N00347:59
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. It follows to make it to appear, that it is impossible that our Justification should flow from our legal Righteousness: and in order to the making out of this assertion, we may for an introduction, first enquire what is meant by our Righteousness of the Law, and then what it is for our Justification to flow from this Righteousness; And here,
1. Our own Righteousness of the Law intends anything that is done by us, what her it spring from a principle of common Morality, or be performed by the virtue of special inherent sanctifying grace: Paul in this Text hath an eye unto both these, for we have him renouncing of the former in vers. 7. and undervaluing of the latter, in ver. 8. whatsoever personal act or work of Obedience we do, whether in our state of unregeneracy or of Regeneration, as it is a work, and bears a respect unto the Law of God, is called our Righteousness, in opposition to the Righteousness of Christ.
1. Our own Righteousness of the Law intends anything that is done by us, what her it spring from a principle of common Morality, or be performed by the vertue of special inherent sanctifying grace: Paul in this Text hath an eye unto both these, for we have him renouncing of the former in vers. 7. and undervaluing of the latter, in ver. 8. whatsoever personal act or work of Obedience we do, whether in our state of unregeneracy or of Regeneration, as it is a work, and bears a respect unto the Law of God, is called our Righteousness, in opposition to the Righteousness of Christ.
2. For our Justification to flow from this, is as much as that this should be the matter of our Justification; or that for, and in respect of which the Judge is to pass a Sentence upon us according to the tenor of the Law; or that this should be the ground and reason of the Sentence which he passeth upon us: for otherwise, there is no scruple to be made but that every true Believer doth sincerely desire to be found in a Righteousness which is according to the Law of God, and to be full of good works: he would be sanctified throughout, and perfectly conformed to Gods