The works of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emmanuel College in Cambridge, now preacher…The vvorks of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge, now preacher…

Quest. 1 What is meant by this Justification by faith alone?

Answ. That I may be understood by the meanest. By this justification, I mean, That act of Gods grace, whereby through the imputation of our sins to Christ, and Christs righteousness unto us, God the father doth pronounce us righteous in his sight. This is justification. And this is done by the Righteousness, and the Blood of Christ only, as the Material and Meritorious cause; 'Tis done only by Faith as the Instrumental cause, so we are said to be justified by Faith alone. Yet not so, as that a man is justified by faith which hath no works; for all justifying faith is full of works: but these works do not come into our justification: As now, a mans servants, they have him to bed; Servants have their Master and Mistress to bed, tend upon them to bed; but they do not go into the bed with ⟨p. 28⟩them: They are with them again in the morning, they bring them water and necessary things, but they do not come to bed to them. Now (says Luther) Justification is that bed, where Christ and a Believing soul lies: & though good works, Duties, and Prayers tend upon Christ, and where ever there is faith, there are these; yet this bed of Justification is kept free, and entire, and only for the Righteousness of Jesus Christ; and they come not to bed, they come not into this work. Or if you will thus: Ye know, that when an Israelite was stung in the wilderness, by a fiery biting serpent, he was then to look upon the Brazen serpent; and by the beholding of the Brazen-serpent he was cured; the looking of his eyes cured him. He had other members, there was the Arms, and the Legs, and other members that did accompany the Eyes; but though there were other members that did accompany the Eyes, it was the seeing of the Eyes that did cure the person. And so, though works do accompany faith; and there is no saving, justifying faith, but works accompany it; yet it is only the beholding of this Brazen-serpent by the eye of faith, that does cure the soul as to the point of Justification. When Abraham went up into the mountain to offer up his son, he spake to his servants to stay below,¹