The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

The like may be said of what is in like manner supposed, namely, That not to be unrighteous, which a man is on the pardon of sin, is the same with being righteous. For if not to be unrighteous be taken privatively, it is the same with being just or righteous: For it supposeth, that he who is so, hath done all the duty that is required of him, that he may be righteous. But not to be unrighteous negatively, as the expression is here used, it doth not do so. For at best it supposeth no more, but that a Man as yet hath done nothing actually against the Rule of Righteousness. Now this may be when yet he hath performed none of the duties that are required of him to constitute him righteous, because the times and occasions of them, are not yet. And so it was with Adam in the state of Innocency; which is the height of what can be attained by the complete pardon of sin.

The like may be said of what is in like manner supposed, namely, That not to be unrighteous, which a man is on the pardon of sin, is the same with being righteous. For if not to be unrighteous be taken privatively, it is the same with being just or righteous: For it supposeth, that he who is so, hath done all the duty that is required of him, that he may be righteous. But not to be unrighteous negatively, as the expression is here used, it doth not do so. For at best it supposeth no more, but that a Man as yet hath done nothing actually against the Rule of Righteousness. Now this may be when yet he hath performed none of the duties that are required of him to constitute him righteous, because the times and occasions of them, are not yet. And so it was with Adam in the state of Innocency; which is the height of what can be attained by the compleat pardon of sin.

2. It proceeds on this Supposition, That the Law, in case of sin, doth not oblige unto punishment and obedience both; so as that it is not satisfied, fulfilled, or complied withal, unless it be answered with respect unto both, For if it doth so, then the pardon of sin, which only frees us from the penalty of the Law, doth yet leave it necessary, that Obedience be performed unto it, even all that it doth require. But this, in my judgment, is an evident mistake, and that such as doth not establish the Law, but make it void. And this I shall demonstrate.