N00347:224
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.
2. When we do duty without any the least ⟨p. 148⟩aim to procure our Justification by it, but one•• as a practical Testimony of our thankfulness unto God for Jesus Christ and his righteousness which is given us for our Justification; when we say after all according to our Saviours direction, Luk. 17. 10. we are unprofitable servants, and have done but our duty; resolving in out own hearts that this that we have done cannot be the procuring cause of Gods favour, or of Christs application of himself to us and therefore we lay all such thoughts aside: no• is it our motive to drive us to duty, that so we may obtain it; vain men are ready to think that Christ hath more reason to look towards them, and love them, better than others: because they do more for him, and are more careful in serving of him: but an humble soul, being fully satisfied that he can never do any thing that can oblige God to him, any further than he will mercifully accept of him, would fain order his life and conversation always after such a manner, as that he may give a clear testimony of his cordial gratitude to God, and therefore all his own Obedience is only the Sacrifice of praise.
3. When our best duties drive us to Christ for his Righteousness; those very things where in we give the clearest evidence to the world ⟨p. 149⟩of our being the Servants of God, yea and wherein we have the fullest witness in our own consciences to our sincerity, yet these tell us, and we •ead in and from them, that except Christ spread his skirt over us, and sprinkle our Sacrifices with the blood, they will condemn us; there are many who when their sins stare them in the face, and the apprehension of the wrath of God which is denounced against them, puts them into a fright, and they are afraid least vengeance should overtake them, are now driven with great amazement to call upon Christ, and implore his pardon; but if they can keep clear of notoriously scandalous and conscience wasting sins, they are little apprehensive of their need of the blood of sprinkling to be applied to them, and their duties: but when a man is truly broken off from his own Righteousness, his duties will drive him as fast to Christ, for the imputation of his Righteousness, as the other mans sins will do, so it was with Paul in our Text: and thus of the first direction: