That popish device of a second justification, is a fantastical delusion. For, I. The word of God doth acknowledge no more but one justification at all, and that absolute and complete of it self. There is but one justice, but one satisfaction of God being offended therefore there cannot be a manifold justification. ⟨p. 158⟩II. If by reason of the increase of inherent justice, justification should be distinguished into several kinds or parts, we might as well make an hundred kinds, or parts of justification, as two. III. That which by order of nature doth follow after full justification before God, it cannot be said to justify: But good works do by order of nature follow mans justification, and his absolution from sins: because no work can please God, except the person it self, that worketh the same, do before please him. But no mans person can please God, but such an one as being reconciled to God, by the merits of Christ hath peace with him. IV. Such works as are not agreeable to the rule of legal justice: they, before the tribunal seat of God, cannot justify, but rather both in, and of themselves are subject to Gods eternal curse. For this is the sentence of the Law, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things written in the book of the Law to do them. Now the works even of the regenerate; are not squared according to the rule of legal justice: wherefore David being, as it were stricken, with the consideration of this, durst not once oppose, no not his best works to the judgement of God, that by them he might plead pardon of his sins; whence it is that he crieth out and saith, Enter not into judgement with thy servant, O Lord: for then no flesh living shall be justified in thy sight. The like doth Job 9.3. If he (namely, such an one as saith he is just) contend with God, he cannot answer him one of a thousand. And Dan. 9. 18. We do not present our supplications before thee for our own righteousness, but for thy great tender mercies. V. Justification by works, let them be whatsoever they can be, doth quite overturn the foundation of our faith. Gal. 5.2. If ye be circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. and v. 4. Ye are abolished from Christ, whosoever are justified by the law: ye are fallen from grace.
That popish deuice of a second iustification, is a fantasticall delusion. For, I. The word of God doth acknowledge no more but one iustification at all, and that absolute and complete of it selfe. There is but one iustice, but one satisfaction of God being offended therefore there cannot be a manifold iustification. ⟨p. 158⟩II. If by reason of the increase of inherent iustice, iustification should be distinguished into seuerall kindes or parts, we might as well make an hundreth kinds, or parts of iustification, as two. III. That which by order of nature doth follow after full iustification before God, it cannot be said to iustifie: But good workes doe by order of nature follow mans iustification, and his absolution from sinnes: because no worke can please God, except the person it selfe, that worketh the same, doe before please him. But no mans person can please God, but such an one as beeing reconciled to God, by the merits of Christ hath peace with him. IV. Such workes as are not agreeable to the rule of legall iustice: they, before the tribunall seat of God, cannot iustifie, but rather both in, and of themselues are subiect to Gods eternall curse. For this is the sentence of the Law, Cursed is euery one that continueth not in all things written in the booke of the Law to doe them. Now the works euen of the regenerate; are not squared according to the rule of legall iustice: wherefore Dauid being, as it were stricken, with the cōsideration of this, durst not once oppose, no not his best works to the iudgement of God, that by them he might plead pardon of his sinnes; whence it is that he crieth out and saith, Enter not into iudgement with thy seruant, O Lord: for then no flesh liuing shall be iustified in thy sight. The like doth Iob 9.3. If he (namely, such an one as saith he is iust) contend with God, he cannot answer him one of a thousand. And Dan. 9. 18. We doe not present our supplications before thee for our owne righteousnesse, but for thy great tender mercies. V. Iustification by works, let them be whatsoeuer they can be, doth quite ouerturne the foundation of our faith. Gal. 5.2. If ye be circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. and v. 4. Ye are abolished from Christ, whosoeuer are iustified by the law: ye are fallen from grace.
