these the two qualities in the tree first that it was good to eate secondly to be desired in the eye these two might perswade Adam to eate if hee could do it carefully but the other two of Satan was directly to perswade to sinne as it is sinne The Angels that fell to be Devils and malitious sought leave of God to tempt mankind and obtained it Gen. 3.1 with Job 1.6 11 12. and 2.3 5 6. The Devill used the Serpent the subtillest beast of the field for his instrument for it could more easily creepe into the garden secretly and carrieth with it a shew of smooth simplicity hee first assault the woman and beguiled her then by the woman the man Gen. 3. 1 Tim. 2.13 The woman was stirred to sin by outward meanes and by inward motions The outward meanes was partly the alluring words of the serpent partly the forbidden fruits beauty The serpents words after he had made a subtill entrance of communication with the woman containe 4. horrible evils 1 Fraud imposture Ye shall not surely die Gen 3.4 2 Against Gods Word and truth in faying they should not die if they did eate but be like Gods Gen. 3.4 5. 3 Calumniation of God as if for envie of mans good he had forbidden the eating of the fruit 4 Wresting of Gods Word and of the name of the tree of knowledge as if it were so called because it had vertue in it to give men such knowledge of good and evill as God himselfe hath who is to continue in good and avoid evill for ever Thus the serpent sought to alienate the mind and will of Adam from God and from his Word The inward meanes to draw unto sinne was the fairenesse of the forbidden fruit which the woman saw to be gracefull to the eyes The inward motions of the woman to sinne were generally three first the lust of the flesh for the woman saw that the tree was good for meate Secondly the lust of the eyes for shee saw it was pleasant to the eyes Thirdly the pride of life for shee saw it was a tree to be desired to get knowledge and of these three the Apostle speaketh more particularly her inward motions may be minded by their degrees first an impression of the Serpents suggestions Secondly a darting of her thoughts concerning God and the image of God within her thirdly forgetfulnesse of Gods workes and words Fourthly a doubtfulnesse of the truth of God Fifthly an affection of a better state more dignity Sixthly a beliefe of the Devils imposture Seventhly an inclination of the will and affections to the forbidden fruit The causes by accident were both mans affections to be like God which affections God had given him to be used orderly for Gods actions made in man tended to the glorious Image Secondly also naturall affection to the savoury tree for conserving and refreshing naturall life the efficacie of all these causes man could and should have resisted rejecting the outward subjecting and ordering the inward had hee so done hee had beene conserved The matter of this sinne is the eating of the forbidden fruit the unlawfulnesse of the act being forbidden by Gods Law The end or finall cause of evill is done but the end of the act as it had a shew of good was that man might be as God knowing good and evill When these lusts had conceived they brought forth sinne for the woman tooke of the forbidden fruit and did eate the woman having sinned sought to propagate her sinne and was the devils instrument to tempt her husband and he also did eate there is no mention of the womans perswasion to the man nor how sinne seised upon him but the same degrees may be minded in him also as were in her this one more especially his immoderate love and affection to his wife that made him yeeld so suddenly to her temptation Adams sinne yeelding and falling as it is set downe Gen. 3.6 noteth the marvellous force and swiftnesse that is in the first motions of sinne whose worke even in a moment and suddenly doth deprive of life and grace even as a mans naturall life is taken away in a moment of an hower which is many monthes ere it came to the perfection of birth It added much to the greatnesse of Adams sinne that the fruit which hee eate was of the Sacramentall tree and so hee violate the divine mystery through ambition to be like God himselfe It much increased their sinne also that they had Gods Image and perfection of grace not for them alone but for all their posterity if they had continued in Gods feare who lost the same not in themselves onely but deprived all their seed of these blessings thus our first parents fall was not onely sinne but the cause of sinne Thus much of the first sinne and entrance of it now followeth a secondary sinne which is propagation and fruit of the first and this is of two sorts first native corruption secondly actuall transgression Native corruption which wee commonly call originall is that sinne which man