Discourses on various important subjects, nearly concerning the great affair of the soul's eternal…

Some that have been aware of this have supposed that the influence or dependence might well be expressed by Faith's being the Instrument of our Justification; which has been misunderstood, and injuriously represented, and ridiculed by those that have denied the Doctrine of Justification by Faith alone, as tho' they had supposed that Faith was used as an Instrument in the Hand of God, whereby he performed, and brought to pass that Act of his, viz. Approving and Justifying the Believer: Whereas it was not intended that Faith was the Instrument wherewith God justifies, but the Instrument wherewith we receive Justification; not the Instrument where with the justifier acts in Justifying, but wherewith the receiver of Justification acts in accepting Justification. But yet it must be owned that this is an obscure way of Speaking, and there must certainly be some impropriety in calling of it an Instrument wherewith we receive or accept Justification; for the very Persons that thus explain the Matter speak ⟨p. 10⟩of Faith as being the Reception or Acceptance it self; and if so how can it be the Instrument of Reception or Acceptance? Certainly there is difference between the Act and the Instrument. And besides by their own Descriptions of Faith, Christ the Mediator, by whom, and his Righteousness, by which we are justified, is more directly the Object of this Acceptance, and Justification which is the Benefit arising therefrom, more indirectly: and therefore if Faith be an Instrument, 'tis more properly the Instrument by which we receive Christ, than the Instrument by which we receive Justification.

Some that have been aware of this have supposed that the influence or dependance might well be expressed by Faith's being the Instrument of our Justification; which has been misunderstood, and injuriously represented, and ridiculed by those that have denied the Doctrine of Justification by Faith alone, as tho' they had supposed that Faith was used as an Instrument in the Hand of God, whereby he performed, and brought to pass that Act of his, viz. Approving and Justifying the Believer: Whereas it was not intended that Faith was the Instrument wherewith God justifies, but the Instrument wherewith we receive Justification; not the Instrument where with the justifier acts in Justifying, but wherewith the receiver of Justification acts in accepting Justification. But yet it must be own'd that this is an obscure way of Speaking, and there must certainly be some impropriety in calling of it an Instrument wherewith we receive or accept Justification; for the very Persons that thus explain the Matter speak