THE THIRD USE. If justifying righteousness be alone to be found in the person of Jesus Christ, then this shews us the sad condition of two sorts of men — (1.) Of those that hang in doubt betwixt Christ and the law. (2.) Of those that do professedly make denial of the sufficiency of this most blessed righteousness.

The first sort, though they may seek life, yet, thus continuing, are never like to find it. Wherefore? Because they seek it not by faith, but, as it were, by the works of the law. Indeed, they will not be merit-mongers; they will not wholly trust to the law; they will partly venture on Christ, and partly trust to the law. Well, but therefore they shall be damned, because they trust to Christ but in part, and in part, as it were, to the works of the law; for such sinners make Christ but a Savior in part — why then should he be their Savior in whole? No, because they halt between Christ and the law, therefore they shall fall between Christ and the law; yea, because they will trust to their works in part, they shall be but almost saved by Christ. Let not that man think that he shall obtain any thing from the Lord. What man? Why, he that doubteth or wavereth in his mind about the truth of the mercy of God in Christ. Therefore the exhortation is, “But let him ask in faith; for he that wavereth (or, that halteth between the law and Christ for life) is like a wave of the sea, driven of the wind and tossed,” James 1:6,7.

In conclusion, he resteth nowhere — “a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.” This man, therefore, must miscarry; he must not see the good land that flows with milk and honey; no, let him not have a thought of life in his heart; let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

This was the case of many in the primitive times, for whose sake this caution was written; for the devout and religious Jew and proselyte, when they fell away from the word of the gospel, they did not fall to those gross and abominable pollutions in which the open profane, like sows and swine, do wallow, but they fell from the grace of God to the law; or, at least, did rest betwixt them both, doubting of the sufficiency of either; and thus, being fearful, they distrust; wherefore, being found at length unbelieving, they are reputed of God abominable, as murderers, whoremongers, sorcerers, idolators, and liars ( Revelation 21:8); and so must have their portion in the lake (with them) that burns with fire and brimstone. The reason is, because where Christ is rejected sin remaineth, and so the wrath of God for sin. Neither will he be a Savior in part; he must be all thy salvation, or none — “Let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord,” James 1:7.

Not any thing. There is no promise for him, no pardon for him, no heaven for him, no salvation for him, no escaping of his fire! What condition is this man in! Yet he is a religious man, for he prays; he is a seeking man, a desiring man, for he prays; but he halts between two, he leaneth to his righteousness, and committeth iniquity. He is afraid to venture all upon the Lord Jesus Christ. Let not that man think of receiving any thing from the Lord.

Yet the words suggest that he is apt to think he shall receive something, because God is merciful, because his promise is great; but this expectation is by this word cut off, and this sinner is cast away. Let not that man think, let him forbear to think, of having anything at the hand of God. The Israelites thought to go up to the land the day after they had despised it.

Agag thought the bitterness of death was past even that day in which he was hewn to pieces. Rechab and Baanah his brother thought to have received reward of David that day they were hanged over the pool in Hebron. “Let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord,” Numbers 14:40,41; 1 Samuel 15:32,33; 2 Samuel 4:12. 2. As for those that do professedly make denial of the sufficiency of this most blessed righteousness, the whole book is conviction to them, and shall assuredly, if it come to their hands, rise up in judgment against them.

They have rejected the wisdom and mercy of God; they have rejected the means of their salvation; they have trampled upon the blood of the Son of God; wherefore judgment waiteth for them, and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

To conclude. One word also to you that are neglecters of Jesus Christ: “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” Here, then, we may see how we ought to judge of all such persons as neglect the Lord Jesus, under what guise, name, or notion soever they be. We ought, I say, to judge of such, that they are at present in a state of condemnation; of condemnation, “because they have not believed in the only begotten Son of God,” John 3:18.

