N29414:464
A short catechism familiarly teaching the knowledge of God, and of our selves. First…A short catechism familiarly teaching the knowledg of God, and of our selves. First…
A short catechism familiarly teaching the knowledge of God, and of our selves. First composed, and improved, for the private instruction of the younger sort in Cambridge in New-England. / By Thomas Shepard late faithful Pastor of the Church of Christ there. ; And now published at the earnest desire of sundry well-affected persons. ; Together with the doctrine of conviction of sin, and righteousness, and judgment. Delivered in divers sermons upon John 16. 8, 9, 10, 11. and thence summarily drawn into quest: and answers by the same author. ; [Three lines from Peter]A short catechism familiarly teaching the knowledg of God, and of our selves. First composed, and improved, for the private instruction of the younger sort in Cambridg in New-England. / By Thomas Shepard late faithfull Pastour of the Church of Christ there. ; And now published at the earnest desire of sundry well-affected persons. ; Together with the doctrine of conviction of sin, and righteousness, and judgment. Delivered in divers sermons upon John 16. 8, 9, 10, 11. and thence summarily drawn into quest: and answers by the same authour. ; [Three lines from Peter]
printed by Samuel Green, 1654
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.
Quest. But are we not said to be justified by faith only declaratively, & in the court of our conscience only?
Answ. No; but really, for though Faith is not the matter of our justification, yet it is the instrument (or instrumental means of applying it) and therefore is before it, for if any should be really justified before Faith, then it might be said there is no condemnation to some of them that be out of Christ Jesus who walk not after the spirit, but after the flesh, but that is directly contrary to Rom. 8.1.
Answ. No; but really, for though Faith is not the matter of our justification, yet it is the instrument (or instrumentall means of aplying it) and therefore is before it, for if any should be really justified before Faith, then it might be said there is no condemnation to some of them that be out of Christ Jesus who walke not after the spirit, but after the flesh, but that is directly contrary to Rom. 8.1.
Quest. But what evil is there in this opinion to affirm that justification is before faith.
Quest. But what evill is there in this opinion to affirm that justification is before faith.