Online Bible 1995 March/ROM-1025.iso/olb/gill/d_000.lzh/D_075.TXT

Text File | 1994-07-15 | 7KB | 137 lines

Cx~AP. XXI.

OF THE JUSTICE OR RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.

75

verse, forbids it, disapproves of it, dissuades froIn it,
threatens to punish for it, yea, even chastizes his own
people for it; and, besides, over-rules it for great good,
and for his own glory; as the fall of Adam, the sin of
Joseph's brethren, the Jews crucifixion of Christ; which
have been instanced in, and observed under a former at-
tribute: wherefore the dispensations of God, in his pro-
vidence, are not to be charged with unholiness on this
account.
3. The holiness of Jehovah the Father is to be ob-
served in those acts of grace which are peculiar to him;
as in choosing some in Christ his Son to everlasting life,
before the world began. Now though not the holiness
of the creature, nor even the foresight of it, is the cause
of this act; yet holiness, or the sanctification of the Spirit,
is fixed as a means in it; and it is the will of God, that
those whom he cllooses and appoints to salvation should
partake of it, or come to salvation through" it; nay, he
has not only chosen them through it, as a means, but he
has chosen them to it, as a subordinate end; he has
chosen them to be holy in part, in this life, and perfectly
in the life to come; and holiness of heart and life, is the
evidence of interest in it, and nothing more powerfully
excites and engages to it. The covenant which he has
made with his son Jesus Christ, on the behalf of the
chosen ones, provides abundantly for their holiness, both
internal and external; see Ezek. xxxvi. 25, 26, 27. and
the promises of it serve greatly to promote it, and to in-
fluence the saints to be "perfecting holiness in the fear
of God," 2 Cor. vii. 1. And in this covenant is laid up
a rod of correction, in love, to chastize with it the sins
of God's people, Psalm lxxxix. 29--34. Justification
is an act of God's grace towards them; it is God, even
God the Father, that justifies, through the imputation of
his Son's righteousness to them; by which the holy law
of God is so far from being made void, that it is estab-
lished, magnified, and made honourable: nor are justified
persons exempted from obedience to it, but are more
strongly bound and constrained to serve it; and though
God justifies the ungodly, yet not without a righteous-
ness provided for them, and imputed to them: nor does
he justify, v!ndicate, or approve of their ungodliness, nor
conrove at it; but turns it from them, and them from
that: and faith, which receives the blessing of justifica-
tion from the Lord, by which men perceive their interest
in it, and enjoy the comfort of it, is an operative grace,
works by love to God, to Christ, and his people; and is
attended with good works, the fruits of righteousness:
the like may be observed with respect to other acts of
the Father's grace; as adoption, pardon,
2dly, The holiness of the Son of God is to be seen
in all his works; in the works of creation and providence,
in common with his divine Father; and in all his works
of grace; in giving himself to sanctify his church, and
make it a glorious one, without spot or wrinkle, through
his blood and righteousness; in redeeming his people from
all iniquity, to purify them to himself a peculiar people;
in bearing their sins,. and making satisfaction for them,
that they might live unto righteousness, and that the body
of sin might be destroyed, Eph. v. 25, 27. Tit. ii. 14.
1 Pet. ii. 24. Rom. vi. 6. and so in the execution of all
his offices; as a Prophet, he has appeared to be an holy
one; the faith delivered by him to the saints, is a most

holy faith, wholesome words, doctrines according to god-
liness: as a Priest, he is holy and harmless, separate from
sinners, and has offered up himself without spot to God;
and though he makes intercession for transgressors, it is
upon the foot of his sacrifice and righteousness: as a .King,
all his administrations are in purity and righteousness;
and Iris laws, commands, and ordinances, are holy ones;
and when he comes as judge of the world, he will appear
without sin, and "judge the world in righteousness."
3dly, The holiness of the blessed Spirit, is visible in
the formation of the human nature of Christ; in separat-
ing that mass out of which it was framed in the virgin;
in sanctifying it, and preserving it from the taint and con-
tagion of original sin; in filling the human nature, when
formed, with his holy gifts and graces, and that without
measure; and through him it was offered up without
spot; and he was declared to be the Son of God with
power, by the Spirit of holiness, throt/gh the resurrection
from the dead. Moreover, his holiness is manifest in
the sanctification of the chosen of God, and the redeemed
of the Lamb, which is tlterefore called, the sanctification
of the Spirit, o. Thess. ii. 13. 1 Pet. i, ~. in convincing
m of sin, of the evil nature and just demerit of it; in
converting them from it; in calling them with an holy
calling, and to holiness; in implanting principles of grace
and holiness in them; in purifying their hearts by faith,
through the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus; in leading
them in the way of holiness, in which men, though fools,
shall not err; and in carrying on, and perfecting the work
of sanctification in them, "without which none shall see
the Lord."

CHAP. XXI.

OF THE JUSTICE OR RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.

CONCERNING this attribute of God, I shall,
First, Shew that it does belong to him, and is natural
and essential to him. The scriptures do abundantly
ascribe it to him; all rational creatures, angels and men,
good and bad, acknowledge it in him, Rev. xvi. 5. Exod.
ix. 27. Jet. xii. 1. Dan. ix. 9. Psalm cxlv. 7- and remove
all unrighteousness from him, and affirm there is none in
him, Psalm xcii. 15. Rom. ix. 14. And, indeed, without
this' attribute, he would not be fit to be the Governor of
the world, and the judge of the whole earth; his govern-
ment would be tyranny, and not yield that pleasure and
delight to the inhabitants of it, it does; the-reason of
which is, because righteousness and judgment are the
habitation of his throne, Psalm xcvii. 1,2. And from
Iris love of righteousness, and constant performance of it,
it may be concluded it is natural to him; as what is loved
by men, and .constantly done by them, shews it to be
agreeable to the nature of them, Psalm xi. 7. and ix. 4.
and, indeed, it is originally and essentially in God; it is
in and of himself, and not of another; it is his nature
and essence, and is not derived from another. Adam
was righteous, but not of himself, God made him up-
right, or righteous; saints are righteous, not by their own
righteousness, but by the righteousness of Christ imputed
to them. But God is righteous in and of himself; Iris
righteousness is essential and inderivative, and is incom-
municable to a creature; it is not that by which men are
K2