by Anthony Burgess
in ePub, .mobi & .pdf formats
This text has been initially updated from EEBO-TCP by Project Puritas, Further revision and editing done by Monergism.
"The True Doctrine of Justification: Asserted and Vindicated from the Errors of Papists, Arminians, Socinians, and More Especially Antinomians" by Anthony Burgess stands as a robust defense and detailed exposition of the classical Protestant doctrine of justification by faith alone. Written during a time of significant theological conflict, Burgess’s work aims to clarify and defend the doctrine that was crucial to the Protestant Reformation and remains central to Reformed theology.
In his comprehensive treatise, Burgess meticulously dissects the multiple errors that had infiltrated the church's understanding of justification, such as the Roman Catholic reliance on sacraments and works, the Arminian emphasis on human cooperation with divine grace, and the Antinomian rejection of the law's role in the life of a believer. Each of these, Burgess argues, detracts from the sufficiency of Christ's atoning sacrifice and the assurance it is meant to provide believers.
Burgess uses Scripture extensively to argue that justification involves both the imputation of Christ's righteousness to the believer and the full remission of sins—themes he elaborates through careful biblical exegesis and theological reasoning. His goal is to present a balanced view that maintains the necessity of faith and repentance without falling into the trap of legalism or license.
This book is particularly notable for its depth and the rigor of its argumentation. Burgess not only addresses theological errors but also pastoral concerns, providing a guide that helps believers understand and appreciate the profound relief and joy that come from being justified by faith. His work is a valuable resource for theologians, pastors, and any serious student of theology seeking to understand the historical and biblical foundations of this pivotal Christian doctrine. It is especially relevant for those interested in the interplay between Reformation theology and contemporary challenges to orthodox Christian beliefs.
900 pages
Anthony Burgess was a prominent Puritan divine and scholar of the 17th century, noted for his erudite theological writings and deep commitment to the principles of the Reformation. Born in 1600 in Watford, Hertfordshire, Burgess attended St. John's College, Cambridge, where he excelled in his studies and later became a fellow. He served as a vicar in Sutton Coldfield and was actively involved in the Westminster Assembly, where he participated in debates concerning church governance and doctrine, demonstrating his theological acumen.
Burgess was highly regarded among his contemporaries for his profound understanding of Scripture and his ability to articulate complex theological ideas with clarity and conviction. His works, including "Vindiciae Legis," a defense of the moral law, and "Spiritual Refining," a series of sermons on theological virtues, were widely esteemed not only for their scholarly merit but also for their practical application to Christian living. His writings contributed significantly to Puritan theology and were influential in shaping Protestant thought beyond his own time.
Throughout his career, Burgess was known for his staunch defense of Reformed orthodoxy, particularly on the doctrine of justification, which he expounded upon in his work "The True Doctrine of Justification." His works were celebrated for their meticulous scholarship and pastoral sensitivity, earning him a reputation as a key figure in the Puritan movement. His legacy continues to be recognized in theological studies, where his works are cited for their doctrinal precision and their role in the development of Protestant theological thought.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE.
PART. I - Preface I.
TO THE CHRISTIAN READER.
PART. I - Preface II.
TO THE JUDICIOUS READER.
PART. II - Preface
PART I.
1. LECTURE I.
Introductory Propositions, setting forth the Excellency and Preciousness of the Doctrine of Justification; Of how much importance it is that it be kept pure; With the signification of the word Justify.
2. LECTURE II.
Of the Reality of Justification by Christ; That the Scripture speaks of it as to us in a Passive sense, and as God's Action, not ours. And of other equivalent phrases to it in Scripture; With some necessary Cautions.
3. LECTURE III.
The Possibility of Pardon; How many ways sin may be said to be forgiven; What things are considered in sin; The Difference between Original and Actual sin; That when sin is forgiven, it is totally and perfectly forgiven: Also the Subject and Extent of Remission
4. LECTURE IV.
Of the Afflictions that come upon the Godly after the Pardon of their sins.
5. LECTURE V.
Of Afflictions: Whether God chastises his Children for their sins.
6. LECTURE VI.
Of the Perfection of Justified Persons, and their freedom from sin: Whether God sees sin in Believers: Diverse Scripture expressions about pardon of sin.
7. LECTURE VII.
Arguments to prove, That God does see sin in the Justified as to be offended and displeased with it.
8. LECTURE VIII.
Further Arguments to prove, That God does see sin in the Justified as to be offended and displeased with it.
9. LECTURE IX.
How greatly God is offended at the sins of those that are Godly.
10. LECTURE X.
How God's anger manifests itself upon his own Children sinning.
11. LECTURE XI.
The Antinomians Distinction of God's Knowing and Seeing sin, examined.
12. LECTURE XII.
Propositions showing how far God's taking notice of sin, so as to punish it, is subject to the mere Liberty of his Will.
13. LECTURE XIII.
Showing, That Sins are Debts.
