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

You say that [Constitutive Justification, different from Declarative by sentence, I do not find expressed under the term (Justification:) it would be considered, whether any other Act beside the sentence, doth make a man just, but giving of faith.] Answer. These two things I shall prove to convince you: (because this is of some moment.) 1. That some Act there must be to constitute us just, before or besides the sentence. 2. That neither the sentence nor the giving of Faith doth first and properly constitute us Just.

1. If we be not just before we are judged as just, then Gods Judgement should not be according to Truth. But Gods Judgment is according to Truth: therefore we are just before we are so judged. 2. He that hath Christ, and the Benefits of his satisfactory Righteousness given him by the New Law, Covenant, Testament or Grant of Christ, is hereby constituted righteous. But every Believer hath Christ and the said benefits Given him in and by the Law or Covenant: therefore he is thereby made or constituted Righteous.

And here by the way take notice, that the New Law or Covenant hath two Offices; the one to Bestow Right to the Benefit: and hereby it makes Righteous: The other to Declare and manifest openly, and to be the Rule of public Judgement: and so it doth both actione morally proclaim believers righteous, and Virtually sentence them so. And therefore in Rom. 10.5. it is called [the Righteousness which is of the Law] And if the Old Law had a power of making Righteous, if man could have performed the condition, so also hath the New.

And here by the way take notice, that the New Law or Covenant hath two Offices; the one to Bestow Right to the Benefit: and hereby it makes Righteous: The other to Declare and manifest openly, and to be the Rule of publique Judgement: and so it doth both actione morali proclaim believers righteous, and Virtually sentence them so. And therefore in