Eighteen sermons preached in Oxford 1640 of conversion, unto God. Of redemption, & justification,…

But concerning the first of these, that justification which is by the imputation of Christs righteousness, I showed unto you that imputation in this case, is, as when a man comes to hold up his hand at Gods Bar, as it were, and it's demanded of him what he hath to say for himself, why he should not dye; and then this justification by Christs righteousness is opposed to condemnation. Then justification by faith is, that when I come to stand before God, though conscience say I am guilty of a thousand sins, yet I may go boldly and plead my pardon, which will acquit me as if I had never sinned at any time. God was thus in Christ reconciling us (the world) unto himself, not imputing their sins unto them. Now sin is a thing past, which being done, cannot be made undone, the sin remains still; murder is murder still, and adultery is adultery still; it cannot be undone again. Now how ⟨p. 411⟩shall this man that is guilty of murder and adultery, be made just? it cannot possibly be but by not imputing his sin unto him, so that God should account it to him, as if it had not been done at all by him; he puts it upon Christs account; Account: The word is used in the Epist. to Philemon, where St. Paul saith, If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account. A mans sins being thus put upon Christs account, he is accepted of God as freely as if he had never owed him any thing, or as if he had never offended him. Now this is done by transferring the debt from one person to another; so that we see this imputation of sin to Christ, and of Christs righteousness to us is most necessary. It must be so: And if there were no testimony for it in Scripture, yet reason showeth that there can be no righteousness but by Gods acceptation of us in Christ as if we had never sinned; there is the difference then. To him that worketh not, but believeth in him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is accounted to him for righteousness.

But concerning the first of these, that justification which is by the imputation of Christs righteousnesse, I shew'd unto you that imputation in this case, is, as when a man comes to hold up his hand at Gods Barre, as it were, and it's demanded of him what he hath to say for himself, why he should not dye; and then this justification by Christs righteousnesse is opposed to condemnation. Then justification by faith is, that when I come to stand before God, though conscience say I am guilty of a thousand sinnes, yet I may go boldly and plead my pardon, which will acquit me as if I had never sinned at any time. God was thus in Christ reconciling us (the world) unto himself, not imputing their sinnes unto them. Now sinne is a thing past, which being done, cannot be made undone, the sin remains still; murder is murder still, and adultery is adultery still; it cannot be undone again. Now how