The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

For the guilt of sin, is its respect unto punishment, or the obligation unto punishment which attends it. And that any one should be punished for sin without the imputation of the guilt of it unto him, is impossible; and were it possible would be ⟨p. 507⟩unjust. For it is not possible that any one should be punished for sin properly, and yet that sin be none of his. And if it be not his by inhesion, it can be his no other way but by imputation. One may suffer on the occasion of the sin of another, that is no way made his, but he cannot be punished for it; for punishment is the recompense of sin on the account of its guilt. And were it possible, where is the Righteousness of punishing any one for that which no way belongs unto him? Besides, imputation of sin and punishing are distinct acts, the one preceding the other, and therefore the former is only of the guilt of sin; Wherefore the Lord Christ was made sin for us by the imputation of the guilt of our sins unto him.

For the guilt of sin, is its respect unto punishment, or the obligation unto punishment which attends it. And that any one should be punished for sin without the imputation of the guilt of it unto him, is impossible; and were it possible would be ⟨p. 507⟩unjust. For it is not possible that any one should be punished for sin properly, and yet that sin be none of his. And if it be not his by inhaesion, it can be his no other way but by imputation. One may suffer on the occasion of the sin of another, that is no way made his, but he cannot be punished for it; for punishment is the recompence of sin on the account of its guilt. And were it possible, where is the Righteousness of punishing any one for that which no way belongs unto him? Besides, imputation of sin and punishing are distinct acts, the one preceding the other, and therefore the former is only of the guilt of sin; Wherefore the Lord Christ was made sin for us by the imputation of the guilt of our sins unto him.

But it is said, that if the guilt of sin were imputed unto Christ, he is excluded from all possibility of merit, for he suffered but what was his due; And so the whole work of Christs satisfaction is subverted. This must be so, if God in judgment did reckon him guilty and a sinner. But there is an ambiguity in these expressions. If it be meant that God in judgment did reckon him guilty and a sinner inherently in his own person, no such thing is intended. But God laid all our sins on him, and in judgment spared him not, as unto what was due unto them. And so he suffered not what was his due upon his own account, but what was due unto our sin, which is impiety to deny; For if it were not so, he dyed in vain, and we are still in our sins. And as his satisfaction consists herein, nor could be without it, so doth it not in the least derogate from his merit. For supposing the infinite dignity of his person, and his voluntary susception of our sin to answer for it, which altered not his state and condition, his Obedience therein was highly meritorious.