The Pattern of Wholesome Words, Chapter 24
CHAP. XXIV. Of Iustification.
HItherto of the subiect of grace, viz. the Church: the degrees of grace in this life are two.
First, Iustification.
Secondly, Sanctification.
Concerning Iustification, there are these principles:
First, that al men hauehave sinned, and the whole world is guilty before God naturally, and in themselues, Rom. 3.19.23. Now wee know, that whatsoeuer the Law saith, it saith to them, which are vnderunder the Law; that eueryevery mouth may be stopped, and all the world be culpable before God.
For there is no difference: for all hauehave sinned, and are depriued of the glory of God.
Gal. 3.22. But the Scripture hath concluded all vnderunder sinne, that the promise by the faith of Iesus Christ should bee giuen to them that beleeue.
Secondly, that by mens owne workes no flesh can be iustified, Rom. 3.20. Therefore by the workes of the Law shall no flesh be iustified in his sight: for by the Law commeth the knowledge of sinne.
Titus 3.5. Not by the workes of righteousnesse which wee had done, but according to his mercy hee saued vsus by the washing of the new birth, and the renewing of the holy Ghost.
Gal. 3.11. And that no man is iustified by the Law in the sight of God, it is euident: for the iust shall liue by faith.
Phil. 3.9. And might be found in him, that is, not hauing mine own righteousnesse, which is of the Law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, euen the righteousnesse, which is of God through faith.
Iustified, I say, before God: for by workes wee may bee iustified before men, of which iustification the Apostle Iames speakes in his second Chapter, &c.
Thirdly, that the righteousnesse, which maketh vsus iust, is in Iesus Christ, being made ours by imputation.
2. Cor. 5.21. For he hath made him to bee sinne for vsus, which knew no sinne, that we should be made the righteousnesse of God in him.
1. Cor. ….30. But ye are of him in Christ Iesus, who of God is made vntounto vsus wisedome, and righteousnes, and sanctification, and redemption.
Rom. 5.18.19. Likewise then as by the offence of one, the fault came on all men to condemnation: so by the iustifying of one, the benefit abounded toward all men to the iustification of life:
For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners: so by the obedience of one, shall many also bee made righteous.
Phil. 3.9. And might be found in him, that is, not hauing mine owne righteousnesse, which is of the Law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, euen the righteousnes which is of God through faith.
Ier. 23.6. In his daies Iuda shall be saued, and Israel shall dwell safely, and this is the name, whereby they shall call him, The Lord our righteousnesse.
Rom. 4.7. Blessed are they, whose iniquities are forgiuen, and whose sinnes are couered, &c.
4. That this righteousnesse is made ours onelyonly by faith, and so we are iustified onelyonly by faith, as it apprehends, and laies hold vponupon, and relies on the righteousnes of Christ, Rom. 3.28. Therfore we conclude, that a man is iustified by faith, without the workes of the Law.
Gal. 2.16. Know that a man is not iustified by the works of the Law, but by the faith of Iesus Christ, euen we, I say, hauehave beleeued in Iesus Christ, that we might be iustified by the faith of Christ, and not by the workes of the Law; because that by the works of the Law no flesh shall be iustified.
Rom. 1.26.17. For I am not ashamed of the Gospell of Christ: for it is the power of God vntounto saluation to eueryevery one that beleeueth; to the Iew first, and also to the Grecian:
For by it the righteousnesse of God is reuealed from faith to faith, as it is written: The iust shall liue by faith,
Heb. 11.6. But without faith it is vnpossible to please God.
5. That this faith is the gift of God, Ioh. 6.29. Iesus answered and said vntounto them; This is the worke of God, that yee beleeue in him, whom he hath sent.
Rom. 12.3. For I say through the grace that is giuen vntounto me, to eueryevery one that is among you, that no man presume to vnderstand aboue that which is meet to vnderstand: but that he vnderstand according to sobrietie, as God hath delt to euerie man the measure of faith.
Phil. 1.29. For vntounto you it is giuen for Christ, that not onelyonly yee should beleeue in him, but also suffer for his sake.
Ephesians, 2.8. For by grace are yee saued through faith, and that not of your selues: it is the gift of God.
Hebrewes, 12.2. Looking vntounto Iesus, the author and finisher of our faith, &c.
