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,…

It is Cameron's opinion, That the word Justitia, [Greek or Hebrew], when attributed to God, doth always signify Goodness, Salvation, Redemption, but never in the Scripture (saith he) doth it denote an affection in God, whereby he avengeth himself upon sinners; but that the words Ira and Judicium, Anger ⟨p. 99⟩and Judgement express this; But though the word signify so sometimes, yet in some places it must needs mean this disposition in God, Psal. 9.5. 1 Tim. 4.8. 2 Thess. 1.6. so that in some sense, we may with several Orthodox men, say, Justice is essential to God. Sin is not indeed Physically contrary to God, as water is to fire, for if it were so, God would not suffer it to be, because he is an infinite good; as if there were infinite fire, or light, there could not be any water or darkness; but it is morally contrary to him, Hab. 1. Thou art of purer eyes then to behold iniquity; even sins against any positive command of God, that are sins only because prohibited, they are thus far against his nature, and not his will only; because it is against his nature, to have his will and commands disobeyed in any thing, he being the supreme and most holy Lawgiver. If God did only punish sin because he will, and not because he is essentially just, there could no true cause be given, why Heathens should have terror in their consciences after sins committed, seeing the Word is not revealed unto them, declaring Gods will: and when the Scripture speaks of God punishing sins, it doth not attribute it to Gods mere will, because he will do so, but to his Justice, Rev. 16.5, 7. Thus Exod. 24. God is described by this property, Not acquitting the guilty. Now when we say, God cannot but punish sin with death since the promulgation of the threatening, that is not so to be understood, as if then only the tie and obligation of Justice came upon God, but it was from eternity: for as God did in time reveal this threatening; so he did from all eternity will this threatening; and so therefore from all eternity it was just with God to punish a sinner, neither could he forgive him without a satisfaction. This is diligently to be observed, because men speak sometimes, as if vindicative Justice were then only due when the actual threatening was; whereas the executions of God in time, are, as his decrees were from eternity;