The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

3. I know that the Doctrine here pleaded for, is charged by many with an unfriendly aspect towards the necessity of personal Holiness, Good Works, and all Gospel Obedience in general, yea ⟨image 4⟩utterly to take it away. So it was at the first clear. Revelation of it by the Apostle Paul, as he frequently declares. But it is sufficiently evinced by him to be the chief principle of, and motive unto all that Obedience which is accepted with God through Jesus Christ, as we shall manifest afterwards. However it is acknowledged that the objective Grace of the Gospel in the Doctrine of it, is liable to abuse, where there is nothing of the subjective Grace of it in the Hearts of men; and the ways of its influence into the Life of God, are uncouth unto the Reasonings of carnal minds. So was it charged by the Papists at the first Reformation, and continueth yet so to be. Yet as it gave the first occasion unto the Reformation it self, so was it that whereby the Souls of men being set at liberty from their bondage unto innumerable, superstitious fears and observances, utterly inconsistent with true Gospel Obedience, and directed into the ways of Peace with God through Jesus Christ, were made fruitful in real Holiness, and to abound in all those blessed effects of the Life of God which were never found among their Adversaries. The same charge was afterwards renewed by the Socinians, and continueth still to be managed by them. But I suppose wise and impartial men will not lay much weight on their Accusations, until they have manifested the efficacy of their contrary persuasion by better effects and fruits than yet they have done. What sort of men they were who first coined that system of Religion which they adhere unto, one who knew them well enough, and sufficiently inclined unto their Antitrinitarian Opinions, declares in one of the Queries that he proposed unto Socinus himself and his followers. If this saith he, be the truth which you contend for, whence comes it to pass that it is declared only by persons, nulla pietatis commendation, nullo laudato prioris vitae exemplo commendatos; imo ut plerumque videmus, per vagabundos, & contentionum zeli carnalis plenos homines, alios ex castris, aulis, ganeis, prolatam esse. Scrupuli ab excellenti viro propositi, inter oper. Socin.

3. I know that the Doctrine here pleaded for, is charged by many with an unfriendly aspect towards the necessity of personal Holiness, Good Works, and all Gospel Obedience in general, yea ⟨image 4⟩