A Confession of My Faith and a Reason of My Practice, Part 1
How Christ is made ours; or by what means this or that man, hath that benefit by him, us to stand just before God now, and in the day of judgement.
1. I believe,Of justification. we being sinfull Creatures in our selves, that no good thing done by us, can procure of God the imputation of the righteousness of Jesus Christ. But that the imputation thereof, is an act of grace, a free gift without our deserving. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ. He called us, and saved us, with an holy calling; Not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus. Rom. 3.24. chap. 5.17. 2 Tim. 1 9.
2. I believe also, that the power of imputing righteousness resideth onelyonly in God by Christ: 1, Sin being the transgression of the Law; 2. The soul that hath sinned, being his creature, and the righteousness also his, and his onelyonly. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, to whom God imputeth righteousness without works; saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sin is covered; Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. Hence therefore it is said again, that men shall abundantly utter the memory of his great goodness, and sing of his righteousness. For he saith in Moses, I will have mercy, on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion, on whom I will have compassion. So then, it is not in him that willeth, nor in him that runneth, but in God that sheweth mercy. Rom. 4.6, 7. Psal. 145.7, Rom. 9.15, 16.
3. I believe, that the offer of this righteousness, as tendered in the Gospell, is to be received by faith: we still in the very act of receiving it, judging our selves sinners in our selves. Oh wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death. I thank God through Jesus Christ. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. The Gospel is preached in all nations for the obedience of faith. Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ; whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation (a sacrifice to appease the displeasure of God) through faith in his blood. To declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God; to declare I say, at this time his righteousness; that he might be just, and the justifyer of him that believeth on Jesus. Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; And by him all that believe are justifyed from all things, from which they could not be justifyed by the law of Moses. Rom, 7.24. Act. 16.31. Rom 3.24.25. Act. 13.38, 39.
4. I believe, that this faith, as it respecteth the imputation of this righteousness, for justification before God; doth put forth it self in such acts, as purely respect the offer of a gift. It receiveth, accepteth of, imbraceth, or trusteth to it. As many as received him to them he gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. This is a faithfull saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief, In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the Gospell of your salvation: In whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with the holy spirit of promise. I believe therefore, that as to my justication from the curse of the Law, I am, as I stand in my self, ungodly, to receive accept of, imbrace, and trust to the righteousness, that is already provided by, and wrapt up in the personal doings and sufferings of Christ: it being faith in that, and that onelyonly, that can justify a sinner in the sight of God. Joh. 1.12. 1 Tim. 1.15. Heb. 11.13. Eph. 1.13.
5. I believe, that the faith that so doth is not to be found with any but those, in whom the Spirit of God by mighty power doth work it; all others being fearfull and incredulous, dare not venture their souls and eternity upon it. And hence it is called the faith that is wrought by the exceeding great and mighty power of God: The faith of the operation of God. And hence it is that others are said to be fearfull, and so unbelieving. These with other ungodly sinners must have their part in the lake of fire. Eph. 1.18, 19. Col. 2.12. Eph. 2.8. Phil. 1.19. Rev. 21.8.
6. I bilieve, that this faith is effectually wrought in none, but those which before the world, were appointed unto Glory. And as many as were ordained unto eternal life believed, That he might make known the riches of his Glory, upon the vessels of mercy, which he had before prepared unto Glory. We give thanks unto God alwayes for you all, making mention alwayes of you in our prayers; remembring without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of God; knowing brethren, beloved, your election of God, But of the rest he saith, ye believed not because ye are not of my sheep, as I said, which latter words, relate to the 16. v. which respecteth the election of God. Joh. 10.26.
Therefore they could not believe, because Esaias said again: he hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their hearts that they should not see with their eyes; nor understand with their heart, and I should heal them. Act. 13.48. Rom. 9.23. 1 Thes. 1.2, 3, 4. Joh. 10.26. chap. 12, 38, 39, 40.