The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

Whereas therefore one Essential part of Justification consisteth in the pardon of our sins, and sins cannot be actually pardoned before they are actually committed, our present enquiry is, whereon the continuation of our Justification doth depend, notwithstanding the Interveniency of sin after we are justified, whereby such sins are actually pardoned, and our persons are continued in a state of Acceptation with God, and have their right unto Life and Glory uninterrupted. Justification is at once complete, in the Imputation of a perfect Righteousness, the Grant of a Right and Title unto the heavenly ⟨p. 204⟩Inheritance, the actual pardon of all past sins, and the virtual pardon of future sins, but how or by what means, on what terms and conditions this state is continued unto those who are once justified, whereby their Righteousness is everlasting, their Title to Life and Glory indefeasible, and all their sins are actually pardoned, is to be enquired.

Whereas therefore one Essential part of Justification consisteth in the pardon of our sins, and sins cannot be actually pardoned before they are actually committed, our present enquiry is, whereon the continuation of our Justification doth depend, notwithstanding the Interveniency of sin after we are justified, whereby such sins are actually pardoned, and our persons are continued in a state of Acceptation with God, and have their right unto Life and Glory uninterrupted. Justification is at once compleat, in the Imputation of a perfect Righteousness, the Grant of a Right and Title unto the heavenly ⟨p. 204⟩Inheritance, the actual pardon of all past sins, and the virtual pardon of future sins, but how or by what means, on what terms and conditions this state is continued unto those who are once justified, whereby their Righteousness is everlasting, their Title to Life and Glory indefeazable, and all their sins are actually pardoned, is to be enquired.

For answer unto this enquiry, I say (1) It is God that Justifieth, and therefore the continuation of our Justification is his Act also. And this on his part depends on the immutability of his Counsel, the unchangeableness of the everlasting Covenant, which is ordered in all things and sure, the Faithfulness of his Promises, the Efficacy of his Grace, his complacency in the Propitiation of Christ, with the power of his Intercession, and the irrevocable Grant of the Holy Ghost unto them that do believe; which things are not of our present enquiry.