The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

These things, I confess, are inseparably connected in the Ordinance, Appointment, and Covenant of God. Whosoever hath his sins pardoned, is accepted with God, hath Right unto Eternal Blessedness. These things are inseparable, but they are not one and the same. And by reason of their inseparable Relation, are they so put together by the Apostle. Rom. 4.6, 7, 8. Even as David also describeth the Blessedness of the Man, unto whom God imputeth Righteousness without Works: Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered: Blessed is the Man unto whom the Lord will not impute sin. It is the Imputation of Righteousness, that gives Right unto Blessedness; but pardon of sin is inseparable from it, and an effect of it, both being opposed unto Justification by Works, or an Internal Righteousness of our own. But it is one thing to be freed from being liable unto Eternal Death; and another to have Right and Title unto a Blessed and Eternal Life. It is one thing to be redeemed ⟨p. 385⟩from under the Law, that is the Curse of it; another to receive the Adoption of Sons. One thing to be freed from the Curse, another to have the Blessing of Abraham come upon us; as the Apostle distinguisheth these things. Gal. 3.13, 14. & 4.4, 5, And so doth our Lord Jesus Christ, Acts 26.18. That they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance (a Lot and Right to the Inheritance) amongst them that are sanctified by Faith that is in me. [Greek or Hebrew] which we have by Faith in Christ is only a dismission of sin from being pleadable unto our condemnation; on which account there is no condemnation unto them that are in Christ Jesus. But a Right and Title unto Glory, or the Heavenly Inheritance, it giveth not. Can it be supposed, that all the great and glorious effects of present Grace and future Blessedness, should follow necessarily on, and be the effect of mere pardon of sin? Can we not be pardoned, but we must thereby of necessity be made Sons, Heirs of God, and Coheirs with Christ?

These things, I confess, are inseparably connected in the Ordinance, Appointment, and Covenant of God. Whosoever hath his sins pardoned, is accepted with God, hath Right unto Eternal Blessedness. These things are inseparable, but they are not one and the same. And by reason of their inseparable Relation, are they so put together by the Apostle.