The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

Besides, he asserts that Abraham was justified by Works then when he had offered his Son on the Altar; the same we believe also, but only enquire in what sense he was so justified. For it was Thirty years or thereabout after it was testified concerning him, that he believed God and it was imputed unto him for Righteousness; and when Righteousness was imputed unto him he was justified. And twice justified in the same sense, in the same way, with the same kind of Justification he was not. How then was he Justified by Works when he offered his Son on the Altar? He that can conceive it to be any otherwise, but that he was by his Work in the offering of his Son evidenced and declared in the sight of God and man to be justified, apprehends what I cannot attain unto, seeing that he was really justified long before, as is unquestionable and confessed by all. He was I say then justified in the sight of God, in the way declared, Gen. 22.12. And gave a signal Testimony unto the sincerity of his Faith and trust in God, manifesting the truth of that Scripture, he believed God and it was imputed unto him for Righteousness. And in the quotation of this Testimony the Apostle openly acknowledgeth that he was really accounted Righteous, had Righteousness imputed unto him and was justified ⟨p. 571⟩before God (the reasons and causes whereof, he therefore considereth not) long before that Justification which he ascribes unto his Works, which therefore can be nothing but the evidencing proving and manifestation of it: whence also it appears of what nature that Faith is whereby we are justified, the Declaration whereof is the principal design of the Apostle. In brief the Scripture alleged that Abraham believed and it was imputed unto him for Righteousness, was fulfilled when he was justified by Works on the offering of his Son on the Altar, either by the Imputation of Righteousness unto him, or by a real efficiency or working Righteousness in him, or by the manifestation and evidence of his former Justification, or some other way must be found out. (1) That it was not by Imputation, or that Righteousness unto the Justification of life, was not then first imputed unto him is plain in the Text, for it was so imputed unto him long before, and that in such a way as the Apostle proves thereby, that Righteousness is imputed without Works.

Besides, he asserts that Abraham was justified by Works then when he had offered his Son on the Altar; the same we believe also, but only enquire in what sense he was so justified. For it was Thirty years or thereabout after it was testified concerning him, that he believed God and it was imputed unto him for Righteousness; and when Righteousness was imputed unto him he was justified. And twice justified in the same sense, in the same way, with the same kind of Justification he was not. How then was he Justified by Works when he offered his Son on the Altar? He that can conceive it to be any otherwise, but that he was by his Work in the offering of his Son evidenced and declared in the sight of God and man to be justified, apprehends what I cannot attain unto, seeing that he was really justified long before, as is unquestionable and confessed by all. He was I say then justified in the sight of God, in the way declared,