The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

2. It is taken also for granted on all other occasions, that when there is an appearance of Repugnancy or contradiction in any places of Scripture, if some, or any of them, do treat directly, designedly, and largely about the matter concerning which there is a seeming repugnancy or contradiction, and others, or any other speak of the same things only Obiter occasionally, transiently, in order unto other ends, the truth is to be learned, stated and fixed from the former places. Or the interpretation of those places where any truth is mentioned only occasionally with reference unto other things or ends, is, as unto that truth, to be taken from and accommodated unto those other places wherein it is the design and purpose of the Holy Penman to declare it for its own sake, and to guide the Faith of the Church therein. And there is not a more rational and natural Rule of the interpretation of Scripture among all them which are by common consent agreed upon.

3. According unto this Rule, it is unquestionable that the Doctrine of Justification before God is to be learned from the writings of the Apostle Paul, and from them is light to be taken into all other places of Scripture where it is occasionally mentioned. Especially it is so, considering how exactly this Doctrine represents the whole Scope of the Scripture, ⟨p. 559⟩and is witnessed unto by particular Testimonies occasionally given unto the same truth, without number. For it must be acknowledged that he wrote of this subject of our Justification before God, on purpose to declare it for its own sake, and its use in the Church, and that he doth it fully, largely, and frequently in a constant Harmony of expressions. And he owns those Reasons that pressed him unto fullness, and accuracy herein. (1) The importance of the Doctrine it self. This he declares to be such, as that thereon our Salvation doth immediately depend; and that it was the hinge whereon the whole Doctrine of the Gospel did turn, Articulus stantis aut cadentis-Ecelesiae, Gal. 2.16, 21