but those that it cometh to and upon those to whom it is given do first believe this is a means too but at a distance God worketh all things after the counsell of his own will that we might be to the praise of his glory who first trusted in Christ In whom ye trusted after ye heard the word of truth in whom also after ye believed ye were sealed with the holy spirit of promise the earnest of our inheritance Eph 1.11 12 13. We see here how according to the counsel of Gods will belief is after hearing and being sealed with the holy spirit is after believing and our inheritance is after sealing for the seal is but the earnest thereof justification is before glorification belief before justification and Gods word before our belief Note further that Christs coming and dying is that that procureth our light by his word this slain Lamb hath prevailed to open the book of Gods will Rev. 5. And Christ came because the father in love sent him God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosover believeth into him should not perish but have everlasting life John 3.16 The first and most remote cause of mans justification is the Fathers love sending his son The next not so remote as that is the sons coming and dying The third not so remote as either of them is mans enjoying the effect of Christs death to wit light with life The fourth cause not so remote as the three former is mans well using life and light The fifth and last cause a cause not remote but immediate is the faith of Christ The three first causes are common to all mankind God so loved the world and by his son fashioneth all their hearts alike Psal 33.14 15. Enlighteneth every one coming into the world John 1.9 but mans belief is the first and the faith of Christ the last special cause all men have not faith but one is a mediate the other an immediate cause Fourthly The works of the Law are no means at all a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the Law Rom. 3.20.27 28. and so much for proof But to prove these things and yet to misunderstand all is to no purpose Therefore see 1. What it is to be justified 2. What the faith of Christ is by which we are justified 3. What it is to believe into Christ 4. What is meant by the works of the Law First To be justified is to be made just justifie is in the plainest English make just as purifie is make pure purification is making pure or as glorifie is make glorious glorification making glorious so justifie is make just justification is making just to be justified is to be made just or righteous as by Scripture also may appear For as by one offence judgement came on all to condemnation so by one righteousnesse the gift is toward all to the justification of life for as by one offence many were made sinners so by one righteousnesse shall many be made righteous Rom. 5.18 19. It is not by the offence of one but by one offence that many are sinners as the Translater confesseth in the Margin We are not condemned for Adams act God is not so partial or unequal in his dealings with man as to set the childs tooth on edge for the fathers eating sowr grapes as Ezck 18. but by one offence that is lusting to sin as he did death came on all because all have sinned vers 14. We need not the imputation of his sin to condemn us for we have all lusted to sin as well as he which first lusting of every man is the mother that conceives sin in him read James 1.13 14 15. see another proof He that knew not sin was made sin a sin offering as Isa 53. for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5.21 the justified are made righteous Obj But declaring just is figuratively termed justifying some justifie the wicked for a reward and God justifieth the ungodly Rom. 4.5 Answ But they are wicked that do so justifie the wicked and a just God cannot so do though he be exceeding gracious and merciful yet he cannot clear the guilty Exod 20.7 34 7. Numb 14.18 God can justifie that is make just one that was ungodly but cannot account him just till he be so If I sin saith Job a believer thou markest me and thou wilt not acquit me Job 10.14 But if the unjust become just doing what is lawful and right God will account and declare him just and not impute former sins to him in case he sin no more as in Ezck 18 7 8 9. and Ezck 33.14 15 16. God cannot wickedly justifie by declaring the ungodly to be just while he remains unjust but when he is just God can justly account and declare him just though he hath been unjust and so to be justified is to be made just Thirdly But see also what the faith of Christ is by which we are made just and herein 1. What Christs faith is 2. How we are justified by it 3. How we may know we are justified First What is Christs faith 1. His word is so called The faith which Paul once destroyed Gal. 1.23 The faith of our Lord Jesus Christ James 3.1 Revel 2.13 14.12 Secondly Christs Spirit is so called as the comparing of Scripture will evidence as We have access to the father by one spirit accesse with confidence by the faith of him Eph. 2.18 3.12 Being justified by faith we have peace with God and accesse to this grace wherein we stand Rom. 5.1 2. Here we see that the Spirit of Christ is the faith of Christ whereby we are justified Again Christ is said to dwell in our hearts by faith Eph. 3.17 that is by his Spirit for he dwells in none otherwise as Rom. 8.9 10 11. Ye are not in the flesh but in the spirit if the Spirit of God dwel in you but if any have not the spirit of Christ he is not his and if Christ be in you c. We here see that if the Spirit of God or Christ dwel in us then Christ is in us and we are his but else not so that Christ by his faith that is by his spirit dwelleth in the justified and the Spirit of Christ is called the faith of Christ for it is indeed the spirit of faith 2. Cor. 4.13 though the word of Christ is the faith of Christ in the fruit the Spirit of Christ is the faith of Christ in the root and that by which we are justified It is not his word meant here for that precedes believing but Christs justifying faith is after our believing and so no lesse then the Spirit of Christ justifieth But ye are washed but ye are justified in the name of Christ and by the Spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6.11 He that is least in Zion shall be called Holy When even when the Lord shall have