draweth with him from his first origine or beginning Psal. 51.5 This native corruption is called flesh Joh. 3.5 Gen. 6.3 Rom. 7.14 It is called also lust or concupiscence 1 Pet. 1.4 Jam. 1.14 So then not the substance of our flesh or nature of our flesh is sinne but the vitious quality adherent or cleaving thereto It is called also the old man Eph. 4.22 by this also it appeareth that the naturall flesh or substance is not sinne for that it is not put off nor crucified This native or originall is worse than actuall sinne because it is more largely spread even unto infants also which actuall sinne is not because it is the fountaine and cause of other sinnes Rom. 7.20.23 This native sinne is ours two wayes 1 by imputation 2 by inhabitation By imputation because Adam being the roote of mankind as hee had Gods image for him and his posterity so he lost it from himselfe and his posterity so that which in Adam was personall unto us is naturall By inhabitation because there dwelleth in us an inclination and disposition of all the faculties unto evill Rom. 7.20 23. For by sinne wee are not barely bereft of Gods image as rest depriveth man of motion but this privation and bereaving hath within it an inclination of the man to evill as sicknesse doth both deprive a man of health and ill affects the patient for sinne is soule sicknesse Psal. 103.3 Rom. 7.23 24. Originall sinne possesseth the whole man body and soule and spirit as the image of God was not in the body onely but in the whole man so was this contrary privation Rom. 7.24 Native corruption is propagated from parents to children by reason of the beginning thereof not properly by it selfe that is to say that commeth from the parents to the children whereof this sinne may arise namely a disposition to such an evill
Conditionall Absolute are things absolutely promised or spoken without condition on our part Conditionall when God willeth any thing of us but with condition as hee willeth that all men should be saved namely if they will beleeve in Christ Mat. 28.20 As God hath a determining will concerning his creatures so hee hath an appointing will unto them Heb. 10.5 6 7. Whatsoever God willeth absolutely and of it selfe is good Jam. 1.13 Psal. 119.12 God willeth sinnes not simply but by accident as hee knoweth and meaneth to bring good out of them Gods appointing will is wholly manifested in the law of nature and in the written law Gods appointing will pertaines to all men God would have all to beleeve as beleefe is a point of obedience and honour to him but as beleefe is a grace and a gift of God hee willeth not all men to beleeve but his elect God doth not onely know all things and prescribe his will but also his providence and determinate counsell reacheth unto all his creatures Jer. 10.23 Lam. 3.37 Gods providence extendeth even to the very least things Mat. 20.29 Prov. 16.9 Gods providence consisteth in conserving and governing his creatures which creatures are of foure sorts 1 some that have beeing as heaven and earth 2 some that have beeing and life as plants and herbes 3 some that have beeing life and sense as beasts birds and fishes 4 some that having beeing life sense and reason as men God conserveth in his creatures their existence or beeing and their vertues Gods conservation of their existence is the continuing of the substance of the creatures In him wee live move and have our beeing moving being not only locall bul the moving of the heart spirit reason will c. Gods government is the ordering and ruling and disposing of his creatures to his owne pleasure and glory Psal. 104. Esay 45.7 Job 12.10 Gods government in speciall is towards Angels and Men for in them first hee determineth and ordereth their actions secondly hee giveth them lawes thirdly hee executeth justice God determineth and ordereth the actions and inclinations of men moving them and directing them to their end Mans actions and inclinations hee moveth and ruleth effectually God ordereth them to the good of this life and of the life to come which is the chiefest good God ordereth sinne two wayes first by limitation and binding it that it shall goe no further than hee please Secondly by turning it against the nature and will of the sinner into good Gods providence is double mediate and immediate mediate is when he conserveth and governeth one creature by another as by instruments immediate is when he useth no meanes or worketh against means God useth not meanes of necessity but of pleasure these meanes are not to be excluded from Gods providence but included God can use evill instruments for good against their power and will The chiefe meanes to governe the world are Angels The end of all is Gods glory Deus vult gloriam suam necessitate naturae suae non libere The foundation