Chapter XI: Of Justification. De Justificatione.
Of Justification. De Justificatione.
I. Those whom God effectually calleth he also freely justifieth; [1321] not by infusing righteousness into them, but by pardoning their sins, and by accounting and accepting their persons as righteous: not for any thing wrought in them, or done by them, but for Christ's sake alone; nor [1322] by imputing faith itself, the act of believing, or any other evangelical obedience to them, as their righteousness; but by imputing the obedience and satisfaction of Christ unto them, [1323] they receiving and resting on him and his righteousness by faith; which faith they have not of themselves, it is the gift of God. [1324] I. Quos Deus vocat efficaciter, eosdem etiam gratis justificat, [1325] non quidem justitiam iis infundendo, sed eorum peccata condonando, personasque pro justis reputando atque acceptando; neque id certe propter quicquam aut in iis productum, aut ab iis præstitum, verum Christi solius ergo; eisque ad justitiam non fidem ipsam, non credendi actum, aut aliam quamcunque obedientiam evangelicam, verum obedientiam ac satisfactionem Christi imputando, [1326] eum nempe recipientibus, eique ac justitiæ ejus per fidem innitentibus; quam illi fidem ex dono Dei, non a seipsis, habent. [1327] II. Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and his righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification; [1328] yet is it not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but worketh by love. [1329] II. Fides hoc modo Christum recipiens, eique innitens ac justitiæ ejus, est justificationis unicum instrumentum; [1330] in homine tamen justificato hæc non est solitaria, verum gratiis aliis omnibus salutaribus semper comitata; neque est hæc fides mortua, sed quæ per charitatem operatur.
[1331] III. Christ, by his obedience and III. Qui hunc in modum justificantur,
death, did fully discharge the debt of all those that are thus justified, and did make a proper, real, and full satisfaction to his Father's justice in their behalf. [1332] Yet inasmuch as he was given by the Father for them, [1333] and his obedience and satisfaction accepted in their stead, [1334] and both freely, not for any thing in them, their justification is only of free grace; [1335] that both the exact justice and rich grace of God might be glorified in the justification of sinners. [1336] eorum omnium debita Christus per obedientiam suam mortemque prorsus dissolvit; eorumque vice justitiæ Patris sui realem, plenum, et proprie dictam satisfactionem præstitit.
[1337] Quum tamen non propter in iis quicquam, verum gratuito Pater cum Christum ipsum pro eis dederit, [1338] tum obedientiam ejus ac satisfactionem tanquam eorum loco constituti [1339] acceptaverit; omnino a gratia gratuita est eorum justificatio; [1340] Quo nimirum Dei tum accurata justitia tum locuples gratia glorificata foret in justificatione peccatorum. [1341] IV. God did, from all eternity, decree to justify all the elect, [1342] and Christ did, in the fullness of time, die for their sins, and rise again for their justification: [1343] nevertheless, they are not justified until the Holy Spirit doth, in due time, actually apply Christ unto them. [1344] IV. Ab æterno decrevit Deus electos omnes justificare, [1345] Christusque in temporis plenitudine mortuus est pro eorum peccatis, et in justificationem eorum resurrexit: [1346] nihilo minus tamen justificati prius non sunt, quam Christum eis in tempore suo opportuno Spiritus Sanctus actu applicuerit. [1347]
V. God doth continue to forgive the sins of those that are justified;
[1348] and although they can never fall from the state of justification, [1349] yet they may by their sins fall under God's fatherly displeasure, and not have the light of his countenance restored unto them, until they humble themselves, V. Perseverat Deus eorum peccata condonare quos semel justificavit, [1350] quin et etiamsi excidere statu justificationis nunquam possint; [1351] fieri tamen potest ut iræ Dei, paternæ quidem illi, per peccata sua se exponant, nec lumen paterni vultus prius sibi habeant restitutum, quam semet ipsos humiliaverint,
confess their sins, beg pardon, and renew their faith and repentance.
[1352] peccata agnoverint, imploraverint veniam, fidem denique et poenitentiam suam renovaverint. [1353] VI. The justification of believers under the Old Testament was, in all these respects, one and the same with the justification of believers under the New Testament. [1354] VI. Justificatio fidelium sub Vetere ac Novo [1355] Testamento quoad isthæc omnia est una eademque. [1356]