A brief discourse of justification. Wherein this doctrine is plainly laid down according to…

There are too many that indulge themselves with a fond expectation, that there shall be some more remiss and easy rule of trial brought in at that day; because Jesus Christ is the Judg; but they woefully deceive themselves: God is of one mind, the Rule given to Man and under which he Covenanted, is a unchangeable Rule. There is indeed a way which infinite Wisdom hath found out, and made the discovery of, whereby a sinful Man may be made able to stand the dint of that Trial, and be justified in it; and this indeed is the great glory of the Gospel, that it hath made such a discovery as this is, even a way in which mercy may be agreed with Justice, in and by Jesus Christ: but there is no way to ⟨p. 126⟩avoid this Trial: the Law Book is one of those Books that must and will be opened in order to that solemn Process which shall be made in the day of Accounts, and there will be no waving of it.

There are too many that indulge themselves with a fond expectation, that there shall be some more remiss and easie rule of trial brought in at that day; because Jesus Christ is the Judg; but they wofully deceive themselves: God is of one mind, the Rule given to Man and under which he Covenanted, is a unchangeable Rule. There is indeed a way which infinite Wisdom hath found out, and made the discovery of, whereby a sinful Man may be made able to stand the dint of that Trial, and be justified in it; and this indeed is the great glory of the Gospel, that it hath made such a discovery as this is, even a way in which mercy may be agreed with Justice, in and by Jesus Christ: but there is no way to ⟨p. 126⟩avoid this Trial: the Law Book is one of those Books that must and will be opened in order to that solemn Process which shall be made in the day of Accounts, and there will be no waving of it.

5. Consider from hence, That you must have a Righteousness, and not only so, but such an one as will fully answer the Law too, if ever you hope to be justified at that day: It is a vain thing for any men to pretend to an hope, that they shall do well enough then, and yet never concern themselves about the getting of a Righteousness that may then stand to answer for them: there are many that plead God is merciful, and they feed themselves up with fond hopes, that he will have pity upon and not reject the works of his hands, and this is all they have to comfort themselves with in the contemplation of the day of reckoning: but this is an empty Plea; Justice is one of his Attributes as well as mercy, and he will not be merciful any farther than as he can be just too: and further, remember, it is a Court of Judgment where you must stand, and a Bar of Justice at which you must plead; and if you be not found to have a righteous cause then, all the Pleas for Mercy which you can make will be too late: for the present indeed it is a precious day of Grace, and