{"number":33,"title":"What is Iustification?","part":null,"questions":[33],"paragraphs":[],"clauses":[],"items":[{"question":"What is Iustification?","answer":"Justification is an act of Gods free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by Faith alone.","segments":[{"text":"Justification is an act of Gods free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by Faith alone.","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null}],"items":[{"question":"What do you mean by Iustification?","answer":"The pronouncing righteous, or not guilty, [or the absolving from guilt.]","segments":[{"text":"The pronouncing righteous, or not guilty, [or the absolving from guilt.]","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"Whose act is Iustification?","answer":"Gods.","segments":[{"text":"Gods.","proofs":["Romans 8:33"],"refs":[{"printed":"Romans 8:33","osis":["Rom.8.33"]}],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"What moves him to Iustifie us?","answer":"His own free grace.","segments":[{"text":"His own free grace.","proofs":["Romans 3:24"],"refs":[{"printed":"Romans 3:24","osis":["Rom.3.24"]}],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"What doth God for us in our Iustification?","answer":"He pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in his sight.","segments":[{"text":"He pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in his sight.","proofs":["Ephesians 1:6–7"],"refs":[{"printed":"Ephesians 1:6–7","osis":["Eph.1.6-Eph.1.7"]}],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"Whence is it that God accepteth us as righteous?","answer":"Only for the righteousness of Christ.","segments":[{"text":"Only for the righteousness of Christ.","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"How come we to partake of Christs righteousness?","answer":"Two waies, 1. God imputes it to us.","segments":[{"text":"Two waies, 1. God imputes","proofs":["Romans 5:19"],"refs":[{"printed":"Romans 5:19","osis":["Rom.5.19"]}],"note":null},{"text":"it to us.","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"What do you mean by Gods imputing Christs righteousness to us?","answer":"His accounting it ours, as much as if it were our own, wrought by our selves.","segments":[{"text":"His","proofs":["2 Corinthians 5:21"],"refs":[{"printed":"2 Corinthians 5:21","osis":["2Cor.5.21"]}],"note":null},{"text":"accounting it ours, as much as if it were our own, wrought by our selves.","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"What other way is there whereby we partake of Christs righteousness?","answer":"2. We receive it by Faith.","segments":[{"text":"2. We receive it by Faith.","proofs":["Romans 5:1"],"refs":[{"printed":"Romans 5:1","osis":["Rom.5.1"]}],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"Are we not then Iustified by our works?","answer":"No.","segments":[{"text":"No.","proofs":["Romans 3:28"],"refs":[{"printed":"Romans 3:28","osis":["Rom.3.28"]}],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"But by Faith alone?","answer":"Yes.","segments":[{"text":"Yes.","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"How and why so?","answer":"As that Grace which alone receives the righteousness of Christ.","segments":[{"text":"As that Grace which alone receives the righteousness of Christ.","proofs":["Philippians 3:9"],"refs":[{"printed":"Philippians 3:9","osis":["Phil.3.9"]}],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"But is justifying Faith solitary without all attendants?","answer":"No, justifying Faith hath two Daughters that inseparably attend her. 1. Repentance: Here sinful man retracts and undoes his faults, acknowledgeth his transgressions, rents his heart weeps, smites upon his breast, and cries What have I done? laments after the Lord, and abhors himself in dust and ashes: He executes the Law upon himself; and since God excuseth him from the punishment, he accuseth himself 〈◊〉 the guilt, and condemns himself to the shame of his sin; and hereby the sinner honours the equity of the threatning by his tears, acknowledging that his blood was due. 2. Newness of life: Here the sinner acknowledgeth perfect obedience to be still his duty, which honors the equity of Gods Commandments.","segments":[{"text":"No, justifying Faith hath two Daughters that inseparably attend her. 1. Repentance: Here sinful man retracts and undoes his faults, acknowledgeth his transgressions, rents his heart weeps, smites upon his breast, and cries What have I done? laments after the Lord, and abhors himself in dust and ashes: He executes the Law upon himself; and since God excuseth him from the punishment, he accuseth himself 〈◊〉 the guilt, and