A47599:50
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.
To him that worketh not; That is, worketh not, thinking thereby to be justified and saved. Though he may work; i. e. lead a holy and righteous Life; yet he doth it not to merit thereby; nay, though he be wicked, and an ungodly person, and so worketh not, or hath no Moral Righteousness at all; yet if he believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted or imputed for righteousness: Not as a simple Act, or as it is a quality or habit, or in us, as the Papists teach; ipsa fides, saith Bellarmine, censetur esse Justitia, Faith it self is counted to be a Justice, and it self is imputed unto Righteousness: No, nor in respect of the effects or fruits of it; for so it is part of our Sanctification.
But as it is a hand to take hold of, or receive, or apply Christ and his Righteousness.
Manus accipientis, saith Dr. Downham, the hand of the Receiver is the Grace of justifying Faith: 'Tis not Faith, but the Object and Righteousness Faith apprehends or takes hold of, that justifies the ungodly.
1. The Apostle doth not intend by these Words, That if a Man hath the Works here meant, he cannot be justified, unless he throws them away, and become openly wicked and profane; and so sin that Grace may abound: No, as the Apostle says, God forbid,