The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

And it is marvellous unto me, how Men can break through the fence that he hath made about the grace of God, and obedience of Christ in the work of our Justification before God, to introduce their our own Works of Obedience, and to find a place for them therein. But the design of Paul ⟨p. 477⟩and some Men in declaring this point of our Justification before God, seems to be very opposite and contrary. His whole discourse is concerning the Grace of God, the Death, Blood, and Obedience of Christ, as if he could never sufficiently satisfy himself in the setting out, and declaration of them, without the least mention of any works or duties of our own, or the least intimation of any use that they are of herein. But all their pleas are for their own works and duties; and they have invented as many terms to set them out by, as, the Holy Ghost hath used for the expression and declaration of the Grace of God. Instead of the words of Wisdom before mentioned, which the Holy Ghost hath taught, wherewith he fills up his discourse, theirs are filled with conditions, preparatory dispositions, merits, causes, and I know not what trappings for our own works. For my part I shall choose rather to learn of him, and accommodate my conceptions and expressions of Gospel Mysteries, and of this, in especial, concerning our Justification, unto his who cannot deceive me; than trust to any other conduct, how specious soever its pretences may be.

And it is marvellous unto me, how Men can break through the fence that he hath made about the grace of God, and obedience of Christ in the work of our Justification before God, to introduce their our own Works of Obedience, and to find a place for them therein. But the design of Paul ⟨p. 477⟩and some Men in declaring this point of our Justification before God, seems to be very opposite and contrary. His whole discourse is concerning the Grace of God, the Death, Blood, and Obedience of Christ, as if he could never sufficiently satisfie himself in the setting out, and declaration of them, without the least mention of any works or duties of our own, or the least intimation of any use that they are of herein. But all their pleas are for their own works and duties; and they have invented as many terms to set them out by, as, the Holy Ghost hath used for the expression and declaration of the Grace of God. Instead of the words of Wisdom before mentioned, which the Holy Ghost hath taught, wherewith he fills up his discourse, theirs are filled with conditions, preparatory dispositions, merits, causes, and I know not what trappings for our own works. For my part I shall chuse rather to learn of him, and accommodate my conceptions and expressions of Gospel Mysteries, and of this, in especial, concerning our Justification, unto his who cannot deceive me; than trust to any other conduct, how specious soever its pretences may be.