of true glory is vertue or goodnesse Gods glory is spoken of two wayes 1 As an essentiall property of his 2 As the glorifying of himselfe so Gods glory consisteth in the knowledge of himselfe God when he had created the world saw all that he had made and lo it was very good but after God looked upon the earth and loe it was corrupt for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth It is then now to be minded how corruption and evill came into the world The corruption of the world is set forth by divers names in respect of truth it is called lying or falshood in respect of good it is called evill in respect of righteousnesse it is called iniquity or unrighteousnesse in respect of Gods law it is called unlaw sunesse or transgression of the law generally it is called sinne that is aberration or missing of the scope or marke in respect of duty it is called disobedience rebellion defection or apostasie disloyalty perfidiousnesse in respect of our first estate it is called a fault or ruine Evill hath no efficient cause but a deficient evill hath neither nature nor substance for all such are of God but so is not evill all such are good but so is not sinne Evill is an accident cleaving unto natures substance actions Rom. 7.21 The creatures were made of nothing and being of themselves not able to sustaine themselves have an inclination to come to nothing if God do not uphold them so evill is caused of nothing Evill began in Heaven amongst the Angels and so spread into other reasonable creatures as men is called sinne their fall and is the privation of Gods Image in them God himselfe cannot do evill or be tempted thereto and he onely hath this priviledge men and Angels want it The Angels therefore being subject to temptation were tempted of their owne motions and willingly gave place to their evill thoughts and being not sustained of God did fall Jud. 5 6. Though wee know not how many yet there were many that fell from their heavenly estate of those many that fell one seemeth to be the chiefe and others drawne by or accompanying him called therefore his Angels Mat. 25.4 Being falne they could not of themselves rise againe neither did God minister any grace or helpe unto them therefore they added sinne unto sinne and so doe continue sinning still extremely untill the appointed time of their damnation The Angels that are falne have divers names to denote their evill condition sometime they are called evill Spirits lying Spirits uncleane Spirits Devill that is a calumniator Mat. 25.41 Sathan that is adversary or fiend Job 1.6 demons of their knowledge Mat. 9.34 wasters or destroyers Deut. 32.17 rugged satyrs of their horrible hew Lev. 17.7 dragon and serpent of their craft and venemous nature Rev. 12.9 the Tempter Mat. 4.3 the Malitious one 1 Joh. 3. the Enemie Mat. 13.28 Roaring Lyon 2 Pet. 5.8 the Strong-armed one Mat. 12.29 Prince of the World Job 12.31 that ruleth in the aire Eph. 6.12 2.2 Beliall the unruly or without yoke Mans first sinne is fitly called disobedience or fall for the Law was significatively given to testifie man to be subject to Gods Law and his obedience And whereas before man walked with a steady foote in Gods ordinance by this fact hee stumbled and fell from the seat of integrity The efficient immediate cause was man himselfe of his owne free will without any necessity inward or outward transgressing the Law The efficient cause remote and mediate was the Devill tempting man to sinne The instrumentall cause was the serpent whose tongue the Devill abused to frame arguments to beguile with The arguments or causes to move inwardly were first directly perswading for good that they should be as Gods Secondly perswading from feare of punishment Adde to
these 1 Ignorance whereby wee cannot know the truth nay not often with much labour 2 Obscurity and confusion in the understanding 3 Hardnesse to conceive and retaine things in the memory Punishments in respect of the body are 1 Common weaknesse and frailties of all men 2 Speciall disposition to sicknesse and diseases 3 Paine and labour especially in women paine of child-bearing 4 Deformity and want of beauty and comlinesse thorow evill proportion of the members or evill colour 5 Famine withholding or taking away the fruits of our lands chattels c. 6 Want or losse of children 7 Contentions emulations reproaches infamies warres among men 8 Many things against health good name goods and livelihood yea there is the punishment of deaths temporall the separation of soule and body and deaths eternall separation of soule and body from God from all felicity and glory called the second death The second death is to be minded first for the parts and degrees of it secondly for the circumstance of time and place The parts and degrees are these 