+I. Man is justified by the mere mercy of God.+--And there is
excluded by justification all merit of congruity, all meritorious
works of preparation wrought by us, all co-operation of man's will
with God's grace in the effecting of our justification.
+II. Man is justified by the mere merit of Christ.+--That is, by the
meritorious obedience which He wrought in Himself, and not by
anything wrought by Him in us.
+III. A sinner is justified by mere faith.+--That is, nothing within
us concurs as a cause of our justification but faith, and nothing
apprehends Christ's obedience for our justification but faith. This
will more easily appear if we compare faith, hope, and love. Faith is
like a hand that opens itself to receive a gift, and so is neither
love nor hope. Love is also a hand, but yet a hand that gives out,
communicates, and distributes. For as faith receives Christ into our
hearts, so love opens the heart and pours our praise and thanks to
God and all manner of goodness to men. Hope is no hand, but an eye
that wistfully looks and waits for the good things faith believes.
Therefore, it is the only property of faith to clasp and lay hold of
Christ and His benefits.
+IV. The practice of them that are justified is to believe.+--To put
their trust in Christ. 1. Faith and practice must reign in the heart
and have all at command. We must not go by sense, feeling, reason,
but shut our eyes and let faith keep our hearts close to the promise
of God. Faith must overrule and command nature and the strongest
affections thereof. 2. When we know not what to do by reason of the
greatness of our distress, we must fix our hearts on Christ with
separation, as he that climbs up a ladder or some steep place: the
higher he goes the faster he holds.--_Perkins._