It is true, there is no man more at ease in his mind (with such ease as it is) than the man that hath not closed with the Lord Jesus, but is shut up in unbelief. Oh! but that is the man that stands convict before God, and that is bound over to the great assize; that is the man whose sins are still his own, and upon whom the wrath of God abideth, John 3:36; for the ease and peace of such, though it keep them far from fear, is but like to that of the secure thief, that is ignorant that the constable standeth at the door; the first sight of an officer makes his peace to give up the ghost. Ah, how many thousands that can now glory that they never were troubled for sin against God; I say, how many be there that God will trouble worse than he troubled cursed Achan, because their peace (though false, and of the devil) was rather chosen by them than peace by Jesus Christ, than “peace with God by the blood of his cross,” Colossians 1:20.

Awake, careless sinners, awake! and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light. Content not yourselves either with sin or righteousness, if you be destitute of Jesus Christ ( Ephesians 5:14); but cry, cry, oh cry to God for light to see your condition by; for light in the word of God, for therein is the righteousness of God revealed. Cry, therefore, for light to see this righteousness by; it is a righteousness of Christ’s finishing, of God’s accepting, and that which alone can save the soul from the stroke of eternal justice, Romans 1:17.

There are six things that on man’s part are the cause he receiveth not the gospel of Christ, and so life by him. 1. They see not their state by nature, how polluted they are with original sin, Ephesians 2:2. 2. They see not the justice of God against sin; they know not him that hath said, “Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense,” Hebrews 10:30. 3. They cannot see the beauty of Jesus Christ, 2 Corinthians 4:4. 4. Unbelief being mighty in them, they dare not venture their souls with Jesus Christ ( Revelation 21:8); they dare not trust to his righteousness, and to that only. For, 5. Their carnal reason also sets itself against the word of faith, and cannot stoop to the grace of Jesus Christ, 1 Corinthians 2:14. 6. They love to have honor one of another ( John 5:44); they love to be commended for their own vain-glorious righteousness; and the fools think that because they are commended of men, they shall be commended of God also: “How can you believe, who seek honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only.” This last thing — to wit, desire of vain-glory, is the bane of thousands; it is the legalist’s bane, it is the civilian’s bane, it is the formalist’s bane, yea, which yet is stranger, it is the bane of the vicious and debauched also; for though there be a generation that, to one’s thinking, have not regard to righteousness, yet watch them narrowly, and they have their times of doing something that looks like good, and though possibly it be but seldom, yet this wretch counteth that for the sake of that God accepteth him, and counteth his, glorious righteousness.

I might add a seventh cause, which is, want of serious meditation upon eternal judgment, and what shall follow. This consideration, did it take a deep place in the heart, would doubtless produce these workings of spirit after Jesus Christ for justification that now is wanting in the most of men.

This made Felix, yea, it makes the devils, tremble; and would, I say, couldst thou deeply meditate, make thee start and turn thy wanton thoughts into heavy sighs after God’s mercy in Jesus Christ, lest thou also come into their place of torment.

