The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

Much less is there any thing of weight in the distinction of Reatus culpae, and Reatus poenae. For this Reatus culpae is nothing but dignitas poenae propter culpam. Sin hath other considerations, namely, its formal nature, as it is a Transgression of the Law; and the stain or filth that it brings upon the Soul; but the guilt of it, is nothing but its respect unto punishment from the sanction of the Law. And so indeed Reatus culpae, is Reatus poenae; the guilt of sin, is its desert of punishment. And where there is not this Reatus culpae, there can be no poena, no punishment properly so called. For poena is vindicta noxae, the revenge due to sin. So therefore there can be no punishment, nor Reatus poenae, the guilt of it, but where there is Reatus culpae; or sin considered with its guilt. And the Reatus poenae, that may be supposed without the guilt of sin, is nothing but that obnoxiousness unto afflictive evil on the occasion of sin, which the Socinians admit with respect unto the suffering of Christ, and yet execrate his satisfaction.

And if this distinction should be apprehended to be of ⟨p. 281⟩Reatus, from its formal respect unto sin and punishment, it must in both parts of the Distinction be of the same signification, otherwise there is an equivocation in the subject of it. But reatus poenae is a liableness, an obnoxiousness unto punishment according to the sentence of the Law; that whereby a sinner becomes [Greek or Hebrew]. And then Reatus culpae must be an obnoxiousness unto sin, which is uncouth. There is therefore no Imputation of sin, where there is no Imputation of its Guilt. For the Guilt of Punishment, which is not its respect unto the desert of sin, is a plain fiction, there is no such thing in rerum natura. There is no Guilt of sin, but its Relation unto Punishment.

And if this distinction should be apprehended to be of ⟨p. 281⟩Reatus, from its formal respect unto sin and punishment, it must in both parts of the Distinction be of the same signification, otherwise there is an equivocation in the subject of it. But reatus poenae is a liableness, an obnoxiousness unto punishment according to the sentence of the Law; that whereby a sinner becomes . And then Reatus culpae must be an obnoxiousness unto sin, which is uncouth. There is therefore no Imputation of sin, where there is no Imputation of its Guilt. For the Guilt of Punishment, which is not its respect unto the desert of sin, is a plain fiction, there is no such thing in rerum natura. There is no Guilt of sin, but its Relation unto Punishment.