condemns himself to the shame of his sin; and hereby the sinner honours the equity of the threatning by his tears, acknowledging that his blood was due. 2. Newness of life: Here the sinner acknowledgeth perfect obedience to be still his duty, which honors the equity of Gods Commandments.","proofs":["Romans 16:26"],"refs":[{"printed":"Romans 16:26","osis":["Rom.16.26"]}],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"But that with all requisite distinctness we may apprehend this great affair, let us take a view of some of the most considerable and important causes which concur to the producing this excellent effect, the discharge and Iustification of a sinner, and state their several interests and concernments in their respective influences upon and contributions towards it, because Iustification is a main Article of our Faith; and therefore, How doth Free-grace Iustifie?","answer":"The Free-grace of God is the first wheel that sets all the rest in motion. Its contribution is that of a Proegumenal cause, or internal motive, disposing God to send his Son, that sinners (believing) might be Justified freely by his grace, through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ.","segments":[{"text":"The Free-grace of God is the first wheel that sets all the rest in motion. Its contribution is that of a Proegumenal cause, or internal motive, disposing God to send his Son, that sinners (believing) might be Justified freely by his grace, through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ.","proofs":["John 3:16","Romans 3:24"],"refs":[{"printed":"John 3:16","osis":["John.3.16"]},{"printed":"Romans 3:24","osis":["Rom.3.24"]}],"note":"1. How free-grace Justifieth."}],"items":[]},{"question":"But did not Christ die to render God good to mankind?","answer":"Christ died not to render God good to mankind (he was so eternally) but that with the honour of his Justice he might exert and display his goodness, which contriv’d and made it self this way to break forth into the world.","segments":[{"text":"Christ died not to render God good to mankind (he was so eternally) but that with the honour of his Justice he might exert and display his goodness, which contriv’d and made it self this way to break forth into the world.","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"How is Christs satisfaction concern’d in our Iustification?","answer":"It is doubly concerned in it: 1. In respect of God, as a Pro-catartick cause (which is an external, as the Proegumenal is an internal moving cause) and is of infinite merit and impetrative power; for the sake of which God is reconciling himself unto the world in Christ, not imputing their Trespasses unto them, 2 Cor. 5. 19. 2. In respect of the Law of Works, Christs satisfaction Justifieth us formally, as our proper legal righteousness.","segments":[{"text":"It is doubly concerned in it: 1. In respect of God, as a Pro-catartick cause (which is an external, as the Proegumenal is an internal moving cause) and is of infinite merit and impetrative power; for the sake of which God is reconciling himself unto the world in Christ, not imputing their Trespasses unto them, 2 Cor. 5. 19. 2. In respect of the Law of Works, Christs satisfaction Justifieth us formally, as our proper legal righteousness.","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":"2. How Christs satisfaction."}],"items":[]},{"question":"Why do you call it our Righteousness?","answer":"Because it becomes imputed to us upon our believing; Faith being our Gospel-Title, by pleading which we lay claim to all the benefits, accruing from the merit of Christs performance, to all effects, uses, and purposes, as if it had been personally our own.","segments":[{"text":"Because it becomes imputed to us upon our believing; Faith being our Gospel-Title, by pleading which we lay claim to all the benefits, accruing from the merit of Christs performance, to all effects, uses, and purposes, as if it had been personally our own.","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"But why do you call it our legal Righteousness?","answer":"Because thereby the Law of God owns it self fully apaid, and acquiesceth 〈◊〉 it, as in full reparations, and amends made unto it for the injury and dishonour received by the sin of man.","segments":[{"text":"Because thereby the Law of God owns it self fully apaid, and acquiesceth 〈◊〉 it, as in full reparations, and amends made unto it for the injury and dishonour received by the sin of man.","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"And may we plead this against 〈◊〉 the challenges and accusations of the law.","answer":"Yes.","segments":[{"text":"Yes.","proofs":["Romans 