14. LECTURE XIV.
That Justified persons are to pray for the Forgiveness of sin in a proper sense, and not only for the sense of pardon: With the meaning of the Petition, Forgive us, &c.
15. LECTURE XV.
Shows, What this Petition does suppose and imply.
16. LECTURE XVI.
Sets forth the Nature of sin in its several Names, Definition, Effects, and Aggravations.
17. LECTURE XVII.
An Inquiry into the Nature of Forgiveness of sins. Diverse Greek words that express this Mercy. And the Necessity of Faith and Repentance, in order to pardon.
18. LECTURE XVIII.
The Necessity of Repentance in order to Forgiveness: And how it consists with God's Free-grace in remitting.
19. LECTURE XIX.
Repentance no cause of pardon, and yet its usefulness and Necessity as to Repentance. Why Repentance is not sufficient to remove the Guilt of Sin; And why it bears not the proportion in Satisfaction that Sin does in the offense.
20. LECTURE XX.
Whether the pardon of sin be an immanent or transient Act of God: And whether it be Antecedent to our Faith and Repentance. The contrary proved, viz. That God does not justify or pardon us before we Believe and Repent.
21. LECTURE XXI.
The Antinomian Arguments for Justification before Faith, answered.
22. LECTURE XXII.
More Arguments to prove Justification before Faith, answered.
23. LECTURE XXIII.
Whether we pray here for pardon, or for assurance of pardon only. Why God sometimes pardons a sinner, and does not acquaint him with it; with Directions to doubting, tempted people concerning their sins.
24. LECTURE XXIV.
Whether in Repentance the difference between great Sins and lesser is to be respected.
25. LECTURE XXV.
Of the pardon of Sin under the notion of covering it.
26. LECTURE XXVI.
Shows, That God takes notice of, and is Angry at the sins of Believers. The Aggravations of David's, and so of all Believers' sins. What sins Believers may possibly fall into, and yet wherein they differ from the sins of other men.
27. LECTURE XXVII.
How far gross Sins make a breach upon Justification.
28. LECTURE XXVIII.
Whether God in pardoning does forgive all Sins together, as well future as past.
29. LECTURE XXIX.
That full Absolution is not until the Day of Judgment: Wherein pardon then consists: And whether the Sins of God's people shall be manifested at that Day.
30. LECTURE XXX.
Tenderness of Spirit, and true Humiliation (not carnal Presumption) the Effect of the Sense of pardon.
PART II.
31. SERMON I.
Demonstrations of God's Righteousness; The Kinds of it, and in what sense its attributed unto God.
32. SERMON II.
More Propositions concerning the Righteousness of God; Showing that we must judge of it only by his Word; That its essential and natural to him; The Rule of all Righteousness: That God cannot do anything against his Righteous Will. How many ways Righteousness is taken when attributed to God; And in what sense he is said to be Just in forgiving and rewarding his People.
33. SERMON III.
More Propositions about the Nature of Righteousness; Also showing wherein God's Love to the Righteous doth appear.
34. SERMON IV.
Answers some Objections against God's Righteousness in himself, and his love to Righteousness in men.
35. SERMON V.
A Modest Enquiry into God's Providence about sin. How far he works about it, and yet no sin to be imputed to him. And why God lets sin to be.
36. SERMON VI.
That all men through Adams Transgression are plunged into Sin, cursed by the Law, and obnoxious to the wrath of God, which is also upon them and cannot be removed, unless there be a way of Satisfaction found out. That Christ voluntarily became man, and offered himself as a Sacrifice upon the Cross to satisfy God's Justice and expiate our Sins.
37. SERMON VII.
More Demonstrations of the Satisfaction of Christ's Death to Divine Justice; With Answers to the Socinian Objections against it.
38. SERMON VIII.
More Propositions about the Sufferings of Christ for Sin: Their usefulness, sufficiency, and extent; with Answers to more Objections of the Socinians.
39. SERMON IX.
Our Justification by Christ a Demonstration not only of God's Mercy, but Righteousness also. Or an instance of that Justice in God, whereby he will punish sin. Also a Discussion of the
rgiving and rewarding his People.
33. SERMON III.
More Propositions about the Nature of Righteousness; Also showing wherein God's Love to the Righteous doth appear.
34. SERMON IV.
Answers some Objections against God's Righteousness in himself, and his love to Righteousness in men.
35. SERMON V.
A Modest Enquiry into God's Providence about sin. How far he works about it, and yet no sin to be imputed to him. And why God lets sin to be.
36. SERMON VI.
That all men through Adams Transgression are plunged into Sin, cursed by the Law, and obnoxious to the wrath of God, which is also upon them and cannot be removed, unless there be a way of Satisfaction found out. That Christ voluntarily became man, and offered himself as a Sacrifice upon the Cross to satisfy God's Justice and expiate our Sins.
