T H E JUSTIFICATION O P E N E a Or, A Treatife grounded upon Gal. 2. ï I. 'Wherein the Orthodox Doftrine of Juftification by Faith ,& Imputa- tion of Chrift's Righteoufnefs, is clearly expounded, fo- lidly confirmed, & learnedly vindicated from the va- riousObje &ionsof its Adverfaries. Whereunto are fub- joined fome Arguments againft Univerfal Redemption. 'y that Faithful and Learned Servant of Jefus Chrifl Mr. JOHN B R o U N, foretimes Minifter of theGolpet at Wamfrey in Scotland. J'E R. z3.6. in His dayes J U D A H shall be faved , and Ifrael shall d;ell fafely : and this is His name whereby He shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUS°' NESS. (uliflc61tio ell Articulus fl,tntis & cadentis Eccle(iæ. LUTH. Prtntedin the Year, M. D C. X C
l T H E PREFACE TO TH E READ E R. T is the true wifdome of a Chriíhian to underftand aright and with a fpiritual eye to difcern the great difference between the Law and the Gofpel , the Covenant of Works and that of Grace, the Legal and Euangelical Juftilication , the ignorance whereof is the great Caufe of molt errours this day a- mong profefï'ed Chriffians. When our bleffed Saviour came into the world, he found flowing out of this bad foun- tain a multitude of Heretics in the Jewish Church , de- ceived by the Pharifees, blind Leaders of a' blind People, ereeting& eftablishing their our Righteoufnefs before the throne of God. And it is certain that our Lord Jefus Chrift was rejehed of the Jews, becaufe they could not believe their own;unrighteoufiiefs, miferie & condemna- tion by the Law, nor be made to feek in the . 2e iah his Sufferings & Satisfa&ion the true expiation of fins and a compleat Righteoufnefs, fufficient to eternal happinefs. Certainly they underftood not the promifes of the Pro- phets, efpecially that of Ifaiah Chap. LAIR. neither loo- ked they to the end of the Ceremonial oeconomie & Law * z which
THE PREFACE. which was to be abolished , z Cor. 3. 13. Of this Jaa daical errour we have a clear example in the Apoftle Paul, . before his converfion a Phari-fee, & by his great 1VMafters well inftruFted in the letter of the Law.. For he looking upon himfeif , and not underfianding the nature of the Law in its Spiritual meaning , was in his eiwn eyes no (in- ner, but a juft man, living , and havingaright to pretend a fentenceof J uftification before God upon the account of- his works according to the Law. But when it pleated God to reveal his Son to his foul, he could còunt all things but lefs for the excellency of the knowledge of Chrifl, and delire only to be found in him, not having his own Righte- oufnefs which is of the Law , but that which is through the Faith of thrift; the Righteoufnefs which is of God by Faith. Phil. 3.8, 9. And fo became a. great example of all true Converts & Believers , & his COnv.erffiön.a De- rronftration of this Euangelical Do&rine, That no Man is Juitified by his works, but by the Righteoufnefs of Chrift imputed & by Faith received & applyed. No doubt, Chriftian Reader, but this do&rine is the whole fcope of the fame Apollle in his.Epiffles to the Romans & Galatians.. For having proved both Jews and Gentiles to be all under fin, & fuppofìng confequently that by the works of the Law no flesh shall be juftified in the fight of God , he sheweth, that all ele&ed inners coming short of the glories of God, muff be jullified freely by his grace through the Redemption which is in. Jefus Chrifl whom God bath fet forth to be our Propitiation through faith in his blood, fo that all boafling may be excluded;. which cannot be, if a man could be juflified by his works. Yea the'Apoftle Chap. 4. gives a Demonftration of this doFtrine out of the examples of (Abraham & David, to whom after converfion , Righteoufnefs is imputed & fin pardoned.
THE PREFACE. pardoned by faith in the promife. In his Epifile to the' Galatians, he likewiíc preffeth this Do&rine againft the herefie of judaizing ivMinifters,who would have mingled the Law with the Gofpel , and rejects their fentence as another Gofpel worthy to be Anathematized, with every one who reacheth it, though even an Angel from Heaven; flnce he faith upon the matter , that Chrilt is dead in vain , as we fee Chap. I. 8, I I . Chap. I r . How happy were the Church in there dayes, if the D-o- &rine of Gofpel Juftification did continue pure , & could be propagated & tranfmitted to the following ages ! But it is too manifet that the Chriflian Church , by Heathe- nish & Jewish errours upon the one hand, & by Pelagian infufions on the other, bath loft a great deal of her primiti- ve finceritie & puritie. Certainly the Roman Superfti- tions, tending only to the eftablishing of humane Righte- oufnefs in Gods fight, are clear demonítrations of a corru- pted doctrine, yea of that Apoftacie of the latter times fo oft foretold by the Apoftle Paul. For we fee that Popery is wholly erected upon a Judaical & Pelagian Righteouíhefs, proceeding from the bitter root of the HeathenishFree -will, whereby the corruption of Nature is denyed, lin excufed, the faculties of Nature, as fuflicient to all good works, allerted;efpecially whenthey are fuftained by afu fJi'cientgra- ce given to all men for obtaining eternal happinefs. But this great errour, worthy of the Apoffles Anathema , was abominable in the eyes of our Proteftant Fathers : and the- refore the Doctrine of a contrary Gofpel- Juilification was the greateft reafon of feparation, cfpecially when they heard the trumpet from Heaven founding and crying, come out of Babel, my people, thatye be not partakers of her fins , and that ye receive not of her plagues. And herein we muff admire the wonderful providence of God, that the Prote- * 3 ftants>