8:33–34"],"refs":[{"printed":"Romans 8:33–34","osis":["Rom.8.33-Rom.8.34"]}],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"And is this our legal Righteousness required in the first Covenant, that of Works, which is thus imputed upon our account, wholly without us, in our Redemer?","answer":"Yes.","segments":[{"text":"Yes.","proofs":["2 Corinthians 5:21"],"refs":[{"printed":"2 Corinthians 5:21","osis":["2Cor.5.21"]}],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"But is our Evangelical Righteousness required in the second Covenant without us, as our legal Righteousness required in the old is?","answer":"No, for though Christ performed the Conditions of the Law, and satisfied for our non-performance, yet it is our selves that must perform the conditions of the Gospel. It is not Christ but we that must repent and believe.","segments":[{"text":"No, for though Christ performed the Conditions of the Law, and satisfied for our non-performance, yet it is our selves that must perform the conditions of the Gospel. It is not Christ but we that must repent and believe.","proofs":["Acts 20:21"],"refs":[{"printed":"Acts 20:21","osis":["Acts.20.21"]}],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"But there are some that tell us that Christ hath also performed for us the conditions of the Gospel; that he hath believed perfectly, and repented perfectly, and that all is ours: what ought we to think of this Opinion?","answer":"If we judge of it in its clear consequence, it is both absurd and blasphemous; as if Christ had a Saviour to believe in for pardon and life, or sin to repent of, and sorrow for, and mortifie.","segments":[{"text":"If we judge of it in its clear consequence, it is both absurd and blasphemous; as if Christ had a Saviour to believe in for pardon and life, or sin to repent of, and sorrow for, and mortifie.","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"How is this Opinion absurd?","answer":"As it supposeth a perfect Saviour to stand in need of a Saviour.","segments":[{"text":"As it supposeth a perfect Saviour to stand in need of a Saviour.","proofs":["Hebrews 7:26–27"],"refs":[{"printed":"Hebrews 7:26–27","osis":["Heb.7.26-Heb.7.27"]}],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"How is it blasphemous?","answer":"As it makes Christ the Son of God a sinner, who is God and man.","segments":[{"text":"As it makes Christ the Son of God a sinner, who is God and man.","proofs":["John 9:24–25"],"refs":[{"printed":"John 9:24–25","osis":["John.9.24-John.9.25"]}],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"How doth the Gospel Iustifie?","answer":"As it is the Law of Faith that publisheth and declareth to us upon what terms we shall be Justified.","segments":[{"text":"As it is the Law of Faith that publisheth and declareth to us upon what terms we shall be Justified.","proofs":["Romans 3:27"],"refs":[{"printed":"Romans 3:27","osis":["Rom.3.27"]}],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"And is the Gospel our great Charter, and Gods Warrant under his broad Seal, that he that believeth shall not be condemned?","answer":"Yes.","segments":[{"text":"Yes.","proofs":["John 3:18"],"refs":[{"printed":"John 3:18","osis":["John.3.18"]}],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"How doth Faith Iustifie?","answer":"By vertue of the Law promulgated and publish’d as it is our Evangelical righteousness, or our keeping the Gospel-Law, which suspends Justification upon believing.","segments":[{"text":"By vertue of the Law promulgated and publish’d as it is our Evangelical righteousness, or our keeping the Gospel-Law, which suspends Justification upon believing.","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":"4. How Faith."}],"items":[]},{"question":"Doth Faith pretend to no merit or vertue of its own?","answer":"No, but professedly avows its dependance upon the merit of Christs satisfaction, and laies hold on it as our legal Righteousness.","segments":[{"text":"No, but professedly avows its dependance upon the merit of Christs satisfaction, and laies hold on it as our legal Righteousness.","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"Nor can it shew any other Title to be it self our Evangelical righteousness, but only Gods sanction [Law, or Decree establishing it] who chose this Act of believing to the honour of being the justifying Act, because it so highly honoureth Christ?","answer":"No.","segments":[{"text":"No.","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"May this be illustrated to us by some apt resemblance?","answer":"Yes, the Act of believing is as the Silver; but Gods authority in the Gospelsanction, is