The saints before the gospel day were but very partially instructed respecting the way of salvation.  They knew not how they were to be saved through a Redeemer who had not come in the flesh.  But the matter was open to the divine eye.  And it is observable that the term perfect is never assumed by the saints.  They confess their own emptiness and abase themselves before God.  Where perfection is attributed to them, it is always by those who spake as moved by the Holy Ghost.

2.  The saints are the subjects not only of an imputed, but also of an inherent righteousness:  And have been so from the beginning.  Noah was a just man and perfect—­Job perfect and upright.  In this respect they were not made to differ from other saints.  All the saints are born of God—­they are renewed after the image of the Creator and made to bear the image of the heavenly.  The change which takes place in them causes them to favor the things of God; to love holiness, and delight to do good as they have opportunity and ability.

They are just and upright; just toward man, and upright before God.

Justice respects the part which mankind act toward one another.  It is opposed to fraud and injustice.  The just man is fair in his dealings —­gives to all their dues—­is careful to fulfil every trust, and to do by others as he would others should do by him.

Such is the character given of him of old, who “was perfect in his generations,” when “the whole earth was filled with violence, because all flesh had corrupted their way,” And every good man follows his example; hath respect to all God’s commandments, and hates every evil way.  Perfection, in the strict sense of the term, is his wish, and his aim, though he doth not expect to attain it while resident in the body.  But he “forgets the things which are behind and reaching forth to those which are before, he presses on,” endeavoring a nearer conformity to the divine pattern.

While he is just toward man, he is sincere toward God, acting uprightly before him.  He is really the good man he appears.  His profession is not dissembled.  His heart is right—­his eye single.  Sincerity is gospel perfection.  In this true religion very essentially consists:  And it is found on all the saints.

The good man keeps in mind his covenant engagements.  For the vows of God are upon him and he is careful to fulfil them.  He doth not wish to be released from his obligations with which he is bound to be the Lord’s and to serve him.  He is concerned to honor God—­thinks nothing unimportant which he hath required, though the reasons of the requirement may lie out of sight.  “Lord what wilt thou have me to do?” is his daily inquiry.  And he seeks to know, that he may do his duty.  He waits on God in the ways of his appointment, and is busy about the work assigned him.  He is also steady in his counsels and uniform in his conduct.  His heart is established by grace, and