The Doctrine of Justification Cleared, Title page – Dedication
THE DOCTRINE OF IVSTIFICATION CLEARED, By Animadverſions on Mr. John Goodwins Animadverſions upon Mr. George Walkers Defence of the true ſenſe of the Apoſtle, Rom. 4. 3, 5 &c.
Together with an examination of both parts of his Treatiſe of Juſtification.
Wherein the imputation of faith in a proper ſenſe is denied, and the imputation of Chriſts righteouſneſſe Active and Paſſive affirmed, againſt that Treatiſe.
By Henry Robrough, Rector of Leonards Eaſt-cheape London.
Reſpondio: Luthero calumniam facit, non enim hoc ſenſu quo ipſe fingit dixit fidem id eſt qualitatem fidei eſſe formalem noſtram juſtitiam, ſed Metonymico ſenſu dixit fidem, id eſt, Chriſtum fide apprehenſum, eſſe juſtitiam noſtram.
Quem ſenſum (metonymicum) ſi oppugnat adverſarius, certe non Lutherum impugnat, ſed Spiritum ſanctum blaſphemat, qui Chriſtum expreſſe vocat noſtram juſtitiam, Jer. 23. 6. & 1 Cor. 1. 30. Pareus Caſtig. Bellarm. l. 2. c. 4. p. 418.
Juſtitia meriti ſeu foreign non eſt tantum ſanguis & mors Chriſti, ſed complectitur totam obedientiam humiliationis ab articulo conceptionis uſque ad mortem crucis, ad Parens de act. & Paſſ. juſt. P. 186.
Etiam Evangelica juſtitia eſt legis impletio, neque pugnat cum lege: per Evangeliumenim Lex non aboletur, ſed ſtabilitur, Urſ. Cat. p. 391.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt that though he was rich, yet for your ſakes he became poore, that ye through his poverty might be rich. 2 Cor. 8. 9.
LONDON, Printed by R. C. and are to be ſold by John Bellamy and Ralph Smith, at the ſigne of the three Golden Lions in Corne-hill, neare the Royall Exchange. 1643.
To his Worſhipfull, loving, and well beloved friends, Alderman Bunce and his loving Conſort Miſtris Sarah Bunce.
ADAMS ſinne was a great one doubtleſſe, I thinke the greateſt of all; ſome except the ſinne againſt the holy Ghoſt. I am ſure the whole Creation groaneth under it, and travelleth as in paine for it at this day, eſpecially the little world, mankind: The evils which are upon our bodies, ſoules, goods, names, are hence. Hence diſeaſes on and in the body innumerable, the freeing us from which, and putting it in an equall temper, taketh up the Art and induſtry of the Phyſitian; and when he hath done all, there will be a diſſolution of that earthly houſe. Duſt thou art, and into duſt ſhalt thou returne againe.
The divine is Gods ſpecial ordinance for the ſoule, & (bleſſed be God) there is a compleate remedy in that way for the foule, the ſaving of the ſoule, beginning, conſummation, and body too in the glorious reſurrection, the ſalvation prepared to be revealed in the laſt times.
A maine part of ſalvation is Juſtification, juſt making, by it ſuch as beleeve are holy, unreprovable, unblamable in Gods ſight, white as Snow, and whiter, perfected for ever; ſo are all thoſe that are ſanctified God dealeth with them as ſuch, pardoneth all ſinnes, freeth from guilt and puniſhment properly ſo called, whatſoever is compenſatory or fatisfactory, and giveth them eternall life.
Hence peace with God, rejoycing in hope of glory, glorying in tribulations, againſt Adams ſin, the death cauſed by it, ſervitude to ſinne, freedome from righteouſneſſe, the power that was, and the reliques, yea and thoſe of omiſſions, & cōmiſſions, againſt the worlds accuſations, condemnations, the Devill and conſcience. It is God that juſtifieth, who can condemne, who canlay any thing to their charge? Phyſitians agree not about the cure of the body, nor Divines about this of the ſoule. Some differences there are about other things. … i… about that by which, the forme, or what is inſteed of it; ſome give it faith imputed in a proper ſenſe, ſo the Animad verſor I deal with ſometimes, ſometimes remiſſion of ſinnes, both which he calleth righteouſneſſe, (righteouſneſſe is confeſſedly neceſſary 'to juſtification.) Papiſts to faith, hope, and charity; both make Chriſt the meritorious cauſe. It is his merit whence faith is imputed and juctifieth, ſaith one; his merit, that faith, hope, and charity, juſtifie, ſo the other.
I deny faith, hope, and charity; yea, faith alone in a proper ſenſe Though I allow faith to be the inſtrument applying, that by which, I profeſſe my ſelfe a friend of imputation of the Active and Paſsive obedience of Chriſt; that, as that obedience is the meritorious cauſe, ſo the matter, and that imputed, given or applied by God, the formal cauſe, or that which ſupplieth the place there of: whileſt ſome have beene buſie about other controverſies of our times, and others in an eager perſuite of war; I (having a little more leiſure then ever before, not uſed to be idle) have laboured in this controverſie the clearing of it. My firſt and laſt thoughts of ſome to whom I ſhould Dedicate this, pitched on you both, and I deſire you to take it as a pledge of unfeigned love and thankfulnes for many loving kindneſſes, for conſtant friendſhip. I hope the cauſe (being the conſtant tenet of all Proteſtants againſt Arminians and Papiſts) will defend it ſelfe; It is Ieſus Chriſts cauſe, he will never leave it. If in your peruſall of it, it ſhall contribute to your eſtabliſhment, to your peace and comfort in life & death, to your boldneſſe in ſtanding before Gods tribunall here and hereafter which was Sc. Pauls defire, and the practiſe of all that did ever ſo ſtand) I ſhall have mine aime in this mine in tituling it to you both, whom I truly love, which I earneſtly deſire and pray for, reſting ever yours in all ſervices of love to be commanded,
HENRY ROBROUGH. Aprill 3. 1643.