The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

2. Whereas persons of all sorts and parties do take various ways in the assignation of an interest in our Justification unto our own Righteousness, so as that no parties are agreed about it, nor many of the same mind among themselves, as might easily be manifested in the Papists, Socinians, and others, I shall so far as it is possible in the ensuing Arguments have respect unto them all. For my design is to prove, that it hath no such Interest in our Justification before God, as that the Righteousness of Christ should not be esteemed the only Righteousness whereon we are justified.

And first, we shall produce some of those many Testimonies which may be pleaded unto this purpose, Psal. 130.3, 4. If thou Lord shouldst mark Iniquities, O Lord, who should stand? But there is Forgiveness with thee that thou mayest be feared. There is an Enquiry included in these words, how a man, how any man may be justified before God; how he may stand, that is, in the presence of God, and be accepted with him; How he shall stand in Judgment, as it is explained, Psal. 1.5. The wicked shall not stand in the Judgment, shall not be acquitted on their Trial. That which first offereth it self unto this End, is his own Obedience. For this the Law requires of him in the first place, and this his own Conscience calls upon him for. But the Psalmist plainly declares that no man can thence manage a plea for his Justification with any success. And the Reason is, because notwithstanding the best of the Obedience of the best of men, there are Iniquities found with them against the Lord their God. And if men come to their Trial before God whether they shall be justified or condemned, these also must be heard and taken into ⟨p. 318⟩the Account. But then no man can stand, no man can be justified as it is elsewhere expressed. Wherefore the wisest and safest course is, as unto our Justification before God, utterly to forego this plea, and not to insist on our own Obedience, least our sins should appear also, and be heard. No Reason can any man give on his own Account, why they should not so be. And if they be so, the best of men will be cast in their Trial, as the Psalmist declares.