The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

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.

Their second mistake was as unto the Righteousness it self, whereon a Man might be justified before God. For this they judged was to be their own Righteousness. Chap. 10.3. Their own Personal Righteousness consisting in their own Duties of Obedience, they looked on as the only Righteousness, whereon they might be justified before God. This therefore they went about to establish as the Pharisees did.