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

7. Consider, That it is not sufficient that there is such a Righteousness of Christ, and that the report of it hath been made unto you, and you have heard of it, except you have also made it yours by believing on him; there are thousands in the world who have heard this report, and possibly have given a literal assent, and historical credit to the truth of it, who shall yet notwithstanding go for ever without ⟨p. 129⟩the benefit of it; and that because they did not apprehend and close in with it by a living faith, they did not throw themselves upon it, and renouncing every other object of trust, place their whole confidence in […]: It is not the Righteousness of Christ talked of, or highly commended, but savingly believed in, that will stand men in any stead, and do them a kindness indeed, There is no doubt but the Devils do believe the Truth of the Gospel, they confessed Christ when he was on Earth, to be the Son of God; but this profits them not; this general faith is the undoing of multitudes: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, he died to satisfy Divine Justice for such, and therefore they hope that they shall escape condemnation, and be admitted into his favour, and be justified upon this mere account, but yet they never had the impressions of a saving work of grace wrought upon their Souls, whereby they were brought over to cast themselves, upon him by a lively faith, or were enabled to betake themselves to him alone, in an utter renunciation of every other trust of their Souls, they never embraced his Righteousness, and that only to be their security against the thundering menaces of the Law; and so all their hopes, how Strong and satisfying ⟨p. 130⟩soever they may seem to be, and whatever comfort and content they may take in them, do prove but as the spiders web; for God hath firmly restrained Gospel Salvation to believing, John 3. 36. He that believes on the Son of God, hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son, shall never see life.

7. Consider, That it is not sufficient that there is such a Righteousness of Christ, and that the report of it hath been made unto you, and you have heard of it, except you have also made it yours by believing on him; there are thousands in the world who have heard this report, and possibly have given a literal assent, and historical credit to the truth of it, who shall yet notwithstanding go for ever without