The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

There needs no more for the Explanation of this Declaration of the Nature of Faith, than what we have before proved concerning its Object; and what may seem wanting ⟨p. 126⟩thereunto, will be fully supplied in the ensuing Confirmation of it. The Lord Christ and his Mediation, as the Ordinance of God for the Recovery, Life and Salvation of sinners, is supposed as the Object of this Faith. And they are all considered as an Effect of Wisdom, Grace, Authority and Love of God, with all their actings in and towards the Lord Christ himself in his susception and discharge of his Office. Hereunto he constantly refers all that he did and suffered, with all the Benefits redounding unto the Church thereby. Hence as we observed before, sometimes the Grace, or Love, or especial Mercy of God, sometimes his actings in or towards the Lord Christ himself, in sending him, giving him up unto Death, and raising him from the dead, are proposed as the Object of our Faith unto Justification. But they are so always with respect unto his Obedience and the Atonement that he made for sin. Neither are they so altogether absolutely considered, but as proposed in the Promises of the Gospel. Hence a sincere Assent unto the divine Veracity in those Promises, is included in this Approbation.

What belongs unto the Confirmation of this Description of Faith shall be reduced unto these four Heads. (1) The Declaration of its contrary, or the nature of privative unbelief upon the proposal of the Gospel. For these things do mutually illustrate one another. (2) The Declaration of the Design and End of God in and by the Gospel. (3) The Nature of Faiths compliance with that Design, or its Actings with respect thereunto. (4) The Order, Method, and Way of Believing as declared in the Scripture.

1. The Gospel is the Revelation or Declaration of that way of Justification and Salvation for sinners by Jesus Christ, which God in infinite Wisdom, Love and Grace, hath prepared. And upon a supposition of the Reception thereof, it is accompanied with Precepts of Obedience, and Promises of Rewards. Therein the Righteousness of God, that which he