Speculum theologiæ in Christo, or, A view of some divine truths which are either…

If that Satisfaction be our Righteousness, not in it self but in its effects, what is that effect? Is it a Pardon? that is God's act; God's act may make or esteem us righteous, but it is not the Righteousness ⟨p. 343⟩it self; it is a jus impunitatis that is not the Righteousness it self; a Righteousness as to the Law must be either a perfect conformity or a satisfaction, but a Jus impunitatis is neither of these; as in Condemnation the Obligatio ad paenam is not the very culpa, but a consequent of it. So in Justification the Jus impunitatis is not the very Righteousness, but a consequent of it. A Jus impunitatis is opposite to the reatus paenae; but a Satisfaction, which is our true Righteousness, is opposite to the reatus culpae, as compensating the fault committed. It remains therefore that Christ's Satisfaction is not in its effects, but in it self our Righteousness, which also further appears: In that, when we are to answer for our breaches of the Law, our great Plea is to that no other than his Satisfaction; Ostendo fide jussorem meum, ¹saith Bishop Davenant, When the Law makes its demands against me, I show my Sponsor Christ, who satisfied it. Now, if his Satisfaction be it self our Righteousness, it must be made ours by Imputation, for that which is not ours, cannot be our Righteousness; neither doth God, who judgeth according to Truth, esteem it such: You will say, Though it self be not ours, yet it is that for which God doth justify us: To which I answer, Though God justify us for it, yet, unless it be ours, it is no more our Righteousness than it is our Holiness; when God sanctifies us for it, no Man (I think) will call it our Holiness, no more, unless it be ours, may we call it our Righteousness. If it be ours by Imputation, then it is more than a meritorious cause. It is the very matter of our Justification; neither can I tell how to think it less, seeing a Sinner is capable of no other Righteousness, as to the Law, but a Satisfaction, ⟨p. 344⟩seeing so glorious a Satisfaction, as that of Christ is, is ushered into the World for that very end; it is to me unimaginable, that that Satisfaction should yet not be our Righteousness as to the Law, but something less than it self should have the honour of it.

If that Satisfaction be our Righteousness, not in it self but in its effects, what is that effect? Is it a Pardon? that is God's act; God's act may make or esteem us righteous, but it is not the Righteousness