The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

This is Faith alone, or it is impossible to express Faith alone, without the literal use of that word alone. But Faith being asserted, in opposition unto all works of ours, unto him that worketh not, and its especial nature declared in its especial object, God as justifying the ungodly, that is, freely by his Grace, through the Redemption that is in Christ Jesus, no place is left for any Works to make the least approach towards ⟨p. 458⟩our Justification before God, under the covert of any distinction whatever. And the nature of Justifying Faith is here also determined. It is not a mere assent unto Divine Revelations; it is not such a firm assent unto them, as should cause us to yield Obedience unto all the Precepts of the Scripture, though these things are included in it; but it is a believing on, and trusting unto him that justifieth the ungodly, through the Mediation of Christ.

This is Faith alone, or it is impossible to express Faith alone, without the literal use of that word alone. But Faith being asserted, in opposition unto all works of ours, unto him that worketh not, and its especial nature declared in its especial object, God as justifying the ungodly, that is, freely by his Grace, through the Redemption that is in Christ Jesus, no place is left for any Works to make the least approach towards ⟨p. 458⟩our Justification before God, under the covert of any distinction whatever. And the nature of Justifying Faith is here also determined. It is not a meer assent unto Divine Revelations; it is not such a firm assent unto them, as should cause us to yield Obedience unto all the Precepts of the Scripture, though these things are included in it; but it is a believing on, and trusting unto him that justifieth the ungodly, through the Mediation of Christ.

Concerning this Person, the Apostle affirmeth that his Faith is counted for Righteousness. That is, he is justified in the way and manner before declared. But there is a difference about the Sense of these words. Some say, the meaning of them is, that Faith as an Act, a Grace, a Duty or Work of ours, is so imputed. Others say, that it is Faith as it apprehends Christ and his Righteousness, which is properly imputed unto us, that is intended. So Faith they say justifieth, or is counted for Righteousness relatively, not properly, with respect unto its object; and so acknowledge a Trope in the words. And this is fiercely opposed, as though they denied the express words of the Scripture, when yet they do but interpret this expression once only used, by many others, wherein the same thing is declared. But those who are for the first sense, do all affirm that Faith here is to be taken as including Obedience or Works, either as the form and essence of it, or as such necessary concomitants as have the same influence with it into our Justification, or are in the same manner the condition of it. But as herein they admit also of a Trope in the words which they so fiercely blame in others, so they give this sense of the whole, unto him that worketh not, but believeth in him that justifieth the ungodly, his Faith and Works are counted to him for Righteousness; which is not only to deny what the Apostle affirms, but to assign unto him a plain contradiction.