The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

The Reasons why the Doctrine of Justification, by the Imputation of the Righteousness of Christ, is more fully and clearly delivered in the following Writings of the New Testament, than it is in those of the Evangelists who wrote the History of the Life and Death of Christ, have been before declared. But yet in them also it is sufficiently attested, as unto the state of the Church before the Death and Resurrection of Christ, which is represented in them. Some few of the many Testimonies which may be pleaded out of their Writings unto that purpose, I shall consider.

THe Reasons why the Doctrine of Justification, by the Imputation of the Righteousness of Christ, is more fully and clearly delivered in the following Writings of the New Testament, than it is in those of the Evangelists who wrote the History of the Life and Death of Christ, have been before declared. But yet in them also it is sufficiently attested, as unto the state of the Church before the Death and Resurrection of Christ, which is represented in them. Some few of the many Testimonies which may be pleaded out of their Writings unto that purpose, I shall consider.

1. The principal design of our Blessed Saviours Sermon, especially that part of it which is Recorded Matth. 5. is to declare the true nature of Righteousness before God. The Scribes and Pharisees, from a Bondage unto whose Doctrines he designed to vindicate the Consciences of those that heard him, placed all our Righteousness before God in the Works of the Law, or Mens own obedience thereunto. This they taught the People, and hereon they justified themselves, as ⟨p. 432⟩he chargeth them. Luke 16.15. Ye are they which justify your selves before men; but God knoweth your hearts, for that which is highly esteemed amongst men, is abomination in the sight of God: As in this Sermon he makes it evident. And all those who were under their conduct, did seek to establish their own Righteousness, as it were by the works of the Law,