That the apostle doth thus, and no otherwise, state this whole matter, and, in an answer unto this inquiry, declare the nature of justification and all the causes of it, in the third and fourth chapters of the Epistle to the Eomans, and elsewhere, shall be afterward de- clared and proved. And we shall also manifest, that the apostle James, in the second chapter of his epistle, doth not speak unto this inquiry, nor give an answer unto it; but it is of justification in another sense, and to another purpose, whereof he treateth. And whereas we cannot either safely or usefully treat of this doctrine, but with respect unto the same ends for which it is declared, and whereunto it is applied in the Scripture, we should not, by any pretences, be turned aside from attending unto this case and its resolution, in all our dis- courses on this subject; for it is the direction, satisfaction, and peace of the consciences of men, and not the curiosity of notions or subtil fcy of disputations, which it is our duty to design. And, therefore, I shall, as much as I possibly may, avoid all those philosophical terms and distinctions wherewith this evangelical doctrine hath been per- plexed rather than illustrated ; for more weigiit is to be put on the steady guidance of the mind and conscience of one believer, really exercised about the foundation of his peace and acceptance with God, than on the confutation of ten wrangling disputers.
3. Now the inquiry, on what account, or for what cause and rea-
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS. 9
son, a man may be so acquitted or discharged of sin, and accepted with God, as before declared, doth necessarily issue in this: — Whether' it be any thing in ourselves, as our faith and repentance, the reno- vation of our natures, inherent habits of grace, and actual luorks of righteousness tvhich lue have done, or may do? or whether it be the obedience, righteousness, satisfaction, and merit of the Son of God our mediator, and surety of the covenant, imputed unto us? One of these it must be, — namely, something that is our own, which, whatever may be the influence of the grace of God unto it, or causality of it, because wrought in and by us, is inherently our own in a pro- per sense ; or something which, being oiot our oiun, not inherent in us, nor wrought by us, is yet imputed unto us, for the pardon of our sins and the acceptation of our persons as righteous, or the making of us righteous in the sight of God. Neither are these things capable of mixture or composition, Rom. xi. 6. Which of these it is the duty, Avisdom, and safety of a convinced sinner to rely upon and trust unto, in his appearance before God, is the sum of our present inquiry.
4. The way whereby sinners do or ought to betake themselves unto this relief, on supposition that it is the righteousness of Christ, and how they come to be partakers of, or interested in, that which is not inherently their own, unto as good benefit and as much advantage as if it were their own, is of a distinct consideration. And as this also is clearly determined in the Scripture, so it is acknowledged in the experience of all them that do truly believe. Neither are we in this matter much to regard the senses or arguings of men who were never thoroughly convinced of sin, nor have ever in their o'wn per- sons " fled for refuge unto the hope set before them."
5. These things, I say, are always to be attended unto, in our whole disquisition into the nature oi evangelical justification ; for, without a constant respect unto them, we shall qviickly wander into curious and perplexed questions, wherein the consciences of guilty sinners are not concerned; and which, therefore, really belong not unto the substance or truth of this doctrine, nor are to be immixed therewith. It is alone the relief of those who are in themselves i-vodiKoi rip Qiu, — guilty before, or obnoxious and liable to, the judgment of God, — that we inquire after. That this is not any thing in or of themselves, nor can so be, — that it is a provision without them, made in infinite wis- dom and grace by the mediation of Christ, his obedience and death therein, — is secured in the Scripture against all contradiction ; and it is the fundamental principle of the gospel. Matt. xi. 28.
6. It is confessed that niany things, for the declaration of the truth, and the order of the dispensation of God's grace herein, are neces- sarily to be insisted on; — such are the nature of justifying faith, the place and use of it in justification, the causes of the new covenant.
10 ON JUSTIFICATION.
the true notion of the mediation and suretiship of Christ, and the like; which shall all of them be inquired into. But, beyond what tends directly unto the guidance of the minds and satisfaction of the souls of men, who seek after a stable and abiding foundation of ac- ceptance with God, we are not easily to be drawn, unless we are free to lose the benefit and comfort of this most important evangelical truth in needless and unprofitable contentions. And amongst many other miscarriages which men are subject unto, whilst they are con- versant about these things, this, in an especial manner, is to be avoided.