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

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.

6 Arg. If when we have done all we can do, we are unprofitable Servants; then by our best Works of Obedience and Services under the Gospel, we cannot be justified: But contrariwise all Works in that respect, as done by us, are excluded, Luke▪ 17. 10.

He is no unprofitable Servant, whose Works or sincere Obedience commends him to God in point of Justification: no Man is able to come up fully to discharge his Duty; If therefore sincere Obedience instead of perfect, God now requires of us in the case of Justification, and we are able fully to discharge the Law of sincere Obedience, which our new Doctors must say, or they say nothing; then it follows that all such Persons are not unprofitable Servants; for they have done all that God requires of them: Nor indeed can I see (as a Divine observes) if sincere Obedience be the Condition of Justification and Life, how the Imperfections of the Godly should be any Sins against the Gospel, Where there is no Law, there is no Transgression; For this New Law, i. e. the Gospel, requires no more than sincere and upright Obedience, (say they) though the Law did; and the Gospel also promises Life in like manner to sincere Obedience, as the Law did to perfect and complete Obedience; they may be Imperfections (saith he) in Nature, but not proper Sins. Praeter, non contra Legem, as the Papists say. If they say, that more than sincere Obedience is required of us, but not as a Condition of Life, I ask by what Law? The Covenant of Works required nothing but as the Condition of Life, no more doth the Gospel, if it be a Law of Life (After such a manner) our Saviour, doubtless by his Expressions shows us, that all we do avails us nothing in point of Desert, though never so sincerely performed; and therefore far from justifying us in God's sight, but that all we have is of God's Free Grace.