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

You next pass to another Point (about Thes. 59.) whether Justification be a continued Act. And you say that [being a Transient Act, it cannot be well called a continued Act, which imports a successive motion between the Terminus a quo and ad quem, whereas this Act, whether by sentence or Covenant, is not such a motion, &c.] Answ. 1. All this may be true of a proper natural Action: but you know that it is only a moral Action which I affirm to be continued, and of this you know your Rule de motu holds not, except you take Motus ⟨p. 342⟩largely and improperly. As passive Justification, or the effect of the Justifying Act is but a Relation, which is the weakest of Entities; so doth it per nudam resultantiam arise, which is by the weakest of Causalities; The Act of God giving out and enacting this Law or Covenant at first, was indeed a proper transient Act, and is ceased: but the moral Action of the Law thus enacted is continual. The Law of the land, which condemneth Delinquents, and justifieth the obedient, doth both by a continued moral Act. The Lease of your House or Lands gives you Title thereto by a continued moral Act. So that this which I assert, is not Actus repetitus vel renovatus.

YOu next pass to another Point (about Thes. 59.) whether Justification be a continued Act. And you say that [being a Transient Act, it cannot be well called a continued Act, which imports a successive motion between the Terminus a quo and ad quem, whereas this Act, whether by sentence or Covenant, is not such a motion, &c.] Answ. 1. All this may be true of a proper natural Action: but you know that it is only a moral Action which I affirm to be continued, and of this you know your Rule de motu holds not, except you take Motus ⟨p. 342⟩largely and improperly. As passive Justification, or the effect of the Justifying Act is but a Relation, which is the weakest of Entities; so doth it per nudam resultantiam arise, which is by the weakest of Causalities; The Act of God giving out and enacting this Law or Covenant at first, was indeed a proper transient Act, and is ceased: but the moral Action of the Law thus enacted is continual. The Law of the land, which condemneth Delinquents, and justifieth the obedient, doth both by a continued moral Act. The Lease of your House or Lands gives you Title thereto by a continued moral Act. So that this which I assert, is not Actus repetitus vel renovatus.