Mount Pisgah, or, A prospect of heaven being an exposition on the fourth chapter…Movnt Pisgah, or, A prospect of heaven being an exposition on the fourth chapter…

Answ. The objection admits of a fair and easy solution, namely this; ^*It holds true in matters of criminal Justice, where a person is tried upon Indictment of a Crime, suppose Theft, or Murder, or Sacrilege, or the like; there, upon Examination, to be found Not Guilty, is to be Righteous, ⟨p. 139⟩Legally Righteous; there being no other Righteousness looked after in that Trial, but, Whether Guilty of the Fact, or not Guilty: But in matters of remunerative justice, where the Law propounds a reward to such and such qualifications, there a not-Guilty will not suffice. Ex. gr. If a Scholar in the University be a Candidate for an office there, or a Fellowship in a College, where the Statutes do require such and such qualifications there: upon Examination, to be found not-Guilty of Murder, of Sacrilege, or any other Crime; this will not capacitate the Candidate for the preferment; this is the case in hand, The Saints are now Candidates for Heaven and Glory, Absolution or Pardon is not sufficient to capacitate them for this glory; yea though it be supposed the pardon be extensive to all (not the transgressions only of the Law, but) the very omissions & defects too, yea to the least non-conformity, unto the Law in its utmost perfection, it sufficeth not; because a pardon is not the qualification which the Law requireth; but a positive perfection, Fac hoc, &c. Do this, and Live.

Answ. The objection admits of a fair and easie solution, namely this; ^*It holds true in matters of criminal Justice, where a person is tried upon Indictment of a Crime, suppose Theft, or Murder, or Sacrilege, or the like; there, upon Examination, to be found Not Guilty, is to be Righteous, ⟨p. 139⟩Legally Righteous; there being no other Righteousness looked after in that Tryal, but, Whether Guil•y of the Fact, or not Guilty: But in matters of remunerative justice, where the Law propounds a reward to such and such qualifications, there a not-Guilty will not suffice. Ex. gr. If a Scholar in the University be a Candidate for an office there, or a Fellowship in a Colledg, where the Statutes do require such and such qualifications there: upon Examination, to be found not-Guilty of Murther, of Sacriledg, or any other Crime; this will not capacitate the Candidate for the preferment; this is the case in hand, The Saints are now Candidates for Heaven and Glory, Absolution or Pardon is not sufficient to capacitate them for this glory; yea though it be supposed the pardon be extensive to all (not the transgressions only of the Law, but) the very omissions & defects too, yea to the least non-conformity, unto the Law in its utmost perfection, it sufficeth not; because a pardon is not the qualification which the Law requireth; but a positive perfection, Fac hoc, &c. Do this, and Live.