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mitted by all, and in that state he must remain until renewed by grace, and this must be effected by or through the sanctifying aid or assistance of faith, and being thereby renewed in the spirit of the mind, "ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called:" this is called being justified, or brought into a state of justification, by those who hold justification takes place in this life; but it must be seen this is being brought into a state of righteousness, not that state of righteousness which real justification effects, but in a state for improvement, and being by grace renewed and refreshed day by day, we should in this state go on to perfection: this state may aptly be called a state of reconciliation with God, but is not, cannot be justification, the latter is the finish or perfection of the former it is stated that Christ hath made reconciliation with God for man; that is, Christ has done his part, but man has not done his, until by faith, which must be here considered a condition, he has performed the condition, by embracing faith, and thereby entitled to receive the

i Man being first brought into a state of grace must be by faith, and by some is called regeneration, by others renovation : by some regeneration is said to take place at baptism but a first state of grace whether called regeneration, or renovation, must be the circumcision of the heart, not the flesh, and must be by faith.

benefit of Christ's reconciliation, and the first effective step to his obtaining justification with its consequent salvation.

Conciseness and certainty being always most desirable in the elucidation of truth, if we reduce all the various and different meanings which the word justification will bear, or have been attributed to it, to the following short exposition, it may greatly assist us in the present enquiry, and prevent many difficulties which we may otherwise fall into. We will begin with the sense in which the word is most generally used in scripture; justification before God; this is a remission or pardon of all sin, by or through the blood of Christ, by which the person is become perfectly just and righteous, and accepted by God as such; this must be the common received meaning of the word; and particularly when it relates to, or is connected with, the judgment or salvation of man: the second where it is applied, refers, or relates to a particular act, and is intended to shew the quality of the act: and the third is to defend or excuse the person under a charge, or wonation for an act done, or omitted to be done: by beading in mind these three distinct senses, wwch will include, it is conceived, every meaning AN WHICH FOR Word may be applied, as far as it se patient, or connection with the subject widag moresgation, and applying that sense to

it, which the writer from its connection, or reference to the subject matter, meant it should bear, will tend greatly in this discussion to disperse the mist, and dispel the cloud in which the subject of justification hath long been enveloped.

CHAPTER II.

CONNECTION OF JUSTIFICATION AND SALVATION.

THE words justification, and salvation, are very frequently, and indiscriminately used by writers as signifying the same thing, and in effect may be so considered, but in strictness they are most distinct parts of the same proceeding; and if salvation is not in consequence of justification, it clearly is consequent upon it, produced from the same cause, and obtained from the same means is most certain; namely, the blood of Christ ; as will appear upon considering the following texts:

Rom. iv. 25. "Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." Ibid. v. 1. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Ibid. iii. 24. "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

Eph. ii. 8. "For by grace are you saved

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through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."

1 Pet. i. 9. "Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls."

By these texts it is clear both justification and salvation are obtained by grace, and through the same mean, or instrument, faith; and that the atoning sacrifice of Christ is the immediate and sole cause of both: from whence it may be concluded the connection between them is so close and interwoven, that they must have existence in the same person, and are inseparable: from the following text there is great reason to believe St. Paul considered salvation as certain and consequent upon justification: and St. Peter calls it, the end of your faith.

Rom. viii. 30. "Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified."

It is admitted by all that justification must precede and glorification must succeed salvation: nothing is here said of salvation, it is, therefore, clear St. Paul intended to include salvation in justification, or that it was a matter certain, and consequent thereon, otherwise a part, and a most essential part, in the accomplishment of man's eternal welfare, is omitted in this statement, which cannot be supposed.

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