N00802:390
The truly blessed man
The truly blessed man: or, The way to be happy here, and for ever: being the substance of divers sermons preached on, Psalm XXXII. / By Samuel Willard, teacher of a church in Boston. N.E. ; [Five lines from Isaiah]
printed by B. Green for Michael Perry, 1700
Sermon › Doctrine 2: Guilt apprehended, Distressing to Gods Children. DOCTRINE II.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
6. Hence Justification in this respect is a continued 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 an 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 it is 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 the Day of Judgment. But the actual forgiveness of his particular sins, is an effect or resultancy following from this Justification; and it comes in after the sins are committed, and upon his Repentance and renewal of his Faith in Christ; and that must needs be succedaneous: for it is considered, not in respect of God, in whose Eternity there is no succession, but of the Creature, in which there is a succession of acts, and accordingly receives mercy from God succedaneously. Forgiveness is said to be of Sins that are past, Rom. ⟨p. 149⟩3.25. Though it be secured in the Justifying act, yet it derives in this way, and with such a connection.
6. Hence Justification in this respect is a continued 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 an 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 it is 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 the Day of Judgment. But the actual forgiveness of his particular sins, is an effect or resultancy following from this Justification; and it comes in after the sins are committed, and upon his Repentance and renewal of his Faith in Christ; and that must needs be succedaneous: for it is considered, not in respect of God, in whose Eternity there is no succession, but of the Creature, in which there is a succession of acts, and accordingly receives mercy from God succedaneously. Forgiveness is said to be of Sins that are past,