Precious faith considered in its nature, working, and growth

Fifthly, The various excellencies of it.

First, This holy fruit grows upon faith; in the very instant of believing a man is justified before God. The Antinomians indeed makes as if it came forth much sooner, even as early as eternity it self, as if it were an immanent eternal act in God. But the error of this opinion may be easily made appear: For,

First, An immanent act abides in God, and doth not, as the transient, make any change at all in the creature; but in justification there is a great change made in man, though not a Physical one, such as is made in sanctification, yet as moral and a relative one: the sins which before cried at heaven gates for vengeance, are now cast into the depths of the sea; the soul, which was at the brink of hell, is now in the suburbs of heaven; the pure beams of grace breaking forth upon it, the prison garments of guilt are changed, and the righteousness of God is upon the believer, the blood of the Lamb is upon his conscience, and the damning destroying Law passes over him. Again, an ⟨p. 203⟩immanent act in God is the same with Gods essence, and not as the transient, the same with the effect produced. Gods willing is but the divine essence, with an habitude to such an object; his decrees are himself decreeing, otherwise the simplicity of his nature would be overthrown: such an immanent act is the decree of justification, but justification it self is an effect in time, else Gods judicial act may be exercised about a non-existing creature, a non ens may be justified, a man that is not may be made righteous, fin may be remitted before it is committed, absolution may anticipate guilt, and righteousness Law, all which are things hard to be swallowed. If any thing in justification look like an immanent act, it is either Gods complacential love, or the imputation of righteousness; but that neither of these are such, is clear in Scripture, which expresses the same as things future, he that loveth me shall be loved of my father, saith our Saviour,