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

If therefore we seek Justification by any manner of Doing or Works, though upon never so easy and mild a Condition of Obedience, we do thereby bring ourselves under the Terms of the Law; which is a complete Declaration of the only. Terms whereby God will judge all, and condemn all who are not brought to see the Insufficiency that is in it, through the Flesh, Rom. 8. 3. no justify the Soul, and from that sight and sense disown all their Works of Obedience, and accept of Christ his Righteousness and perfect Obedience to the Law, to justify them in the sight of God; for let our Obedience be never I so sincere, if it be not perfect, we are still Debtors to the Law, and are a coursed by it, unless we believe in Jesus Christ; so that all who seek for Justification or Eternal Life knowingly, or ignorantly by any Works done by then•less or more, whether commanded by the Law or Gospel, confound the Terms of the Law and Gospel together.

If therefore we seek Justification by any manner of Doing or Works, though upon never so easie and mild a Condition of Obedience, we do thereby bring ourselves under the Terms of the Law; which is a compleat Declaration of the only. Terms whereby God will judge all, and condemn all who are not brought to see the Insufficiency that is in it, through the Flesh, Rom. 8. 3. no justifie the Soul, and from that sight and sense disown all their Works of Obedience, and accept of Christ his Righteousness and perfect Obedience to the Law, to justifie them in the sight of God; for let our Obedience be never I so sincere, if it be not perfect, we are still Debtors to the Law, and are a coursed by it, unless we believe in Jesus Christ; so that all who seek for Justification or Eternal Life knowingly, or ignorantly by any Works done by then•less or more, whether commanded by the Law or Gospel, confound the Terms of the Law and Gospel together.

And to this, let me add one thing more, i. e. it cannot be rationally doubted, but that the Jews and Judaizing Christians in the Apostles Days, against whom he contended, did profess any hope to be justified by a complete or perfect Obedience to the Law according to the rigour of it; but no doubt thought if they did sincerely do what they could to love God, and keep his Commandments, they should be accepted and justified in his sight: For the Jewish Religion taught them that professed it (as one observes) to acknowledge themselves Sinners, which appears by their Anniversary Humiliation at the day of Atonement, and several other Rites of the Law; nor have we any reason to conclude but some of them yielded also sincere Obedience (I speak of Moral Sincerity) to the Law; this being so, I see not why their sincere Obedience might not justify them as far forth, as any sincere Obedience to the Gospel or milder Law can a Christian now. Brethren, this new Doctrine is but a piece of Old Judaism