1 the damned have no communion with God nor participation of grace 2 Thes. 1.9 2 They are united unto Satan and are partakers of his punishments 3 They are ashamed and confounded because their sinnes are manifested Rev. 20.12 4 They are ashamed and fret and envie the felicity of the Saints in Heaven Psalm 112.10 5 They are horribly pained and tormented with feeling Gods wrath and the worme of conscience The circumstances of time and place are these first of place which is hell the bottomlesse deepe the utter darknesse Gen. 16. Luk. 13.21 2 Pet. 2. Secondly of time and that will ever breake the heart of the damned which is eternity that hee is past hope of ever going out or having end of his paines Mat. 25.46 All sinne of its owne nature requireth punishment Rom. 6.23 Punishment is evill in respect of the sufferer good in respect of God that afflicteth it justly for sinne As sinne hath taken away the agreement with the nature of God so punishment hath taken away the communion with the felicity of God Mans misery is remediable through the mercy of God though God spared not the Angels that sinned yet the grace of God that bringeth salvation to all men hath appeared The remedy of our misery consisteth of two things 1 A deliverance from sin Secondly our reformation to the Image of God Psal. 32.1 2 Cor. 3.18 Our deliverance from sinne containeth foure things 1 Election to life eternall by God the Father 2 Redemption by God the Sonne Psal. 130.8 3 Justification Rom. 5.1 4 Sanctification and reformation into the Image of God by the Holy Ghost In our first estate wee had two things Gods favour and Image In our fall and misery wee have two things Satans Image and Gods displeasure In our restauration are had two things reconciliation to Gods favour and restoring of his Image God from all eternity did predestinate appoint and elect some Angels and some men to be for ever heires of the riches of his grace and glory 1 Tim. 5.2 1 Pet. 2.8 God keepeth the Angels that they cannot fall conserving and increasing their happinesse Joh. 13. Jer. 22.40 Mat. 24.24 Election is of God the Father Eph. 1.2 3. and onely some few men are elected unto life and they out of all sorts Jewes and Gentiles Matt. 20.16 Rom. 9.24 Rev. 7.9 Election hath two acts and degrees concerning the end which is eternall glory the first of God then of the creature Secondly the meanes to the end Rom. 9.11 The first act touching the end is Gods purpose to take some men which were to be created to eternall grace and glory leaving other some The second act is his purpose whereby hee ordaineth these men being to fall in Adam unto eternall glory through Christ Joh. 3.16 6.47 The signes testimonies and benefits of our election in Christ are an effectuall calling the gifts of lively faith Act. 13.4 5. 2 Thess. 2.13 14. Justification Rom. 8.30 and glorification begun in this life by holinesse being predestinated thereunto Eph. 1.4 That unto which God hath elected us is first Adoption of sonnes Secondly Sanctification Thirdly Eternall life The first and onely moving cause of Election is the good-pleasure and love of God Eph. 1.5 Rom. 9.18 Eph. 1.11 Christ being the ground-worke hereof This is further confirmed thus God is the beginning of his actions Rom. 11.35 The first beginning dependeth upon no other outward beginning but God should depend upon an other outward beginning if he could not elect whom he would without having respect of their faith faith is the effect of election Act. 13.48 therefore it cannot be the cause or before election The meanes whereby wee are predestinated is Jesus Christ Eph. 1.5 Christ is not the first moving cause but the meane for hee is onely Gods Sonne and we being predestinated to the adoption of Sonnes have the Sonne-ship by communion with Christ Gods election is firme and immutable Esay 46.10 2 Tim. 2.19 The meanes whereby wee come to be assured that wee are elected are these First the Gospell teaching that all truly beleeving shall be saved Tit. 1.2 and wee knowing wee beleeve assure our selves by the effects of election found in our selves as effectuall calling faith justification sanctification and good workes Secondly by the testimony of Gods Spirit in us Rom. 8.9.16 17. 1 Cor. 2.10 11 12. 