The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

If no man can stand a Trial before God upon his own Obedience, so as to be justified before him, because of his own personal Iniquities; and if our only plea in that case be the Righteousness of God, the Righteousness of God only and not our own, then is there no personal inherent Righteousness in any Believers whereon they may be justified; which is that which is to be proved.

The same is again asserted by the same Person, and that more plainly and directly, Psal. 143.2. Enter not into Judgment ⟨p. 319⟩with thy Servant, for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. This Testimony is the more to be considered, because as it is derived from the Law, Exod. 34.7. so it is transferred into the Gospel, and twice urged by the Apostle unto the same purpose, Rom. 3.20. Gal. 2.16.

The Person who insists on this plea with God, professeth himself to be his Servant. Enter not into Judgment with thy Servant; that is, one that loved him, feared him, yielded all sincere Obedience. He was not an Hypocrite, not an unbeliever, not an unregenerate person, who had performed no Works but such as were legal, such as the Law required, and such as were done in the strength of the Law only; such works as all will acknowledge to be excluded from our Justification; and which as many judge, are only those which are so excluded. David it was, who was not only converted, a true Believer, had the Spirit of God, and the Aids of special Grace in his Obedience, but had this Testimony unto his sincerity, that he was a man after Gods own Heart. And this witness had he in his own Conscience of his Integrity, Uprightness, and personal Righteousness, so as that he frequently avows them, appeals unto God concerning the Truth of them, and pleads them as a Ground of Judgment between him and his Adversaries. We have therefore a case stated in the Instance of a sincere and eminent Believer, who excelled most in inherent personal Righteousness.