A53686:968
The Doctrine of Justification by Faith
The doctrine of justification by faith through the imputation of the righteousness of Christ, explained, confirmed, & vindicated by John Owen ...
London: printed for R. Boulter, 1677
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And if Righteousness before God, be to be obtained alone by Faith, and that in contradistinction unto all Works, which if a Man do them according unto the Law, he shall even live in them, then is it by Faith alone that we are justified before God, or nothing else, on our part, is required thereunto. And of what nature this Righteousness must be, is evident.
Again, if Faith and Works are opposed as contrary and inconsistent, when considered as the means of attaining Righteousness ⟨p. 493⟩or Justification before God, as plainly they are, then is it impossible we should be justified before God by them in the same sense way and manner. Wherefore when the Apostle James affirms, That a Man is justified by Works, and not by Faith only, he cannot intend our Justification before God, where it is impossible they should both concur. For not only are they declared inconsistent by the Apostle in this place, but it would introduce several sorts of Righteousness unto Justification, that are inconsistent and destructive of each other. This was the first mistake of the Jews, whence this miscarriage ensued; they sought not after Righteousness by Faith, but as it were by the Works of the Law.
Again, if Faith and Works are opposed as contrary and inconsistent, when considered as the means of attaining Righteousness ⟨p. 493⟩or Justification before God, as plainly they are, then is it impossible we should be justified before God by them in the same sense way and manner. Wherefore when the Apostle James affirms, That a Man is justified by Works, and not by Faith only, he cannot intend our Justification before God, where it is impossible they should both concur. For not only are they declared inconsistent by the Apostle in this place, but it would introduce several sorts of Righteousness unto Justification, that are inconsistent and destructive of each other. This was the first mistake of the Jews, whence this miscarriage insued; they sought not after Righteousness by Faith, but as it were by the Works of the Law.