The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

1. The Terms of procuring the New Covenant are ambiguous. It is not as yet (that I know of) by any declared how the Lord Christ did procure it; whether he did so by his Satisfaction and Obedience, as the meritorious cause of it, or by what other kind of causality. Unless this be stated we are altogether uncertain what Relation of the New Covenant unto the Death of Christ is intended. And to say that thereunto we owe the New Covenant, doth not mend the matter, but rather render the Terms more ambiguous. Neither is it declared whether the Constitution of the Covenant, or the Communication of the Benefits of it are intended. It is yet no less general, That God was so well pleased with what Christ did, as that hereon he made and entered into a New Covenant with mankind. This they may grant who yet deny the whole satisfaction and merit of Christ. If they mean that the Lord ⟨p. 267⟩Christ by his Obedience and Suffering did meritoriously procure the making and establishing of the New Covenant, which was all that he so procured, and the entire effect of his death, what they say may be understood, but the whole Nature of the Mediation of Christ is overthrown thereby.

2. This Opinion is liable unto a great Prejudice, in that whereas it is in such a Fundamental Article of our Religion, and about that wherein the Eternal Welfare of the Church is so nearly concerned, there is no mention made of it in the Scripture. For is it not strange that if this be, as some speak, the sole effect of the Death of Christ, whereas sundry other things are frequently in the Scripture ascribed unto it, as the effects and fruits thereof, that this which is only so should be no where mentioned, neither in express words, nor such as will allow of this sense by any just or lawful consequence. Our Redemption, Pardon of sins, the Renovation of our Natures, our Sanctification, Justification, Peace with God, Eternal Life, are all jointly and severally assigned thereunto in places almost without number. But it is no where said in the Scripture, that Christ by his death, merited, procured, obtained, the New Covenant; or that God should enter into a New Covenant with mankind; yea as we shall see, that which is contrary unto it, and inconsistent with it, is frequently asserted.