The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

In brief; The order of these things may be observed in the dealing of God with Adam, as was before intimated. And there are three degrees in it. (1) The Opening of the Eyes of the sinner, to see the filth and guilt of sin in the Sentence and Curse of the Law applied unto his Conscience; Rom. 7. 9, 10. This effects in the mind of the sinner the things before mentioned, and puts him upon all the Duties that spring from them. For Persons on their first Convictions ordinarily judge no more but that their state being evil and dangerous, it is their Duty to better it, and that they can or shall do so accordingly, if they apply themselves, thereunto. But all these things as to a Protection or Deliverance from the sentence of the Law, are no better then Fig-leaves and hiding. (2) Ordinarily God by his Providence▪ or in the Dispensation of the Word, gives life and power unto this Work of the Law in a peculiar manner; in answer unto the charge which he gave unto Adam after his Attempt to hide himself. Hereby the mouth of the sinner is stopped, and he becomes, as throughly sensible of his Guilt before God, so satisfied that there is no Relief or Deliverance to be expected from any of those ways of sorrow or duty that he hath put himself upon. (3) In this condition it is a mere Act of Sovereign Grace, without any respect unto these things foregoing, to call the sinner unto Believing, or Faith in the Promise unto the Justification of Life. This is Gods order; yet so as that what precedeth his call unto Faith, hath no causality thereof.

In brief; The order of these things may be observed in the dealing of God with Adam, as was before intimated. And there are three degrees in it. (1) The Opening of the Eyes of the sinner, to see the filth and guilt of sin in the Sentence and Curse of the Law applied unto his Conscience; Rom. 7. 9, 10. This effects in the mind of the sinner the things before mentioned, and puts him upon all the Duties that spring from them. For Persons on their first Convictions ordinarily judge no more but that their state being evil and dangerous, it is their Duty to better it, and that they can or shall do so accordingly, if they apply themselves, thereunto. But all these things as to a Protection or Deliverance from the sentence of the Law, are no better then Figg-leaves and hiding. (2) Ordinarily God by his Providence▪ or in the Dispensation of the Word, gives life and power unto this Work of the Law in a peculiar manner; in answer unto the charge which he gave unto Adam after his Attempt to hide himself. Hereby the mouth of the sinner is stopped, and he becomes, as throughly sensible of his Guilt before God, so satisfied that there is no Relief or Deliverance to be expected from any of those ways of sorrow or duty that he hath put himself upon. (3) In this condition it is a meer Act of Soveraign Grace, without any respect unto these things foregoing, to call the sinner unto Believing, or Faith in the Promise unto the Justification of Life. This is Gods order; yet so as that what precedeth his call unto Faith, hath no causality thereof.