The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

4. There is a gift of Righteousness required unto our Justification, which all must receive, who are to be justified. And all are justified who do receive it; for they that receive it shall reign in life by Jesus Christ. And hence it follows, (1.) That the Righteousness whereby we are justified before God, can be nothing of our own, nothing inherent in us, nothing performed by us. For it is that which is freely given us, and this donation is by imputation: Blessed is the Man unto whom the Lord imputeth Righteousness, Chap. 4.6. And by Faith we receive what is so given and imputed, and otherwise we contribute nothing unto our participation of it. This it is to be justified in the sense of the Apostle, (2.) It is such a Righteousness as gives right and title unto eternal life. For they that receive it, shall reign in life. Wherefore it cannot consist in the pardon of sin alone. For (1.) the pardon of sin can in no tolerable sense be called the gift of Righteousness. Pardon of sin is one thing, and Righteousness another. (2.) Pardon of sin doth not give right and title unto eternal life. It is true, he whose sins are pardoned shall inherit eternal life; but not merely by virtue of that pardon, but through the imputation of Righteousness which doth inseparably accompany it, and is the ground of it.

4. There is a gift of Righteousness required unto our Justification, which all must receive, who are to be justified. And all are justified who do receive it; for they that receive it shall reign in life by Jesus Christ. And hence it follows, (1.) That the Righteousness whereby we are justified before God, can be nothing of our own, nothing inherent in us, nothing performed by us. For it is that which is freely given us, and this donation is by imputation: Blessed is the Man unto whom the Lord imputeth Righteousness, Chap. 4.6. And by Faith we receive what is so given and imputed, and otherwise we contribute nothing unto our participation of it. This it is to be justified in the sense of the Apostle, (2.) It is such a Righteousness as gives right and title unto eternal life. For they that receive it, shall reign in life. Wherefore it cannot consist in the pardon of sin alone. For (1.) the pardon of sin can in no tolerable sense be called the gift of Righteousness. Pardon of sin is one thing, and Righteousness another. (2.) Pardon of sin doth not give right and title unto eternal life. It is true, he whose sins are pardoned shall inherit eternal life; but not meerly by vertue of that pardon, but through the imputation of Righteousness which doth inseparably accompany it, and is the ground of it.