The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

This is the Faith of men when they come to dye, and those who are exercised with Temptations whilst they live. Some are hardened in sin, and endeavour to leave this World without thoughts of another. Some are stupidly ignorant, who neither know nor consider what it is to appear in the presence of God, and to be judged by him. Some are seduced to place their confidence in merits, pardons, indulgences, and future suffrages for the dead. But such as are acquainted with God and themselves in any spiritual manner, who take a view of the time that is past, and approaching Eternity, into which they must enter by the Judgment seat of God, however they may have thought, talked and disputed about their own works and Obedience, looking on Christ and his Righteousness only to make up some small defects in themselves, will come at last unto an universal Renunciation of what they have been and are, and betake themselves unto Christ alone for Righteousness or Salvation. And in the whole ensuing Discourse I shall as little as is possible immix my self in any curious Scholastical disputes. This is the substance of what is pleaded for, that men should renounce all confidence in themselves, and every thing that may give countenance thereunto; betaking themselves unto the Grace of God by Christ alone, for Righteousness and Salvation. This God designeth in the Gospel, 1 Cor. 1.29, 30, 31. and herein whatever difficulties we may meet withal in the Explication of some Propositions and Terms that belong unto the Doctrine of Justification, about which men have various conceptions, I doubt not of the internal concurrent suffrage of them who know any thing as they ought of God and themselves.

This is the Faith of men when they come to dye, and those who are exercised with Temptations whilst they live. Some are hardened in sin, and endeavour to leave this World without thoughts of another. Some are stupidly ignorant, who neither know nor consider what it is to appear in the presence of God, and to be judged by him. Some are seduced to place their confidence in merits, pardons, indulgences, and future suffrages for the dead. But such as are acquainted with God and themselves in any spiritual manner, who take a view of the time that is past, and approaching Eternity, into which they must enter by the Judgment seat of God, however they may have thought, talked and disputed about their own works and Obedience, looking on Christ and his Righteousness only to make up some small defects in themselves, will come at last unto an universal Renuntiation of what they have been and are, and betake themselves unto Christ alone for Righteousness or Salvation. And in the whole ensuing Discourse I shall as little as is possible immix my self in any curious Scholastical disputes. This is the substance of what is pleaded for, that men should renounce all confidence in themselves, and every thing that may give countenance thereunto; betaking themselves unto the Grace of God by Christ alone, for Righteousness and Salvation. This God designeth in the Gospel,