The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

Those who assert Faith to be as the Instrumental cause in our Justification, do it with respect unto two Ends. For first they design thereby to declare the meaning of those expressions in the Scripture, wherein we are said to be justified [Greek or Hebrew] absolutely, which must denote, either instrumentum aut formam, aut modum actionis. [Greek or Hebrew]; Rom. 3.28. Therefore we conclude that a Man is justified by Faith. So [Greek or Hebrew], ver. 22. [Greek or Hebrew]; Rom. 1.17. Gal. 3.8. [Greek or Hebrew]; Ephes. 2.8. [Greek or Hebrew]. Rom. 3.22, 30. That is fide; ex fide, per fidem; which we can express only by Faith or through Faith. Propter fidem, or [Greek or Hebrew]; for our Faith we are no where said to be justified. The Enquiry is, what is the most proper, lightsome, and convenient way of declaring the meaning of these Expressions. This the Generality of Protestants do judge to be by an instrumental cause. For some kind of causality they do plainly intimate, whereof the lowest and meanest is that which is instrumental. For they are used of Faith in our Justification before God, and of no other Grace or Duty whatever. Wherefore the proper Work or Office of Faith in our Justification is intended by them. And [Greek or Hebrew] is no where used ⟨p. 149⟩in the whole New Testament with a genitive case, (nor in any other good Author) but it denotes an instrumental Efficiency at least. In the divine Works of the Holy Trinity, the operation of the second Person, who is in them a principal Efficient, yet is sometimes expressed thereby; it may be to denote the order of Operation in the Holy Trinity answering the order of Subsistence, though it be applied unto God absolutely or the Father; Rom. 11.35. [Greek or Hebrew], by him are all things. Again, [Greek or Hebrew]; and [Greek or Hebrew] are directly opposed, Gal. 3.2. But when it is said that a man is not justified, [Greek or Hebrew], by the works of the Law, it is acknowledged by all that the meaning of the Expression is to exclude all efficiency in every kind of such works from our Justification. It follows therefore that where in opposition hereunto, we are said to be justified [Greek or Hebrew], by Faith; an instrumental efficiency is intended.