THE PATH-WAY TO JUSTIFICATION PLAINLY PROVING I. What it is to be justified II. That justification is by the faith of Jesus and not by the works of the Law III. They only are justified that believe in Christ IV. What it is to believe into Jesus Christ V. The difference between the Law of faith and the Law of works also the difference between the work of faith and the works of the Law is plainly stated VI. Many objections are answered Written by Thomas Kilcopp ROM 3.21 The righteousnesse of God without the Law is manifest being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets even that righteousnesse of God which is by the faith of Christ unto all and upon all that believe LONDON Printed in the Year 1660. THE PATH-WAY TO JUSTIFICATION GAL. 2.16 Even we have believed into Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the Law for by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified PAVL wrote this Epistle purposely to withdraw the Galatians from the works of the Law They which had by Pauls preaching received the truth were now by false teachers drawne aside to Jewish customes as Circumcision the observing of dayes times months and years for which Paul chides them disdainfully terming such customes another Gospel and weak and beggerly elements and oftentimes he terms them the works of the Law this term is usual Paul hath in chiding of them 3 onsets one ends with the 2. chap. another with the 4. and the last with the Epistle In his first onset is a reproof for turning to another Gospel meaning the Law and the works of it Secondly He exhorts them to let him be accursed that preacheth otherwise then what he had taught them ver 6 7 8 9. Thirdly So to do he brings two Motives first because what he had taught them was not of man but of God vers 10 11. for they knew that he had been so zealous of the Jews Religion as to persecute the Church and truth of Christ till God by revelation made truth known to him revealing Christ in him and then without the least demur he preached the truth 2. Another Motive to constancie in the truth is his own example for 17 years together of which he brings two instances first his not suffering false brethren to circumcise his companion Titus chap. 2. to vers 7. secondly in not suffering Peter one of the three chief Apostles to bauk with the truth in shunning to eat with the Gentiles to the end of the chap. in which instance note 1. He did reprove Peter and that to his face 2. The cause why for he was to be blamed ver 11. 3. Peters sin he for fear of the Jews did shun to eat with the Gentiles ver 12 13. 4. His words of reproof and therein first he reasoneth the case with Peter why he a Jew who had already lived as the Gentiles should hereby force the Gentiles to live as do the Jewes secondly affirmeth to Peter these words We who are Jews by nature and not sinners of the Gentiles knowing a man is not justified by the works of the Law but by the faith of Jesus Christ even we have believed into Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the Law for by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified the last part of the said affirmation I speak from wherein see 1. an end to obtain to wit Justification 2. the means to obtain it to wit Christs faith and our belief without the works of the Law We have believed into Jesus Christ this is the preparative means on our part that we might be justified this is the end to obtain by the faith of Christ this is the executative means on Christs part and not by the works of the Law Levitical shadows tend not to justification See here a distinction between belief and justifying faith one is ours the other Christs the one a preparative the other the executative means our beliefe precedes Christs faith to justification but the works of the Law are wholly excluded but the preparative means on our part is not a bare belief but a belief into Christ the word is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is not in but into as Schollars affirm Doctrines are these First That justification is the chief end to obtain here This is the promise to Abraham the price of our high calling but to this all do ascent but the truth here held forth and which will be opposed is this That our believing into Christ is a mediate and Christs faith the immediate means of our justification without the works of the Law This I shall first prove and then declare the marrow of it to prove it I shall prove four things 1. That Christs faith is a means of our justification 2. That our belief into Christ is a means also 3. Our belief is a mediate and Christ faith is the immediate means 4. And all this without the works of the Law That justification is by the faith of Christ and that it is not by the works of the Law is the thing affirmed That our belief is a means preparative and Christs faith the alone means executative is here included We have believed into Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ mark it they had already believed into Christ and to this end to be justified by Christs faith but see it also by other Scriptures First That Christs faith is a means of justification for God doth justifie the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith Rom. 3.30 by faith to wit the faith of Christ for Paul after his conversion to Christ desired to be found in Christ that is saith he not having my own righteousness but that which is by the faith of Christ the righteousnesse which is of God by faith Phil 3.8 9. none are justified but by the faith of Christ Secondly Mans believing into Christ is also a means leading thereto for Christ Jesus is set forth to declare Gods righteousnesse that he might be just justifying him that believeth into Jesus Rom. 3.26 None are by Christs faith justified that do not first believe into Christ because God is just in justifying Thirdly Christs faith is the alone immediate means nothing comes between that and our justification but mans belief is a means mediate or at a distance for Christs faith comes between mans belief and his justification for Gods righteousnesse is witnessed by the Law and Prophets even that righteousnesse of God which is by the faith of Christ unto all and upon all that believe Rom. 3.21 22. The Scripture hath concluded all under sin that the promise by the faith of Jesus might be given to them that believe Gal. 3.22 here we see that the promise even the righteousnesse of God is by the faith of Jesus that is the immediate means
