A53686:276
The Doctrine of Justification by Faith
The doctrine of justification by faith through the imputation of the righteousness of Christ, explained, confirmed, & vindicated by John Owen ...
London: printed for R. Boulter, 1677
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The contrary whereunto makes God a liar, and thereby despoileth him of the Glory of all those holy properties which he this way designed to manifest, 1 Joh. 5.10.
And if I mistake not, this is that which the Experience of them that truly believe, when they are out of the Heats of Disputation will give Testimony unto.
4. To understand the Nature of Justifying Faith aright, on the Act and Exercise of saving Faith in order unto our Justification, which are properly enquired after, we must consider the order of it, first the things which are necessarily previous thereunto, and then what it is to believe with respect unto them. As,
1. The state of a Convinced sinner; who is the only Subjectum ⟨p. 133⟩capax Justificationis. This hath been spoken unto already; and the necessity of its precedency unto the orderly proposal and receiving of Evangelical Righteousness unto Justification, demonstrated. If we lose a respect hereunto, we lose our best Guide towards the Discovery of the Nature of Faith. Let no man think to understand the Gospel, who knoweth nothing of the Law. Gods constitution and the nature of the things themselves, have given the Law the precedency with respect unto sinners; for by the Law is the knowledge of sin. And Gospel Faith is the Souls acting according to the mind of God for deliverance from that state and condition which it is cast under by the Law. And all those Descriptions of Faith which abound in the Writings of Learned men, which do not at least include in them a virtual respect unto this state and condition, or the Work of the Law on the Consciences of sinners, are all of them vain speculations There is nothing in this whole Doctrine that I will more firmly adhere unto, than the necessity of the Convictions mentioned previous unto true Believing, without which not one line of it can be understood aright, and men do but beat the Air in their contentions about it. See