The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

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 ⟨p. 324⟩displeasure. But none ever made this Plea before God, for the absolute Justification of their persons. So Nehemiah in that great contest which he had about the worship of God, and the service of his house, pleads the Remembrance of it before God, in his Justification against his Adversaries, but resolves his own personal acceptance with God into pardoning mercy, and spare me according unto the multitude of thy mercies, Chap. 13.22.

Another Testimony we have unto the same purpose, in the Prophet Isaiah, speaking in the name of the Church, Cap. 64.6. We are all as an unclean thing, and all our Righteousnesses are as filthy Rags. It is true the Prophet doth in this place make a deep confession of the sins of the people. But yet withal he joins himself with them, and asserts the especial Interest of those concerning whom he speaks by Adoption; that God was their Father, and they his people, Chap. 63.16. Chap. 64.8, 9. And the Righteousness of all that are the Children of God are of the same kind; however they may differ in Degrees, and some of them may be more Righteous than others. But it is all of it described to be such, as that we cannot I think justly, expect Justification in the sight of God, upon the account of it. But whereas the consideration of the nature of our inherent Righteousness belongs unto the second way of the confirmation of our present Argument, I shall not farther here insist on this Testimony.