The second point is, what is waited for? Paul says the revelation of “righteousness” and eternal salvation. Here I observe that there is no justification by the observation of the law. And I prove it thus. The righteousness whereby a sinner is justified is apprehended by faith and expected by hope. But if righteousness were by the law, men should have the fruition of their righteousness in this life, and consequently the hope thereof should cease.

Secondly, here is comfort for the godly. They complain of the want of sanctification. But they are to know that in this life they shall never feel righteousness as they feel sin. Here they must hunger and thirst after righteousness, living in some want of it. If we have the first fruits of the Spirit, the hatred of our own sin, the purpose of not sinning, the fear of God, and such like, we must content ourselves and wait for the fruition of further grace till the life to come.

—William Perkins (1558–1602), The Works of William Perkins, vol. 2: Commentary on Galatians, ed. Paul M. Smalley (Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, 2015), 330–31.