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CHAPTER XI.

OF JUSTIFICATION.

I. THOSE Whom God effectually calleth, he also freely justifieth: a not by infusing righteousness into them, but by pardoning their sins, and by accounting and accepting their persons as righteous: not for any thing wrought in them, or done by them, but for Christ's sake alone: not by imputing faith itself, the act of believing, or any other evangelical obedience to them, as their righteousness; but by imputing the obedience and satisfaction of Christ unto them, they receiving and resting on him and his righteousness by faith; which faith they have not of themselves, it is the gift of God.c

any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 1 Cor. xvi. 22. If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema.

I. a Rom. viii. 30. Whom he called, them he also justified. Rom. iii. 24. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

¿Rom. iii. 22, 24, 25, 27, 28. Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe; for there is no difference.-Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay; but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. See Rom. iv. 5-8. 2 Cor. v. 19, 21. To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.- For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Tit. iii. 5, 7. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Eph. i. 7. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. Jer. xxiii. 6. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. See 1 Cor. i. 30, 31; Rom. v. 17, 19.

⚫John i. 12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power

II. Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and his righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification;d yet is it not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but worketh by love.

III. Christ, by his obedience and death, did fully discharge the debt of all those that are thus justified, and did make a proper, real, and full satisfaction to his Father's justice in their behalf. Yet, inasmuch as he was given

to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. John vi. 44, 45. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. Acts x. 43, 44. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. See Acts xiii. 38, 39. Phil. i. 29. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake. Phil. iii. 9. And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. Eph. ii. 8. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. II. John iii. 16, 18, 36. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.-He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.— He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. Rom. iii. 28. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Rom. v. 1. Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jam. ii. 17, 22, 26. Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.-Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?-For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. Gal. v. 6. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

III. Rom. v. 8, 9, 18. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. Therefore, as by the offence of one judgment came upon

by the Father for them ;9 and his obedience and satisfaction accepted in their stead ; and, both, freely, not for any thing in them, their justification is only of free grace; that both the exact justice, and rich grace of God, might be glorified in the justification of sinners.*

IV. God did, from all eternity, decree to justify all the elect; and Christ did, in the fullness of time, die for their sins, and rise again for their justification: m nevertheless

all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 1 Tim. ii. 5, 6 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. Heb. x. 10, 14. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.-For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. See Isa. liii.

Rom. viii. 32. He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? h2 Cor. v. 21. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Matt. iii. 17. And, lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Eph. v. 2. And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.

Rom. iii. 24. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Eph. i. 7. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.

* Rom. iii. 26. To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Eph. ii. 7. That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us, through Christ Jesus. IV. 'Gal. iii. 8. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 1 Pet. i. 2, 19, 20. Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.-But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you. See Rom. viii. 30.

m Gal. iv. 4. But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law. 1 Tim. ii. 6. Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. Rom. iv. 25. Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. 1 Pet. i. 21. Who by him do believe in God, that

they are not justified, until the Holy Spirit doth, in due time, actually apply Christ unto them."

V. God doth continue to forgive the sins of those that are justified: and although they can never fall from the state of justification, yet they may by their sins fall under God's fatherly displeasure, and not have the light of his countenance restored unto them, until they humble themselves, confess their sins, beg pardon, and renew their faith and repentance.9

VI. The justification of believers under the Old Testa

raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

" Col. i. 21, 22. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled, In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblamable and unreprovable in his sight. Tit. iii. 4-7. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

V. Matt. vi. 12. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 1 John i. 7, 9. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.-If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John ii. 1, 2. If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

P Luke xxii. 32. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. John x. 28. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. Heb. x. 14. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. See Proofs under Chapter xvii.

9 Psa. lxxxix. 31-33. If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. Nevertheless my loving-kindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. Psa. xxxii. 5. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Matt. xxvi. 75. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus.-And he went out, and wept bitterly. See Psa. li. and 1 Cor. xi. 30, 32.

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ment was, in all these respects, one and the same with the justification of believers under the New Testament."

CHAPTER XII.

OF ADOPTION.

I. ALL those that are justified, God vouchsafeth, in and for his only Son Jesus Christ, to make partakers of the grace of adoption: a by which they are taken into the number, and enjoy the liberties and privileges of the children of God; have his name put upon them; c receive the Spirit of adoption; d have access to the throne

VI. Gal. iii. 9, 13, 14. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.-Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Rom. iv. 22-24. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now, it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead.

I. a Eph. i. 5. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. Gal. iv. 4, 5. God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Rom. viii. 17. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. John i. 12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.

Jer. xiv. 9. Yet thou, O LORD, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name; leave us not. 2 Cor. vi. 18. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Rev. iii. 12. im that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

a Rom. viii. 15. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again

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