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

You add that [You incline to think that there is but one Justification of a Person in this life, though frequent Remission of sin.] Answ. In that you judge as most of the Orthodox do: And I have said nothing to the contrary. I think also, that as Scripture useth the phrase of oft-forgiving, but seldom of oft-justifying, so it is safest to speak as Scripture doth. Yet as to the thing, me thinks, that as Remission and Justification do but respectively or very narrowly differ; so in this case, one may as truly be said to be repeated, as the other: that is, As there is an universal Remission of all sin past, upon our first true Believing; which universal Remission is never iterated, but continued: so is there an Universal Justification of the person at the same time, by which he is made just, (and in Law so esteemed, pronounced or judged) by being acquit from the condemning Power of the Law, which (for his sins past only) was before in force against him. And so if you look to such a Remission or Justification as wholly changeth the state of the person, making him Pardoned who was before wholly unpardoned, and fully under guilt of all former sins; or making him justified who was before unjustified, and condemned (in Law;) neither of these I think, are iterated. But then, as you confess a frequently renewed pardon for following sins, so I know no reason, but in the same sense there must be a frequent Justifying: For as our Divines well conclude, that sin cannot be pardoned before it be committed (for then there should be pardon without Guilt; for no man is Guilty of sin to come formally;) so is it as necessary to conclude, that no man is justified ⟨p. 343⟩from sin before it be committed; that is, from that which is not; and so is not sin: For then Justification should go before and without Legal Accusation and Condemnation: For the Law accuseth and condemneth no man for a sin which is not committed, and so is no sin. It is said Acts 13.•9. that (by Christ) we are Justified from all things, from which we could not be justified by the Law of Moses. Where, as I desire you to observe that phrase of being Justified by the •aw, to show it is an Act of the Law (though sin maketh transgressors uncapable.) so you see it is a Scripture phrase to say▪ we are Justified from sin: