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we come unto God by Chrift, and by him only: Heb. vii. 25. Wherefore he is able alfo to fave them to the uttermoft. that come unto God by S him, feeing he ever liveth to make interceffion for them.' John xiv. 6. Jefus 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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Queft. 32. What Benefits do they that are effectually called partake of in this Life?

Anf. They that are effectually called, do, in this Life, partake of Juftification, Adoption, Sanctification, and the several Benefits which in this Life do either accompany or flow from them.

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EXPLICATION.

They that are effectually called into Union and Communion with Chrift, do, in Communion with him, partake of the reft of the Benefits of his Purchafe: Eph. i. 3. Bleffed be the God and Father of 'our Lord Jefus Chrift, who hath bleffed us with all fpiritual bleffings in heavenly places in Christ.'Howbeit, these Benefits are not communicate to them in their own Perfons all at once. But they get fome of them in this Life, more at Death, and the whole at the Refurrection. But the Root-benefit from which they all spring unto them, and on which they all depend, is their Union with Chrift: 1 Cor. i. 30. But of ' him are ye in Chrift Jefus, who of God is made ⚫ unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and fancti

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'fication,

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'fication, and redemption.' Rev. xiv. 1.3. And I heard a voice from heaven, faying unto me, Write, Bleffed are the dead which die in the Lord, from henceforth: Yea, faith the Spirit, that they may reft from their labours; and their works do follow them.' 1 Theff. iv. 14. "If we believe that Jefus died, and rofe again, even fo them alfo which fleep in Jefus, will God bring with him.' Compared with Col. i. 27. To whom [the faints] God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery · among the Gentiles; which is, Chrift in you, the hope of glory. The chief of these Benefits, which the effectually called do, in Communion with Chrift, partake of, in this Life, are Juftifica tion, Adoption, and Sanctification: Rom. viii. 30. Moreover, whom he did predeftinate, them he alfo called: and whom he called, them he also juftified.' Eph. i. 5. Having predeftinated us unto the adoption of children by Jefus Chrift to himself.' 1 Cor. i. 30. forecited. And there are feveral other Benefits, which, even in this Life, do either accompany thefe chief ones, or flow from them, And they partake of them alfo accordingly, in this Life, 1 Cor. i. 30. forecited.

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Queft. 33. What is Juftification? Anf. Juftification 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 Righteoufnefs of Chrift imputed to us, and received by Faith alone.

EXPLICATIO N.

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All who are effectually called, are juftified: Rom.` viii. 30. "Whom he called, them he alfo juftified."' The juftifying of a Perfon doth never, in the Scripture-fenfe of the Word, fignify, to make one righteous with inherent Righteousness or Holiness: But commonly and ordinarily it fignifies, To declare one righteous: Exod. xxiii. 7. Keep thee far 'from a falfe matter: and the innocent and the righteous flay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked. Compared with Rom. iv. 5. To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that juftifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteoufnefs. Prov. xvii. 15. He that jufti'fieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the juft, even they both are abomination to the Lord." If. v. 23. "Wo unto them which juftify the wick ed for reward, and take away the righteouf nefs of the righteous from him.' The juftifying of a Perfon fometimes fignifies, to fhew one righteous Job xxxiii. 32. If thou haft any thing to fay, anfwer me: fpeak, for I defire to justify thee.' Chap. xxxii. 2. Against Job was Eli'hu's wrath kindled, because he juftified himself rather than God.' Gen. xliv. 16. And Judah faid, How fhall we clear ourselves?' &c. Luke xvi. 15. And he said unto the Pharifees, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts. Rep. xxii. 11. 'He that is unjust, let him be unjust still-and he that is righteous, let him be righteous ftill.' Now, fince God's juftifying a Sinner cannot be a fhew. ing him righteous in his Sight, it must be a declae ring him righteous in his Sight. Wherefore our Juftification

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

The State a Sinner is brought out of, in his Juftification, is the State of Condemnation: Rom. viii. 33. 34. Who fhall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that juftifieth: who ' is he that condemneth?' Compared with verf. 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Chrift Jefus.' 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 juftified by faith, ⚫ we have peace with God, through our Lord Jefus Chrift.' And they are fo, in virtue of the Curfe of the Law still lying on them: Gal. iii. 10. Curfed 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 faith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.' But Sinners are, in their Juftification, delivered from the Curse : Gal. iii. 13. Chrift hath redeemed us from the

curfe of the law, being made a curfe 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 fworn

that the waters of Noah fhould no more go over 'the earth; fo have I fworn, that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.'

Juftification is not a Work carried on by Degrees, but an A&t perfected in an Inftant: John

v. 24. Verily verily I fay unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that fent " me, hath everlasting life, and fhall not come into condemnation; but is paffed from death unto life. Compared with Rom: i. 17. The just shall live by faith.' A Sinner is juftified in the first Inftant of his believing on Chrift, and not before, Rom. v. 1. forecited. Chap. iii. 22. The righteoufnefs of God is by faith of Jefus Chrift 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, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.'

Juftification is the Act of God himself: And in it he acts in the Character of a Judge: Rom, viii. 33. 34. Who fhall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that juftifieth: who is he that condemneth?' Compared with Deut. xxv. 1. If there be a controverfy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them, then they fhall justify the righte ous, and condemn the wicked.' The Throne of Judgment on which God juftifies 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 Chrift, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing. their trefpaffes unto them.' The Sinner is brought, for Juftification, unto the Throne of Grace, by the Spirit in effectual Calling: 1 Cor. vi. 11. And fuch were fome of you ::-but ye are juftified in the name of the Lord Jefus, and by the

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