The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

4. The way whereby sinners do or ought to betake themselves unto this Relief, on supposition that it is the Righteousness of Christ, and how they come to be partakers of, or interested in that which is not inherently their own, unto as good Benefit and as much Advantage as if it were their own, is of a distinct consideration. And as this also is clearly determined in the Scripture, so it is acknowledged in the Experience of all them that do truly believe. Neither are we in this matter much to regard the senses or arguings of men, who were never throughly convinced of sin, nor have ever in their own persons fled for Refuge unto the Hope set before them.

5. These things I say are always to be attended unto, in our whole Disquisition into the nature of Evangelical Justification; For without a constant respect unto them, we shall quickly wander into curious and perplexed Questions, wherein the Consciences of guilty Sinners are not concerned; and which therefore really belong not unto the substance or truth of this Doctrine, nor are to be immixed therewith. It is alone the Relief of those who are in themselves [Greek or Hebrew], guilty before, or obnoxious and liable to the Judgment of God, that we enquire after. That this is not any thing in or of themselves, nor can so be; that it is a Provision without them, made in infinite Wisdom and Grace by the mediation of Christ, his Obedience and Death therein, is secured in the Scripture against all contradiction: And it is the fundamental Principle of the Gospel, Math. 11.28.

5. These things I say are always to be attended unto, in our whole Disquisition into the nature of Evangelical Justification; For without a constant respect unto them, we shall quickly wander into curious and perplexed Questions, wherein the Consciences of guilty Sinners are not concerned; and which therefore really belong not unto the substance or truth of this Doctrine, nor are to be immixed therewith. It is alone the Relief of those who are in themselves 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, guilty before, or obnoxious and liable to the Judgment of God, that we enquire after. That this is not any thing in or of themselves, nor can so be; that it is a Provision without them, made in infinite Wisdom and Grace by the mediation of Christ, his Obedience and Death therein, is secured in the Scripture against all contradiction: And it is the fundamental Principle of the Gospel,