Of Free Justification by Christ, Book 2 · Part 10
Concerning the Word Iustification, what it signifies in the Scriptures: Whether it consists of Remission of Sins only, or not. And by what ways and means Iustification is obtained.
NOW (ye Papists) ye have our Opinion of Iustifying Faith, and the true Nature thereof explained unto you, what its power is, and what its object: Moreover ye understand how this Faith is distinguished from Hope and Assurance: And wherein the true and next cause of Iustification is taken up; whereof if ye enquire for the Internal cause, it is faith only, whereby we belleve in Christ: If ye enquire for the External Matter thereof, it is Christ only, whom we embrace by Faith. But because ye do by no means allow thereof, that we should be Iustified by Faith only; that we may confute your Calumnies in this matter, or amend your errour, I see there remain two things to be unfolded by me, and to be considered by you. First, What the Scripture properly understands by the word Iustification: And then, Who and what manner of persons they are, who are Iustified by Faith. As touching Iustification, they of Trent deny that it consists only in the Remission of sins, unless there is joyned therewith a What it is to be Iustified in the Scriptures.voluntary receiving of grace, and some other things go before, by which as preparatories, Men are disposed to receive Iustification.
But Pious Reader, If you have not yet. heard what this Preparatory Trident. Conc. cap. 7. Sess. 6.Disposition is, and by what degrees it arises, and into what order it is digested by these Men, it is worth while to take notice of it. For Men are disposed unto Righteousness, whilst being helped By what ways and means Men are prepared for Iustification.by the preventing grace of Divine Vocation, without any Merits of Works going before, they receive Faith by hearing. Now what this Faith is, it hath been shewed above; for according to the opinion of the Papists, it is a firm assent unto those things, that are revealed and discovered by God: And yet they plead that a Man is not presently Iustified by this naked assent, Trident. Concil. Sess. 6. cap. 6.or faith; But it behoves that other Dispositions be added by Divine grace, whereby men are prepared for Iustification; Faith, Fear, Hope, Love, Repentance, Hatred and Detestation of Sin, Love of Righteousness, Prayer and the like: so that indeed the beginning of Iustification is the free calling of God; Whence Faith comes by hearing: Whereby Men believe those things to be true, that are revealed by God: Whether they be such things as belong to the free mercy of God towards sinners, through the Tiletanus in Apol. pag. 250. 241.Redemption which is in Christ Iesus: Or whether they be such things as belong to the fear of Divine Iustice; from which Faith, by consideration of the Divine Iudgment fear ariseth, whereby Men are terrified to their advantage, that they may forsake and detest their sins. And afterwards from the same faith through consideration of free Mercy, purchased fo penitent sinners by Christ, assurance proceeds, whereby they are perswaded that God will be gracious to them for Christ's sake. And thus by this consideration of so great goodness, they begin to call upon God as the Fountain of all Righteousness, and to love him, and to cast away sin, and to endeavour after newness of life, and to keep the Commandments. And by this means we obtain a perfect disposition or preparation to Righteousness, whereby we are commanded to prepare our Hearts to the Lord. And afterwards Iustification follows this preparation, which is not only the Remission of sins; but also Sanctification and Renovation of the inner Man, by a voluntary accepting of grace, and gifts, whence a Man of unjust, is made just, and of an Enemy, a Friend, that he may Free Will cooperating.be an Heir according to the hope of Eternal Life, &c.
But now, from what part of the Apostolick or Prophetick Scripture, have they taken this Doctrine? From none, neither is there need of any. The Tridentine Oracle is sufficient for Scripture. Amongst the Doctors, Canisius endeavours a valiant defence of this Decree; but he gains nothing at all. For tho' we acknowledge with Augustin, and the Doctors, that which cannot be deny'd, that we are Debtors to the grace of God; for all we receive, both for those things which belong to the forgiveness of sins, and also those things which belong to new Obedience: Yet what makes this for the matter we are now treating of? For the Subject matter at present, is not what the efficacious power of Divine grace performs in us (without which, Augustin justly pleads against the Pelagians, that all our strength is wholly ineffectual;) but what that is which justifies a wicked Man before God? What that … wherein this our Iustification, whereof I speak, consists; in the Remission of sins only, or in the possession of Vertues? Moreover what that is, which is properly signified in the Scriptures by the word Iustification? Though in this also, the Adversaries are not very well agreed with one another; but in this one thing they are wonderfully agreed, to oppose Saint Paul with all their might. First, they of Trent, as I have said, do thus divide their opinion, that they make two parts of Iustification: The one in Remission, which they attribute to Faith: The other in new Obedience, and Works meritorious of increase, as they speak, by which the Righteouness of Faith is perfected, of which opinion Tilet an Wher ein Iustification consists according to the Tridentines. Tiletanus in Apol. pag. 237.is the Author. Again, there are Others, who are so far from explaining what is signified by the word Iustification, that referring all to the Righteousness of Works, they think that Iustification is not worthy to be mentioned in Books: Of whom, and the chief amongst many, is this Osorius of ours. Thomas Aquinas discoursing of many things about Iustification, as also about many other things, seems to have described it after this manner: To wit, according to the nature of Motion which is made in Man, from one contrary to another: So that it is a kind of Transmutation … 12. q. 113. arti. 1. What the Iustification of the wicked, is according to Thomas. A … al motion in Iustification.from a State of unrighteousness to a State of Righteousness, And he explains the reason, why this is called the Iustification of a wicked Man, in these words. To wit, because all motion is denominated more from the term to which, than from the term from which: therefore that Transmutation whereby a Man is changed from a State of unrighteousness through the Remission The Term to which.of sin, to a State of righteousness, it takes its name from the term to which, and it is called the Iustification of the wicked. These things said he: and he said not amiss, if so be it be rightly understood, for suppose we grant that which must necessarily be acknowledged, that there is no Iustification of a wicked Man, without a Transmutation, and that Transmutation is not made without Remission, The opinion of Thomas is examined.and also that there is no motion without a twofold term, yet there is a twofold consideration requisite here: First, where he places his term to which? That is, where he would place this State of Righteousness? If in this life, it is false: But if in the other, it is most true: For here, by the help of Divine grace, we proceed from Vertue to Vertue. But we shall attain the term of full Righteousness only in the life to come. And then as touching the word Righteousness, I must ask Thomas what Righteousness he means, if he means, Human or Inherent Righteousness, whereby he thinks we are Iustified before God: I answer, That we shall never attain unto that state of Righteousness in this life: But if he understand That Righteousness which … Preaches, which is God's, and not ours, the assertion of Thomas doth not at all differ from the words of the Apostle: for thus saith he, that we might be made the Righteousness of God through him: First, what is called this Righteousness of God? but that which is not ours: Which God approves in us by his imputation. And then why doth he add, (through him) but that we may understand that this Righteousness consists not in any Whether Iustification consists in Remission only, or in change of qualities. 2 Cor. 5.performance of our Vertues, but is only upon the account of Christ's imputed to us, that he only may be just and the justifier of him that is of the Faith of Iesus.