The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

Wherefore if we would either teach or learn the Doctrine of Justification in a due manner, a clear apprehension of the Greatness of our Apostasy from God, a due sense of the Guilt of sin, a deep Experience of its power, all with respect unto the Holiness and Law of God, are necessary unto us. We have nothing to do in this matter with men who through the Fever of Pride have lost the Understanding of their own miserable condition. For, Natura sic apparet vitiata ut hoc majoris vitij sit non videre, Austin. The whole need not the Physician but the sick. Those who are pricked unto the Heart for sin, and cry out what shall we do to be saved, will understand what we have to say. Against others we must defend the Truth as God shall enable. And it may be made good by all sorts of Instances, That as men rise in their notions about the extenuation of sin, so they fall in their regard unto the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. And it is no less true also on the other hand, as Unbelief worketh in men a disesteem of the Person and Righteousness of Christ, ⟨p. 24⟩they are cast inevitably to seek for countenance unto their own Consciences, in the extenuation of sin. So insensibly are the minds of men diverted from Christ and seduced to place their confidence in themselves. Some confused respect they have unto him, as a Relief they know not how nor wherein; but they live in that pretended height of humane Wisdom, to trust to themselves. So they are instructed to do by the best of the Philosophers. Unum bonum est, quod beatae vitae causa & firmamentum est, tibi fidere. Senec. Epist. 31. Hence also is the internal sanctifying Grace of God among many equally despised with the Imputation of the Righteousness of Christ. The sum of their Faith, and of their Arguments in the confirmation of it, is given by the Learned Roman Orator and Philosopher. Virtutem (saith he) nemo unquam Deo acceptam retulit; nimirum recte. Propter virtutem enim jure laudamur, & in virtute recte gloriamur, quod non contingeret, si donum a Deo, non a nobis haberemus. Tull. de nat. Deor.

Wherefore if we would either teach or learn the Doctrine of Justification in a due manner, a clear apprehension of the Greatness of our Apostasie from God, a due sense of the Guilt of sin, a deep Experience of its power, all with respect unto the Holiness and Law of God, are necessary unto us. We have nothing to do in this matter with men who through the Feavor of Pride have lost the Understanding of their own miserable condition. For, Natura sic apparet vitiata ut hoc majoris vitij sit non videre, Austin. The whole need not the Physician but the sick. Those who are pricked unto the Heart for sin, and cry out what shall we do to be saved, will understand what we have to say. Against others we must defend the Truth as God shall enable. And it may be made good by all sorts of Instances, That as men rise in their notions about the extenuation of sin, so they fall in their regard unto the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. And it is no less true also on the other hand, as Unbelief worketh in men a disesteem of the Person and Righteousness of Christ,