The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

Wherefore I cannot but judge it best, (others may think of it as they please) for those who would teach or learn the Doctrine of Justification in a due manner, to place their Consciences in the presence of God, and their Persons before his Tribunal, and then upon a due consideration of his Greatness, Power, Majesty, Righteousness, Holiness, of the terror of his Glory, and Sovereign Authority, to enquire what the Scripture, and a sense of their own Condition directs them unto as their Relief and Refuge, and what Plea it becomes them to make for themselves. Secret thoughts of God and our selves, retired meditations, the conduct of the spirit in humble supplications, Death-bed preparations for an immediate appearance before God, Faith and Love in exercise on Christ, speak other things for the most part, then many contend for.

Wherefore I cannot but judge it best, (others may think of it as they please) for those who would teach or learn the Doctrine of Justification in a due manner, to place their Consciences in the presence of God, and their Persons before his Tribunal, and then upon a due consideration of his Greatness, Power, Majesty, Righteousness, Holiness, of the terrour of his Glory, and Soveraign Authority, to enquire what the Scripture, and a sense of their own Condition directs them unto as their Relief and Refuge, and what Plea it becomes them to make for themselves. Secret thoughts of God and our selves, retired meditations, the conduct of the spirit in humble supplications, Death-bed preparations for an immediate appearance before God, Faith and Love in exercise on Christ, speak other things for the most part, then many contend for.

3. A clear apprehension and due sense of the Greatness of our Apostasy from God, of the Depravation of our Natures thereby, of the Power and Guilt of Sin, of the Holiness and Severity of the Law, are necessary unto a right apprehension of the Doctrine of Justification. Therefore unto the Declaration of it doth the Apostle premise a large Discourse throughly to convince the minds of all that seek to be justified, with a sense of these things, Rom. 1.2, 3. The Rules which he hath given