The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

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.

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 Sathan 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.

It is true in particular cases, and as unto some especial end in the Providence of God, a man may plead his own Integrity and Obedience before God himself. So did Hezekiah when he prayed for the sparing of his life, Isa. 38.3. Remember now O Lord I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in Truth, and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. This I say may be done with respect unto temporal Deliverance, or any other particular end wherein the glory of God is concerned. So was it greatly in sparing the life of Hezekiah at that time. For whereas he had with great Zeal and Industry reformed Religion and restored the true worship of God, the cutting him off in the midst of his days, would have occasioned the Idolatrous multitude to have reflected on him as one dying under a token of Divine