A47599:176
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.
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?
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 terrifie 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?
Sirs, there is no way in order to Peace of Conscience for us, but to do as Paul did, i. e. renounce all our own inherent Righteousness and Obedience, and fly to the Doctrine of Justification by the Grace of God, through the complete Righteousness of Jesus Christ received by Faith only.