THE PREFACE. ífants did aggree in this point of Juttification, even when their minds were diffra&ed about the Do&rive of the Lord's Supper : and it is known how careful the Lutherians are, even to this day , in following the Doftrine of their Mailer in this great Article. But alas! it is a fad & lamentable thing , that Arminians being fomented by the Kings of France & Spain as the im- mediate way to introduce Popery , faith Nilfon in his Hi- florie of Great Britainpag. i I 9. ) when they adopted the Pelagian grounds, did forfake the imputation of the Righ- teoufnefs of Chrift, becaufe they could not join this great myftery of the Gofpel with the opinions of Univerfal Gra- ce & Redemption, as appears in the writings of Epifco- Pius, Curcelleeus, Limburgh , and others, filled not on- ly with Arminian, but alto with wicked Socinian errours against the Divinity & Satisfa&ion of our Saviour Jefus Chrif}. And how could it be thought, that thofe books should have been accepted & approved by Reformed Divi- nes & Churches, as we fee they are in our neighbouring Kingdom of England? O what errours in that Nation are oblerved & complained of before by Honorius Reggius in his book de Statu Ecclefix Britannic se , errours tending even to the ruine of the Proteflant Caufe ! And what shall we fay of the latter books, written by Bull, Parker, Sher- lock, and others, againfi the principles of Reformation , ex- prefTed hitherto with great agreement in all the Confeflions of Reformed Churches. Yea even thofe who were purer in appearance, prefling the moral duties & prahical dotri- ne of pietie (I mean the followers of that famous Mini- fter Mr. Richard Baxter) did corrupt the true Do&rive of Juflification, becaufe they adopted Univerfal Grace and Redemption. For fufpending finch an Univerfal Redem- ption as Conditional, upon the vertue of Faith, taught, that
THE PREFACE. that,uftification is depending upon this vertue, and con - fequently that a nian by Faith , as a vertue, melt be juftified: and becaufe Repentance should be acknowledged as a Con- dition of eternal happinefs, beide the vertue of Faith, there- fore they imagine that juftification may be fufpended even upon Repentance; fo that we mutt believe, that,uftifica- tion is not only by Faith, but alfo by Repentance. But, O my Brethren , ye are out of the way , ye have left your firft love! Remember therefore from whence ye are fallen, and repent, and do the firft works ! Remember the former dayes and years ! Remember your former Divines at the beginning of the Reformation , f uel, Whitaker°r, T er kins, and other glorious liars once shining in your Coun- trey ! Remember the Apologie of your Church againie that harlot of Rome, written by that molt excellent Divi- ne J.5uel B. of Salisbury, 8: approved of your Fathers!R.c- memberyour Confeflion aggreeing with all the Confeflìons of Reformed Churches, and confirmed in the dayes cif ,Eli /abeth t_dn. i 562. by a Synodical decree ; yea by the Parliament of yourKingdome! Remember the former ages, when the Doctrine of 4n felwe r Bradwardine Archb; of Canterbury againft Pel; gianifine founded & obtained in your Churches ! Yea Bradwardine his book de Caufa 'Dei oppofed to the Caufe of men defended by Pelagianiime, printed firft in this age L...471.1616. in the dayes of King Ja - naes, who himfelf was a great Adverfarie to Arminian te- nets, by the care and fludie of George e... 4bboth a worthy fuc- ceffour of that great Divine, becaufe he loved the Doctrine of Grace ,, and could not endure tl2t Arminian errours should infeee the Church of England, to that time depen- ding onely upon the grace of our Saviour JefùsChrift. But what great iniquitie is it now to negleet this grace, and, leaking the principles of Proteftant Religion, torely upon
THE PREFACE. upon, and truft to our own works for Salvation ? My Bre- thren, how think ye to mingle the Law with the Gofpel? the Righteoufnefs of Chrilt with your own? your faith, de- pending alone upon your Saviour, with your works? What will ye fay , when you wil dye , & this weighty cafe of Con - .fcience comes to be refolved, how shall my poor, guiltie fnful Soul be juftified beforea Righteous God? How can ye thus prepare the way to return,and lead your followers back again unto Babylon? What fellowship hash Righteoufnefs with unrighteoufnefs? or whatcommunion bath light with darknefs? Yet glory be to God in the higheft, who bath referved by his grace many Protefiant and Learned Divines againft all thefe and the like errours. And hence we have the lear- ned Labours of theworthy J. B u R G E S, J. O W E N. A. P I T C A I R N and other eminent Divines, worthy to be remembered in all ages. And to thofe great Do &ours we may very warrantably add the worthy Author of the follow - ing Treatife Mr. JOHN B R o U N, whofe praife liv's de- fervedly in the Churches, and whofe light did for a confide- rabic fpace shine here in our Low- countreys, when through the iniquitie of the times, he was becaufe of his zeal , pie - tie, faithfulnefs and good Confcience obliged to leave his native Land. Yet was he not idle : for while he was here he wrote , with a great deal of wifdom, againft the Philofo- phers of this time, who would fubjea the Scriptures to Philofophie , fetting up humane Reafon for a Rule of Scripture- Interpretations. Moreover, he was known in our Churches by his Books of the Perpetual Morali- tie of the Sabbath , written with a great efhcacie of Ar- guments , and approved by Fr. Spanheym , that worthy and mofl famous Divine of our age ; befides what o- ther Treatifes he wrote in English. But we have he- re
THE i R LI F f L V. LJ . re his work of Juttification as a Pofthumus , full of Wifdom , Doctrine and Pietie.' The Author had com- mitted the care of it to his very intimate and dear ac- quaintance, the Reverend and Learned Mr. J A Ni E S K o E L M A N, who, while he was alive, had the care of it at the prefs : but before the work was perfected, he was called home to his Matters joy , after he had faithfully ferved God in his generation. And I being now defi- red to prefix the accuftomed Cerernonie of an Epiffle to this excellent book of Mr. JOHN B iz o v N, I under- took it molt cheerfully with all my heart. For I muff give Teftimony to the Reverend & Learned Author of this work, that he wifely expounds the myfteries of Ju- ftification according to the Do &rive of the Gofpel , & the principles oft he Reformed Churches : that he confirms the expounded Marine with efficacious arguments able to ftop the mouths of all Adverfaries; that he prudently clifi'o1- ves all their vain oppofitions ; that he shows himfelf a true Chriftian .Minifler, and a Scribe well infrucled by the Holy Spirit unto the Kingdom of God. And there- fore this excellent book was worthy to be printed, to be efeemed and loved amongtt the beft Treatifes upon this great and weighty Doctrine of Juftification. I need fay no more, the work will fpeak for it felf, and the Judicious Readers oun experience will teftifie that it is written in the Demonflration of the Spirit & Power, profitable for Do- &rine, Reproof , Corre&ion , Inítruaion in Righ- teoufnefs and Confolation of penitent fouls. I pray the God of all grace, that he would give the Readers the Spi- rit of Wifdom and of a found mind , that having, the eyes of their underftandings enlightened, they may know what are the great myfteries of Redemption, and may be found in the Faith in order to this fundamental point of * * ju-
THE ¶REF.0 E. Juffification here expounded and vindicated , with this full perfuafion of mind that the Reformed profe4iion is the true way of Salvation , able to fave a (inner eternally, accor- ding to the Covenant of Grace revealed in the Gofpel. MELCHIOR LEYDECKER. S. S. Th. D. Prof. Dabam tiltraj. a Apr. a 6gß, Atque hxc quidem ego Britonum Sermone, ut potui. Si quid commie tam eft culpæ adverfus lingua genium , id condonandum Belga; eft. Ca- nari & imitati exterorum linguam , eruditis haud vulgarem , fatis erat. Interim G Latino Sermone uti licuiffer, pluribus Do6trinam Eccle(;x Re- formatæ de Gratia & Juf}ificatione explicuifiem, ut forte horum animurn ntoverem , qui prima Principia iplus Euangelii á Paulo ad Romanos, ad' Galatas,adEphefios demoni }rata neglexerunt,ac deferucrunt.Nuncfuticiat ex Confeßione Anglicana quofdam Articulas notaffe, in quos digitum Prx- fatione intendebam , uti habentur in Corpore & Syntagrnate Confeffionuns fadei , qua in diver f s Regnis & Netionibus , Ecclef arurn nonnine fuerztnt Au- thentic8 edite : Hxe enim ibi medium habet locum , quod cum exteris accurate conveniret. Utinam tali haberetur hodie venerazione, quali fuit habita antiquitus, quando decretis Publicis , Politicis & Ecclelaflicis fuit fancita & roborata ! Sic ergò habent Articuli , quos in Anglicurn Sermonem verlos exhibemus. f - r-,,...- - , 8
X. Of Free -will. This is the condition of man after Adams fall , that by his own Power; and good works , be cannot convert , and prepare hinl fel f to Faith , and calling upon God. Wherefore without the grace of God , which is by Chrift preventing us , that we may will , and to operating , while we will for doe- ing works, of Pietie, which are acceptable , and well pleating to God, we can doe nothing. X I. Of Mans Juftification. IÇee arc only reputed Righteous before God , for the merit of our Lord and Saviour ye fus Chrift by Faith , not for our works and merits. For which cattle the Doctrine of our being 3uflified by Faith alone, is moff whol fo- rne, and full of con folation, as it is explained in the Homilse about mans ytt. ffi jication, at more length. X I I. Of Good Works. Good works, which are the fruits of Faith, and follow the uftified, although they `cannot expiat our fns , or endure the feverity of Divine yaRice;. Yet they are pleaing, and accepted'by God in Chrift and neceßarily flat" from a true and lively Faith; So that plainly by them a vive faith can be known, as tree can be judged by it's fruit. X III. Of works before Juftification. Works which are done before the Grace of aril' , and the influence of his Spirit, fince they do not proceed from the Faith of yefits Chrift , are not at all acceptable to God ; neither doe they merit the grace , which many call congruous. Yea , becaufe they are not done according to Gods will and com- mand, we doubt not , but they have the nature of fin. X V I I. Of Predefcination , and EIealon. Predeftination to life, is the eternal purpofe of God , whereby He , before the fetling of the foundations of the world , by his Counfel hid indeed as to us, Immutably decreed , thofe whom he had cho fen in Chri out of man- kind should be delivered from the cur fe and deftruaion, and (as veffels made to honour ) brought to eternal Salvation by Chrift. Hence thofe who are gifted with this notable favour of God , are called in due time, according to his purpofe His own Spirit working, they obey by Graces call , are yufti- fed freely, are Adopted to be the foes of God, and made conforme ro the z I made
Image of Ns only begotten Son 7efus Chyift , they walk. holily in good works , and in end, by the mercy of God , they come to eternal happinefi. As the pious confideration of our Predeftination , and Election in Chrift is fweet, pleafant , and full of ineffable confolation to the truely Godly , and to thofe, who find in themfelves the efcacie of the Spirit of Cbrift, mortifying the deeds of the flesh, and members, which yet are upon the earth, and by force drawing the mind to things above , both because it does much efiablish, and confirme our Faith of obtaining eternal Salvation , as al fo becaufe it vehemently kindles our love toward our good : so it is a very deftruclive precipice to curious and carnal men, and who are deftitute of the Spirit of Chrift, to have alwayes the fentence of Gods Predeflination pro - pofed to their view , whereby the Devil either preffes them to defpair, or into equally pernicious fecuriry of a molt impure life. Thereafter , the Divine Pro - mifes molt be fo imbraced, as they are generally propofed to us in the holy Scriptures, and the will of God, which we have exprefly revealed in Gods worst, to be followed by us in our actions. Atque hi quidem Punt Ecclefix Anglicanx de Gratia & yufti ficatlone Articuli, convenientes unique cum aliarum Eccle(i arum, præfextitn Eccle- ia Scoticanx doftrina , uti ex hujus Confeífione Art. III. VIII. XII; XIII. manifeftum eft.
Pag. x T H E L IF E OF JUST IFICATION, Through faith , cleared , from Gal, 3: i 1. For the Juft fhill live by faith. OH AP T. I. The Introduhion; & the text (the ground of this following difcourfe) opened-up. AM.. "' He Dotrine of luffifcation cannot but be acknow- Tull i ledged by all , whofe thoughts are taken up about art intereft in everlafting felicity, -to be of great concern- ment ; &debates or Controverfies about the fame can- - not be efleemed vaine & fruitlefs Digladiations , c&. Difputes about a thing of naught; feing in this lyeti' the Ground of all our Hope, peace, & Eternal Sal - .,,,, vation; & a Miftake or Errour , as to the Theorie in this matter, followed with an anfwerable & correfponding practice, (I mea- ne asto what toucheth the heart & Subftance of this Divine Myftery) may, yea muff of neceflity, prove not only dangerous to Souls; but even inevi- tably deftru &ive. Wherefore it cannot be juftly accounted blame worthy, that Churches & particular perfons , who would be faithful (& fo accoun- ted) unto the grand- interefts of Souls , contend, with alle earneftnefs, for the faith once delivered to the Saints, in this particular; this being the true Bafis of all Religion, & of Chriftianity; without which there can be no accel's to, nor Communion with, God; No peace with God, nor true A peace
The Introduction. C x A P. I. peace in owr own Confcìences ; no life of Comfort here , nor true hope of Salvation for ever here-after ; No change of State , nor laving change of' life & converfation; in a word , no life of Grace here, nor of Glory here- after : And what then mutt follow upon the corrupting of this Truth , & u- pon Erroneous Apprehenfions & practices herein , is aboundantly obvious to all fuch as have not finned away all fenfe & conítderation , in thefe matters. Wherefore it is no wonder that Satan hath , in all ages , laboured by one Inftrument 'or other ,upon one occaliön'or other and under one pretext, . or other to corrupt the pure-ftrear es of this wholefome Fountaine of Truth, in one Meafure or other , in one particular or other; & that by fuch Me- diums & Arguments as he knew would be tuoft taking , & fecal rnoft plau- fible, at there Several times , & upon thefe Several occafions. What way & how far the corruption of this Truth was advanced, in the Antichriflian Church is yet known; & what ground., their errour in this gave unto fuch , as began to be enlightened in the knowledge of the Truth , to feparate from them & to appear againt them , is mantfeftb and what Eflaies the Devil made , about the beginning of Reformation , or shortly after , to dar- ken this Truth , by Queflions & Difputes, even among Inch as hold the Truth faft, as to the maine , and what fince, by Several New Opinions, or new Modes and Methods (as they were called , and given out to be vented , andimproven by Several Artifices, to feeming different Ends , he hath effeétuated , to the hardening of fóme, in" their Mifapprehenfìons ; & to the Corrupting"ofthe Hearts &Mindes of others ; and alto the Stagge- ring and Shaking of not a few , may be called to mindewith grief and for - row ; Not to mention the bold attempt , made by Socinians, to overturne the whole Grounds of Chriflian Religion ; and to take away at once all the pillars of Gofpel- juflifrcation. The devil began early , in the breaking up of the clear day of Chriflianity,, to darken this Sun , that the poor Church might for ever abide ;in darknefs ifthé Church , her Head and Husband had not provided a Remedie, and had not effectually difpelled theft: Cloudes : And he had no (mall advantage of the corrupt jewes, who had a zeal of God, but not according to know- led g , and had a very Specious pretext of crying up the Law, prefcribed by God himfelf , and of Obedience thereunto, and conftant obfervation there- ' of, Ulan points, to the prejudice of the Gofpel- truth in the matter of Ju- 'ffification, And though thefirít rife of this difference and debate was upon occafion of the Ceremonial Law, which was the difpenfation of the Grace of God, which the ancient Church was under, while under Tutors & Go -- vernours, and in her Non -age flare; and was never rightly obeyed , or Unproven ; but when it led them unto the promifed Meffìah, Chrift, the . end of that law, in a peculiar 'manner , the Subftance thereof, and vai- led thereunder; and which they might haveeknown, was to be done away, when Chrift, the Subftance of all thofe shadówes, cause in to the world,, in the due time appointed and foretold; and which contrare to its very Nature & End , to the many prophecies of old,, & to the fignal difpenfa- rions:
C i A P. L The Thtrodatiof. 3 tionsof God, giving clear fignificationsof his mind, topching the evani- shing of thefe shadowes , the /outer , principled with falfe Conceptions about that Law , & with prejudices against the truth of the Gofpel , and animated and encouraged by falfe Teachers , raifed up of Satan, to corrupt the DoEtrine of the Grace of God , did ftrenuoufly contend for the confiant Obfervatien thereof , either Solely , as a Sufficient ground of their Juftification ; or in conjunetion with the Gofpel : Yet , be- caufe thistookalongl' with it, the obfervation of all that Law, which God had prefcribed of old , as the only ground , in their miftaken apprehenfion, of their Juflification , & acceptance with God; therefore we finde the A- pofile Paul ( who was efpecially flirred up, & immediatly infpired of the Spirit, to vindicat the Gofpel -way of juttification from this corruption; after he had been fingularly fitted thereunto , by being in fo fignal a manner brought to embrace this Truth , ( who was formerly fo zealous for the Law, & againft the Gofpel in all points) profecuring the controverfie to the full; & not only handling it in reference to theimnaediat Rife & occafion thereof; but in reference to that alto, where -unto of neceffity it muff have come, & where it mutt have landed , at length. And though there have been few , fince thofe ilayes, & none at pre - fent , who will contend for the Obfervation of the ceremonial Law , in the fenfe, & for Ends , urged by the jerver, & jewifh falfe A potties , in the pri- mitive times ; yet we mutt not think , that therefore all the DoElrine of the Apoflle hereanent is if no ufe to us. Many debates & difcourfes had the Apoflle, betide what we have recorded of him in Scripture ; & to think, that his Difputes & Difcourfes, in his Epifiles, concerning Juflification, are of no more concernment to us , as to the queftion aboutluflification, becaufe none now'adaies, plead for juflification by the obfervation of the ceremonial Law, as did the jewes, againft whom Paul Difputed , is, in my judgment, no fmall imputation upon the Spirit of the Lord, infpi- reing the Apofile to write thefe Epifiles, & putting them into our Ca- non: and of this fuch, in my apprehenfion mutt be guilty, who think to wave all the Apofiles Difcourfes, in this matter, with this , that he is only to be underftood, as fpeaking & Difputing againft fuch, as cried- up the confiant obfervation of the Ceremonial Law, as fuch. But , whatever circumfiantial differences , whether as to the Rife or occafion, or as to other things of the like Import, there may feem to be, or may really be, betwixt the Difpute, as then ftated, & as now profecuted ; Yet all the Difputes & Differences about the Maine & Effen- tials of juflification , as an about inferiour & fubordinat Qteftions, in fo far as they depend upon, or are influenced by the Maine, will be found to be, upon the matter, one & the fame, whether managed of late or of old : For different Termes & Expreffions may be, where the matter & thing fo expreffed , is really one & the fame. And therefore , as we are to obferve with thankfulnefs the Lords love to & care of His.Church, in providing & preferving, for the Life & Edification of the fame, in all ages, to the end of the world, fuch a neceffary Depofitum; & His won - A 2, derful
4 The Introduïfi"on; C 11 A P. L erful wîfdome in infpireing' flis Amanuenfer fo" to write, as not only to refell the Errour, in all its Circumftances & Branches , as it was then broached , to the darkning of Gofpel -light but fo alfo as the Truth might remaine fullycleared, confirmed & faifguard againfl all the affaults of Sa- tan , in all time coming , by whatever Inf(ruments, & under whatfom- ever new Notions , DiftinSi ons, Termes of art , Exprefíions and preten- ces the fame may come to be attacqned . So are we to acquaint our (elves well with the Doctrine of the Spirit of the Lord , in this matter ; to the end , we may be fully inftrudted in the Truth , & enabled, to maintaine the fame, & fortified againft all new Affaults ; or, rather , old Afraults renewed , howbeit mannaged by feemingly new weapons , & new filed Inftruments & Arguments. It would prove long & tedious, to handle at length ( & to touch in fhort, upon them , may teem to tome to be but fuperficiary work ) all the various controverfies, that are on foot this ,'day, about the matter ofjuftification; & a fhort difcovery of the truth , in this matter , as to the molt principal things controverted ( to which others may be fo reduced, asa Scriptural difcovery of the truth , as to thofe , may ferve for a difcuffìon of the reff; at leaf' , fo pave the way , that a folution of thefe Inferiour Conr"roverfìes may be the more eafie ) may therefore be fufficient to filch , at leaft , whole Edification and Inftrudion we moltly Intend here; that is, Such, as are not in cafe to improve what is written ofGontroverfies in Scholaflick & abftrufe termes. And , I judge,, who ever handle this Controverfie in fuch termes only, or moftly, as are above the reach of ordinary Chriftians, who are herein as much concerned as others ,,mitTe that mark , which they fhould mainely aime at that is, .Edification & Inflruäion of fuck , whole high concernment this is; & who have molt need to be plainely inftrudted in this foundamental point of Truth It a Pradhcal miftake in which may prove to them deadly & deftrudtive ; & efpecially of fuch , who , when under the pangs ofan awakened Confcience,. & under the convidtions of fin, & fears of wrath, purfueing for fin, are then molt ready to take any courfe that may feem to promife prefent cafe & reliefe; & to be led away from Chrift, the onely peace -maker , through the flight of Satan, & the deceitfulnefs of their own heart; & through Ignorance of, or Mis- information about the true Gofpel -way of jollification & peace with God; whereby their Eafe & Reliefe may prove more deadly, than was their Diftemper & Difquier. As therefore , I Judge, this concerning Truth cannot be made plaine enough; fo I think, the lefs ufe be made of Philofophick or Scholaftick termes ( which none but fuch as are well verfed inthefe dry Nations, can competently un- derfland; & vwhich , though never fo handfomely, fet off, will prove ve- ry unfatiffying to awakened Confciences) it will be fo much the better; feing , let men pleafe themfelves in them , as they will, as they are not the, language , the Spirit of the Lord hath thought good to ufe in this matter fo they darken rather , than cleare the matter, at leaft to me. The A poftle ( that we may in fhort cleare the words, upon which we are to ground our Difcourfe ) in this verf. ii. after other Arguments, former- ly
C H A 1°. L. The words of the Text explained, 5 ly adduced to prove the Thefis, which he laid down Chap. t. verf 16. to wit, That a man is not ¡unified by the workr of Law , but by the faith of Pp: r Chrift; he bringeth another Argument from Scripture, after he hath a- gaine repeated the one halle of the grand Thefis, by which the other is fuffi- ficiently underftoód , & more emphatically included in the ,probation, or Teftimony of Scripture adduced , Paying, Gal. 3: z I. But that no man is Juflified by the Law , in the fight of God, it is evident; for the juff fhall live by faith. E doth not explaine what is meaned by that word îufli fed; but pre - fuppofeth that there was no doubt, concerning the true meaning the- reof, among thofe with whom he had to do , in this Difput : as Indeed none, that confider what is the confiant ufe thereof, in the Old Teftament , ( well known to the Jewifh Teachers ) yea & in the New Te- flament allo, can doubt of its true Import how ever Pap:fir do quite mift N a- ke its true ature & Import, fupppfing that it fignifieth an Inward Reno- vation , or Infufor of Holínefs; & fo make it the fame with Santifica- tion. But as no man , acquainted with the Scriptures , & with what is faid of juftification in them , can be ignorant Of its right meaning ; fo every man, exercifed with the fenfe of his own natural condition , & of the curie of the Law, under which he feeleth himfelf lying , according to what is he- re faid , in the foregoing verle , readily underftandeth, what it is to be ju- flified & freed from that curie & Sentence of Condemnation ; & fo made free ftom the wrath that he is liable unto , becaufe of the broken Law of God : So that we need fay no more of it here. He faith, No man it ¡ußified by the Law; & fo, maketh no exception of any what fomever, no not of the holieft meet Man, that ever exifted fnce the fall : & this is of the fame import with that expreflìon Chap. z: 16. No fiefh; for by the works of the Law (ball no flefh be juiifed, So he hath the fa- me a preflïon Rgm.3: 2o. It is here faid, by the Law; in the origirnal ibis , in the Law : but the fenfe is the fame with that expreffion Chap. 2: i6.. thrice repeated, by the works of the Law. The Ethiopike Verfion here is rather a fhort Commenta- ry; for there it is; They are not juni f ed doing the command of the Law. It is obfervable , That the Apoftie ufeth variety of expreffions ,. in this matter, all tending to cleare this one thing. That there is no juftification by the works of the Law; fo as no coloure or fhew of evafionmight be lefrun- to any. -Rom. 3. zo. he faith it Y04», y4t8 , by or out of the works of the Law; as alfo. Gal, z: t6. And from. 3:28. xwt`rs ïpgOdY YÓ1,68, without the works of the Law ; they having no confideration therein. Rom. 4: z. É 4240v by, or out. of works. So that there is no juftification by the Law , nor by works ; nor by the: works of the. Law : all which expreffions are ufed to frgnifie one & the fame A 3 thing,
6 The words of the Text explained. C i A r. r. thing. And in the following verte, he taketh the Law, & doing of them, thatis , the commands of the Law., for one & the fame thing. Thofe that were looking to the Law for juftification-, he faith of them vers io. That they arc of the works of the Law and chap. 4: 21. -- Ye that define to be under the Law. This elfewhere vii Phil. 3: ç. hecalleth his own righteoufnefs , which it of the Law : & Tit. 3: 5. works ofrighteoufnofs , which use have done- & Rcm. 10 :3. their own righteoufnerr &Korn. 2: :3i. the Law ofrighteorifnefs. But what Law is this ,, by which , he denieth , that any can be jufaified ? The forementioned Exprefíions do Sufficiently cleare, what Law he meaneth, even all that Law , that; was the Rule of Righteoufnefs, & was prefcribed of God, as filch ; & not the Ceremonial Law only : that Law , by the works whereof he denied ( Rem. 4: i, z. ) that Abraham, the father of the faithful , was juftified. That Law , in obedience to which conffled that righteoufnefs , which the fewer laboured to caufe Rand; & that righ- teoufnefs , which himfelf defired not to be found in : That Law , which was called the Law of righteounefs: That Law , which the Gofpel el }abliiheth Isom. 3: 31. In a word , it is that Law , whereof he fpeaketh , in the pre - ceeding verfe, that is, that Law , the tranfgreaion of which, in theleaft particular, bringeth the finner under the curie, according to that faying. Curfed it every one , that continueth not in all things , which are contained in the bookofthe Lam, to do them Deut. 27: 26. And here allo we fee the Law & the book of the Law , are one : & fare , this book of the Law contained more , than the Ceremonial Law even all the Moral Commandments; in refpet of which & not in refpeCt of the Ceremonial Law , the Gentiles, & amongft the reft , thefe Galatians , at leaft, fo many of them, as had isot yet Judaized , were of the Law , &fo, under the curfe. It is obvious, how ufelefs all the Difputeof the Apoftle here, & in his Epibtle to the Ro- manes , is rendered by afferting, That Paul's DifpuTrunneth only upon the obfervation of the Ceremonial Law ; feing now the very Subje t of the de- bate is taken away from us. And , if matters be fo, I would faine know, why the Apoftle lhould have ufed any other Argument , in all his Difpute, betide this one, That by the Gofpel, the fubjeEt of the queftion is wholly removed; the Ceremonial Law being utterly abrogated by the Gofpel ? Sure , this would have Sufficiently put an end to that debate. But this Suppofal is, I confefs, a fhort cutt to anfwere all the otherwife unan- fwerable Arguments of the Apoftle againft Juftification by works, but yet it is fuch, as cannot yeeld fatisfaétion. He addeth in thefight of God , Tw 04;J', which is the fame , upon the matter, with that exprefliion Rpm. 3: 2o, , in .His fight; whereby we underftand, what juftification this is, whereof the Apoftle fpeaketh ; even ; juftification before Gods Tribunal , in His Court , who is the Supr4am Sc Righteous judge ; as it is with Him alone that the poor convinced & wakened Sinner bath to do: And this is the juftification, that we are molt concerned to know the nature of, & to underftand what way it is brought abodt, or to be had : This is the juftification, which the Apofile alwayes denieth to be by works, & afferteth alwayes to be by faith,
C 11A P. I, The words of the Test explained. 7 faith , in oppofition to works. As for a juflification of our fell/es againft the falfe Accufations of Satan, the unjuti Strmifes of our own treacherous Hearts, & rnis- informed Confciences , & the groundlefs Alleigances of men, judging not according to truth , but according to their owne mis- apprehenuions ( whereof lob's friends were guilty , in an high meafure) It is not that juftification, whereof the Aponle treateth. And whatever ln- tereft good works may have herein , as real fruites of an upright working faith, & confequenly as evidences of our Iutereft in Çhritt , & of our being in a flare of juftification ; Yet they a{ e utterly excluded from having an In- teretl in that juitification , which is before God , & in His fight : & he- re, Chrift's Righteoufnefs, Laid hold on by faith, only taketh place. The Argument , whereby the Apostle difproveth this juftification by the works of Law , in the fight of God, is in the following words , .where he ufhereth -in the argument with an , It is Ivlanifeß, T.oy; to Phew, That the Argument was irrefragable, & that the truth thereby was cer- taine , & beyond Contradiction. Now , the Argument is taken from the oppofition , that is betwixt Faith,. & the Law , or , the works of the Law, itt the matter of ;unification : A ground,. whereupon they Apoftle goeth, in his whole Difpure, upon this matter; as we fee íZom. 3: 27, 28. & 4: I, 2, 3, 4, 5. & 9: 32, Gal. 2: 16. and therefore it mutt be acertaine truth, That if ;uftification before God be by faith , it can not be by works; çt confequently, whoever át%tt juflificaupn by works , deftroy Gofpel- jufii- ñcation by faith : and hence , it is alfo Manifeft , That juftificatton can- not be by both together, Faith & works conjoined; becaufe what is of faith cannot be of works ; thefe two being here inconfifténtlkorrt. ii: 6. That Gofpel- juftification is by faith , the Apoflle proveth from that known fentence , the juil 'hall live by faith ; a fentence , which the A poftle adduced firul of all , when he was to handle this queftion , in his Epiftle xo the Romans Chap. 1. vers 17. laying; for therein (i. e. in the Gofpel) it the R,rghteoufnefs of God revealed from faith to faith,, as it is written, the lull (hall live by faith, Where we fee , that this Sentence confirmeth the whole nature & contents of the Gofpel, that is , That the Righteoufnefs of God, i. e. the Righteoufnefs, which only will ftand in Gods Court, & be ac- cepted of him , in order to the ¡unifying of (inners ; & which is the Righ- teoufnefs of one, who is God , is revealed from faith to faith ; that is to fay, is held forth to be embraced byfinners through faith , firft & 'raft; & this Righteoufnefs , thus embraced & laid hold on by faith , is the onely ground of the life of jutltfication fo that beleevers their living by faith, faith their faith laith hold on the Righteoufnefs of God, revealed in the Gofpel, as the onely ground of their life. As to the paffage it felf, it is cited oui of Ilabakuh chap. z. vers 4. where the Prophet being told vers 3. that howbeit fometime would paire , ere the promifed delivery Ihould come; Yet it would come ; & that there- fore he & all the People of God, Ihould waste fork, & live in the cer- taine expectation thereof, addeth thefe words, as being told him of the Lord, that his Soul, which is lifted up, is not upright in him (how varioul- Iy S.
á The words of .T he Text explained. C Hi A P. r; ly & there words are rendered by diverfe, we need not mentione) the meaning is this, Thatfach , as will not , in faith & patience , Waite with confidence upon the Lords promife, that fhall be made good , in His good time; but in their pride & impatience of heart, will think to anticipate their delivery , by finiftrous & finful meanes, declare , that their heart is not upright, & that they are void of true faith. Upon the other hand , is is raid , the juft Thal! live by his faith, that is , Such , as are real & true beleevers, will ;: N the exercife of faith, till God's time come; & by this faith miffing & leaping to the faithful promife of God , through the Meffiah, in whom all the promifes are yea & amen 2 Cor. I:20. they 'hall have a life of ir, they (hall be carried thorow fupported , ftreng- thened & comforted. And much to this fame Purpofe, is this paffage, cited by the Apoftle Hebr. to: 37, 38. For yet a little while , d? he that fhall come , will come , & will not tarry , notn the furl (hall live by faith &c. ( of which we have fpoken elfewhere ) in all thefe places , the Apofile leaveth out the pronoun his , which the Prophet ufeth ; but that maketh no great altera- tion , the matter being clear, & that fufficiently underftood. TheSeptua- ints make a great alteration , when they render the words thus, The fufl hall live by my faith. The great difficulty is , how thefe words of the Prophet , fpoken of filch, as were already juflified , & heleevers; & his Paying of them , that they fhall live by their faith (for we need not owne that fenfe of the words; which fome think may not improbably be given, to wit, That he, who is by hir faith jolt (or juftified) (hall live) can be applicable to the Apoftl'es purpofe, to prove juftificationby faith. Not to mentione what others fay to this , nor judging it very neceffary to enquire anxioufly into this mat- ter, feing the Spirit of the Lord's moving & infpireing of Paul toalleige, & apply this paffage of Old Teflament truth , for confirmation of what he was -about to prove , may fully fatiffie us, as to its pertinency, though we fhould not fatiffie all by proprofing our thoughts concernin it. J Con- ceive, the ground may be this, That this being a general truth, & uni- verfally true, that even beleevers , who are already changed , & have a life begun in them, muff all their life long make ufe of faith gripping to the promifes, as yea, & amen in Chrift, (promifed & come) who is the Subftance & Kirnel of them all , to the end they may be fupported, Strengthened. Upheld, & carried thorow Difficulties, Diflref es, Dark - neffes, Temptations & the like, without fainting, or doing what is un- befeeming a living Beleever, in the day of trial; fo that their whole life, even unto the end , is kept -in & continued by faith , bringing new fup- plies & influences from the head, through the promifes ; it will hence follow, that without faith no man can at firft attaine to this life, & chan- ge from death ; yea , that in this cafe , faith is much more neceffarily re- quifite, yea faith only without works is & muff be, the only way to ju- flification of life: for if the progrefs , & continuance of this life , or re- newing of it after decayes, be had by faith , drawing fap, life & influen- ce from the head, much more mutt this be the way of getting the firft chan- ge ma-
C ii A P. 2. Naturally we cry sip Self , in 3tuflification: 9 ge made from death to life. And this way ( or not much different ) of argueíng in this fame debate , we fee the Apoftle followeth Rpm. 4. where from what wasfaid of Abraham, a canfiderable time after he was a be- leever, he pròveth juftification by faith , without works, or that Abraham was juttified by faith , & not by works. The Import then of the TeRi- mony is, that this life, whereofbeleevers are made partakers , is begun, continued & carried on by faith , & therefore it is not by the worksof the Law, but by faith , that they are juftified & brought into a Elate of life; If it be true, that without faith , even belevers cannot be fupported , nor in cafe to live , as becometh , to the glory of God , &to their own peace & Comforts , in new Trials & Difficulties; much more is it true , that without faith thole, who are in nature , & in Rate of Enmity to God , can- not live the life of juftification & with it alone they can & (hall. Before we come to fpeak particularly to any Truthes , deducable from the words, we (hall premife force few things confìderable. C H A P. I I. Naturally we are inclined to cry up Selff, in Ju(tificatiou. THe Apoftle, as we fee, in all his writtings about this mátter, is very carefull to cleave the queftion of juftification fo , as Man may have no caufeof boafting, or ofglorying in himfelf, upon the ac- count of any thing he hath, or he bath done in order to jutiification; that hereby he might cart a copie unto all fuch , as would approve them - felves faithful unto the Lord , in being co- workers with Him , in the Gofpel; & that he might fo much the more fet himfelf againft that innate *ittufting of heart , that is in all naturally , unto an exalting & crying up of Self, in the matter of their juftification before, & Acceptance with God; and efpecially we finde, how zealoufly, how frequently, & with what Rrength & multitude of Arguments, he fetteth himfelf againit, & cryeth down that, which men do fo naturally, & with fuch a vehement byaffe, incline unto; to wit, juftification by their own works, or by their own obedience to the Law ; to the end , their innate pride may have ground of venting it feif, in boafting & glorying before men. From this we may premit, in fhort, the confideration of there Three things, to prepare our way unto the clearing -up of the Gofpel Doctrine in this matter. Fi,ß. That there is a corrupt byaffe in the heart of men by nature , & a thong Inclination, to rejeEt the Gofpel- DoEtrine of free juftification, through faith in Chrift ; & to afcribe too much to themfelves, in that affaire : as if they would hold the life of juftification , not purely of the free grace Sc rich mercy of God, through Jefus Chritt ; but of theinfelves, either in whole, or in part, in one meafure, or another. $ Secondly,
o Naturelll, we cry up Self, an ` uflification. CHAP. 2. Secondly , That it is the duty of all , who would be found faithful Am- baffadours for Chrift , after the example of the Apoftle ,, fo to preach forth the Grace of God , in this myftery, & to explaine the fame, as corrupt Nature within , & fuch without , as are byaffed with miftakes about this matter, & are led away with proud & carnal felf conceits , may have no apparent or Teeming ground of boafling 3 nor be confirmed in their natu- ral prejudices & Miftakes therein. Thirdly, That in very deed free Gofpel- juftification is to contrived & ordered as that none have any real ground of boafting , or of glory- ing in themfelves, or of afcribing any part of the glory thereof unto them- {elves, as if they , by their deeds & works, did contribute any thing to the procuring thereof. It will not be neceffary to fpeak to thefe at any length , but only briefly to touch upon them , to make way unto what followeth to be laid on this weighty fubjea~f, which is of fo much concernment to us all. As to the Phil of thefe ( CO which we {hall fpeak little, in this Chap- ter , & thereafter of the relt, in their due order ) it is too too apparent to be a truth from thefe groundsfollowing. I. This' is molt manifeft from the many Errours & falfe opinions, that are Vented , Owned & Maintained, with fo much Violence & corrupt Leal, & all to cry -up Self, in lefs , or in more; & to cry down Grace., Hence fo many do plead , with great confidence , for an Intereft of our works, in our juflification; Such as Papifls, ( who quire mitt?ke the na- ture of true juflification ) Socinians, Arminian:, & Others , who fide with thefe in lefs, or in more;. & will plead for a juftification by our inherent Righteoufnofs, or works of Righteoufnefs , which we do. Others, that will not plead for fuch an early Intereít of our works , in this matter, will plead for faith, as our Gofpel Righteoufnefs; & affirme, that the very aft of our Obedience in us, is imputed for a Righteoufnefs to us, & is accounted fuch by God; & fo, bath the fame place in the New Covenant, that compleet & relied obedience had in the Old Covenant of works; made with Adam; which, as fhall hereafter appear, driveth us upon the fame rock. I I. It is manifeft likewife from the large & frequent Difputes about this matter , that we have in Paul's Epifiles. If there had not been a great pronnefs in man, by nature , to cry -up hímfelf , & to fet up his own Righteoufnefs; in matter ofjuflification, why would the Spirit of the Lord have been at to much pines (to - fpeak fo) to cry down Self Sr our works, in this matter, as He is, in thefe Epiftles of Paul, if He had not teen the great neceffity thereof , by, reafon of this ftrong Inclination, that men Naturally have hereunto ? We muff not think, that any thing is there (poken in vaine; or that the Spirit of the Lord would have left that Doc- trine fo fully cleared , wherein our works are foexprefly excluded , if there had not been a neceffity for it, & if it had not been as neceffary in all after ages of the Church, as at that time, when firft written. Whate- ver the truth be , that is fo frequently & pungently inculcated in the Scrip- tures,
C H A P. s: Naturally we cry up Self in 7tß fti fication: p t tures , we may faifly fuppofe, that as the faith & praEtice of that truth is neceffary ; fo there rnuft be much reluâancy of Soul in us to receive the fame , & to clofe with it , and a ftrong Inclination to beleeve & praEtife the contrary. I I I. In the Infancy of Chriflianity , we fee, what a firong Inclination there was to cry -up works what we do , & the Law , as the only ground of juflification ; or , at leaf} , to have a fhare with Chrifl , in that Intereft, which gave occafìon to the penning of thefe Epiflles of Paul, where this matter is fo fully & clearly handled; particularly that to the Roman; , & that to the Galatia: ; & unto the fpeakinglefs or more hereunto , in almofl all his other Epiftles. And this Inclination to the crying up ofworks & the Law , in Oppofition to the pure Gofpel -way of juflificatton , was not only among the Gentiles, who had been without God , & without Chrifl, & all the Meanes of underflanding any thing of Salvation, through a flame Saviour; but even arnongft the Jewes, who, by the Difpenfation of the New Covenant , which they were under , might have been better prin- cipled ; for it was they who molt urged the Intereft of the Law , & of works , & thereby! laboured to corrupt the Gentiles , & to lead them off the fimplicity of the Gofpel-truth ; and of them, faith the Apoftle IZom. io: 3. that, being ignorant of God's fQghteoufnefr, d? going about to eflablifh their own righteoufnefs, they have not fubmitted themfelves unto the righteoufnefs of God. They fought after a Righteoufnefs another way, than by faith in Chrifl , who is the end of the Law for righteounefs , to every one that be- leeveth kom. Io: 4. but as it were by the works of the Law R.pn. 9: 3 2. I V. The Pharifee , who went up to the Temple Luk. IS: iI, 12. & pray- ed thus with. himfelf God, I thank thee, that I am net, as other men are, Extortioners, Unjuß, adulterers , or even as this Publican : 1 faß twice in the week, I give Tithes of all that I poffeffe, &c. hath many followers. Many there are, who will have confidence in the flefh, & in what they do. Nature never taught Paul,to account alibis great Privileges & Attainments lofs & dung; but rather to account them gaine; for he faith , they w ere gaine to him; that is, while he was a ftranger to the Gofpel, & to the Grace of God, manifefled therein. Hence is it, that the !ail are frfl, dr the frß are laß; fuch, as thought themfelves far advanced, & to have attained a great meafure of righteoufnefs, & fo to be children of the Kingdom are Phut out,' & Publicanes & Harlots are preferred , as being willing to renounce themfelves & their own righteoufnefs more, than fuch Legalißs & , who confide in fomething, which they thetn- fclves do , & have attained. V. This is alto manifeft from the great difficulty of prevaling with fuch, as teem to themfelves to have in them fomething more than ordinary, to relinquifh & renounce thefe things , & to betake themfelves only unto Jefus , & to refi on Him alone , for Righteoufnefs, Life & Salvation ; & from the little fruit that the Gofpel Doctrine findeth among them. How many fubterfuges finde they out, under which they think to fhelter them - (elves from the wrath of God ? flow many fig - leaves do they fewe toge- ß 2 ther,
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