Before I conclude this use, I would lay down a few motives, if so be thou mayest be prevailed with to look after thine own everlasting state. 1. Consider, God hath put man, above all the creatures in this visible world, into a state of abiding for ever; they cannot be annihilated, they shall never again be turned into nothing, but must live with God or the devil for ever and ever. And though the scripture saith, “Man hath not pre-eminence over a beast in his death,” yet the beast hath pre-eminence above many men, for he shall not rise again to come into judgment as man must, nor receive that dismal sentence for sin and transgression as man shall; this, therefore, is worthy to be considered with seriousness of all that have souls to be saved or damned — “They must one day come to judgment,” there to stand before that Judge of all the earth whose eyes are like a flame of fire, from the sight of which thou canst not hide one of thy words, or thoughts, or actions, because thou wantest the righteousness of God. The fire of his justice shall burn up all thy rags of righteousness wherewith by the law thou hast clothed thyself, and will leave thee nothing but a soul full of sin to bemoan, and eternal burnings to grapple with. Oh, the burnings that will then beset sinners on every side, and that will eat their flesh and torment their spirit with far more terror than if they were stricken with scorpions! And observe it, the torment will there be higher than other where there is the guilt of neglecting Jesus Christ, he being indeed the Savior, and him that was sent on purpose to deliver men from the wrath to come. 2. Consider, once past grace, and ever past grace. When the door is shut against thee, it will open no more ( Luke 13.), and then repentings, desires, wishings, and wouldings, come all too late. Good may be done to others, but to thee, none; and this shall be “because, even because thou hast withstood the time of thy visitation,” and not received grace when offered: “My God shall cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him,” Luke 19:41-43; Hosea 9:17. Cain was driven out from the presence of God, for aught I know, some hundreds of years before his death; Ishmael was cast away after seventeen years of age; Esau lived thirty or forty years after he had sold his birthright. Oh, many, very many are in this condition! for though God be gracious, yea, very gracious, yet he will not be slighted nor abused always; there are plenty of sinners in the world — if one will not, another will, Luke 8:37,40. Christ was soon repulsed by and sent away from the country of the Gadarenes; but on the other side of the sea there were many ready with joy to receive him, Acts 13:46-48. So when the Jews contradicted and blasphemed, “the Gentiles gladly received the word.” Look to it, sinner, here is life and death set before thee; life, if it be not too late to receive it; but if it be, it is not too late for death to swallow thee up. And tell me, will it not be dreadful to be carried from under the gospel to the damned, there to lie in endless torment, because thou wouldst not be delivered therefrom? Will it be comfort to thee to see the Savior turn Judge? to see him that wept and died for the sin of the world now ease his mind on Christ-abhorring sinners by rendering to them the just judgment of God? For all their abominable filthiness, had they closed with Christ, they had been shrouded from the justice of the law, and should not have come into condemnation, “but had been passed from death to life;” but they would not take shelter there; they would venture to meet the justice of God in its fury, wherefore now it shall swallow them up for ever and ever. And let me ask further, is not he a madman who, being loaded with combustible matter, will run headlong into a fire upon a bravado? or, that being guilty of felony or murder, will desperately run himself into the hand of the officer, as if the law, the judge, the sentence, execution, were but a jest, or a thing to be played withal? And yet thus mad are poor, wretched, miserable sinners, who flying from Christ as if he were a viper, they are overcome, and cast off for ever by the just judgment of the law. But ah! how poorly will these be able to plead the virtues of the law to which they have cleaved, when God shall answer them, “Whom dost thou pass in beauty? go down, and be thou laid with the uncircumcised,” Ezekiel 32:19.

Go down to hell, and there be laid with those that refused the grace of God.

Sinners, take my advice, with which I shall conclude this use — Call often to remembrance that thou hast a precious soul within thee; that thou art in the way to thine end, at which thy precious soul will be in special concerned, it being then time to delay no longer, the time of reward being come. I say again, bring thy end home; put thyself in thy thoughts into the last day thou must live in this world, seriously arguing thus — How if this day were my last? How if I never see the sun rise more? How if the first voice that rings tomorrow morning in my heavy ears be, “Arise, ye dead, and come to judgment?” Or, how if the next sight I see with mine eyes be the Lord in the clouds, with all his angels, raining floods of fire and brimstone upon the world? Am I in a case to be thus near mine end? to hear this trump of God? or to see this great appearance of this great God, and the Lord Jesus Christ? Will my profession, or the faith I think I have, carry me through all the trials of God’s tribunal? Cannot his eyes, which are as a flame of fire, see in my words, thoughts, and actions enough to make me culpable of the wrath of God? Oh! how serious should sinners be in this work of remembering things to come, of laying to their heart the greatness and terror of that notable day of God Almighty, and in examining themselves, how it is like to go with their souls when they shall stand before the Judge indeed! To this end, God make this word effectual.

Amen.