A47599:26
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.
6. Because from this Doctrine doth proceed all the Hope we have of Eternal Life: Destroy this Foundation, and what can the righteous do? I may say of Justification through the imputation of Christ's righteousness, as David speaks of the Covenant of Grace, This is all our Salvation and our Hope, &c. 2 Sam. 23. 5. If we come not to Heaven this way, I know no other; for other Foundation can no Man lay, than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ, 1 Cor. 3. 11.
7. Because 'tis a Doctrine that affords so much sweet and Divine Comfort to our Souls, when rightly understood and apprehended; and I am persuaded 'tis through the want of Light, and clear knowledge of this Doctrine, so many Doubts and Fears attend many Good Christians: For (as I have told some of you lately) divers weak Saints are ready to judge of their Justification according to the degree and measure of their Sanctification; and can hardly be brought to believe, such vile Creatures as they are, who find such evil and deceitful Hearts, and so many great Evils and Infirmities in their Lives, can be Justified in the fight of God; (not that I ever denied that Sanctification and Holiness, is a Mark or Evidence of a Justified Person;) though I deny Justification to be a gradual Act, as Sanctification in us is; or that a Person is not perfectly Justified until he is perfectly Sanctified, or actually delivered in him self from the pollution and defilement of all Sin; for then it would follow, No Believer is actually Justified in this Life: But that which I intend, and hint at, is this, That if some weak Christians can but arrive to Holy and Spiritual Frames in Duty, and get power over their Corruptions, then they think they have good grounds to believe and hope they may be Justified; as if it were inherent Grace and Holiness that Justifies them in God's sight.
7. Because 'tis a Doctrine that affords so much sweet and Divine Comfort to our Souls, when rightly understood and apprehended; and I am perswaded 'tis through the want of Light, and clear knowledge of this Doctrine, so many Doubts and Fears attend many Good Christians: For (as I have told some of you lately) divers weak Saints are ready to judge of their Justification according to the degree and measure of their Sanctification; and can hardly be brought to believe, such vile Creatures as they are, who find such evil and deceitful Hearts, and so many great Evils and Infirmities in their Lives, can be Justified in the fight of God; (not that I ever denied that Sanctification and Holiness, is a Mark or Evidence of a Justified Person;) though I deny Justification to be a gradual Act, as Sanctification in us is; or that a Person is not perfectly Justified until he is perfectly Sanctified, or actually delivered in him self from the pollution and defilement of all Sin; for then it would follow, No Believer is actually Justified in this Life: But that which I intend, and hint at, is this, That if some weak Christians can but arrive to Holy and Spiritual Frames in Duty, and get power over their Corruptions, then they think they have good grounds to believe and hope they may be Justified; as if it were nherent Grace and Holiness that Justifies them in God's sight.