The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

CHAP. XX. The Doctrine of the Apostle James, concerning Faith and Works. Its agreement with that of St. Paul.

The seeming difference that is between the Apostle Paul and James in what they teach concerning Faith, Works, and Justification, requires our consideration of it. For many do take advantage from some words and expressions used by the later, directly to oppose the Doctrine fully and plainly declared by the former. But whatever is of that nature pretended hath been so satisfactorily already answered and removed by others, as that there is no great need to treat of it again. And although I suppose that there will not be an end of contending and writing in these causes, whilst we know but in part and Prophesy but in part, yet I must say, that in my Judgment the usual solution of this appearing difficulty securing the Doctrine of Justification by Faith through the Imputation of the Righteousness of Christ from any concernment or contradiction in the Discourse of St. James, Chap. 2. v. 14. to the end, hath not been in the least impeached, not hath had any new difficulty put upon it in some late Discourses to that purpose. I should therefore utterly forbear to speak any thing hereof, but that I suppose it will be expected in a Discourse of this nature, and do hope that I also may contribute some light unto the clearing and vindication of the Truth. To this purpose it may be observed, That 1. It is taken for granted on all hands, that there is no ⟨p. 558⟩real repugnancy or contradiction between what is delivered by these two Apostles. For if that were so, the writings of one of them must be Pseudepigrapha, or falsely ascribed unto them whose names they bear, and uncanonical, as the Authority of the Epistle of James hath been by some both of old and of late highly, but rashly questioned. Wherefore their words are certainly capable of a just Reconciliation. That we cannot any of us attain thereunto, or that we do not agree therein is from the darkness of our own minds, the weakness of our understandings, and with too many, from the power of prejudices.

THe seeming difference that is between the Apostle Paul and James in what they teach concerning Faith, Works, and Justification, requires our consideration of it. For many do take advantage from some words and expressions used by the later, directly to oppose the Doctrine fully and plainly declared by the former. But whatever is of that nature pretended hath been so satisfactorily already answered and removed by others, as that there is no great need to treat of it again. And although I suppose that there will not be an end of contending and writing in these causes, whilest we know but in part and Prophesie but in part, yet I must say, that in my Judgment the usual solution of this appearing difficulty securing the Doctrine of Justification by Faith through the Imputation of the Righteousness of Christ from any concernment or contradiction in the Discourse of St. James, Chap. 2. v. 14. to the end, hath not been in the least impeached, not hath had any new difficulty put upon it in some late Discourses to that purpose. I should therefore utterly forbear to speak any thing hereof, but that I suppose it will be expected in a Discourse of this nature, and do hope that I also may contribute some light unto the clearing and vindication of the Truth. To this purpose it may be observed, That 1. It is taken for granted on all hands, that there is no