we come unto God by Christ, and by him only: Heb. vii. 25. 'Wherefore he is able also to save

them to the uttermost. that come unto God by • him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession

for them. John xiv. 6. Jesus faith unto Tho. mas, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.'

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Quest. 32. What Benefits do they that are effektually called partake of in this Life?

Ans. They that are effestually called, do, in this Life, partake of Justification, Adoption, Sanctification, and the several Benefits which in this Life do either accoinpany or flow from them.

EXPLICATION. They that are effectually called into Union and Communion with Christ, do, in Communion with him, partake of the rest of the Benefits of his Purchase : Eph. i. 3. 'Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all

spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.?How. beit, these Benefits are not communicate to them in their own Persons all at once. But they get fome of them in this Life, more at Death, and the whole at the Resurrection. But the Root-benefit from which they all spring unto them, and on which they all depend, is their Union with Christ: 1 Cor. i. 30. ' But of

him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and fancti

• fication,

<

• fication, and redemption. Rev. xiv. 13. ' And I « heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me,

Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the (Lord, from henceforth : Yea, faith the Spirit,

that they may rest from their labours; and their (works do follow them.' i Thell. iv. 14. 'If ( we believe that Jesus died, and rose again, even " so them also which seep in Jesus, will God • bring with him. Compared with Col. i. 27. 'To * -whom (the saints] God would make known ! what is the riches of the glory of this mystery

among the Gentiles; which is, Christ in you, the hope of glory. The chief of these Benefits, which the effectually called do, in Communion with Christ, partake of, in this Life, are Justifica. tion, Adoption, and Sanctification : Rom. viii. 30.

Moreover, whom he did predeftinate, them he also called : and whom he called, them he also justified.' Eph. i. 5. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to

himself.' 1 Cor. i. 30. forecited. And there are several other Benefits, which, even in this Life, do either accompany these chief ones, 'or flow from them, And they partake of them also accordingly, in this Life, 1 Cor. i. 30. forecited.

Quest., 33. What is Justification?

Anf. Justification is an Act of God's 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,

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EXPLICATION. All who are effectually called, are justified: Rom. viii. 30. Whom he called, them he also justified.' The justifying of a Perfon doth never, in the Scripture-fenfe of the Word, fignify, to make one righte. ous with inherent Righteousness or Holiness: But commonly and ordinarily it fignifies,' To declare one righteous: Exod. xxiii. 7. Keep thee far

from a false matter : and the innocent and the righteous flay thou not : for I will not justify

the wicked. Compared with Rom. iv. 5. To 6 him that worketh not, but believeth on him that * justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for • righteousness.' Prov. xvii. 15.' He that justi. • fieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the

juft, even they both are abomination to the Lord.' IL. v. 23. 'Wo unto them which justify the wick

ed for reward, and take away the righteous

ness of the righteous from him.' The justifying of a Perfon sometimes fignifies, to sew one righ teous: Job xxxiii. 32. "If thou hast any thing to

fay, answer me : speak, for I desire to justify

thee.' Chap. xxxii. 2. Against Job was Eli. • hu's wrath kindled, because he justified himself ' 'rather than God.' Gen. xliv. 16. 'And Judah faid, How shall we clear ourselves ? &c. Luke

And he said unto the Pharisees, Ye are they which justify yourfelves before men; but . God knoweth your hearts. Rev. xxii

. 11. 'He that is unjust, let him be unjust ftill:mand he

that is righteous, let him be righteous ftill. Now, since God's justifying a Sinner cannot be a shewe ing him righteous in his Sight, it must be a declae ring him righteous in his Sight. Wherefore our

xvi. 15.

Justification

Justification is not a Change of our Nature, but of our State.

The State a Sinner is brought out of, in his Justification, is the State of Condemnation : Rom. viii. 33. 34. 'Who shall lay any thing to the charge (of God's elect? It is God that justifieth : who o is he that condemneth ? Compared with vers. 1.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them ' which are in Christ Jesus.' All Men, before they are justified, are in a State of Condemnation : John iii. 18. ' He that believeth not, is condemned

already, because he hath not believed in the name

of the only begotten Son of God.' Compared with Rom. v. I.

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Je

sus Christ. And they are so, in virtue of the Curse of the Law still lying on them : Gal. iii. 10. • Cursed is every one that continueth not in all

things which are written in the book of the law to do them.' Compared with Rom. iii. 19. Now

we know that what things foever the law faith, " it saith to them who are under the law : that eve

ry mouth may be stopped, and all the world may • become guilty before God.' But Sinners are, in their Justification, delivered from the Curse : Gal. iii. 13. Chrift hath redeemed us from the (curse of the law, being made a curse for us.' Compared with Rom. viii. 33. 34. forecited. And the Curse never returns upon them thereafter, Rom. viii. 1. forecited. If. liv. 9. As I have sworn " that the waters of Noah should no more go over

the carth ; so have I sworn, that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.'

Justification is not a Work carried on by Degrees, but an Act perfected in an Instant: John

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V. 24. "Verily verily I say unto you, He that • heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent

me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Compared with Rom: i. 17. The just shall . live by faith.' A Sinner is justified in the first Instant of his believing on Christ, and not before, Rom. v. 1. forecited. Chap. iii

. 22. The righteousness of God is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all

, and upon all them that believe.' John iii. 18. He that believeth on him, is not condemned:

but he that believeth not, is condemned already, 6 because he hath not believed in the name of the

only begotten Son of God.'

Justification is the Act of God himself: And in it he acts in the Character of a Judge: Rom, viii. 33. 34. Who Mall lay any thing to the charge

of God's elect? It is God that justifieth : who

is he that condemneth? Compared with Deut. xxv. 1. 'If there be a controversy between men,

and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them, then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.' The Throne of Judgment on which God justifies a Sinner, is his Throne of Grace: Heb. iv. 16. 'Let us therefore

come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we

may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time • of need.' And he is to be found on that Throne, only in Chrift: 2 Cor. v. 19. God was in Christ,

reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing • their trespasses unto them.' The Sinner is brought, . for Justification, unto the Throne of Grace, by ' the Spirit in effectual Calling: 1 Cor. vi. II. • And such were some of you but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the