2 Cor. 1.21.23 We judge our selves elect by the judgement of faith which is infallible 1 Thes. 1.4 Adoption is the first and proper thing whereunto we are predestinated and there is no exceeding benefit whereof it should not be the effect as in the Trinity the Father is first then the Sonne and the Holy Ghost In the order of working our salvation the first is the Father predestinating the second is the Son redeeming the third is the Holy Ghost sanctifying That the Father is first in working see Joh. 5.19.30 16.13 14. Adoption being then the worke of the Father it is before Redemption and so before Justification and Sanctification The first worke of Grace in bringing us to Christ is given by the Father Joh. 6.65 44 37 39. Opposite to Election is Reprobation which is Gods decree to leave some in their sinne and misery and for sinne to damne them or reprobation is Gods decree to passe by some and not elect them and to permit those to fall into sinne and to punish them eternally for sin Herein are two acts 1 Negative 2 Positive Negative to refuse or not elect positive to punish for sinne for that from which they are reprobate is from grace and glory and that whereto they are appointed is damnation the cause of not electing Gods just pleasure and will Mat. 11. Rom. 9. without respect of good or evill in the creature the cause of the second act damnation is mans sinne God is hee that
reprobateth some sinners Rom. 9.18 1 Thes. 5.9 This is also from eternity Jud. 4. and many are passed by and reprobated Mat. 20.16 The things whereof men are reprobate are true faith 2 Tim. 3.6 true sanctification Tit. 1.16 eternall life Act. 13.38 compared with 1 Thes. 5.9 Jud. 4. The cause of punishing the wicked is their sinne for justice must needs respect the innocency or guilt of the creature The end of reprobation is properly Gods glory Prov. 16.14 The perdition of the Reprobate is also the end but by accident unchangeable also is the decree of God Thus much of Election and reprobation Wee are redeemed by Jesus Christ Gen. 3.15 Gen. 22.18 Gal. 3.16 3.13 Rom. 16.20 In Christ two things are to be considered 1 his person 2 his office In his person are to be considered two natures divine and humane Rom. 9.5 with 1 Tim. 2.5 and Mat. 1.13 Christs divine nature is the same essence with the Father and the Holy Ghost from eternity Rom. 9.5 1 Joh. 5.20 Heb. 1.10 from Psal. 102.25 Our Redeemer was to be God because the greatnesse of the evill wherewith men were possessed could not be taken away but by God himselfe for Gods wrath being infinite could not by any creature which is finite be overcome He also that must be our Mediator must know us and all our estate wants thoughts desires which no creature can doe Christs humane nature is of the same essence and substance with the sonnes of Adam 1 Tim. 2.5 Heb. 2.14 It could not stand with Gods justice to punish Christ for our sinnes if he had not our nature neither could it have beene satisfactory for us if it had not beene done by a man The union of these two natures the Godhead and the manhood to make one person and mediator Jesus Christ is the great mystery of godlinesse God manifested in the flesh 1 Tim. 3.16 The manner of union of these two natures is extraordinary and therefore hath a peculiar name of Person or hypostaticall union and it was by the Godhead assuming the manhood as is shewn He. 2.16 This humane nature was to be particularly of the seed of Abraham Gen. 22.18 of David Ps. 132 11. Act. 2.30 of the virgin Mary Esay 7. Mat. 1.23 to fulfull the promises and to have right to the kingdome of Israel and to be free from originall sinne which is in ordinary generation the nature seed or blood of the woman was sanctified and formed by the Spirit of God and thereof Christs flesh created Christ had the same time degrees and progresse for his formation as other children have Luk. 1.26 36 39 56. and 2.4 5 6. when the forming of humane nature was absolute so as there was the matter and forme of a man then was the Godhead of Christ united thereto by a mysticall and incomprehensible union Luk. 1. Col. 2.9 The union is most neere and indissoluble that Christ from thenceforth for ever continueth God and man in the unity of one person The union of natures is not a confounding of them or of their properties for the Godhead remaineth infinite invisible incomprehensible the body finite visible locall Act. 3.21 1 Cor. 15.26 27 28. By this union ariseth the dignity of Christs person above men and Angels that hee is next to God or the Godhead it selfe such is the grace of eminencie by the joyning of these two natures Act. 20.28 By this union Christs humane nature purchaseth habituall grace as knowledge wisedome holinesse such as a creature cannot have Mark 13.32 This gradation sheweth Christ as man to have greater knowledge than men or Angels From this union is given unto Christ the highest power of office as to be head of the Church In respect of this union the whole person of Christ is worshipped though the direct object of worship is the Godhead onely Heb. 1.6 Mat. 4.10 From this union ariseth a communion both of the names and titles and operations so as these two natures conjoyned and distinguished are called one Christ Lord Head Mediator King Priest Justice Wisedome In every work the operations of the