The true doctrine of justification asserted and vindicated, from the errors of Papists, Arminians,…The true doctrine of justification asserted and vindicated, from the errours of Papists, Arminians,…

5. Whereas it might be, and is objected, God hath an all-seeing eye, and therefore he cannot but see sin if it be in us, They answer, God indeed seeth all things, saving that which he will not see, but undertakes to abolish out of his sight, and they distinguish of Gods knowing and his seeing (p.68.) God knoweth believers sins, but he doth not see them. To know, is to understand the nature of a thing: but to see (according to them) is to behold the real existence of a thing: now that cannot be of sin, because its taken away. Thus (say they) God did know the sins of Abraham, and men did reprove him, but God did never once rebuke him in all his life after his calling, for any one sin.

So that by these Positions you may see their meaning to be, That a justified man is by Christ so cleansed, that God seeth nothing but what is perfectly holy in him: sin not only in the punishment, but in the existence of it is removed quite away as to Gods sight. Hence God takes no notice, never chastiseth them, never reproveth them, because he seeth nothing but what is exceeding good; and therefore because the justified feel the contrary, that they have sin, they commend and press faith, to live above sense, reason, and all our experience; for (say they) as a man that looks through red glass, seeth every thing red, so God looking through Christ, seeth not only our persons, but all our actions, perfectly righteous with Christ righteousness. What else may be said of their opinion, is to be spoken of, when we treat of imputed righteousness.

So that by these Positions you may see their meaning to be, That a justified man is by Christ so cleansed, that God seeth nothing but what is perfectly holy in him: sin not only in the punishment, but in the existence of it is removed quite away as to Gods sight. Hence God takes no notice, never chastiseth them, never reproveth them, because he seeth nothing but what is exceeding good; and therefore because the justified feel the contrary, that they have sin, they commend and presse faith, to live above sense, reason, and all our experience; for (say they) as a man that looks thorow red glasse, seeth every thing red, so God looking thorow Christ, seeth not only our persons, but all our actions, perfectly righteous with Christ righteousnesse. What else may be said of their opinion, is to be spoken of, when we treat of imputed righteousnesse.