the Kings Coin, or Image stampt upon it, which gives it all its value as to Justification.","segments":[{"text":"Yes, the Act of believing is as the Silver; but Gods authority in the Gospelsanction, is the Kings Coin, or Image stampt upon it, which gives it all its value as to Justification.","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"Without this stamp, could it never have been current?","answer":"No.","segments":[{"text":"No.","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"And if God had set this stamp on any other Grace, as Love: would that then have been current, and have Iustified us as Faith doth now?","answer":"Yes.","segments":[{"text":"Yes.","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"How doth God Iustifie?","answer":"God justifieth in a proper sense two waies, First, as a Legislator. Secondly, as a Judge.","segments":[{"text":"God justifieth in a proper sense two waies, First, as a Legislator. Secondly, as a Judge.","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":"5. How God."}],"items":[]},{"question":"How doth God Iustifie as a Legislator?","answer":"He Justifies as a Legislator, enacting by his Soveraign authority that sweet and gracious Law of the New Covenant, by vertue of whose tenor every sinner that believes is Justified from the Guilt of sin, from which he could not be Justified by the Law of Moses, Acts 13. 39.","segments":[{"text":"He Justifies as a Legislator, enacting by his Soveraign authority that sweet and gracious Law of the New Covenant, by vertue of whose tenor every sinner that believes is Justified from the Guilt of sin, from which he could not be Justified by the Law of Moses, Acts 13. 39.","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"How doth God Iustifie as a Iudge?","answer":"2. As a Judge, he may in three respects be said to Justifie a Believer. First, Forthwith upon his believing God owneth him secretly within himself, as a person justified; God esteems and approves of him as in that state, unto which he hath by believing a Title good in Law, an indefeasible right. Secondly, At the moment of dissolution God Justifieth as the Judge of all the earth, passing a private Sentence and a ward unto everlasting life upon every believing Soul. Thirdly, But eminently at the last day, when the Ancient of daies shall take the Throne, and in open Court before the whole Creation, by publick sentence for ever acquit and discharge Believers at that great and last Assizes.","segments":[{"text":"2. As a Judge, he may in three respects be said to Justifie a Believer. First, Forthwith upon his believing God owneth him secretly within himself, as a person justified; God esteems and approves of him as in that state, unto which he hath by believing a Title good in Law, an indefeasible right. Secondly, At the moment of dissolution God Justifieth as the Judge of all the earth, passing a private Sentence and a ward unto everlasting life upon every believing Soul. Thirdly, But eminently at the last day, when the Ancient of daies shall take the Throne, and in open Court before the whole Creation, by publick sentence for ever acquit and discharge Believers at that great and last Assizes.","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"How are works said to Iustifie?","answer":"6. As they Justifie our Faith, or demonstrate before God and man, and to our own Consciences that our Faith is not a dead and barren, but a true and living one by its fruitfulness in well-doing.","segments":[{"text":"6. As they Justifie our Faith, or demonstrate before God and man, and to our own Consciences that our Faith is not a dead and barren, but a true and living one by its fruitfulness in well-doing.","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"How doth the Spirit of God Iustifie?","answer":"7. The Spirit of God Justifieth two waies: First, Directly, by working Faith in the heart, as the Author of that justifying Grace. Secondly, Reflexively, as he clears up Justification to a Believers Conscience, by discovering the truth of Faith▪ by working Assurance, and by sealing a Believer to the day of Redemption.","segments":[{"text":"7. The Spirit of God Justifieth two waies: First, Directly, by working Faith in the heart, as the Author of that justifying Grace. Secondly, Reflexively, as he clears up Justification to a Believers Conscience, by discovering the truth of Faith▪ by working Assurance, and by sealing a Believer to the day of Redemption.","proofs":["Romans 8:16–17","Ephesians 4:30"],"refs":[{"printed":"Romans 8:16–17","osis":["Rom.8.16-Rom.8.17"]},{"printed":"Ephesians 4:30","osis":["Eph.4.30"]}],"note":null}],"items":[]}]}],"text":null}