The marrow of true justification, or, Justification without works containing the substance of two…

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.

But to proceed as a further Confirmation, that these Men deny that the Righteousness of Christ, as 'tis apprehended or received by Faith, is that alone through which we are justified, I might here cite another Author, Mr. Truman Grand Prop•iation, p. 30. 86. who paraphrasing on those Words, Rom. 3. 26. That he might be just, and the Justifier of him that believeth in Jesus. He saith, That he that is of the Faith of Jesus, or of the Christian Faith, [Greek or Hebrew]. And concerning the Effects of the Death of Christ, or his Satisfaction, he saith, It was only this, that the Obstacle being removed (viz. offended Justice) God might be at liberty to act in the pardon of Sinners, in what way and upon what Terms he pleased. The immediate Effect is, that God might be just, though he should pardon Sinners, that he might pardon Silva Justitia, not, that he must pardon, come what will of it, or be unjust. And further, to exclude Christ's Righteousness from being the Matter of our Justification; (saith Mr. Troughton) he saith, that in our Redemption, we 1. are not properly to be looked upon as Debtors, nor God properly as a Creditor, but as a Governor and Legislator, we as Subjects; and that Christ acted not the part of a Surety (though he be once figuratively so called) but of a Mediator expiating Guilt, and making reparation to Justice some other way than by the Execution of the Law; yea, endeavouring that the legal threat might not be executed by making amends, for the non-execution of it. 2. The Sufferings of Christ were not properly an Execution of the Law (though they may figuratively be so called) but a Satisfaction to Justice. And further, that it is contrary to Scripture and Reason, to hold that Christ's fulfilling of, and Obedience to the Law is accounted […], as if Believers had fulfilled and obeyed the Law in his doing it.