37. SERMON VII.
More Demonstrations of the Satisfaction of Christ's Death to Divine Justice; With Answers to the Socinian Objections against it.
38. SERMON VIII.
More Propositions about the Sufferings of Christ for Sin: Their usefulness, sufficiency, and extent; with Answers to more Objections of the Socinians.
39. SERMON IX.
Our Justification by Christ a Demonstration not only of God's Mercy, but Righteousness also. Or an instance of that Justice in God, whereby he will punish sin. Also a Discussion of the proper Nature of Merit and Satisfaction, showing that Christ's Sufferings had all the Requisites to Satisfaction.
40. SERMON X.
Of the Fulness, Perfection, and Infinite Worth of Christ's Satisfaction, as further Demonstrating God's Righteousness in our Justification.
41. SERMON XI.
Why it was necessary our Redemption should be by way of Justice, with Distinctions of natural Necessity. And whether God could have Remitted Sin without Satisfaction, modestly discussed.
42. SERMON XII.
Showeth what Justification is, and what are the Adjuncts, Properties, and Effects of it.
43. SERMON XIII.
A particular Description of Justification.
44. SERMON XIV.
More Propositions tending to clear the Nature of Justification, especially showing how it answers all Accusations.
45. SERMON XV.
The several Distinctions of Learned Men in the Point of Justification.
46. SERMON XVI.
An Examination of some Distinctions about Justification, much controverted by several Authors.
47. SERMON XVII.
Showeth, That every Man is prone to set up a Righteousness of his own, to be Justified by it, and whence it proceeds.
48. SERMON XVIII.
Another great Cause of Men's trusting in their own Righteousness, viz. A Practical Ignorance or Inconsideration of some Necessary Things relating to our Actions.
49. SERMON XIX.
The Necessity of a perfect Righteousness: And how destitute all men naturally are of it; With the Grounds thereof.
50. SERMON XX.
Showeth, That every Man by Nature is Spiritually Impure and Unclean, both in his Person, and in all his Actions, and therefore cannot be Justified by his own Righteousness. And treats of the Salvation of Heathens.
51. SERMON XXI.
That none can be Justified by the Works of the Law, though they are done by the Grace of God.
52. SERMON XXII.
That Justification cannot be attained by the Works of the Law.
53. SERMON XXIII.
That the Works of a Godly man done graciously, are not the Condition or a Causa sine qua non of his Justification.
54. SERMON XXIV.
More Arguments to prove the former Position.
55. SERMON XXV.
That Faith as it is a work, or the τό credere is not Imputed unto us for our Righteousness.
56. SERMON XXVI.
More Arguments to prove, That Faith as it is a Work, is not Imputed unto us for our Righteousness; With Answers to Objections. Also handling the Point of the Instrumentality of Faith.
57. SERMON XXVII.
That the whole Nature of Justification is not comprehended in Remission and Forgiveness of Sins.
58. SERMON XXVIII.
Further Considerations, and Answers to Correlating Objections.
59. SERMON XXIX.
That a Believers Righteousness is Imputed. Divers Propositions about Imputation of Good and Evil, and of Christ's Righteousness in particular.
60. SERMON XXX.
The Doctrine of the Imputation of Righteousness demonstrated; With Answers to the Objections against it.
61. SERMON XXXI.
Of the Sufferings of Christ, both in body and soul, as imputed to us for our Righteousness.
62. SERMON XXXII.
Showeth, By Propositions and Arguments, That the whole Manhood of Christ suffered in Body and Soul, because of the Anger of God due to Sinners.
63. SERMON XXXIII.
Whether Christ while on earth, did truly and properly obey the will of God.
64. SERMON XXXIV.
Divers Propositions tending to clear the Point of The Imputation of the Active Obedience of Christ. And the Point truly stated.
65. SERMON XXXV.
Arguments to prove the Imputation of Christ's active obedience to us for our Justification.
66. SERMON XXXVI.
More Reasons to prove the Imputation of Christ's Active Obedience to Believers.
67. SERMON XXXVII.
The fore-going Argument prosecuted, and some more added.
68. SERMON XXXVIII.
Arguments against the Imputation of Christ's Active Obedience, answered.
69. SERMON XXXIX.
That Christ was truly and properly subject to the Law of God, both general and particular: And that he suffered in obedience both to the natural and positive Law.
70. SERMON XL.
Some Objections Answered, and Distinctions Examined, concerning the Obedience of Christ.
71. SERMON XLI.
A further dispute for the Imputation of Christ's active obedience.
72. SERMON XLII.
In Answering the last Objection, is discussed, Whether and how far Christ was bound to Obey and Suffer for himself: And showed that the same Arguments which are brought against the Active Obedience of Christ, make as much against his Passive.
73. SERMON XLIII.
More Objections Answered, and the Doctrine cleared from Antinomianism.
74. SERMON XLIV.
More Objections Answered.
75. SERMON XLV.
More Objections answered, with Antidotes against Prejudice.