The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

1. It is no where said that we shall be judged at the last day, ex operibus; but, only that God will render unto men secundum opera. But God doth not justify any in this life secundum opera; Being justified freely by his Grace, And, not according to the Works of Righteousness which we have done. And we are every where said to be justified in this life, ex fide, per fidem, but no where propter fidem; or that God justifieth us secundum fidem; by Faith; but not for our Faith, nor according unto our Faith. And we are not to depart from the expressions of the Scripture where such a difference is constantly observed.

1. It is no where said that we shall be judged at the last day, ex operibus; but, only that God will render unto men secundum opera. But God doth not justifie any in this life secundum opera; Being justified freely by his Grace, And, not according to the Works of Righteousness which we have done. And we are every where said to be justified in this life, ex fide, per fidem, but no where propter fidem; or that God justifieth us secundum fidem; by Faith; but not for our Faith, nor according unto our Faith. And we are not to depart from the expressions of the Scripture where such a difference is constantly observed.

2. It is somewhat strange that a man should be judged at the last day, and justified in this life, just in the same way and manner, that is with respect unto Faith and Works, when the Scripture doth constantly ascribe our Justification before God unto Faith without Works; and the Judgment at the last day is said to be according unto Works, without any mention of Faith.

3. If Justification and eternal Judgment proceed absolute-on the same Grounds, Reasons, and Causes, then if men had not done what they shall be condemned for doing at the last day, they should have been justified in this life. But many shall be condemned only for sins against the light of nature,