A47601:163
A medium betwixt two extremes wherein it is proved that the whole first Adam…
A medium betwixt two extremes wherein it is proved that the whole first Adam was condemned and the whole second Adam justified : being a sermon lately preached on Rom. 8:1 and now published to prevent the further controversy (in one main point) about justification : to which are added reflections on some passages in Mr. Clark's new book called Scripture-Justification / by Benjamin Keach.
London: printed for Andrew Bell, 1698
Postscript: A POSTSCRIPT, containing a few Reflections upon some Passages in Mr. Clark's new Book,…
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.
Answ. In all Places where in the New Testament it is said, a Man is not, cannot be justified by the Works of the Law, or by the Deeds of the Law, 'tis evident that the Apostle speaks of that Obedience to the Law, that frail, depraved and impotent Man is able to yield thereunto; and the Reason why no Man can be justified hereby, is,
1. Because he hath both originally, and actually broken it; and as it admits of no pardon for what is past, so also it affords no strength to keep ⟨p. 45⟩it for time to come: Hence,1 what the Law could not do, God sent his own Son: What for? Was it only to make God amends for our Breach of it, and so to purchase a new, a milder and better Law of Works, &c? No sure: Where is there the least shadow of proof for this? See what this Gentleman's Reverend Father saith,2 speaking of Christ's fulfilling the Law for us; he saith,
- 1Rom. 8.3.
- 2Mr. Sam. Clark, Pastor of the Church at Bennetfink, his Medulla Theologiae, or the Marrow of Divinity, Pag. 280.
That it was not merely Obedience, but a meriting Obedience; there was an intrinsic Worth and Excellency in Christ's Obedience, answering to our Salvation: Hence, tho we have Justification of mere Grace, yet in respect of Christ, it was Justice and Debt; so that in Christ the Covenant of Works was fulfilled, tho in us the Covenant of Grace: This Work Christ finished and completed; First, In that he did it wholly and universally; there was not one Tittle of the Law which he did not fulfil. Secondly, He finished it universally for Parts, and not only so, but fully for Degrees: He did not only love God, but loved him as much as the Law requires; all that he did, was so fully done, that there wanted not the least Degree of Grace in any Duty. Thirdly, Because he had not only an Objective Perfection in Parts and Degrees, but also a Subjective; all within was throughly and perfectly holy: So that as we are originally and actually polluted, he was originally and actually holy; so that the Law had no fault to find with him. Fourthly, He finished it in respect of Duration, the Law requiring continuance, tho there were Perfection of Parts and Degrees, and subjective Perfection also: Yet cursed is he that continueth not therein. Again he saith, For to obey the Law of God, and to suffer all the Wrath