§. 111. Of the meaning of the word Iust.
THE next point of the description is the property IUST.* 1.1
According to the notation of the Greek word, the vertue, or grace here in∣tended, is a generall vertue, whereby is given to every one his due, whether it be to God or man. See more hereof My whole Armour of God, on Eph. 61. 4. Treat. 2. Part. 4. §. 1.
- 1. Its sometimes restrained to the eighth Commandement, as opposed to deceitfull and wrong dealing with men; And in this restraint its used, Tit. 1. 8.
- 2. Its used to set down the summe of the second table; and compriseth under it all the duties we owe to man. Thus largely its taken, when its joyned with another generall word, which compriseth under it all the duties of the first table, as Mark 6. 20.
- 3. Its extended to the whole, and compriseth under it all duties that we owe to God or man: In this extent its taken for the most part, when it is set alone, or joyned with a word of perfection, as Gen. 6. 9. Or else is opposed to a generall word, that compriseth all manner of evill under it, as Psal. 37 12. Prov. 3. 33.
Here its so set alone, and nothing added thereto to restrain it, as it must needs be taken in the largest extent, and so compriseth all manner of vertues and graces un∣der it.
And its taken as a property belonging to men while here they live: for its distin∣guished from that heavenly qualification which followeth after this life, namely to be made perfect, q. d. Ye are come to those divine Spirits of men, who being truly, though imperfectly just, while they live on earth, are now made perfect in heaven. So that hence we may observe.
1. That men may be truly just in this world. Whereof see Chap. 10. v. 38. §. 144.