The Doctrine of Justification, Treatise · Chapter 34
CHAPTER XXXIIII.
THE next pointe that we have to ſpeake of, is touchinge the finall cauſe of iuſtification, in the which wee purpoſe to be ſhort, ſeeing it is not a matter controverted: but yet it ſerveth to cleare the trueth of that going before, concerninge the ordet of Gods benefites. It is receyved vniverſallie of all, that the finall cauſe of righteouſnes, is life: for there is no way to attayne vntounto life, but by righteouſnes: and for this cauſe iuſtification is called, The iuſtification of life, Rom. chap. 5. vetſ. 18. and for the ſame cauſe it is ſaide, That they who receyve that aboundance of grace, and of the gift of that righteovſnes, shall reigne in life, Rom. chap. 5. ver. 17. therefore is ſalvation called the end of our faith, Pet. 1. Epiſt. cha. 1. ver. 9. Carrying about with you, the end of your faith, even the ſalvation of your ſoules. And this is according to the plaine ſpeech of God, Ezek. chap. 18. If a man be iuſt, he shall ſurely live ſaith the Lord: but the ſoule that ſinneth, shall die. And againe in the ſame chapter, ver. 20. The righteouſnes of the righteous shalbe vponupon him: and the wickednes of the wicked, shalbe vponupon him ſelfe. And againe, In his righteouſnes that he hath done, he shall live.
By theſe teſtimonies it is plaine, that the end of righteouſnes is life: according to the ſaying of the Prophet Haba. The iust shaell live by faith, in the 2. chapter, ver. 4. and therefore eternal life is called the hope of righteouſnes, Gall. chapt. 5. ver. 5. For wee through the ſpirit, waite for the hope of righteouſnes through faith.
And in this ſame ſenſe is the ſaying of the Apoſtle to bee taken, Rom. chap. 8. ver. 23. VVee doe ſigh in our ſelves, wayting for our adoption, even the redemption of our bodyes. as may eaſilie bee perceyved by the wordes following, wherein hee giveth the reaſon of this our waytinge, when hee ſayeth, for by hope wee are ſaved, &c. where our Adoption is put for our ſalvation, or glorification, or redemption, in that ſenſe wherein redemption is taken, 1. Corinth. chap. 1. ver. 30. and this is needfull to bee marked, to let vsus ſee how diverſly Adoption is taken in the holy ſcriptures of God.
And that wee may ſee the trueth of that which wee have ſaide before concerning the difference betwixt beeing a ſonne by faith, and by prerogative: for as ſayeth Iohn 1. Epiſt. chap. 3. ver. 2. we are now the ſonnes of God: but it is not made manifeſt yet what wee shall bee. where he plainly diſtinguiſheth, betwixt beeing a ſonne, and being a glorified ſonne: for by faith wee are the ſonnes of God, Gall. chap. 3. ver, 26. and yet by faith wee are not the glorified ſonnes of God: but yet ſtill wayte for our Adoption, that is our glorification.
And this diverſe ſenſe of Adoption, is evidently cleered by the diverſe ſenſe of redemption, wherein it is taken in the Rom. chap. 8, ver. 23. and Heb. chap. 9. ver. 15. For Rom. chap. 8. it is taken in one ſenſe with Adoption, that is, for the glorification of our bodyes: But in the 9. chap. to the Heb. it is taken for iuſtification: which place alſo confirmeth, eternall life to bee the end of our iuſtification, whyle it is ſayde, that Christ is the Mediator of the New Teſtament for this cauſe, that through death, which was for the redemption of the tranſgreſsions that were in the former teſtament, they which were called might receyve the promiſe of eternall inheritance. And this ſame is made manifeſt by the Apoſtles order ſet downe Rom. chap. 8. where hee ſayeth, whom he iuſtifieth, them alſo hee glorifieth. For as calling is the fruite of predeſtination: and iuſtification, the fruit of calling, ſo glorification is the fruite of iuſtification.