Godhead are Christs operations as equall with the Father which giveth an infinite worth and most perfect force together with the operation of the manhood unto the worke of mediation Act. 20.28 Heb. 9.14 From this union also ariseth figurative and unproper speeches as when things common to the whole person are attributed to one of the natures There is one mediator betweene God and man the man Jesus Christ whereas Christ is Mediator as God and man As also when things proper to one nature is given to another as in Act. 20.28 The Church of God which hee hath purchased with his blood yet blood is proper to man and not God Luk. 24.39 Hitherto of Christs person now of his office under which name the proper accidents and effects of Christs person be contained In generall it is to be Mediator between God and man 1 Tim. 2.5 Without a Mediator man could not be reconciled unto God nor saved from his wrath because it was the good pleasure of God by him to reconcile all things to himselfe and to set at peace through the blood of his Crosse both the things in earth and the things in heaven Col. 1.19 20. And because the Majesty of God was offended by sinne and could not passe it over without punishment Rom. 3.5 6. Christs Mediatorship containeth all the office and functions and operations which hee performed for mans Redemption By prophesie first decerning the cause betweene the parties differing as an arbitrator Secondly relation of covenants and conditions on both parties as a messenger By Priesthood thirdly the request or intercession for the offending party Fourthly payment or satisfaction to the party offended Fifthly effectuall application of the satisfaction By kingdome sixthly by defence and conservation of the parties satisfied for from all their enemies and so sanctification and restauration of Gods Image The office of Mediator requireth both divine and humane nature in one person God the Father ordained Christ to be the Mediator before the foundation of the world 1 Pet. 1.20 Heb. 5.4 5. God continually conserveth Christ in the office of Mediation Esay 49.8 Christs Mediatorship is eternall and everlasting Heb. 7.21 Psal. 45.6 In respect of this office our Mediator is called Christ Jesus a Saviour that is anointed of God for the Father continually and perfectly filleth his humanity with plenty of grace sufficient every moment to performe the worke Psal. 48.8 This anointing comprehendeth collation of gifts unto the humane nature and ordination to office in respect of both natures it is the person of Christ God and man that is Mediator Heb. 9. and not one nature onely either Godhead or manhood In the administration of this office though Christs whole person do things yet must wee distinguish of the worke or the action or effecting
his justice must be satisfied first before any legall justice can be established in us which being satisfied by Christ and so wee absolved from our sinnes past the legall justice beginneth in us againe in this life but shall not be perfected till the next life Justification is an act undivided and all at once and so it differeth from Sanctification which is done by degrees and parts Justification of a sinner in this life is done essentially but once though it be often repaired and renued as faith once given to the elect is never quite taken away for the seede of God remaineth in him Justification and Faith are most nearly united The causes of Justification are either Principall Instrumentall Outward Inward The principall outward cause is the merit and satisfaction of Christ Rom. 3.24 25. which in respect of us is the meritorious cause in respect of God it is the cause that is outwardly moving him to pronounce us just Both these are true that we are justified for the satisfaction and merit of Christ as the outward moving cause and yet are justified freely of meere mercy as the inward moving cause Object How can it be said that God freely forgiveth us our sinnes out of his owne grace and mercy freely seeing hee hath required satisfaction to the full of Christ our head and surety and without such satisfaction forgiveth no sinne Answ. Though hee forgive it not freely in respect of his Sonne who was wounded for our iniquities yet in respect of us that were the sinners it is free Object But wee merited it in Christ our head and therefore are not freely forgiven Answ. His merit was not ours by originall possession or cleaving in us as sinne is from Adam but only by relation and application and this meere grace that wee never thinking on any such thing God found this way for our redemption Rom. 5.8 10. and that he applyeth his Sonnes redemption unto us that were by no gift or merit disposed to such a thing Eph. 1.6 9. 