The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

But when God is pleased by any means to manifest his Glory unto sinners, all their presidences and contrivances do issue in dreadful horror and distress. An account of their Temper is given us Isa. 33.14. The sinners in Zion are afraid, fearfulness hath surprised the Hypocrites, who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with Everlasting burnings? Nor is it thus only with some peculiar sort of sinners. The same will be the Thoughts of all guilty persons at some time or another. For those who through sensuality, security, or superstition, do ⟨p. 11⟩hide themselves from the vexation of them in this world, will not fail to meet with them when their Terror shall be increased, and become remediless. Our God is a consuming fire; and men will one day find, how vain it is to set their Briars and Thorns against him in battle array. And we may see what extravagant contrivances convinced sinners will put themselves upon, under any real view of the Majesty and Holiness of God; Micah 6.6, 7. Wherewith (saith one of them) shall I come before the Lord, and bow my self before the high God? shall I come before him with Burnt-offerings, with Calves of a year old? will the Lord be pleased with thousands of Rams, or with ten thousands of Rivers of Oil? shall I give my first born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my Soul. Neither shall I ever think them meet to be contended withal about the Doctrine of Justification, who take no notice of these things, but rather despise them.

But when God is pleased by any means to manifest his Glory unto sinners, all their presidences and contrivances do issue in dreadful horrour and distress. An account of their Temper is given us Isa. 33.14. The sinners in Sion are afraid, fearfulness hath surprized the Hypocrites, who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with Everlasting burnings? Nor is it thus only with some peculiar sort of sinners. The same will be the Thoughts of all guilty persons at some time or another. For those who through sensuality, security, or superstition, do ⟨p. 11⟩