The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

But some have other notions of these things. For they say, that Christ by his Death, and his Obedience therein, whereby he offered himself a sacrifice of sweet smelling savour unto God, procured for us the New Covenant, or as one speaks, all that we have by the Death of Christ is, that thereunto we owe the Covenant of Grace. For herein he did and suffered what God required and freely appointed him to do and suffer. Not that the Justice of God required any such thing with respect unto their sins for whom he died, and in whose stead, or to bestead whom, he suffered, but what by a free Constitution of Divine Wisdom and Sovereignty was appointed unto him. Hereon, God was pleased to remit the Terms of the Old Covenant, and to ⟨p. 265⟩enter into a New Covenant with mankind upon Terms suited unto our Reason, possible unto our Abilities, and every way advantageous unto us. For these Terms are Faith and sincere Obedience, or such an Assent unto the Truth of Divine Revelations, as is effectual in Obedience unto the Will of God contained in them, upon the encouragement given thereunto in the Promises of Eternal Life, or a future Reward made therein. On the performance of these Conditions our Justification, Adoption, and future Glory do depend; For they are that Righteousness before God, whereon he pardons our sins, and accepts our persons, as if we were perfectly Righteous. Wherefore by this procuring the New Covenant for us, which they ascribe unto the death of Christ, they intend the abrogation of the old Covenant, or of the Law, or at least such a Derogation from it, that it shall no more oblige us either unto sinless Obedience or Punishment, nor require a perfect Righteousness unto our Justification before God; and the Constitution of a new Law of Obedience accommodated unto our present state and condition, on whose observance all the Promises of the Gospel do depend.

But some have other notions of these things. For they say, that Christ by his Death, and his Obedience therein, whereby he offered himself a sacrifice of sweet smelling savour unto God, procured for us the New Covenant, or as one speaks, all that we have by the Death of Christ is, that thereunto we owe the Covenant of Grace. For herein he did and suffered what God required and freely appointed him to do and suffer. Not that the Justice of God required any such thing with respect unto their sins for whom he died, and in whose stead, or to bestead whom, he suffered, but what by a free Constitution of Divine Wisdom and Soveraignty was appointed unto him. Hereon, God was pleased to remit the Terms of the Old Covenant, and to