A47599:172
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.
2. But Soul know, and be not deceived, this Text hath always been urged by sound Protestant Writers, as one of the Pillars of the Doctrine of Justification by the Righteousness of Christ applied by Faith alone. St. Paul doth not only disclaim his Righteousness he had before Conversion, or his Obedience to the Law in point of Justification; but he speaks in the present Tense, What things were gain to me, those have I counted loss for Christ: But that which he adds, is more, I do count all things loss. He speaks, as our Divines note, of all, both past, long since, and also now present, whether Righteousness of his own, in Obedience to the Law, or Works done by him under the Gospel, all he counted as dung in comparison of the Knowledge of Christ and his Righteousness, or the Righteousness of God which is by Faith.
3. 'Tis to be noted how Mr. Williams and Bellarmine do jump together, and agree in their Exposition of this Text: The latter saith, That by Righteousness which is of the Law, are meant Works of Obedience done through the Knowledge of the Law by the only strength of natural Abilities before his Conversion. To which Chemnitius and other Protestant Writers answer, That Paul rejected not only his Works before his Conversion, which he signifieth, speaking of the time past, v. 7. but also the Works of his present Condition; yea, doubtless, and I do count all things but loss.
Mr. Williams saith, They were the Jewish Privileges, and that conceited Christless Righteousness which he once valued: But saith he, a Gospel-holiness is not here intended; and that still by speaking in the present Tense, Paul means what was past, saith he. Pray observe they both exclude the Righteousness of the Law, done by natural or legal Abilities; and they both agree to include an inherent Righteousness, performed by gracious Assistance under the Gospel. This Man is I hope no Papist, though he strives, 'tis plain, to maintain one of the grossest parts of Popery, and that part God raised up holy Luther principally to detect. Christians look about you, for you are greatly concerned.