And hence it appears how little force there is in that argument which some pretend to be of so great weight in this cause. "As every one," they say, " shall he judged of God at the last day, in the same way and manner, or on the same grounds, is he justified of God in this life ; hut by tvorks, and not by faith alone, every one shall he judged at the last day: wherefore by works, and not by faith alone, every one is justified before God in this life." For, —
1. It is nowhere said that we shall be judged at the last day " ex operibus;" but only that God will render unto men "secundum opera." But God doth not justify any in this life " secundum opera;"
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being justified freely by bis grace, and not according to the works of righteousness which we have done. And we are everywhere said to be justified in this Hfe " ex fide," " per fidem," but nowhere " propter fidem;" or, that God justifieth us "secundum fidem," by faith, but not /or our faith, nor according unto our faith. And we are not to depart from the expressions of the Scripture, where such a difference is constantly observed.
2. It is somewhat strange that a man should be judged at the last day, and justified in this life, just in the same way and ona^iner, — that is, with respect unto faith and works, — when the Scripture doth constantly ascribe our justification before God unto faith without works; and the judgment at the last day is said to be according unto works, without any mention of faith.
3. li justification and eternal judgment proceed absolutely on the same grounds, reasons, and causes, then if men had not done what they shall be condemned for doing at the last day, they should have been justified in this hfe; but many shall be condemned only for sins against the light of nature, Rom. ii. 12, as never having the written law or gospel made known unto them: wherefore imto such persons, to abstain from sins against the light of nature would be suiScient unto their justification, without any knowledge of Christ or the gospel.
4. This proposition, — tJuU God jMrdons men their sins, gives them the adojition of children, with a riglit unto the heavenly inheritance, according to their works, — is not only foreign to the gospel, but con- tradictory unto it, and destructive of it, as contrary unto all express testimonies of the Scripture, both in the Old Testament and the New, where these things are spoken of; but that God judgeth all men, and rendereth unto all men, at the last judgment, according unto their works, is true, and affirmed in the Scripture.
5. In our justification in this life by faith, Christ is considered as our propitiation and advocate, as he who hath made atonement for sin, and brought in everlasting righteousness; but at the last day, and in the last judgment, he is considered only as the judge.
6. The end of God in our justification is the glory of his grace, Eph. i. 6; but the end of God in the last judgment is the glory of his remunerative righteousness, 2 Tim. iv. 8.
7. The representation that is made of the final judgment. Matt. vii. and xxv., is only of the visible church. And therein the plea of faith, as to the profession of it, is common unto all, and is equally made by all. Upon that plea of faith, it is put unto the trial whether it were sincere, true faith or no, or only that which was dead and barren. And this trial is made solely by the fruits and effects of it; and othenvise, in tlie public declaration of things unto all, it cannot
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162 ON JUSTIFICATION.
be made. Otherwise, the faith whereby we are justified comes not into judgment at the last day. See John v. 24, with Mark xvi. 16.
CHAPTER VII.
Imputation, and the nature of it ; with the imputation of the righteousness of Christ in particular.
The first express record of the justification of any sinner is of Abra- ham. Others were justified before him from the beginning, and there is that affirmed of them which sufficiently evidenceth them so to have been ; but this j^^^'^'ogative was reserved for the father of the faithful, that his justification, and the express way and manner of it, should be first entered on the sacred record. So it is, Gen. xv. 6, " He believed in the Lord, and it was counted unto him for right- eousness." O^'^'n*!^ — it was " accounted" unto him, or "imputed" unto him, for righteousness. 'EXoylgdri, — it was " counted, reckoned, im- puted." And " it was not written for his sake alone that it was im- puted unto him, but for us also, unto whom it shall be imputed if we believe," Rom. iv. 23, 24. Wherefore, the first express declaration of the nature of justification in the Scripture affirms it to be by imputa- tion,— the imputation of somewhat unto righteousness ; and this [is] done in that place and instance which is recorded on purpose, as th,.- precedent and example of all those that shall be justified. As he was justified so are we, and no otherwise.