A defence of the doctrine of justification, by faith in Jesus Christ

Secondly, The righteousness that you have described, justifieth us not, as before, because it is the righteousness which is of the moral law, that is, it is wrought by us, as walking in the law. Now it mattereth not, whether you respect the law in its first principles, or as it is revealed in the table of the ten Commandments, they are in nature but one, and the same, and their substance and matter is written in our Hearts, as we are Men. Now this righteousness, the Apostle casteth away, as was showed before; not having mine own righteousness, (saith he) which is of the law; why? Because the righteousness that •aveth us from the wrath of God, is the righteousness of God; and so a righteousness that is without the law. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifest, ¹being witnessed by the law and the prophets, even the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ, unto all, and upon all them that believe. Rom. 3. The righteousness of God without the law; the righteousness of Christ who is naturally God; wherefore such a righteousness, as was accomplished by him, that was Lord, and the very God of the law; whose nature was infinite, and not that which the law could command or condemn; neither was the command of the law, the great and principal argument with him, no, not in its first and highest principles, to do or continue to do it; but even that which the law commanded of us, that he did, not by the law, but by that spirit of life, that eternal Spirit, and God-head, which was essential to his very being: He did naturally and infinitely that which the law required of us, from higher, and more mighty principles then the law could require of him: for I should reckon it a piece of prodigious blasphemy, to say, that the Law could command his God, the Creature, his Lord and Creator: but this Lord God, Jesus Christ, even he hath accomplished righteousness, even righteousness that is without, that is above, higher, and better then that of the Law: and that is the righteousness that is given to, and put upon all them that believe. Wherefore the Lord Jesus Christ, in his most blessed life, was neither prompted to actions of holiness, nor managed in them, by the purity of humane nature, or those you call first principles of morals, or as he was simply a reasonable Creature;

Secondly, The righteousness that you have described, justifieth us not, as before, because it is the righteousness which is of the moral law, that is, it is wrought by us, as walking in the law. Now it mattereth not, whether you respect the law in its first principles, or as it is revealed in the table of the ten Commandments, they are in nature but one, and the same, and their substance and matter is written in our Hearts, as we are Men. Now this righteousness, the Apostle casteth away, as was shewed before; not having mine own righteousness, (saith he) which is of the law; why? Because the righteousness that aveth us from the wrath of God, is the righteousness of God; and so a righteousness that is without the law. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifest,