The Christians Alphabet, Part 2 · Section 14
O Of our receiuing Christ, with all his benefits, to saluation, by faith only.
Q. Rehearse the Letter O?
A. ONly by faith, receiuing Iesus Christ into the heart, eueryevery man that with contrite heart confesseth his sinnes to God, and truly repenteth, is pardoned all his sinnes, and so doth stand iustified before God.
For we can merit nothing with God, our best works being imperfect. And the promise of God is onelyonly made to them that beleeue: being elected of God before the world was.
Q. How, and in what sense are we said to be iustified by faith?
How we are iustified by faith.A. We are said to be iustified by saith, not for the dignity and merit of it: not as it is an inward and inherent quality or virtue: not because it hath charity adioyned vntounto it, and worketh by louelove: nor because it receiueth any force or power from charity to iustifie▪ but because, by faith, as by a hand or instrument we receiue Christ, by whom we are iustified.
Q. Proue that we are iustified only by faith?
A. That wee are iustified by faith only, That we are iustified by faith only.may appeare by these euidences following, whereof the first is, 1Instance.In that iustification and acceptance of a man with God vntounto eternall life, is positiuely and absolutely ascribed in Scripture vntounto faith. This is the very argument of the Apostle, alleaged to the same purpose out of the Prophet Habakuk, 2.4. The iust shall liue by faith. And he expresseth it in his owne person, as an instance of the state of eueryevery good Christian, Gal. 2.20. I liue, saith he, by the saith of the Sonne of God, who loued me, and gaue himselfe for me.
Q. What is the second instance, that we are iustified by faith only?
2InstanceA. Secondly, the Scriptures doe expresly exclude all workes in vsus, touching the point of iustification, by manifest exclusiue notes or tearmes; being equiualent with the exclusiue particle only, or alone. As for example. Gal. 2.16. Knowing that a man is not iustified by the workes of the Law, but by the faith of Iesus Christ. And Rom. 3.28. Therefore we conclude, that a man is iustified by faith, without the deeds of the Law. And verse 24. Being iustified freely by his grace.
Q. What is the third instance of iustification by faith onelyonly?
3InstanceA. Thirdly, there is a manifest opposition noted in Scripture betweene grace and workes: so that if iustification be freely by grace, then it cannot be of workes at all. See Rom. 11.6. If by grace, then it is no more of workes: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of workes, then it is no more grace: otherwise worke is no more worke. And Rom. 4.4. To him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but beleeueth on him that iustifieth the vngodly, his faith is counted for righteousnesse.
Q. What is the fourth instance of iustification by fayth only?
A. Fourthly, 4InstanceThey that sought righteousnesse not by faith only, but by the workes of the Law, are said, for that very cause not to hauehave attained righteousnesse. See Rom. 9.31.32. But Israel which followed after the law of righteousnesse, hath not attained to the law of righteousnesse. Wherefore? because they sought it not by faith, but as it is were by the workes of the Law. And Chap. 10.3. For they being ignorant of Gods righteousnesse, and going about to establish their owne righteousnesse, hauehave not submitted themselues to the righteousnesse of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousnesse, to eueryevery one that beleeueth. Therefore Paul though he was blamelesse before men, touching the righteousnesse which is in the law, yet he counted all but dung, that hee might bee found in Christ by faith. Phil. 3.6.9.
Q. What is the fifth instance of iustification by faith only?
5InstanceA. Fiftly, The brazen Serpent was a type of Christ, now as when the Israelites were stung by the fiery serpents, Leu. 21.9.they were preserued aliue only by looking vponupon the Serpent of brasse: so when wee are …eng to death by sinne, there is nothing required of vsus for the cure of our soules, but only that wee fixe the eye of our faith vponupon Christ. See this very proportion obserued by Christ himselfe, Ioh. 3.14.15. As Moses lift vp the Serpent in the wildernesse, so must the sonne of man be lifted vp, that whosoeuer beleeueth in him, should not perish, but hauehave eternall life.
Q. What is the sixt instance of iustification by faith only?
A. Sixtly, 6Instancethere are many graces accompanying saluation in a Christian soule, as faith, hope, charity, wisdome, patience, humility, the feare of God, repentance, and the like; and eueryevery grace hath some excellent vse: but of all these, none is sit as a spirituall hand to receiue and apply Christ and his righteousnesse to the iustification of a sinner, but faith only.
Q. In what sense then are we said to bee iustified by faith only?
A. Not that faith is solitary or alone, How wee are iustified by faith only.without other graces: for it is said, Gal. 5.6. to worke by louelove. And 1 Tim. 1.5. That charity doth proceede out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith vnfained, as the fountaine of all other graces. But as the eye is not alone, but there are with it many other members and parts of the body, and yet the faculty of seeing is only in the eye: so faith, though it bee not alone, yet it only hath power to apprehend Christ to iustification.
Q. Proue that by faith wee receiue Iesus Christ into the heart?
By faith we receiue Christ.A. That by faith wee receiue Iesus Christ, may be gathered out of those words of the Euangelist, Ioh. 1.11.12. He came vntounto his owne, and his owne receiued him not. But as many as receiued him, to th…m gaue hee power to become the sonnes of God, euen to them that beleeue on his name Where wee see that to receiue Christ and to beleeue in him is all one. Againe, that we receiue Christ into the heart or soule, as the fittest receptacle, is euident by the Apostles prayer, Ephes. 3.16.17. That ye may, saith he, bee strengthened by his spirit in the in ward man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith.
Q. Proue that a contrite heart is required?
A. It is written, A contrite heart is requisite.Psal. 51 17. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise. And Ioel 2.13. Rend your heart, and not your garments and turne to the Lord your God.
Q. Proue that confession of sinnes to God is required?
A. There is an absolute necessity of confessing our sins to God, So is confession to God.if euer wee will obtaine pardon: Therefore it is conditioned, 1 Ioh. 1.9. That if wee confesse our sinnes, he is faithfull, and iust to forgiue vsus our sinnes▪ And we may see the experience of it, Psal. 32.5. I said I will confesse my transgressions vntounto the Lord, and thou forgauest the iniquity of my sinne. As for confession to man it is onelyonly respectiue or conditionall, as namely, in case of wrong done by one man to another see Iam. 5.16. confesse your faults one to another, and pray one for another: or in regard of some publike hurt or scandall to the whole Church, as in the example of Achan, Iosh. 7.19.20. and the like.
Q. Proue that true repentance is required?
Specially true conuersion.A. True R…pentance, which is not onelyonly a contrition or sorrow for sinne, and a confession of it, but also a conuersion of the whole man, with the whole heart, vntounto God, from all his sinnes, is specially necessary for the obtaining of pardon; this is intended in Math. 3.2. Repent, for the kingdome of heauen is at hand, and Luk. 13.3. Except ye amend your liues, ye shall all likewise perish, and Act. 11.18. It is said, that they glorified God, saying, then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance vntounto life.
Q. Proue that our iustification consisteth in the pardon of sinnes?
A. It is so written, Iustification is in the pardon of sinnes.Rom. 4 6.7. Euen as Dauid declareth the blessednesse of the man, vntounto whom God imputeth righteousnesse without workes: saying, Blessed are they, whose iniquities are forgiuen, and whose sinnes are couered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not sinne.
Q. Proue that we can merit nothing with God?
A. The Apostle proueth it, We can merit nothing with God.by the example of the father of the faithfull, Rom. 4.2. If Abraham were iustified by workes, hee hath wherein to reioyce, but not with God: for what saith the Scripture? Abraham beleeued God, and it was counted to him for righteousnesse, Psal. 130.3. If thou Lord shouldest marke iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? and Psal. 143.2. Enter not into iudgement with thy seruant, for in thy sight shall no man liuing be iustified.
Q. Proue that our best workes are imperfect?
Our best workes are imperfect.A. It is the confession of the Prophet, Isa. 64.6. But we are all as an vncleane thing, and all our righteousnesse are as filthy rags, and Luk. 17.10. When ye hauehave done all those things which are commanded you, say, wee are vnprofitable seruants.
Q. Prou… that the promise is made onelyonly to them that beleeue?
The promise is onelyonly to beleeuers.A. It is written, Gal. 3.22. that the Scripture hath concluded all vnderunder sinne, that the promise by faith of Iesus Christ, might bee giuen to them that beleeue, and Act. 2.39. for the promise is vntounto you, and to your children, and to all that are a farre off euen as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Q. Proue that they were elected of God, before the world was?
A. That the ground of our iustification, Elected before the world was.and saluation by Christ through faith, doth stand in Gods free election, and therefore cannot be attained by any merit of our owne, is manifest, Act. 13.48. where it is said, that as many as were ordained to eternall life, beleeued. And Ephes. 1.3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, who hath blessed vsus with all spirituall blessings in heauenly things in Christ, according as he hath chosen vsus in him, before the foundation of the world.