The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

The Word is no where used in the Scripture in this matter; which I argue no farther, but that we have no certain Rule or Standard to try and measure its signification by. Wherefore it cannot first be introduced in what sense men please, and then that sense turned into Argument for other Ends. For thus on a supposed concession, that it is the Condition of our Justification, some heighten it into a subordinate Righteousness, imputed unto us, antecedently as I suppose, unto the Imputation of the Righteousness of Christ in any sense, whereof it is the Condition. And some who pretend to lessen its efficiency or dignity in the use of it in our Justification say, it is only causa sine qua non, which leaves us at as great an uncertainty as to the nature and efficacy of this Condition ⟨p. 155⟩as we were before. Nor is the true sense of things at all illustrated, but rather darkened by such notions.

If we may introduce Words into Religion no where used in the Scripture (as we may and must if we design to bring light, and communicate proper apprehensions of the things contained unto the minds of men) yet are we not to take along with them arbitrary pre-conceived senses, forged either among Lawyers, or in the Peripatetical School. The use of them in the most approved Authors of the Language whereunto they do belong, and their common vulgar acceptation among our selves, must determine their sense and meaning. It is known what confusion in the minds of men, the Introduction of words into Ecclesiastical Doctrines, of whose signification there hath not been a certain determinate Rule agreed on, hath produced. So the word Merit was introduced by some of the Ancients, (as is plain from the design of their Discourses where they use it) for impetration or acquisition quovis modo; by any means whatever. But there being no cogent Reason to confine the Word unto that precise signification, it hath given occasion to as great a Corruption as hath befallen Christian Religion. We must therefore make use of the best means we have to understand the meaning of this word, and what is intended by it, before we admit of its use in this case.