The Plain Doctrine of the Justification of a Sinner in the Sight of God, Title page – Publishers note
foreign OR THE PLAIN DOCTRIN OF THE JUSTIFICATION OF A Sinner in the ſight of God, Juſtified by the God of Truth in his Holy Word, and the cloud of Witneſſes in all Ages.
WHEREIN Are handled the Cauſes of the Sinners Juſtification. Explained and Applied in ſix and twenty Sermons, in a plain, Doctrinal and Familiar way, for the Capacity, and Underſtanding of the Weak and Ignorant.
By Charles Chauncy Preſident of Harvard Colledge in Cambridge in New-England.
1 Cor. 3.10, 11.
According to the Grace of God given unto mee — I have laid the foundation.
Other foundation can no man lay, than that is laid, which is Jeſus Christ.
London, Printed by R. I. for Adoniram Byfield, at the ſign of the Three Bibles in Corn-hill. 1659.
HONORATISSIMO ET NOBILISSIMO HEROI Ampliſſimo uti que et Piiſſimo Domino GƲLIELMO Vicecomiti SEY & SEALE;
Nec non Illuſtriſſimo et Digniſſimo Viro, Domino NATHANIELI FIENNES, Unie Dominis Cuſtodibus Magni Sigilli Angliae.
Hoc grati animi et debitae obſervantiae foreign, D. D. D. C. C.
The Preface to the Chriſtian Reader.
Chriſtian Reader,
IT may perhaps ſeem strange, that any thing ſhould bee further adventured to the Preſſe about ſuch a common Theme or Argument, as the Doctrin of Juſtification is, concerning which, ſo many Large Volumes have been publiſhed in this laſt Age of the World, for the clearing of it, with ſuch exactneſſe of Scripture Truth, with ſuch evidence and demonſtration of the Spirit, that it can hardly bee conceived what can bee added thereunto: Therefore to remove ſuch a ſcruple in the entrance, I ſhall ſuggeſt unto thee a few Conſiderations.
Firſt, That although much hath been publiſhed concerning this point, yet generally, thou ſhalt finde, that either it hath been, handled Polemically, or in a Controverſal way, for the Confutation of many Errours and Hereſies that do contradict it, and blaſpheme it; as eſpecially the Doctrin of the Papiſts and of the Socinians doth: or elſe, if Doctrinally, by laying down the poſitive Truths concerning it, Yet very briefly and ſummarily, ſo that many weak underſtandings conceive it only in a confuſed, but not in a diſtinct way: which had need moſt plainly and clearly to be conceived.
This therefore I have endeavoured, according to opportunity, and ſuch help as the Lord hath given mee, more diſtinctly and largely to hold-forth: deſiring to condeſcend (as God hath inabled mee) to the meaneſt capacity. It was piouſly and prudently ſpoken by Reverend Mr. Dod, That too many Miniſters deal like unskilful Archers, that they do ſhoot over the heads, much more the hearts of their hearers, and miſs their mark, whilſt they ſoar ſo high, either by handling deep points, or by uſing of obſcure and dark expreſſions or phraſes, in their writing or Preaching of theſe things.
2 Becauſe this Doctrin is fundamental, 1 Cor. 3.11.and that wherby we build upon the only foundation of eternal ſalvation, that is, Jeſus Chriſt. Now it is moſt dangerous to be miſtaken here. Yea, this is the very center of all Chriſtian Religion, wherein all the lines do meet; all other Doctrins do either lead to it, or flow from it, and are preſerved by it: Hence it is that Paul in all his writings, eſpecially in the Epiſtles to the Romans, and Galatians, treats ſo largely of this point, In Praefatione in Epiſ. ad Gal.and ſo Luther profeſſes, that this Article reigned in his heart, this about faith in the merit of Chriſt, from whom, and through whom, and into whom, al my cogitations do flow, and return, Yet I do not find that I have found out or comprehended of the wiſdom of ſuch height, and breadth, and depth, but ſome weak, and poor, firſt fruits and fragments; and a little after, he ſaith, That wee had great need moſt diligently to bee acquainted with this Article, whether wee bee young or old, whether wee bee learned or unlearned; for this rock muſt needs be cryed up (that is, Chriſt held forth in the Juſtification of a ſinner) which, if that men ſhould hold their peace, the ſtones would ſpeak of, and extol: And again, This Doctrin can never be ſufficiently handled, and inculcated: for that, it being thrown-down, or ſinking, the whole knowledge of the truth together is caſt-down and periſhed: But when as this Doctrin flouriſheth, all good things flouriſh; as the true worſhip and glory of God, the certain knowledge of all ſtates & things. Accordingly Chemnitius ſaith that Juſtification is, as if it were the Caſtle and chief bulwark of the whole Doctrin of Chriſtian Religion, which being either darkned, or adulterated, or over-thrown, it is impoſſible to continue the putiry of the doctrin in other points: But this doctrin being kept and preſerved intire, all Idolatries, and Superſtitions, and whatſoever corruptions are found in other points, do fall to ruine.
