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

Now the worst of Men that have any sense of Religion, are prone to conclude the only way to obtain God's Favour, and to be justified in his sight, is to make the practice of Holiness and upright Walking a Condition; nay, the only way thereunto, and that Happiness is to be by that means obtained. Hence 'tis, when they meet with any awakening Convictions or Terror of Conscience, they presently begin to think they must amend their Lives, and perform Religious Duties: Nay, this way the Heathens were brought to their best Devotion (as a learned Writer observes) Mankind being made and born under a Covenant of Works, are naturally led to work for Life, or to do something to procure God's Acceptance, and escape his Displeasure. The very Light of natural Reason informs us, that it is just with God to require us to perform Duties of sincere Obedience, or Duties of natural or instituted Religion; and if we fall in doing what our Consciences tells us we ought to do, we presently through self-love and blind hope, persuade our selves God being gracious will pardon us wherein we come short, through Christ, who died for Sinners.

And thus we may perceive that the Persuasion of Salvation and Justification by the Condition of sincere Obedience, hath its Original from our corrupt, natural Reason, and is part of the Wisdom of the World; but it is none of the Wisdom of God in a Mystery, yea that hidden Wisdom God hath ordained before the World began to our Glory: It is not of the things of the Spirit of God, nor of the Mystery of Faith, which the natural Man cannot receive, but are Foolishness unto him: This is not the foolishness of preaching whereby God is pleased to save them that believe, 1 Cor. 2. 6, 7, 9, 14.

Certainly the Justification of a Sinner in the sight of God by Faith only, or to believe on him that justifies the Ungodly, is one of the chief Mysteries of the Gospel; but if our Justification was by our own Obedience, or by conforming our Lives to the Rules of the Gospel, Justification and Salvation would cease from being any more a Mystery: But to be justified by the Righteousness of another, though Sinners in our selves, and have done nothing to procure such Favour and Acceptance at God's hand, can't enter into the heart of natural and self-deceived Mortals. Sirs, our Justification is a great Mystery, as 'tis an Act of God's Sovereign Grace and Wisdom: Herein his Justice and Mercy equally shine forth, and the one doth not eclipse the Glory of the other; Sin is punished, and the Sinner acquitted.