Justification Vindicated
Robert Traill's classic defense of justification by faith alone, written to answer charges of antinomianism leveled at Puritan preachers of free grace in the 1690s. Traill shows that faith is not a work or condition but the empty hand that receives Christ's imputed righteousness, and that true gospel grace produces holiness rather than license.
Based on A Vindication of the Protestant Doctrine concerning Justification (1692), by Robert Traill
Puritan quotes
Quotes by Robert Traill
“Never was a sinner qualified for Christ. He is well qualified for us.”
“This faith, we teach, purifies the heart, and always inclines to holiness of life.”
“Tell him of Christ's ability and goodwill to save; that no man was ever rejected by him who cast himself upon him; that desperate cases are glorious triumphs in his art of saving.”
“Working for life, a man naturally understands; but believing for life, he understands not.”
“Wisdom without Christ is damning folly, righteousness without Christ is guilt and condemnation, sanctification without Christ is filth and sin, redemption without Christ is bondage and slavery.”
“Let us make Christ crucified our great study as Christians, and the preaching of him our main work as ministers.”
“Faith in Jesus Christ is neither work, nor condition, nor qualification, in justification; but is a mere instrument, receiving (as an empty hand receives the freely given alms) the righteousness of Christ.”
“This doctrine is a spiritual mystery, and does not lie level with a natural understanding. Working for life a man naturally understands, but believing for life, he understands not.”
“A direct act of saving faith is that by which a lost sinner goes out of himself to Christ for help.”
“The plain old Protestant doctrine is that the place of faith in justification is only that of a hand or instrument.”
