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
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
washt away the filth of the daughter of Zion by the spirit of judgement and by the spirit of burning Isa 4.3 4. so that Christs spirit only is his faith by which we are justified Secondly See how we are justified by the faith or Spirit of Christ Answ By the conveyance of it and not otherwise not by a bare imputation but by a gift Having given us his holy spirit 1 Thess 4.8 He that keeps his commandements dwelleth in him and he in him hereby we know we dwell in him and he in us even by the spirit which he hath given us 1 John 3.24 4.13 They that receive abundance of grace of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life c. Rom. 5.17 He shall receive a blessing from the Lord even righteousness from the God of his salvation Psal 24.5 See how justification is the blessing of Abraham a gift of righteousnesse given and received and so the justified are partakers of the Divine nature therefore Let the Heavens drop from above let the skies pour down righteousness and bring salvation also let the earth open that righteousness may spring up c. Isa 45.8 Thirdly How know we that we are justified by the faith or spirit of Christ Answ They to whom Christs spirit is given are joyned to the Lord and but one spirit 1 Cor. 6.17 He that is born of the spirit is spirit John 3.6 they are as Christ is Christ dwels in them and they in him yea Christ lives in them and they live by his faith and all old things are done away and all things in them are become new thoughts words deeds and nature are new they being new creatures are changed from glory to glory as by the spirit of the Lord 2 Cor. 3.18 5.17 their love being perfected they thenceforth cannot sin because they are born of God He keepeth himselfe pure and the wicked one cannot touch him 1 John 3.9 4.17 5.18 The old man is crucified and body of sin destroyed in them and for this very purpose That thenceforth they should not serve sin being dead and risen with Christ they are freed from sin Rom 6.5 6 7. The very root of sin is took away if once justified and so much to the second particular Thirdly See next what it is to believe into Christ and so 1. What to believe into Christ 2. What of Christ we must believe into 3. What belief is a belief into Christ 4. That belief into Christ is a means of justification First To believe into Christ is to come unto or into him by believing such as enter not into him by believing do not believe into him He that cometh to me saith Christ shall never hunger and he that believeth on into me shall never thirst John 6.35 He that cometh to God must believe that God is c. Heb. 11. none can come to him without believing but many believe without coming but they believe not into Christ except they come to Christ by believing and therefore Christ exhorts men thus If any man thirst let him come to me and drink and then explaines it thus he that believeth into me as saith the Scripture out of his belly shall flow c. John 7.37 38. so then to believe into Christ is to come by believing to him Secondly What of Christ must we believe into or come into 1. Not into his person which is far above the highest heaven Eph. 4.10 2. Not into his Spirit entrance into that himselfe giveth us by his own faith after we have believed into him but Thirdly In general to believe into Christ is to believe into his word John 8.30 31. As he spake these words many believed on him into him and to these saith Christ if ye continue in my word ye are my Disciples indeed 1. He preacht to them 2. They believed into him 3. These he encourageth to continue in his word so that to believe and abide in his word is to believe and abide in him If that which ye heard from the beginning shall remain in you ye shall continue in the Son and in the Father 1 John 2.24 I am the true vine saith Christ ye the branches he that abides in me and I in him shall be fruitful and what is this abiding in him he tells us If saith he ye abide in me and my word abide in you c. John 15.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. therefore let us while we have the light believe into the light that is into the word believe into that and ye believe into Christ thus in general Particularly To believe into Christ that is into his word is to believe into his name and into his conversation First Into his name as many as received him to them gave he power to become Gods children even to them that believed into his name John 1.12 and they are condemned for not believing into him which believed not into his name John 3.18 We must believe into the outside or profession of his name by yeelding to the Ordinance of dipping Go ye therefore and disciplize all Nations dipping them into the name of the Father Son and holy Spirit Mat. 28.19 and into the inside of his name which is holinesse by ceasing to sin Holy and Reverend is his name Psal 111.9 Let every one that nameth the Lord Jesus depart from iniquity 2 Tim. Secondly Believe into his conversation that is so to believe as to put off as concerning the conversation the old man which is corrupt and put on the new man which is after God created in righteousness and true holiness Eph. 4.22 23 24. Put yeon the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts of it Rom. 13. We see here that to put on a new conversation is to put on the Lord Jesus Christ also to put it on or to enter into it we know to be one and the same thing Holiness the inside of his name is but the outside of his conversation and perfect right eousness the inside of his conversation we believe into When with the heart we believe unto righteousness and witness with the mouth unto salvation Rom. 10.10 Obj Is not the use of ordinances coming to Christ Answ Thereby we draw nigh with our bodies but if our spirit be not also brought unto him by submission to his will our bodily drawing nigh will be in vain Matth. 15.9 Thirdly See what belief is termed a believing into Christ or unto Christ It is only a practical belief that brings us to Christ to his conversation for belief with works is dead that moves not but lively stones by a lively belief come to Christ the living stone 1 Pet. 1.1 to the 7. sinning is going from Christ and obedience is coming to him Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you how so he tells us cleanse your hands ye sinners and purisie your hearts ye double minded Jam. 4.7 8. Come unto me saith