The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

For the Objection it self, that hath fallen under so perverse a management, so far as it hath any pretence of sobriety in it is this and no other. If God justify the ungodly merely by his Grace through Faith in Christ Jesus, so as that works of Obedience are not antecedently necessary unto Justification before God, nor are any part of that Righteousness whereon any are so justified, then are they no way necessary, but men may be justified and saved without them. For it is said that there is no connection between Faith unto Justification as by us asserted, and the necessity of Holiness, Righteousness or Obedience, but that we are by Grace set at liberty to live as we list, yea in all manner of sin, and yet be secured of Salvation. For if we are made Righteous with the Righteousness of another, we have no need of any Righteousness of our own. And it were well it many of those who make use of this Plea, would endeavour by some other way also to evidence their esteem of these things; for to dispute for the necessity of Holiness, and live in the neglect of it, is uncomely.

For the Objection it self, that hath fallen under so perverse a management, so far as it hath any pretense of sobriety in it is this and no other. If God justifie the ungodly merely by his Grace through Faith in Christ Jesus, so as that works of Obedience are not antecedently necessary unto Justification before God, nor are any part of that Righteousness whereon any are so justified, then are they no way necessary, but men may be justified and saved without them. For it is said that there is no connexion between Faith unto Justification as by us asserted, and the necessity of Holiness, Righteousness or Obedience, but that we are by Grace set at liberty to live as we list, yea in all manner of sin, and yet be secured of Salvation. For if we are made Righteous with the Righteousness of another, we have no need of any Righteousness of our own. And it were well it many of those who make use of this Plea, would endeavour by some other way also to evidence their esteem of these things; for to dispute for the necessity of Holiness, and live in the neglect of it, is uncomely.

I shall be brief in the answer that here shall be returned unto this Objection, for indeed it is sufficiently answered or obviated in what hath been before discoursed concerning the nature of that Faith whereby we are justified, and the continuation