2.8 As Christs satisfaction is most sufficient and full so as it is sufficiently and fully to justifie us without any merit of ours or any other creatures Rom. 3.25 26. Our workes being imperfect have no proportion to the justice of God neither are they ours but Gods due unto him and proceeding from him now that which is not ours originally or by possession but is wholly owing unto another by it we can merit nothing to our selves The principall inward cause of our justification is both 1 an effectuall calling 2 the imputation of Christs merits The effectuall calling is the more remote cause of our justification when God by his Spirit effectually moveth the heart the understanding will and affections to the acknowledgement of our owne miseries to seeke deliverance and to beleeve the promise or grace This inward calling of the elect differeth from outward calling by the word whereby God offereth his grace to all in generall to this inward calling a man is meerly passive in respect of the beginning that is hee cannot any more prepare or dispose himselfe by strength of nature unto this calling or justification Herein therefore the Papists erre who ascribe to man a preparation to justification called the fundation of justification as faith that is a certaine generall knowledge and certainty of the truth of Gods Word Secondly an acknowledgement of our sinnes Thirdly feare of hell Fourthly love of God Fifthly repentance Sixthly hope of salvation which sufficiently prepare a man they say to receive justification but the Apostle saith the contrary that our sufficiencie is of God The imputation of Christs merit satisfaction is the neere and next cause of justification and constituteth the essence and definition of it which is when God for union with Christ doth so apply and make proper Christs merit to us as if wee our selves had died and satisfied for our sinnes As from Adam wee draw 1 guilt 2 native evill so from Christ we draw 1 absolution from guilt 2 reparation of Gods Image called Regeneration The instrumentall cause of justification is Faith which is taken sometime largely sometime strictly largely faith is taken for an assent to those things written in the Word called historicall faith strictly faith is justifying or miraculous justifying faith is a trustfull assurance which the Spirit of God stirreth up in the elect firmly to apply the promises of Gods grace This faith presupposeth knowledge Rom. 10.14 but formally it is assertion towards Gods promise Faith justifieth not as it is a quality passion or action in us but as it is a relation and uniteth us to Christ whose satisfaction is imputed for righteousnesse to us Gal. 2.20 Faith applyeth the promise to the particular person and not the generall onely Gal. 2.20 1 Job 4.16 Faith necessarily bringeth forth good workes yet it justifieth not in that respect Rom. 4.5 The proper object of faith is the evangelicall promise of grace in Christ Rom. 1.16 Faith hath degrees increasing and diminishing yet the essence and force of justifying remaineth in the least degree Rom. 12.3 Mark 9.24 Faith once wrought in the elect can never be utterly extinguished for faith is of the elect onely 2 Thess. 3.2 as the elect cannot perish neither can their faith Rom. 8.38 39. The immediate effect of justification knowne is Adoption by which the elect do now actually please God as his children and co-heires with Christ Another effect of justification is peace of Conscience when we perceive our selves absolved from the guilt of sinne before Gods judgement and the judgement of our owne conscience Rom. 5.1 Peace of conscience hath degrees sometimes more sometimes lesse Psal. 30.7 and 51.12 and 38.3 From peace of conscience ariseth confidence that our prayers are heard Also assurance that our good workes please God also patient suffering of the crosse ariseth from the feeling of justification Rom. 5.3 Thus much of our deliverance from sinne and the misery thereof also the punishment of sinne which was Christs worke in himselfe Now followeth our Sanctification or reformation into the image of God which is Christs worke in us it is the change of our nature into better that is into the similitude of the perfection of God called also our Glorification 2 Cor. 3.18 Justification and Sanctification differ thus Justification is the imputing of anothers justice to wit Christs Sanctification is the impression of justice that it may be in us in Justification there is the satisfaction of Christ in Sanctification there is the obedience of a Christian Justice is perfect and absolute an undivided act at once Sanctification is a work begun not equall in all Justification is first Sanctification is after Sanctification is a separation from filthinesse of sin from common prophane use and a preparation and application to holy use by the Spirit of God 2 Cor. 7.1