The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

Some deny the Depravation and Corruption of our Nature which ensued on our Apostasy from God, and the loss of his Image. Or if they do not absolutely deny it, yet they so extenuate it as to render it a matter of no great concern unto us. Some Disease and Distemper of the Soul they will acknowledge, arising from the disorder of our Affections, whereby we are apt to receive in such vicious habits and customs, as are in practice in the world. And as the Guilt hereof is not much, so the danger of it is not great. And as for any spiritual filth or stain of our nature that is in it, it is clear washed away from all by Baptism. That Deformity of Soul which came upon us in the loss of the Image of God, wherein the Beauty and Harmony of all our faculties in all their Actings in order unto their utmost End, did consist; ⟨p. 21⟩That Enmity unto God even in the mind which ensued thereon that Darkness which our Understandings were clouded yea blinded withal; the Spiritual Death which passed on the whole Soul, and total Alienation from the life of God; that Impotency unto Good, that Inclination unto Evil, that Deceitfulness of sin, that Power and Efficacy of corrupt Lusts, which the Scripture and Experience so fully charge on the state of lost Nature, are rejected as empty Notions or Fables. No wonder if such Persons look upon Imputed Righteousness as the shadow of a Dream, who esteem those things which evidence its necessity, to be but fond imaginations. And small hope is there to bring such men to value the Righteousness of Christ, as imputed to them, who are so unacquainted with their own unrighteousness inherent in them. Until men know themselves better, they will care very little to know Christ at all.

Some deny the Depravation and Corruption of our Nature which ensued on our Apostasie from God, and the loss of his Image. Or if they do not absolutely deny it, yet they so extenuate it as to render it a matter of no great concern unto us. Some Disease and Distemper of the Soul they will acknowledge, arising from the disorder of our Affections, whereby we are apt to receive in such vitious habits and customs, as are in practice in the world. And as the Guilt hereof is not much, so the danger of it is not great. And as for any spiritual filth or stain of our nature that is in it, it is clear washed away from all by Baptism. That Deformity of Soul which came upon us in the loss of the Image of God, wherein the Beauty and Harmony of all our faculties in all their Actings in order unto their utmost End, did consist;