A47599:174
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.
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.
4. Consider that the Apostle positively disclaims all Righteousness of Obedience done by the Creature in Justification before God, and did rely on the Righteousness of God: For if he sets our Righteousness, or the Righteousness of the Creature in direct opposition to the Righteousness of God, which is by Faith; then that which is the Righteousness of God applied by Faith, is not the Righteousness of the Creature, though never so sincerely performed, but the former is true: Ergo,
4. Consider that the Apostle positively disclaims all Righteousness of Obedience done by the Creature in Justification before God, and did relie on the Righteousness of God: For if he sets our Righteousness, or the Righteousness of the Creature in direct opposition to the Righteousness of God, which is by Faith; then that which is the Righteousness of God applied by Faith, is not the Righteousness of the Creature, though never so sincerely performed, but the former is true: Ergo,
5. 'Tis such a Righteousness Paul here intended, that he desired to be found in both at Death and Judgment; but durst he, think you, desire to be found in any Righteousness of his own at that Hour, or in that great and dreadful Day? As to this, take what Reverend Downham, and others say, When a Man shall be summoned to appear before the Judgment-seat of God, shall seriously consider with himself what he shall oppose to the Accusations of Satan, to the Convictions of the Law, to the Testimony of his own Conscience, confessing himself to be a most wretched Sinner, to the Judgment of God, and most righteous Judge, if he look back on his own Conversation, as having nothing to trust to but his own Righteousness, he shall find sufficient Master of Despair. He may say with Anselm, Terret me vita mea, &c. My Life doth terrify me. Alas! what Man is fully able to say he is perfect, or that he sincerely has done all his Duty, in respect of that milder Law of Obedience which they talk of?