A discourse of the true nature of the Gospel demonstrating that it is no…

The first Text produced is, that known one in Rom. 3. 27. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what Law? of Works? Nay, but by the Law of Faith. Without looking on the Context, we may be satisfied by what the Apostle saith in the same Verse, that by the Law of Faith, he means no more than that Doctrine of Grace which declares a believing Sinner to be justified by the Righteousness of Christ, which by Faith he receiveth; for it is such a Law of Faith that excludes all boasting. Now then, if it commanded Faith, and promised Justification, on condition that this its Precept was obeyed, Boasting would not be excluded, but rather a great Occasion would be given to promote it: For why should not a Man glory in his Faith, if it be an Act of Obedience to this new Law, which by the Statute of it makes his Justification to depend on this his Performance? He may then as well plead that he hath done what was required; and so he may as well claim Life and Happiness, on the Account of having done all that this new Law made necessary to Salvation; as Adam, if continuing in his Primitive State, might have formed a Plea of his Right to Life, for having discharged all that Duty which the Law of Works commanded and proposed, as the Condition of his being eternally Blessed. If he might have boasted for having faithfully observed the Covenant of Works, the Believer too may assume some Glory to himself for having acted his Duty punctually to the Law of Faith; if the Constitution of this Law be such, that it makes the promised Salvation dependant upon this his Obedience in believing. It will signify nothing to say, that the ⟨p. 60⟩Law by which Adam was to have been justified, enjoined Works as the Terms of his being so; but that this new Law insists only on two Acts of Obedience, Faith and Repentance, as all that it requires for our Justification: For these two are Works done by us, and so we might boast that we have done something, tho not arising to that height of Duty incumbent on our first Father; by which, according to the Tenor of this new Law, we are justified. By the Opposition which the Apostle makes of the Law of Faith to a Law of Works, it is also manifest, that by the first he intends a pure Doctrine of Grace, and by the other a Law, commanding something to be done:

The first Text produc'd is, that known one in