[2.] By way of estimation, whereby God doth determine our right, accept or deem and account them righteous who fulfil the terms of the gospel, and actually convey to them the fruits of Clirist's death. This is spoken of, 1 Cor. vi. 11, ' And such were some of 3'ou ; but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified;' once vile sinners, now washed, sanctified, and justified. As soon as they believe they are put into a state of acceptation, 6 SiKaiwv, that is, justifying; he continueth to justify them unto the death, and he keeps them in that estate wherein tiiey have exemption from the punishment of sin, and a right to eternal life.
[3.] By way of sentence. This is in part done here, when God interpreteth our righteousness and sincerity: Job xxxiii. 23, 24, 'If there be a messenger with him, an inter[)reter, one among a thousand,
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to show unto man his uprightness, then he is gracious unto liim, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit ; I have found a ransom ;' and dotli hy the Spirit of adoption assure us more and more of the pardon of our sins; but more solemnly at the last day, when the judge doth, sitting upon the thi-one, pronounce and declare us righteous before all the world, and as those who are accepted unto life : Acts iii. 10, ' That your sins may be blotted out when the times of refresh- ing shall come from the presence of the Lord.' Then the sentence is solemnly pronounced by the judge sitting on the throne ; and we are justified before God, men, and angels. There are two parts of judg- ment—to condemn, and to absolve or justify: Mat. xii. 36, 37, 'But I say unto you, that for every idle word that a man shall speak, he shall give account thereof at the day of judgment ; for by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned ;' then every man's doom shall be pronounced.
[4.] By way of execution, when the sentence is executed. This is in part done here, as God taketh off the penalties and fruits of sin, either in the way of his internal or external government, and giveth us many blessings as the pledge of his love ; and above all, the gift of the Holy Spirit, whereby he sanctifieth us more thoroughly, and worketh in us that which is pleasing in his sight. This he giveth as the God of peace, as reconciled to us in Christ : Heb. xiii. 20, 21, ' Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work, to do his will, working in you that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ;' 1 Thes. v. 23, 'And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly: and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless imto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ ; faith- ful is he that calleth you, who will do it ; ' but more fully at the last day, when we enter into everlasting glory, and the wicked are turned into hell with the devil and his angels : Mat. xxv. 46, ' And these shall go into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal.' Then is the full and final execution, a perfect freedom from all misery, and a possession of all happiness.
3. How it can stand with the wisdom, justice, and holiness of God, to justify a sinner. It is a gi-eat crime to take the unrighteous to be righteous ; and to pronounce the wicked justified seemeth to be against the word of God : Prov. xxiv. 24, ' He that saith unto the wicked. Thou art righteous, him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him ;' Prov. xvii. 15, ' He that justifieth the wicked, and he that con- demneth the just, even they both are an abomination unto the Lord. Now what is an abomination unto the Lord is surely contrary to his nature : Exod. xxxiv. 7, ' He will by no means clear the guilty.'
Ans. There is no abating the force of these objections, if there were not good ground for God's absolution, or sentence of justification. I shall mention three: — Christ's ransom, the covenant of grace, and our faith or conversion to God.
1. Christ's ransom maketh it reconcilable with God's justice, and the honour of his law and government . Job xxxiii. 24, ' Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down into the
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pit ; I have found a ransom ;' Piom. iii. 25, ' Whom God hath set foitli to be a propitiatiop through faith in his blood, to declare his right- eousness for the remission of sins.' There is full satisfaction given to God's wronged justice.
2. His covenant reconcileth it with his wisdom. God is not mis- taken in judging us righteous when we are not ; for we are constituted righteous, and then deenied and pronounced so ; made righteous, as the apostle speaketh, Kom. v. 19. Our right is founded in Christ's obedi- ence, but resulteth from the promise. The constitution is by covenant. God doth first put us into a state of favour and reconciliation, and then treateth and dealeth with us as such ; constituteth us righteous by his covenant, and then in his judgment accepteth us as righteous. He will not acquit them in judgment whom his covenant doth not first pardon.