The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

It is granted on all hands, that the close of the Verse his Faith is counted for Righteousness, doth express the Justification of the person intended. He is justified, and the way of it is, his Faith is counted or imputed. Wherefore the foregoing words declare the Subject of Justification, and its qualification, or the description of the Person to be justified with all that is required on his part thereunto.

And first, it is said of him, that he is, [Greek or Hebrew]; who worketh not. It is not required unto his Justification that he should not work, that he should not perform any Duties of Obedience unto God in any kind, which is working. For every person in the world is always obliged unto all Duties of Obedience, according to the light and knowledge of the Will of God, the means whereof is afforded unto him. But the expression is to be limited by the Subject matter treated of. He who worketh not, with respect unto Justification; though not the design of the Person, but the Nature of the thing is intended. To say, he who worketh not is justified through believing, is to say that his Works whatever they be, have no influence into his Justification, nor hath God in justifying of him any respect unto them. Wherefore he alone who worketh not, is the subject of Justification, the person to be justified; that is, God considereth no mans Works, no mans Duties of Obedience in his Justification; seeing we are justified [Greek or Hebrew], freely by his Grace. And when God affirmeth expressly, that he justifieth him who worketh not, and that freely by his Grace, I cannot understand ⟨p. 456⟩what place our Works or Duties of Obedience, can have in our Justification. For why should we trouble our selves to invent of what consideration they may be in our Justification before God, when he himself affirms, that they are of none at all. Neither are the words capable of any evading interpretation. He that worketh not, is he that worketh not, let men say what they please, and distinguish as long as they will. And it is a boldness not to be justified, for any to rise up in opposition unto such express Divine Testimonies, however they may be harnessed with Philosophical Notions and arguings, which are but as Thorns and Briars, which the Word of God will pass through and consume.