N00347:162
A brief discourse of justification. Wherein this doctrine is plainly laid down according to…
A brief discourse of justification. Wherein this doctrine is plainly laid down according to the Scriptures. : As it was delivered in several sermons on this subject. / By Samuel Willard, teacher of a church in Boston. ; [Ten lines of quotations]
Boston: printed by S for Samuel Phillips, 1686
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
But still this is not all that is requisite, nay there may be all this, yet not a saving faith that therefore which is the proper distinguishing note of this faith, in that upon all […] the soul is carried forth to close with, and cast it self upon Christ as he is revealed in the promise. I am not here speaking of the strength by which this is done, but only […] the act it self; and to make the thing more distinct, let me propose these things to consideration.
But still this is not all that is requisite, nay there may be all this, yet not a saving faith that therefore which is the proper distinguishing note of this faith, in that upon all 〈…〉 the soul is carried forth to close with, and cast it self upon Christ as he is revealed in the promise. I am not here speaking of the strength by which this is done, but only 〈…〉 the act it self; and to make the thing more distinct, let me propose these things to consideration.
1. That it is not the promise it self, but that which is promised in it, which is the object of Justifying Faith. The promise it self is not our Justification, but it is a medium to it, or it brings something along with it, that is by it offered unto us, which is able to justify us, and that is Christ and his Righteousness: ⟨p. 89⟩It therefore contains in it a revelation of that great mystery of Salvation by Jesus Christ. The promise indeed makes offer to the children of Men of a pardon of sin, and of reconciliation unto God; but this is not all, but together with such an offer made, it exhibits the way by which, and the Author by whom it is to be enjoyed, and that is no other but Jesus Christ: so that the promise in the proper notion of it, is nothing else at an instrument of bringing Jesus Christ to the Soul, and helping it to its closing in with him.
1. That it is not the promise it self, but that which is promised in it, which is the object of Justifying Faith. The promise it self is not our Justification, but it is a medium to it, or it brings something along with it, that is by it offered unto us, which is able to justifie us, and that is Christ and his Righteousness: