The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

If they will not endure the Trial by the Law, they will endure no Trial as unto Righteousness and Justification in the sight of God. (3) The Prayer and Plea of the Psalmist on this supposition, are to this purpose; O Lord enter not into Judgment with thy servant, by or according unto the Law; but enter into Judgment with me, on my own Works and Obedience according to the Rule of the Gospel; for which he gives this Reason, because in thy sight shall no man living be justified; which how remote it is from his Intention need not be declared. (4) The Judgment of God unto Justification according to the Gospel, doth not proceed on our Works of Obedience, but upon the Righteousness of Christ, and our interest therein by Faith, as is too evident to be modestly denied. Notwithstanding this exception, therefore hence we argue.

If the most Holy of the servants of God, in and after a course of sincere fruitful Obedience, testified unto by God himself, and Witnessed in their own Consciences, that is, whilst they have the greatest evidences of their own sincerity, and that indeed they are the servants of God, do renounce all thoughts of such a Righteousness thereby, as whereon in any sense they may be justified ⟨p. 323⟩before God; then there is no such Righteousness in any, but it is the Righteousness of Christ alone imputed unto us whereon we are so justified. But that so they do, and ought all of them so to do, because of the general Rule here laid down, that in the sight of God no man living shall be justified, is plainly affirmed in this Testimony.

I no way doubt but that many learned men, after all their Pleas for an Interest of Personal Righteousness and Works in our Justification before God, do as unto their own practice betake themselves unto this method of the Psalmist, and cry as the Prophet Daniel doth in the name of the Church; we do not present our supplications before thee for our own Righteousness, but for thy great mercies, Chap. 9.18. And therefore Job (as we have formerly observed) after a long and earnest defence of his own Faith, Integrity, and Personal Righteousness, wherein he justified himself against the charge of Satan and men, being called to plead his cause in the sight of God, and declare on what grounds he expected to be justified before him, renounceth all his former Pleas, and betakes himself unto the same with the Psalmist, Chap. 40.4. Chap. 42.6.