Sixthly, that all men hauehave not faith, Isaiah, 53.1. Who will belieue our report? and to whom is the arme of the Lord reuealed?
2. Thess. 3.2. For all men hauehave not faith.
And therefore this faith is called the faith of Gods Elect, Titus 1.1. Paul a seruant of God, and an Apostle of Iesus Christ, according to the faith of Gods Elect.
Seuenthly, that there is but one kind of faith, by which all the elect of God are iustified, Ephes. 4.5. There is one Lord, one Faith, one Baptisme, &c.
Eighthly, that being iustified by faith, wee hauehave peace with God, and forgiuenesse of all our sins, Rom. 3.25. Whom God hath set forth to bee a reconciliation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousnesse by the forgiuenesse of sinnes, that are passed through the patience of God, &c.
Rom. 5.1. Then being iustified by faith, we hauehave peace toward God through our Lord Iesus Christ.
The consideration of these principles should worke in vsus:
First, a speciall care of diuers duties; as
1. The detestation of that doctrine, that teacheth men to rest vponupon the merits of their owne works, contrary to these expresse Scriptures, Rom. 3.20. Therefore by the works of the Law shall no flesh be iustified in his sight: for by the Law commeth the knowledge of sin.
Gal. 3.10. For as many as are of the workes of the Law, are vnderunder the curse: for it is written, Cursed is eueryevery man, that continueth not in all things, which are written in the book of the Law to doe them.
Ephes. 2.8.9. For by grace are ye saued through faith, and that not of your selues, it is the gift of God:
Not of workes, least any man should boast himselfe.
Titus 3.5. Not by the works of righteousnesse which we had done, but according to his mercy he saued vsus.
All which we should carrie in our minds.
2. The inflāmation of the louelove of Christ in vsus, and the admiration of the riches of Gods grace, Rom. 5.6.7.8. For Christ, when we were yet of no strength, at his time died for the vngodly.
Doubtlesse one will scarce die for a righteous man: but yet for a good man it may be, that one dare die.
But God setteth out his louelove toward vsus, seeing that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for vsus.
3. An especiall care aboue al things to beleeue, accounting all things but dung, in comparison of the knowledge of Christ herein. Without this faith it is impossible to please God, Heb. 11.6. Wee should neuer rest, till wee could say, it is the Lord our righteousnesse, Ier. 23.6. We are vndone, if we hauehave not such a faith as will iustifie vsus.
Quest. Tell vsus distinctly, what wee must doe about beleeuing, which being done, wee may bee sure we are iustified.
Solut. First, thou must beleeue, that Iesus of Nazareth is the promised duplicate page duplicate page Messias, and the very Son of God, Matth. 16.16.
1. Iohn 4.15. Whosoeuer confesseth, that Iesus is the Sonne of God, in him dwelleth God, and he is in God.
Secondly, thou must rest vponupon the passion and obedience of Iesus Christ, as the onelyonly sufficient meanes of thy happinesse, receiuing the promises, that declare thy liberty so to doe, Rom. 4.23. 24. Rom. 5.17.
Thirdly, thou must in thy praiers present Christ to God, and make it knowne as a couenant of thy heart, that thou doest relie vponupon him onelyonly; and so giuegive glory to God against the feare of the Law, sinne, death, and hell.
Fourthly, thou must resolue to rest in this course, and neuer to depart from thy confidence herein: thus the iust must liue by their faith.
Thus of the third vse.
Fourthly, we should bee stirred vp to shew forth daily the vse, and power, and truth of our iustification by the effects of it; which we should striue to stirre vp in vsus, as namely wee should shew, that we are iustified:
1. By confirming our consciences in peace and tranquillitie.
2. By going boldly to God, and the throne of his grace; as knowing in how much grace we stand with God.
3. By comforting our selues in the hope of glory, as knowing that we are heires of the world.
4. By glorying in tribulation, being neuer ashamed of our faith and hope, Rom. 5.1.2.3.4.5. &c.
5. The doctrine of our free iustification should teach vsus to carie our selues with all compassion and meekenes toward other men, that yet liue in their sins: for we were such as they once, till the grace of God appeared without any desert of ours.
Titus 3.1.2.3.4.5. &c. Put them in remembrance, that they be subiect to the principalities, and powers, and that they bee obedient and readie to eueryevery good worke.
