no　harm；　if　it　bear　that　term　with　reference　to　worldly　matters。　Hence　worldly　civilians　are　called　good　and　righteous　men；　and　so；　such　as　Christ；　under　that　notion；　neither　died　for；　nor　giveth　his　grace　unto；　Rom。　v。　7；　8。　　But　we　are　not　now　discoursing　about　any　other　righteousness；　than　that　which　is　so　accounted　either　in　a　law　or　in　a　gospel…sense；　and　therefore　let　us　a　little　more　touch　upon　that。

A　man　then　must　be　righteous　in　a　law…sense；　before　he　can　do　acts　of　righteousness；　I　mean；　that　are　such　in　a　gospel…sense。　　Hence；　first；　you　have　true　gospel…righteousness　made　the　fruit　of　a　second　birth。　　〃If　ye　know　that　Christ　is　righteous；　know　ye　that　every　one　that　doeth　righteousness　is　born　of　him；〃　1　John　ii。　29。　　Not　born　of　him　by　virtue　of　his　own　righteous　actions；　but　born　of　him　by　virtue　of　Christ's　mighty　working　with　his　work　upon　the　soul；　who　afterwards；　from　a　principle　of　life；　acteth　and　worketh　righteousness。

And　he　saith　again；　〃Little　children；　let　no　man　deceive　you：　　he　that　doeth　righteousness　is　righteous；　even　as　he　is　righteous。〃　Upon　this　scripture　I　will　a　little　comment；　for　the　proof　of　what　is　urged　before：　　namely；　that　a　man　must　be　righteous　in　a　law…sense；　before　he　can　do　such　things　that　may　be　called　acts　of　righteousness　in　a　gospel…sense。　　And　for　this；　this　scripture；　1　John　iii。　7；　ministereth　to　us　two　things　to　be　considered　by　us。

The　first　is；　That　he　that　doth　righteousness　is　righteous。

The　second　is；　That　he　that　doth　righteousness　is　righteous；　as　Christ　is　righteous。

First；　He　that　doth　righteousness；　that　is；　righteousness　which　the　gospel　calleth　so；　is　righteous；　that　is；　precedent　to；　or　before　he　doth　that　righteousness。　　For　he　doth　not　say；　he　shall　make　his　person　righteous　by　acts　of　righteousness　that　he　shall　do；　for　then　an　evil　tree　may　bear　good　fruit；　yea；　and　may　make　itself　good　by　doing　so；　but　he　saith；　He　that　doth　righteousness　is　righteous；　as　he　saith；　He　that　doth　righteousness　is　born　of　him。

So　then；　a　man　must　be　righteous　before　he　can　do　righteousness；　before　he　can　do　righteousness　in　a　gospel…sense。

Our　second　thing　then　is　to　inquire；　with　what　righteousness　a　man　must　be　righteous；　before　he　can　do　that　which　in　a　gospel…sense　is　called　righteousness。

And；　first；　I　answer；　he　must　be　righteous　in　a　law…sense：　　that　is；　he　must　be　righteous　in　the　judgment　of　the　law。　　This　is　evident：　because　he　saith；　〃He　that　doeth　righteousness　is　righteous；　as　he　is　righteous。〃　　That　is；　in　a　law…sense：　　for　Christ　in　no　sense　is　righteous　in　the　judgment　of　charity　only；　but　in　his　meanest　acts；　if　it　be　lawful　to　make　such　comparison；　he　was　righteous　in　a　law…　sense；　or　in　the　judgment　of　the　law。　　Now　the　apostle　saith；　that　〃he　that　doeth　righteousness　is　righteous；　as　he　is　righteous。〃　　They　are　the　words　of　God；　and　therefore　I　cannot　err　in　quoting　o