The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

There are therefore only two things which are generally pleaded by all sorts of persons, Papists, Socinians, and others, with whom here we have to do, that I shall take notice of. The first and fountain of all other is, that the Doctrine of Justification by the imputation of the Righteousness of Christ doth render our personal Righteousness needless, and overthrows all necessity of an Holy life. The other is, that the Apostle James in his Epistle, doth plainly ascribe our Justification unto Works, and what he affirms there, is inconsistent with that sense of those many other Testimonies of Scripture which we plead for.

For the first of these, although those who oppose the truth we contend for, do proceed on various different and contradictory principles among themselves as to what they exalt in opposition unto it, yet do they all agree in a vehement urging of it. For those of the Church of Rome who renewed this charge, invented of old by others, it must be acknowledged by all sober men, that as managed by them, it ⟨p. 541⟩is an open calumny. For the wisest of them and those of whom it is hard to conceive, but that they knew the contrary, as Bellarmine, Vasquez, Suarez, do openly aver that Protestant Writers deny all inherent Righteousness; (Bellarmine excepts Bucer and Chemnitius) that they maintain that men may be saved, although they live in all manner of sin, that there is no more required of them, but that they believe that their sins are forgiven, and that whilst they do so, although they give themselves up unto the most sensual Vices and Abominations, they may be assured of their Salvation.

For the first of these, although those who oppose the truth we contend for, do proceed on various different and contradictory principles among themselves as to what they exalt in opposition unto it, yet do they all agree in a vehement urging of it. For those of the Church of Rome who renewed this charge, invented of old by others, it must be acknowledged by all sober men, that as managed by them, it ⟨p. 541⟩