Christ all ye that are weary and I will give you rest how must we come he tells us Take my yoke upon you and learn of me and ye shall find rest to your soules Matth 11.28 29. He is the author of eternal salvation to all that obey him He saves to the utmost all that come to God by him Heb. 5.9 with Heb. 7.25 nothing but obeying him is coming to God by him Fourthly Believing into Christ or obedience to his commands is a preparative to justification none are justified till they first keep Gods law and all such obtain it It is not the hearers of the Law that are just before God but the doers of the Law shall be justified Rom. 2.13 such as first obey him he saves with an eternal salvation If justified then saved from the power or roote of fin and so fin can bud no more in them therefore cleanse hand tongue and heart from sin and thou shalt receive the blessing from the Lord even righteousnesse a righteous spirit from the God of thy salvation Psal 24.5 He that believeth into me saith Christ out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water and this spake he of the spirit which they that believed on him should receive John 7.38.39 Christs justifying spirit is not obtained without obedience preceding and if perfect obedience precede justification will through grace succeed He that hath my commandements and keepeth them saith Christ he it is that loveth me and he that loveth me shall be loved of my father and I will love him and will manifest my self to him This admirable promise made a Disciple ask him how it was or why it was that he would manifest himselfe to them and not to the world and Christ again gives him the cause saying if a man love me he will keep my word and my father will love him and we will come and make our abode with him John 14.21 22 23. If we keep in a way of sin Christ cannot come to us to justifie us but if we leave sin and walk in the way of righteousnesse he will come to us for he meeteth such as rejoyce in working righteousnesse which remember him in his wayes Isa 64.5 let the sinner leave sin and walk in all the statutes of life without sinning again and he shall live that is shall be justified Christ shall live in him and his life thenceforth shall be by the faith of the Son of God Ezek 33.15 Gal. 3.20 Application Then seek justification by a Godly life While ye have the light believe into the light that ye may be the children of the light John 12.36 Adde to belief vertue giving all diligence that all vertue may abound in you for then ye will not be barren in knowledge then ye will make your calling and election sure and then ye shall never fall because an entrance will be ministred unto you into the everlasting Kingdome of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 1. Therefore sow to your selves righteousnesse reap mercy plough up your follow ground for 't is time to seek the Lord till he come and reign righteousnesse upon you Hosea 10.12 Thus saith the Lord keep judgement do justice for my salvation is neer to come and my righteousnesse to be revealed Isa 65.1 Secondly Let this doctrin be alwayes taught That believers be careful to maintain good workes being profitable to men Godliness is profitable to all things having the promise of the life that now is and that that is to come Tit 3.8 1 Tim 4.8 of justification here and glorification hereafter but if they draw back God will have no pleasure in them and so much to the third particular Fourthly See what the works of the Law are without which justification must be and herein 1. What works are called the works of the Law 2. Why justification cannot be by them 3. Application First To know what the works of the Law are we must know what Law is spoken of for the doing what any Law requireth is the work of that Law as Exod 18.20 Christ and the Jews did in general by the Law mean all the writings of Moses as Matth. 7.12 John 1.47 in which Law are weighty matters as judgement mercy and faith and slighter matters concern the Levitical worship as Tithes and the like Matth 23.23 and Paul whose words we have in hand calleth sometimes the whole and sometime each part the Law First Sometime though seldome he calleth the weightier part even the ten commandements the Law as in these words He that loveth fulfilleth the Law for this thou shalt not commit adultery thou shalt not kill thou shalt not bear false witness thou shalt not covet or any other command is comprehended in this saying Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self love doth his neighbour no ill therefore is love the fulfilling of the Law Rom 13.8 9 10. By Law here is meant the ten commands also the same in Gal 5.14 Secondly He most usually calleth the shadows of the Levitical Priesthood the Law and so if the Priest-hood be changed there is of necessity a change also of the Law Were Christ on earth he could not be a Priest for there are Priests which according to the Law offer gifts Again Sacrifice and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings thou wouldst not nor hadst pleasure therein which are offered according to the Law Heb 7.12 8.4 10.8 In such places speaking contemptibly of the Law he meaneth by the Law only Levitical shadows but pressing us to keep the Law then by the Law he meaneth the ten commands Also when Paul speaks of both and would distinguish between them then the substance is called the law of faith and shadows called the law of works and this without variation and as shadows only is called the Law of works so only the observation of shadows he calleth the works of the Law as for instance Rom. 3.27 28. sith Justification is by faith boasting saith he is excluded but by what Law by the Law of works Nay but by the Law of faith therefore we conclude a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the Law The Law of works or works of the Law is put in opposition to faith or the Law of faith Weak and beggerly elements only are the works of the Law without which justification is as may further appear First From the scope of this place these words being part of Pauls reproof to Peter Peter a Jew knowing the partition wall broken down had eaten with Gentiles and afterward through fear of some Jews which came from James he withdrew for which Paul sharply reproves him in which reproof he first reasons the case with Peter Why he a Jew that had already lived as the Gentiles should now in so doing compel the Gentiles to live as do the Jews and then affirmed to Peter these words We who are Jews by nature and not sinners of the Gentiles knowing that a man is not justified