The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

Secondly, A due consideration of him with whom in this matter we have to do, and that immediately, is necessary unto a right stating of our thoughts about it. The Scripture expresseth it emphatically, that it is God that justifieth, Rom. 8. ⟨p. 9⟩33. And he assumes it unto himself as his Prerogative, to do what belongs thereunto. I, even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins, Isa. 43.25. And it is hard in my Apprehension, to suggest unto him, any other reason or consideration of the pardon of our sins; seeing he hath taken it on him to do it for his own sake, that is, for the Lords sake, Dan. 9.17. in whom all the seed of Israel are justified, Isa. 45.25. In his sight, before his Tribunal it is, that men are justified or condemned, Psal. 143.2. Enter not into Judgement with thy servant; for in THY SIGHT shall no man living be justified. And the whole work of Justification, with all that belongeth thereunto, is represented after the manner of a Juridical proceeding before Gods Tribunal, as we shall see afterwards. Therefore saith the Apostle, by the deeds of the Law shall no flesh be justified in his sight; Rom. 3.20. However any may be justified in the sight of Men or Angels by their own Obedience or Deeds of the Law, yet in His Sight none can be so.

Necessary it is unto any man who is to come unto a Trial, in the sentence whereof he is greatly concerned, duly to consider the Judge before whom he is to appear, and by whom his cause is finally to be determined. And if we manage our Disputes about Justification without a continual regard unto Him, by whom we must be cast or acquitted, we shall not rightly apprehend what our Plea ought to be. Wherefore the Greatness, the Majesty, the Holiness, and Sovereign Authority of God, are always to be present with us in a due sense of them, when we enquire how we may be justified before him. Yet is it hard to discern how the minds of some men are influenced by the consideration of these things, in their fierce contests for the Interest of their own works in their Justification; precibus aut precio ut in aliqua part haereant. But the Scripture doth represent unto us what thoughts of him, and of themselves, not only Sinners,