The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

2. It is pleaded, that although this Righteousness be not an exact fulfilling of the moral Law, yet is it the Accomplishment of the Condition of the New Covenant, or entirely answereth the Law of Grace, and all that is required of us therein.

Ans. 1. This wholly takes away sin and the pardon of it, no less then doth the conceit of sinless perfections which we now rejected. For if our Obedience do answer the only Law and Rule of it whereby it is to be tried, measured and judged, then is there no sin in us, nor need of pardon. No more is required of any man to keep him absolutely free from sin, but that he fully answer, and exactly comply with the Rule and Law of his Obedience whereby he must be judged. On this supposition therefore there is neither sin, nor any need of the pardon of it. To say that there is still both sin, and need of pardon with respect unto the moral Law of God, is to confess that Law to be the Rule of our Obedience, which this Righteousness doth no way answer; and therefore none by it can be justified in the sight of God.

2. Although this Righteousness be accepted in justified persons by the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, yet consider the principle of it, with all the Acts and Duties wherein it doth ⟨p. 336⟩consist, as they are required and prescribed in the Gospel unto us, and they do neither jointly nor severally fulfil and and answer the commands of the Gospel no more then they do the commands of the Law. Wherefore they cannot all of them constitute a Righteousness consisting in an exact conformity unto the Rules of the Gospel, or the Law of it. For it is impious to imagine that the Gospel requiring any Duty of us, suppose the Love of God, doth make any Abatement, as unto the matter, manner, or degrees of perfection in it, from what was required by the Law. Doth the Gospel require a lower degree of Love to God, a less perfect Love than the Law did? God forbid. The same may be said concerning the inward frame of our natures, and all other Duties whatever; wherefore although this Righteousness is accepted in justified Persons, (as God had respect unto Abel, and then unto his Offering) in the way and unto the ends that shall be afterwards declared; yet as it relates unto the commands of the Gospel, both it and all the Duties of it, are no less imperfect, then it would be, if it should be left unto its Trial by the Law of Creation only.