The truly blessed man, or, The way to be happy here, and forever being…

6. Hence Justification in this respect is a continue• Act. Divines rightly put that difference between Justification and Sanctification, that the latter is a work, but the former an act. Now the Justifying act, as it respects the person is at once, and in a• instant: at what time God imputeth the Righteousness of Christ to a Sinner, and reckons it to him for his, by this Imputation, he is in the Law account, a perfectly righteous person, whence […] abstractively declared of him, 2 Cor. 5. 21. And in this respect he is as Righteous in Gods account the first hour of his believing, as he shall be in th• Day of Judgment. But the actual forgiveness […] his particular sins, is an effect or resultancy fo• lowing from this Justification; and it comes […] after the sins are committed, and upon his Repel rance and renewal of his Faith in Christ; an• that must needs be succedaneous: for it is con• dered, not in respect of God, in whose Eterni• there is no succession, but of the Creature, […] which there is a succession of acts, and accordingly receives mercy from God succedaneous• Forgiveness is said to be of Sins that are past, Ro• ⟨p. 149⟩[…] 25. Though it be secured in the Justifying act, •et it derives in this way, and with such a connection.

6. Hence Justification in this respect is a continue• Act. Divines rightly put that difference between Justification and Sanctification, that the latter is a work, but the former an act. Now the Justifying act, as it respects the person is at once, and in a• instant: at what time God imputeth the Righteousness of Christ to a Sinner, and reckons it to him for his, by this Imputation, he is in the Law account, a perfectly righteous person, whence abstractively declared of him,