The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

Herein by Faith doth he leave that Burden on Christ, which he called him to bring with him, and complies with the Wisdom and Righteousness of God in laying it upon him. And herewithall doth he receive the everlasting Righteousness, which the Lord Christ brought in when he made an end of sin, and Reconciliation for Transgressors.

The Reader may be pleased to observe, that I am not debating these things argumentatively in such propriety of Expressions as are required in a Scholastical Disputation, which shall be done afterwards so far as I judge it necessary. But I am doing that which indeed is better and of more Importance; namely, declaring the Experience of Faith in the Expressions of the Scripture, or such as are analogous unto them. And I had rather be instrumental in the communication of light and knowledge unto the meanest Believer, then to have the clearest success against prejudiced Disputers. Wherefore by Faith thus acting are we justified and have peace with God. Other Foundation in this matter can no man lay that will endure the Trial.

Nor are we to be moved that men who are unacquainted with these things in their Reality and Power, do reject the whole work of Faith herein, as an easy effort of Fancy or Imagination. For the preaching of the Cross is foolishness unto the best of the natural wisdom of men. Neither can any understand them but by the spirit of God. Those who ⟨p. 50⟩know the Terror of the Lord, who have been really convinced and made sensible of the Guilt of their Apostasy from God, and of their actual sins in that state, and what a fearful thing it is to fall into the hands of the living God, seeking thereon after a real solid Foundation whereon they may be accepted with him, have other thoughts of these things, and do find Believing a thing to be quite of another nature then such men suppose. It is not a work of Fancy or Imagination unto men to deny and abhor themselves, to subscribe unto the Righteousness of God in denouncing Death as due to their sins, to renounce all hopes and expectations of Relief from any Righteousness of their own, to mix the Word and Promise of God concerning Christ and Righteousness by him with Faith, so as to receive the Atonement, and therewithal to give up themselves unto an universal Obedience unto God. And as for them unto whom through Pride and Self-conceit on the one hand, or Ignorance on the other it is so; we have in this matter no concernment with them. For unto whom these things are only the work of Fancy, the Gospel is a Fable.