A47599:155
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.
4. All Works done by the Creature are excluded in point of Justification of a Sinner in the sight of God, because we are justified by a perfect Righteousness: If no Man is in himself perfectly righteous, then no Man can be justified by any Works done by him. But the Apostle proves, that the Justice of God requires a perfect or sinless Righteousness in point of Justification; and also proves that all have sinned, nor is there one that doeth good, and sinneth not: No Person has a perfect Righteousness of his own. Alas, Sirs, the Law of God is but as a Transcript or written Impression of that Holiness, and Purity that is in his own Nature, and serveth to show us what a Righteousness we must be found in, if we are ever justified in his sight. Nor can it be once supposed by any Man, unless blinded, that God will ever loose or relax the Sanction of his Holy Law, or abate a jot or tittle of that Righteousness his Holy Nature and Law requires in point of out being justified in his sight, it must be all fulfilled by us in our own Persons, or by our Surety for us, and imputed to us.
4. All Works done by the Creature are excluded in point of Justification of a Sinner in the sight of God, because we are justified by a perfect Righteousness: If no Man is in himself perfectly righteous, then no Man can be justified by any Works done by him. But the Apostle proves, that the Justice of God requires a perfect or sinless Righteousness in point of Justification; and also proves that all have sinned, nor is there one that doeth good, and sinneth not: No Person has a perfect Righteousness of his own. Alas, Sirs, the Law of God is but as a Transcript or written Impression of that Holiness, and Purity that is in his own Nature, and serveth to shew us what a Righteousness we must be found in, if we are ever justified in his sight. Nor can it be once supposed by any Man, unless blinded, that God will ever loose or relax the Sanction of his Holy Law, or abate a jot or tittle of that Righteousness his Holy Nature and Law requires in point of out being justified in his sight, it must be all fulfilled by us in our own Persons, or by our Surety for us, and imputed to us.
The Law did not only proceed from God, doubtless, as an Act of his Sovereign Will and Prerogative, but as an Act proceeding from his infinite Justice and Holiness. Can any be so left, as once to conclude God sent his Son to destroy the Law, or to diminish, or take away the least part or tittle of that Obedience he therein enjoins, which so well agrees with the Perfections of his own pure Nature; 'tis strange to me any should conceive God should give way to relax or abrogate the Law of perfect Obedience; nay, send his Son to do it (and in its room bring in a Law for imperfect Obedience to justify us) as if he repented he ever gave it.