The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

There is none of the Testimonies which are multiplied unto this purpose, but they sufficiently prove, that the best of Gods Saints, have not a Righteousness of their own, whereon they can in any sense be justified before God. For they do all of them in the places referred unto, renounce any such Righteousness of their own, all that is in them, all that they have done or can do, and betake themselves unto Grace and Mercy alone. And whereas, as we have before proved, God in the Justification of any doth exercise Grace towards them with respect unto a Righteousness, whereon he declares them Righteous and accepted before him, they do all of them respect a Righteousness which is not inherent in us but imputed us.

Herein lies the substance of all that we enquire into, in this matter of Justification. All other disputes about qualifications, conditions, causes [Greek or Hebrew] any kind of Interest for own Works and Obedience in our Justification before God, are but the speculations of men at ease. The Conscience of a convinced sinner, who presents himself in the presence of God, finds all practically reduced unto this one point, namely, whether he will trust unto his own personal inherent Righteousness, or in a full Renunciation of it, betake himself unto the Grace of God, and the Righteousness of Christ alone. In other things he is not concerned. And let men ⟨p. 324⟩[…] ⟨p. 325⟩[…] ⟨p. 326⟩phrase his own Righteousness unto him as they please, let them pretend it meritorious, or only Evangelical not legal, only an accomplishment of the condition of the new Covenant, a cause without which he cannot be justified, it will not be easy to frame his mind unto any confidence in it, as unto Justification before God; So as not to deceive him in the Issue.

Herein lies the substance of all that we enquire into, in this matter of Justification. All other disputes about qualifications, conditions, causes any kind of Interest for own Works and Obedience in our Justification before God, are but the speculations of men at ease. The Conscience of a convinced sinner, who presents himself in the presence of God, finds all practically reduced unto this one point, namely, whether he will trust unto his own personal inherent Righteousness, or in a full Renuntiation of it, betake himself unto the Grace of God, and the Righteousness of Christ alone. In other things he is not concerned. And let men