The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

2. There is an Imputation of sin unto others, ex justitia propter Relationem naturalem, on the account of a natural Relation between them, and those who had actually contracted the Guilt of it. But this is so only with respect unto some outward Temporary effects of it. So God speaks concerning the Children of the Rebellious Israelites in the Wilderness. Your Children shall wander in the Wilderness Forty years, and bear your Whoredoms, Numb. 14.33. Your sin shall be so far imputed unto your Children, because of their Relation unto you, and your Interest in them, as that they shall suffer for them in an afflictive condition in the Wilderness. And this was just, because of the Relation between them; as the same procedure of Divine Justice is frequently declared in other places of the Scripture. So where there is a due foundation of it, Imputation is an Act of Justice.

2. Imputation may justly ensue, ex voluntaria sponsione; when one freely and willingly undertakes to answer for another. An illustrious instance hereof we have in that ⟨p. 238⟩passage of the Apostle unto Philemon, in the behalf of Onesimus; ver. 18. If he have wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, [Greek or Hebrew], impute it unto me, put it on my account. He supposeth that Philemon might have a double Action against Onesimus. (1) Injuriarum, of wrongs; [Greek or Hebrew], if he hath dealt unjustly with thee or by thee, if he hath so wronged thee as to render himself obnoxious unto punishment; (2) Damni, or of loss; [Greek or Hebrew], if he oweth thee ought, be a debtor unto thee, which made him liable to payment or restitution. In this state the Apostle interposeth himself by a voluntary sponsion, to undertake for Onesimus. I Paul have written it with my own hand [Greek or Hebrew] I Paul will answer for the whole. And this he did by the Transcription of both the debts of Onesimus unto himself; For the crime was of that nature as might be taken away by compurgation, being not Capital. And the Imputation of them unto him, was made just by his voluntary undertaking of them. Account me, saith he, the Person that hath done these things; and I will make satisfaction, so that nothing be charged on Onesimus. So Judah voluntarily undertook unto Jacob, for the safety of Benjamin, and obliged himself unto perpetual Guilt in case of failure;