The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

2. This being the Law in the sense of the Apostle, and those with whom he had to do, our next enquiry is what was their sense of Works, or Works of the Law? And I say it is plain that they intended hereby, the universal Sincere Obedience of the Church unto God, according unto this Law. And other Works, the Law of God acknowledgeth not; yea, it expressly condemns all Works that have any such defect in them, as to render them unacceptable unto God. Hence notwithstanding all the Commands that God had positively given for the strict Observance of Sacrifices, Offerings, and the like, yet when the people performed them without Faith and Love, he expressly affirms that he Commanded them not, that is, to be observed in such a manner. In these Works therefore ⟨p. 415⟩consisted their personal Righteousness, as they walked in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Law blameless, Luk. 1.6. wherein they did instantly serve God day and night, Acts 26.7. And this they esteemed to be their own Righteousness, their Righteousness according unto the Law, as really it was, Phil. 3.6, 9. For although the Pharisees had greatly corrupted the Doctrine of the Law, and put false glosses on sundry Precepts of it; yet that the Church in those days did by the Works of the Law, understand either Ceremonial Duties only, or external Works, or Works with a conceit of merit, or Works wrought without an internal Principle of Faith, and Love to God, or any thing but their own personal sincere Obedience unto the whole Doctrine and Rule of the Law, there is nothing that should give the least colour of Imagination. For,

2. This being the Law in the sense of the Apostle, and those with whom he had to do, our next enquiry is what was their sense of Works, or Works of the Law? And I say it is plain that they intended hereby, the universal Sincere Obedience of the Church unto God, according unto this Law. And other Works, the Law of God acknowledgeth not; yea, it expresly condemns all Works that have any such defect in them, as to render them unacceptable unto God. Hence notwithstanding all the Commands that God had positively given for the strict Observance of Sacrifices, Offerings, and the like, yet when the people performed them without Faith and Love, he expresly affirms that he Commanded them not, that is, to be observed in such a manner. In these Works therefore