The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

This is the proper effect of the Conviction of sin, strengthened and sharpened with the consideration of the Terror of the Lord, who is to judge concerning it. And this is that which in the Papacy meeting with an Ignorance of the Righteousness of God, hath produced innumerable superstitious Inventions for the appeasing of the Consciences of men, who by any means fall under the Disquietments of such Convictions. For they quickly see that none of the Obedience which God requireth of them, as it is performed by them, will justify them before this high and holy God. Wherefore they seek for shelter in contrivances about things that he hath not commanded, to try if they can put a cheat upon their Consciences, and find relief in Diversions.

This is the proper effect of the Conviction of sin, strengthened and sharpened with the consideration of the Terrour of the Lord, who is to judge concerning it. And this is that which in the Papacy meeting with an Ignorance of the Righteousness of God, hath produced innumerable superstitious Inventions for the appeasing of the Consciences of men, who by any means fall under the Disquietments of such Convictions. For they quickly see that none of the Obedience which God requireth of them, as it is performed by them, will justifie them before this high and holy God. Wherefore they seek for shelter in contrivances about things that he hath not commanded, to try if they can put a cheat upon their Consciences, and find relief in Diversions.

Nor is it thus only with profligate sinners upon their Convictions; but the best of men, when they have had near and efficacious Representations of the Greatness, Holiness, and Glory of God, have been cast into the deepest self-abasement, and most serious Renunciations of all trust or confidence ⟨p. 12⟩in themselves. So the Prophet Isaiah upon his vision of the Glory of the Holy One, cried out, Woe is me, I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips, chap. 6.5. nor was he relieved but by an Evidence of the free pardon of sin, ver. 7. So Holy Job in all his contests with his Friends who charged him with Hypocrisy, and his being a sinner guilty in a peculiar manner above other men, with assured confidence and perseverance therein justified his sincerity, his Faith and Trust in God, against their whole charge and every parcel of it. And this he doth with such a full satisfaction of his own Integrity, as that not only he insists at large on his vindication, but frequently appeals unto God himself, as unto the Truth of his Plea. For he directly pursues that counsel with great Assurance which the Apostle James so long after gives unto all Believers, nor is the Doctrine of that Apostle more eminently exemplified in any one instance throughout the whole Scripture then in him. For he showeth his Faith by his works, and pleads his Justification thereby. As Job Justified himself, and was Justified by his works, so we allow it the Duty of every Believer to be. His plea for Justification by works, in the sense wherein it is so, was the most noble that ever was in the world, nor was ever any controversy managed upon a greater occasion.