The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

Wherefore, the plain design of the Apostle is to declare, that not only Faith, and the Righteousness of it, and a Righteousness of our own by Works are inconsistent, that is, as unto our Justification before God; but also that the intermixture of our own Works, in seeking after Righteousness, as the means thereof doth wholly divert us from the acceptance of, or submission unto the Righteousness of God. For the Righteousness which is of Faith, is not our own, it is the Righteousness of God, that which he imputes unto us. But the Righteousness of Works is our own, that which is wrought in us, and by us. And as Works have no aptitude nor meetness in themselves to attain or receive a Righteousness, which because it is not our own is imputed unto us, but are repugnant unto it, as that which will cast them down from their legal dignity of being our Righteousness: So Faith hath no aptitude nor meetness in it self, to be an Inherent Righteousness, or so to be esteemed, or as such to be imputed unto us, seeing its principal faculty and efficacy consists in fixing all the trust, confidence, and expectation of ⟨p. 495⟩the Soul, for Righteousness and acceptation with God, upon another.

Here was the ruin of those Jews; they judged it a better, a more probable, yea, a more righteous and holy way for them, constantly to endeavour after a Righteousness of their own by duties of obedience unto the Law of God, then to imagine that they could come to acceptance with God by Faith in another. For tell them, and such as they, what you please, if they have not a Righteousness of their own, that they can set upon its legs, and make to stand before God, the Law will not have its accomplishment, and so will condemn them.

Here was the ruine of those Jews; they judged it a better, a more probable, yea, a more righteous and holy way for them, constantly to indeavor after a Righteousness of their own by duties of obedience unto the Law of God, then to imagine that they could come to acceptance with God by Faith in another. For tell them, and such as they, what you please, if they have not a Righteousness of their own, that they can set upon its legs, and make to stand before God, the Law will not have its accomplishment, and so will condemn them.