3 Becauſe my place and particular imployment (wherein I hope that my deſire is to ſerve the Lord in truth, and to ſeek the great benefit of youth, Eph. 6.and Students, who are to be trained up, foreign; that is, in the doctrin of the Lord, that may put a right underſtanding into them.) I ſay, that my particular imployment hath moved mee to repreſent this doctrin of Juſtification as a Standard of truth and ſalvation to them; which they ſhould hold faſt, and as the Lord ſhall call them thereunto, hold forth in their generations, for the benefit of the Churches of Chriſt, as they ſhall find it conſonant to the analogy of faith in the Scripture of Truth.
4 In regard of long experience in miniſterial work, I have found, not only prophane or civilized perſons, but even many ancient Profeſsors extreamly ignorant in this point, and having only ſome confuſed notions, and general implicite underſtanding and faith, which is much to bee lamented, eſpecially in theſe daies of light and knowledge, and places of pretious liberties and opportunities: and which is worſe, it is extreamly dangerous to ſuch perſons in regard of their everlaſting eſtate, This being life eternal to know the onelyonly true God, and Jeſus Chriſt whom he hath ſent, Joh. 17.3. For the removing and avoiding of which diſconvenience, if my poor indeavours in theſe Sermons ſhall be available in any meaſure to work in thy heart any ſound and grounded conſolation, and good hope through grace; Let the grace of God in Chriſt Jeſus have all the glory of it. To whoſe inſtruction, and ſoul-ſaving, and ſoul-ſatisfying, and infinite goodneſs, thou art commended by
Thy Friend in Chriſt Jeſus, C. C.
Courteous Reader, Theſe Books following are Printed or ſold by Adoniram Byfield at the Three Bibles in Cornhill, next door to Popes-Head-Alley.
THE Hiſtory of the Evangelical Churches of the Vallies of Piemont; containing a moſt exact Geographical Deſcription of the place, and a faithful account of the Doctrin, Life, and Perſecutions of the Ancient Inhabitants, together with a moſt naked and punctual relation of the late bloody Maſſacre, 1655. and a Narrative of all the following tranſactions to 1658. Juſtified partly by divers Ancient Manuſcripts written many hundred years before Calvin or Luther. By Samuel Morland, Eſq; Fol.
Divine Characters in two parts, acutely diſtinguiſhing the more ſecret and undiſcerned differences between the Hypocrite, in his beſt dreſs of ſeeming vertues, and formal duties, and the true Chriſtian, in his real graces and ſincere obedience. By Mr. Samuel Crook. Fol.
An Expoſition upon Ezekiel, by Mr. William Grenhill. Fol. 4o
The humble Sinner reſolved what hee ſhould do to be ſaved, or faith in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt the only way of ſalvation. By Mr. Obadiah Sedgewick. Fol. 4o
The riches of Grace diſplayed in the offer and tender of ſalvation to poor ſinners. By the ſame Author. Fol. 12o
The Fountain opened, and the water of life flowing forth, for the refreſhing of thirſty ſinners. By the ſame Author. Fol. 4o
The Goſpels glory, without prejudice to the Law, ſhining forth in the glory of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt, for the ſalvation of ſinners. By Mr. Richard Byfield. Fol. 8o
A Declaration of the Faith and Order owned and practiſed in the Congregational Churches in England, agreed upon, and conſented unto by their Elders and Meſſengers in their meeting at the Savoy. Fol. 4o
A ſhort Catechiſm. By Mr. Obadiah Sedgewick.
Hidden Manna. By Mr. Fenner. Fol. 12o
Safe Conduct, or the Saints guidance to Glory. By Mr. Ralph Robinſon. Fol. 4o
The Saints longing after their heavenly Country. By the ſame Author. Fol. 4o
A Sermon at a Faſt. By Nathaniel Ward. Fol. 4o
Moſes his Death, a Sermon at the Funeral of Mr. Edward Bright Miniſter. By Mr. Samuel Jacomb. Fol. 4o
A ſhort and plain Catechiſm, inſtructing a learner of Chriſtian Religion what hee is to beleeve, and what hee is to practice. By the ſame Author.
The Hypocritical Nation deſcribed, with an Epiſtle prefixed, by Mr. Samuel Jacomb. Fol. 4o
A Sermon of the baptizing of Infants. By Mr. Stephen Marſhall. Fol. 4o
The unity of the Saints with Chriſt the head. By the ſame Author. Fol. 4o