That they speake euill of no man; that they be no fighters, but soft, shewing all meekenesse vntounto all men:
For we our selues were in times past vnwise, disobedient, deceiued, seruing the lusts, and diuers pleasures, liuing in maliciousnesse, and enuie, hatefull, and hating one another, &c.
6. We should bee carefull of good workes, to free the glorious doctrine of liberty from the aspersions of euill men, and to shew our thankfulnesse to God, and the truth of our faith, Rom. 3.31. Doe we then make the law of none effect through faith? God forbid; yea we establish the law.
Iam. 2. the latter part of the Chapter.
Tit. 3.7.8. That we being iustified by his grace, should bee made heires according to the hope of eternall life.
This is a true saying, and these things I will thou shouldest affirme, that they which hauehave beleeued in God, might be carefull to shew forth good workes, &c.
7. This should make vsus for euer to iudge of mens worth by their faith,Iam. 2.5. and to say, Oh, he, or she is blessed, that beleeued; and to account highly of poore Christians, that are rich in faith.
8. For euer while we liue, we should glory not in our selues, but in the Lord, acknowledging whatsoeuer we are, we are by the grace of God, 1. Cor. 1.31. That according as it is written, He that reioyceth, let him reioyce in the Lord, &c.
Rom. 3.27. Where is then the rei…ycing? It is excluded: by what law? of workes: Nay, but by the law of faith▪ &c.
Secondl…, this doctrine should worke in vsus much consolation, euen life from the dead: Iustification is called iustification of life, Rom. 5.18. It should quicken vsus aboue many other doctrines, and the rather if we consider,
1. That in Christ there is a daily propitiation for all our sins, Rom. 3.25. 1. Ioh. 2.2. Hee will see our filthy garments taken off vsus, and clothe vsus with change of raiment, Zach. 3.3.4.
2. That the very blessing of Abraham comes vponupon vsus; we are heires of the world as well as hee, Galath. 3.9. They which bee of faith, are blessed with faithfull Abraham. Rom. 4.11.12.
3. That though this be clogged with a condition of beleeuing; yet wee are not excepted, but may lawfully rest vpō Christ; yea wee are commanded to beleeue, 1. Ioh. 3.23. This is then his commandement, that wee beleeue in the name of his Sonne Iesus Christ, &c. Yea God doth beseech vsus to be reconciled, 2. Cor. 5.20. Now then are wee Embassadours for Christ, as though God did beseech you through vsus, wee pray you in Christs stead, that ye be reconciled to God, &c.
4. That this beleeuing in Christ, makes vsus accounted as righteous as euer Adam was, or we could hauehave been, if wee had kept the morall law, and God is as well pleased with vsus: our faith is accounted for righteousnesse, and in stead of it, Rom. 4.5. But to him that worketh not, but beleeueth in him that iustifieth the vngodly, his faith is counted for righteousnesse.
5. That we may from hence gather also assurance of raigning with God in another world, as the Apostle shewes, Rom. 5.9. 10.11. Much more then being now iustified by his blood, we shall bee saued from wrath through him.
For if when we were enemies, wee were reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne; much more being reconciled, wee shall bee saued by his life.
17. For if by the offence of one death raigned through one; much more shall they which receiue the abundance of grace, and of the gift of righteousnes, raign in life through one, that is, Iesus Christ.
Rom. 8.30. Whom he iustified, them also he glorified, &c.
6. Lastly, that nothing shall separate vsus from this louelove of God, no accusation shall bee receiued against vsus, Rom. 8.33.34. 35.
Thirdly, this may serue for great reproofe,
1. First, for the neglect of faith in many; oh who hath bewitched thee, that thou shouldest not beleeue? why will yee still bee shut vp, and liue vnderunder the curse? Galath. 3.1. O foolish Galathians, who hath bewitched you.
10. As many as are vnderunder the workes of the law, are vnderunder the curse, &c.
23. Before faith came, wee were kept vnderunder the law, & shut vp, &c.
2. Of the most of vsus, for leaning still too much to our owne workes; we can hardly tell, how, in our either glorying, or grieuing, to quit our selues from the infection of pleading merit of workes.
3. Of many deare seruants of God for their slothfulnesse, and miserable neglect of the assurance of faith; resting still in their weaknesse of faith, and not striuing to be fully perswaded.