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

You add that [Justification is a Court-term, importing an Act of God as Judge, whereas his promising is not his Act as ⟨p. 339⟩Judge, but Rector.] Answer 1. If by a Court-term, you also mean a Law-term, (verbum forense or judiciarium in the full sense) I agree with you. But if you confine it to the sentence as pronounced, I require Proof; as also proof of any such sentence before Judgement, particular or general. A Rector is either Supremus or Subaliernus: A Judge is either supreme above all Laws, as being the Law-giver, or sub lege. God is both Rector and Judge, only in the first senses: and by judging, he Ruleth; and Rector is but the Genus, whereof Judex is a species. As Rector supremus▪ God is the Legislator, and so acteth (and justifieth by his Laws, Grants, &c.) as Judge he sentenceth and absolveth those that were first made just. A man is accused for killing another in fight, at the command of the Sovereign Power. Is it not as fit and proper a saying, to say [The Law doth justify this man for so doing against all Accusers,] as to say, [The Judge will justify him▪] Nay, Is it not more ordinary? And in a sort, the Supreme or Sovereign may be said to be (though in a different sense) justified, as well as an Inferior; when yet the said person in Supremacy hath no Judge, nor is to have any by Law, and so cannot be justified by sentence. God will be justified in his sayings, &c. as he hath in a sort bound himself by his own Laws, that is, signified his Resolution to observe them; so in the sense of these Laws, his works are now just, and shall be hereafter so be manifested: but not by any sentence of a Superior. But this I confess differeth from our Justification.

You add that [Justification is a Court-term, importing an Act of God as Judge, whereas his promising is not his Act as ⟨p. 339⟩Judge, but Rector.] Answer 1. If by a Court-term, you also mean a Law-term, (verbum forense or judiciarium in the full sense) I agree with you. But if you confine it to the sentence as pronounced, I require Proof; as also proof of any such sentence before Judgement, particular or general. A Rector is either Supremus or Subaliernus: A Judge is either supreme above all Laws, as being the Law-giver, or sub lege. God is both Rector and Judge, only in the first senses: and by judging, he Ruleth; and Rector is but the Genus, whereof Judex is a species. As Rector supremus God is the Legislator, and so acteth (and justifieth by his Laws, Grants, &c.) as Judge he sentenceth and absolveth those that were first made just. A man is accused for killing another in fight, at the command of the Soveraign Power. Is it not as fit and proper a saying, to say [The Law doth justifie this man for so doing against all Accusers,] as to say, [The Judge will justifie him] Nay, Is it not more ordinary? And in a sort, the Supream or Soveraign may be said to be (though in a different sense) justified, as well as an Inferior; when yet the said person in Supremacy hath no Judge, nor is to have any by Law, and so cannot be justified by sentence. God will be justified in his sayings, &c. as he hath in a sort bound himself by his own Laws, that is, signified his Resolution to observe them; so in the sense of these Laws, his works are now just, and shall be hereafter so be manifested: but not by any sentence of a Superior. But this I confess differeth from our Justification.