§. IV.
Posit. 1.First, That the Obedience, Sufferings, and Death of Christ is that by which the Soul obtains Remission of Sins, and is the procuring Cause of that Grace, by whose inward Workings Christ comes to be formed inwardly, and the Soul to be made conformable unto him, and so just and justified. And that therefore, in respect of this Capacity and Offer of Grace, God is said to be reconciled; not as if he were actually reconciled, or did actually justify, or account any just, so long as they remain in their Sins really impure and unjust.
Posit. 2.Secondly, That it is by this inward Birth of Christ in Man that Man is made just, and therefore so accounted by God: Wherefore, to be plain, we are thereby, and not till that be brought forth in us, formally, if we must use that Word, justified in the Sight of God; because Justification is both more properly and frequently in Scripture taken in its proper Signification for making one just, and not reputing one merely such, and is all one with Sanctification.
Posit. 3.Thirdly, That since good Works as naturally follow from this Birth as Heat from Fire, therefore are they of absolute Necessity to Justification, as Causa sine quâ non, Good Works are Causa sine quâ non—of Justification.i. e. though not as the Cause for which, yet as that in which we are, and without which we cannot be justified. And though they be not meritorious, and draw no Debt upon God, yet he cannot but accept and reward them: For it is contrary to his Nature to deny his own, since they may be perfect in their Kind, as proceeding from a pure holy Birth and Root. Wherefore their Judgment is false and against the Truth that say, That the holiest Works of the Saints are defiled and sinful in the Sight of God: For these good Works are not the Works of the Law, excluded by the Apostle from Justification.