A47599:100
The marrow of true justification, or, Justification without works containing the substance of two…
The marrow of true justification, or, Justification without works containing the substance of two sermons lately preached on Rom. 4:5 ... : wherein the nature of justification is opened, as it hath been formerly asserted by all sound Protestants, and the present prevailing errors against the said doctrine detected / by Benjamin Keach ...
London: printed for Dorman Newman, 1692
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Observe the very same damning Evil, which the Holy Ghost charges on the Sin of Unbelief. In the New Testament, Mark 16. 16. John 3. 36. he charges on the non-performance of his true Condition of Justification, and Eternal Life; i.e. this Baptismal Covenant: All Sin (I grant) is damning in its own Nature, every Sin being a breach of God's Law, exposes to God's Wrath and Curse: But the not agreeing to, or non-performance of this Covenant (he making this the Condition of the Covenant of Grace) he calls, by way of Eminency, the damning Sin, and heart of all Sin. If this Man preaches Christ, or the glorious Gospel, I am much mistaken.
Besides, our Baptismal Covenant is not a sign of that Faith and Holiness we should afterwards obtain; but 'tis an outward sign of that inward Grace we have (or ought to have when baptized) i.e. 'tis a sign that we are dead to Sin, to the World, to the Law, and to our own Righteousness: How shall we (saith the Apostle) who are dead to Sin, live any longer therein, Rom. 6. 4. Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized into his death, v. 3. Therefore we are buried with him by Baptism into Death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we should walk in newness of Life.
These Persons who were baptized, being true Believers, were in a justified State; and though 'tis true, they by their Baptismal Covenant promised to ⟨p. 15⟩walk in newness of Life; yet the neglect of this is no more called the damning Sin; nor is the performance of it that Righteousness they desire to be found in to Justification. But 'tis evident, these Men place Obedience and Personal Holiness in the place of Faith, and the non-performance of that inherent Holiness and Obedience in the room of Unbelief; though we grant without Holiness no Man shall ever see the Lord; yet 'tis not for that, or thereby we are justified, and shall be saved, but by the Personal Righteousness of Jesus Christ.