A53686:777
The Doctrine of Justification by Faith
The doctrine of justification by faith through the imputation of the righteousness of Christ, explained, confirmed, & vindicated by John Owen ...
London: printed for R. Boulter, 1677
Chapter 13: The nature of Justification proved from the difference of the Covenants.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
4. Wherefore this Covenant being once established between God and Man, there could be no new Covenant made, unless the Essential Form of it were of another nature; namely, that our own Personal obedience be not the rule and cause of our Acceptation and Justification before God. For ⟨p. 398⟩whilst this is so, as was before observed, the Covenant is still the same; however the Dispensation of it may be reformed or reduced, to suit unto our present state and condition. What Grace soever might be introduced into it, that could not be so, which excluded all Works from being the cause of our Justification. But if a new Covenant be made, such Grace must be provided as is absolutely inconsistent with any Works of ours, as unto the first ends of the Covenant, as the Apostle declares, Rom. 11.6.
4. Wherefore this Covenant being once established between God and Man, there could be no new Covenant made, unless the Essential Form of it were of another nature; namely, that our own Personal obedience be not the rule and cause of our Acceptation and Justification before God. For ⟨p. 398⟩whil'st this is so, as was before observed, the Covenant is still the same; however the Dispensation of it may be reformed or reduced, to suit unto our present state and condition. What Grace soever might be introduced into it, that could not be so, which excluded all Works from being the cause of our Justification. But if a new Covenant be made, such Grace must be provided as is absolutely inconsistent with any Works of ours, as unto the first ends of the Covenant, as the Apostle declares, Rom. 11.6.
5. Wherefore the Covenant of Grace, supposing it a new, real, absolute Covenant, and not a Reformation of the Dispensation of the old, or a Reduction of it unto the use of our present condition (as some imagine it to be) must differ in the Essence, Substance, and Nature of it from that first Covenant of Works. And this it cannot do, if we are to be justified before God on our Personal obedience, wherein the essence of the first Covenant consisted. If then the Righteousness wherewith we are justified before God, be our own, our own Personal Righteousness; we are yet under the first Covenant, and no other.