Aphorisms of justification, with their explication annexed wherein also is opened the nature of…Aphorismes of justification, with their explication annexed wherein also is opened the nature of…

Two sorts among us therefore do discover intolerable Ignorance in this point. 1. Those that commonly use and understand the words [Righteous, and Righteousness] as they relate to the old Rule: as if the Godly were called righteous (besides their imputed Righteousness, only because their Sanctification and good Works have some imperfect agreement to the Law of Works: As if it were a straight line which is in one place straight and another crooked; much less that which is in every part crooked in some degree, I have been sorry to hear many learned Teachers speak thus; most they say to maintain it, is in this simple objection. If we are called holy, because of an imperfect Holiness: then why not righteous, because of an imperfect Righteousness? Ans. Holiness signifieth no more but a Dedication to God, either by separation only, or by qualifying the subject first, with an aptitude to its Divine employment, and then separating or devoting it: as in our Sanctification. Now a person imperfectly so qualified, is yet truly and ⟨p. 80⟩really so qualified; and therefore may truly be called holy so far. But Righteousness signifying a Conformity to the Rule; and a Conformity with a quatenus, or an imperfect Rectitude, being not a true Conformity or Rectitude at all (because the denomination is of the whole Action or Person, and not of a certain part or respect therefore imperfect Righteousness is not Righteousness, but Unrighteousness; It is a contradiction in adjecto. Object. But, is our personal Righteousness perfect as it is measured by the New Rule? Ans. Yes: as I shall open to you by and by.

Two sorts among us therefore do discover intolerable Ignorance in this point. 1. Those that commonly use and understand the words [Righteous, and Righteousness] as they relate to the old Rule: as if the Godly were called righteous (besides their imputed Righteousness, only because their Sanctification and good Works have some imperfect agreement to the Law of Works: As if it were a streight line which is in one place streight and another crooked; much less that which is in every part crooked in some degree, I have been sorry to hear many learned Teachers speak thus; most they say to maintain it, is in this simple objection. If we are called holy, because of an imperfect Holiness: then why not righteous, because of an imperfect Righteousness? Ans. Holiness signifieth no more but a Dedication to God, either by separation only, or by qualifying the subject first, with an aptitude to its Divine imployment, and then separating or devoting it: as in our Sanctification. Now a person imperfectly so qualified, is yet truly and