The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

Wherefore although [Greek or Hebrew] in Kal, signifies justum esse, and sometimes just agere, which may relate unto inherent Righteousness; yet where any action towards another is denoted, this word signifies nothing, but to esteem, declare, pronounce, and adjudge any one absolved, acquitted, cleared, justified: There is therefore no other kind of Justification once mentioned in the Old Testament.

Wherefore although 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 in Kal, signifies justum esse, and sometimes juste agere, which may relate unto inherent Righteousness; yet where any action towards another is denoted, this word signifies nothing, but to esteem, declare, pronounce, and adjudge any one absolved, acquitted, cleared, justified: There is therefore no other kind of Justification once mentioned in the Old Testament.

[Greek or Hebrew] is the word used to the same purpose in the New Testament, and that alone. Neither is this word used in any good Author whatever, to signify the making of a man Righteous by any applications to produce internal Righteousness in him; but either to absolve and acquit, to judge, esteem, and pronounce Righteous, or on the contrary to condemn So Suidas [Greek or Hebrew]. It hath two significations, to punish, and to account Righteous. And he confirms this sense of the word by Instances out of Herodotus, Appianus, and Josephus. And again, [Greek or Hebrew]; with an Accusative case, that is, when it respects and effects a Subject, a Person, it is either to condemn and punish, or to esteem and declare Righteous; and of this latter sense, he gives pregnant instances in the next ⟨p. 177⟩words. Hesychius mentions only the first signification. [Greek or Hebrew]. They never thought of any sense of this word, but what is Forensic. And in our Language to be Justified, was commonly used formerly, for to be judged and sentenced; as it is still among the Scots. One of the Articles of Peace between the two Nations at the surrender of Leith, in the days of Edward the sixth was; That if any one committed a crime, he should be justified by the Law, upon his Trial. And in general [Greek or Hebrew], is Jus in judicio auferre; and [Greek or Hebrew], is justum censer, declarare, pronuntiare; and how in the Scriptures it is constantly opposed unto condemnare, we shall see immediately.