The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

The answer given unto the question, is both Negative and Positive, both asserted with the highest assurance, and as the common faith of all Christians, but only those who had been carried aside from it by Seducers. He asserts, that this is not, this cannot be by the Works of the Law. What is intended by the Law in these disputations of the Apostle, hath been before declared and evinced. The Law of Moses is sometimes signally intended; not absolutely, but as it was the present instance of Mens cleaving unto the Law of Righteousness, and not submitting themselves thereon unto the Righteousness of God. But that the consideration of the Moral Law, and the duties of it, is in this Argument any where excepted by him, is a weak imagination; yea, it would except the Ceremonial Law it self; for the observation of it, whilst it was in force, was a duty of the Moral Law.

The answer given unto the question, is both Negative and Positive, both asserted with the highest assurance, and as the common faith of all Christians, but only those who had been carried aside from it by Seducers. He asserts, that this is not, this cannot be by the Works of the Law. What is intended by the Law in these disputations of the Apostle, hath been before declared and evinced. The Law of Moses is sometimes signally intended; not absolutely, but as it was the present instance of Mens cleaving unto the Law of Righteousness, and not submitting themselves thereon unto the Righteousness of God. But that the consideration of the Moral Law, and the duties of it, is in this Argument any where excepted by him, is a weak imagination; yea, it would except the Ceremonial Law it self; for the observation of it, whilest it was in force, was a duty of the Moral Law.

And the Works of the Law, are the Works and Duties of Obedience which this Law of God requires, performed in the manner that it prescribes, namely, in Faith, and out of love unto God above all, as hath been proved. To say, that the Apostle excludeth only Works absolutely perfect, which none ever did, or could perform since the entrance of sin, is to suppose him to dispute with great earnestness, and many Arguments against that which no Man asserted, and which he doth not once mention in all his discourse. Nor can he be said to exclude only Works that are looked on as meritorious, seeing he excludeth all Works that there may be no place for merit in our Justification, as hath also been proved. Nor did these Galatians, whom he writes unto, and convinceth them of their error, look for Justification from any Works, but such as they performed then, when they were Believers. So that all sorts of Works are excluded