A brief discourse of justification. Wherein this doctrine is plainly laid down according to…

3. That which is by another's Righteousness, as being done by him, and accepted for us, can be ours only in the way of Imputation: for this is the very notion of a thing which is imputed, it is the proper nature and definition of Imputation; and it is impossible that there should be any other conception of a way wherein it should be translated from the one to the other, to become his right, and to give him the liberty to challenge a true and real propriety in it.

3. That which is by anothers Righteousness, as being done by him, and accepted for us, can be ours only in the way of Imputation: for this is the very notion of a thing which is imputed, it is the proper nature and definition of Imputation; and it is impossible that there should be any other conception of a way wherein it should be translated from the one to the other, to become his right, and to give him the liberty to challenge a true and real propriety in it.

4. That Justification which is of the ungodly, must needs be by imputation; and the reason for it is this, that where God justifies, there also the Law justifies: It is never to be denied, or so much called into question, but that God speaks the Truth, and there is no deceivableness in his word, when he saith, that he sees no iniquity in Jacob, nor perverseness in Israel; he […] not dissemble; it is not because he […] eyes, and resolves not ⟨p. 68⟩to see or regard it, but the Reason must be, because he hath received full satisfaction, for it, the Law is answered, and therefore according to the Judgment of that he is as clear as if he had never sinned; and though it be a Gospel Truth, that a believer being once in Christ by Faith, and so justified, is not to be looked upon as an ungodly man after Justification; yet before Faith, and till he is justified he is ungodly, God finds him such when he comes to do this favour for him, Rom. 4. 5. God who justifieth the ungodly: and not only so, but he would also be so accounted still, were it not that God hath found a Righteousness in Christ that answers for him: If we say we are without sin, we lie, and the Truth is not in us, 1 John 1. 18. and thus sin, if there were nothing to answer for it, would stand for our Condemnation, and rigorous Justice would certainly pass the sentence of the Law upon us for it: the sentence therefore of Justification must needs proceed from a Righteousness which we never performed, or else God must baulk his own Law, in declaring us righteous; which he never will; Hence also,