Of justification four disputations clearing and amicably defending the truth against the unnecessary oppositions…

Next you say, [Yea it is the same, though none were actually justified.] Answer. This requires no other answer, then what is given to the former. It is the same Physice considerata, vel in Entitate naturali: But the moral action of pardoning and justifying is not the same, nor is at all: A conditional Pardon, Deed of Gift, Testament, &c. doth not at all pardon, or Give, till you perform the condition. For it is the proper nature of a condition to suspend the act of the Grant: so that till it be absolute or equal to Absolute, it is not Actual Remission, Justification, &c.) The reason of all this is, because these Laws, Testaments or Promises, are but the Lawmakers, Testators or Donors Instruments, and therefore act when and how he pleases: and it is his pleasure that they should act no otherwise then as is aforesaid, and as in the Tenor of them he shall express.

Next you add [To be justified, notes a passion▪ which presupposeth an Action transient, not immanent, or only Gods purpose to justify:] Answer 1. So far as the Reception of a Relation may be called a Passion, this is true: And no doubt you are in the right, that it is not Actus immanens. But now, What transient Act it is, I remember very few Divines that once tell us; but only in general say, It is a Transient Act. ⟨p. 338⟩Now you and I that have adventured to enquire, do happen to be both singular from others, and differing between our selves, (only Mr. Rutherford, and some few others I find saying oft, that we are pardoned and justified by the Gospel: by which they seem to mean as I) But for your way of Justification by a sentence before the Angels, as I never met with any that judged that to be our Justification by Faith, so as I have said, it seems to me very groundless and strange. And then, if yours stand not, mine only must, for any thing that is yet discovered, that I have seen, for I know of none that tells us of any third,

Next you add [To be justified, notes a passion▪ which presupposeth an Action transient, not immanent, or only Gods purpose to justifie:] Answer 1. So far as the Reception of a Relation may be called a Passion, this is true: And no doubt you are in the right, that it is not Actus immanens. But now, What transient Act it is, I remember very few Divines that once tell us; but only in general say, It is a Transient Act.