The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

The due Consideration of these things solveth all the Difficulties that arise about the nature of Faith, either from the Scripture, or from the Experience of them that believe, with respect unto its Object. Many things in the Scripture are we said to believe with it and by it, and that unto Justification. But two things are hence evident. (1) That no one of them can be asserted to be the complete adequate Object of our Faith. (2) That none of them are so absolutely, but as they relate unto the Lord Christ, as the Ordinance of God for our Justification and Salvation.

The due Consideration of these things solveth all the Difficulties that arise about the nature of Faith, either from the Scripture, or from the Experience of them that believe, with respect unto its Object. Many things in the Scripture are we said to believe with it and by it, and that unto Justification. But two things are hence evident. (1) That no one of them can be asserted to be the compleat adequate Object of our Faith. (2) That none of them are so absolutely, but as they relate unto the Lord Christ, as the Ordinance of God for our Justification and Salvation.

And this answereth the Experience of all that do truly believe. For these things being united and made inseparable in the constitution of God, all of them are virtually included in every one of them. (1) Some fix their Faith and Trust principally on the Grace, Love, and Mercy of God; especially they did so under the Old Testament, before the clear Revelation of Christ and his Mediation. So did the Psalmist, Psal. 130.34. Psal. 33.18, 19. And the Publican, Luke 18.13. And these are in places of the Scripture innumerable proposed as the Causes of our Justification. See Rom. 3.24. Ephes. 2.4, 5, 6, 7, 8.