A treatise of original sin ... proving that it is

I would refer the Reader to those solid and excellent Writers in this point. Perkins his Reason for Justification by Faith alone, is very pregnant, from Joh. 3. 14. where believing in Christ for eternal life, is compared to beholding of the Serpent that Moses lifted up in the Wilderness. Now as it was mere seeing, and no working that did heal the wounded Israelite, so it is mere believing, and no other grace that maketh us partakers of this Spiritual Privilege.¹ Chemnitius also giving Reasons why the Protestants use the word solâ, of Faith in Justification, maketh one to be, that merits and dignity may be excluded from our works, and all attributed to grace only. But another ut ostendatur medium seu organon applicationis, for not by Works, but Faith alone, is the Promise received. It is clear then, that our former Divines, though they principally aimed at the excluding of the merit of Works, yet did also thereby shut out their conditionality; because they make Faith the only applicativum medium, and because they deny other graces to have any such receptive power. For when the Papists urge other graces, as Love, &c. they answer, that these do consist in extramittendo, Faith in intus recipiendo. And lastly, because they make them only qualifications of the subjects, and the effects, or discoveries of true Faith; Insomuch, that we never read in Scripture, or (as I know of) in any sound Author, that we are justified by repentance, or by love.

I would referre the Reader to those solid and excellent Writers in this point. Perkins his Reason for Justification by Faith alone, is very pregnant, from Joh. 3. 14. where believing in Christ for eternal life, is compared to beholding of the Serpent that Moses lifted up in the Wilderness. Now as it was meer seeing, and no working that did heal the wounded Israelite, so it is meer believing, and no other grace that maketh us partakers of this Spiritual Priviledge.¹ Chemnitius also giving Reasons why the Protestants use the word solâ, of Faith in Justification, maketh one to be, that merits and dignity may be excluded from our works, and all attributed to grace only. But another ut ostendatur medium seu organon applicationis, for not by Works, but Faith alone, is the Promise received. It is clear then, that our former Divines, though they principally aimed at the excluding of the merit of Works, yet did also thereby shut out their conditionality; because they make Faith the only applicativum medium, and because they deny other graces to have any such receptive power. For when the Papists urge other graces, as Love, &c. they answer, that these do consist in extramittendo, Faith in intus recipiendo. And lastly, because they make them only qualifications of the subjects, and the effects, or discoveries of true Faith; Insomuch, that we never read in Scripture, or (as I know of) in any sound Authour, that we are justified by repentance, or by love.