JUSTIFICATION BY AN IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS; OR, NO WAY TO HEAVEN BUT BY JESUS CHRIST. JUSTIFICATION is to be diversly taken in the scripture. 1. Sometimes it is taken for the justification of persons. 2. Sometimes for the justification of actions. 3. And sometimes for the justification of the person and action too. It is taken for the justification of persons, and that, (2.) As to justification with men. As to justification with God—that is, when a man stands clear, quit, free, or, in a saved condition before him, in the approbation of his holy law. As to justification with men—that is, when a man stands clear and quit from just ground of reprehension with them. Justification also is to be taken with reference to actions; and that may be when they are considered, 1. As flowing from true faith; or, 2. Because the act done fulfils some transient law. (1.) As actions flow from faith, so they are justified, because done before God in, and made complete through, the perfections of Jesus Christ, 1 Pet. ii. 5; Heb. xiii. 15; Rev. viii, 1–4. (2.) As by the doing of the act some transient law is fulfilled; as when Jehu executed judgment upon the house of Ahab "Thou hast done well," said God to him, " in exe cuting that which is righteous in mine eyes, and hast done to the house of Ahab all that was in mine heart," 2 Kings, x. 30. As to such acts, God may or may not look at the qualification of those that do them; and it is clear that he had not respect to any good that was in Jehu, in the justifying of this action; nor could he, for Jehu stuck close yet to the sins of Jeroboam, but "took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel," chap. x. 29, 31. I might hence also shew you, that a man may be justified even then when his action is condemned; also that a man may be in a state of condemnation, when his action may be justified. But with these distinctions I will not take up time, my intention being to treat of justification, as it sets a man free or quit from sin, the curse and condemnation of the law in the sight of God, in order to eternal salvation. And that I may with the more clearness handle this point before you, I will lay down and speak to this proposition That there is no other way for sinners to be justified from the curse of the law in the sight of God, than by the imputation of that righteousness long ago performed by, and still residing with, the person of Jesus Christ. The terms of this proposition are easy; yet if it will help, I will speak a word or two for explication. (1.) By a sinner, I mean one that has transgressed the law; for "sin is the transgression of the law," 1 John, iii. 4. (2.) By the curse of the law, I mean that sentence, judgment, or condemnation which the law pronounceth against the transgressor, Gal. iii. 10. (3.) By justifying righteousness, I mean that which stands in the doing and suffering of Christ when he was in the world; Rom. v. 19. (4.) By the residing of this righteousness in Christ's person, I mean, it still abides with him as to the action, though the benefit is bestowed upon those that are his. (5.) By the imputation of it to us, I mean God's making of it ours by an act of his grace, that we by it might be secured from the curse of the law. (6.) When I say there is no other way to be justified, I cast away to that end the law, and all the works of the law as done by us. Thus I have opened the terms of the proposition. Now the two first-to wit, What sin and the curse is, stand clear in all men's sight, unless they be atheists, or desperately heretical. I shall therefore in few words, clear the other four. First, Therefore justifying righteousness is the doing and suffering of Christ when he was in the world. This is clear, because we are said to be "justified by his obedience," Rom. v. 19; by his obedience to the law. Hence he is said again to be the end of the law for that very thing— "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness," &c., Rom. x. 4. The end, what is that? Why, the requirement or demand of the law. But what is it? Why, righteousness, perfect righteousness, Gal. iii. 10. Perfect righteousness, what to do? That the soul concerned might stand spotless in the sight of God, Rev. i. v. Now this lies only in the doings and sufferings of Christ; for "by his obedience many are made righteous;" wherefore as to this Christ is the end of the law, that being found in that obedience, that becomes to us sufficient for our justification. Hence, we are said to be made righteous by his obedience; yea, and to be washed, purged, and justified by his blood, Heb ix. 14; Romans, v. 18, 19. Secondly, That this righteousness still resides in and with the person of Christ, even then when we stand just before God thereby, is clear, for that we are said when justified to be justified" in him."- "In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified." And again; "Surely, shall one say, in the Lord have I righteousness," &c. And again; “For him are ye in Christ Jesus, who is made unto us of God righteousness," Isa. xlv. 24, 25; 1 Cor. i. 30. Mark, the righteousness is still "in him," not "in us;" even F |