Institutions of Christian religion framed out of Gods word, and the writings of the best diuines, methodically handled by questions and answers, fit for all such as desire to know, or practise the will of God. Written in Latin by William Bucanus Professor of Diuinitie in the Vniuersitie of Lausanna. And published in English by Robert Hill, Bachelor in Diuinitie, and Fellow of Saint Iohns Colledge in Cambridge, for the benefit of our English nation, to which is added in the end the practise of papists against Protestant princes.

ƲƲhat is the efficient cause of Iustification?

Not man, eyther from himselfe or from any other conferring any thing, for that in the act of iustification, man doth only behaue himselfe as a subiect and sufferer, but God is the efficient cause, who accompteth the obedience of Christ as if it were receiued from vs. For that saying of the Lord standeth firme. Esa, 43.25. I euen I am he that take away thy iniquities for mine owne sake, & I wil remember thy sinnes no more. Which principle of Diuinitie the Iewish Scribes did also acknowledge as true, Marke. 2.7. VVho can forgiue sinnes but God alone? and Rom. 4.5. But beleeueth in God that iustifieth the vngodly, that is to say, him, that in himselfe is wicked, he accompteth righteous in Christ. And Rom. 8, 33. God is he that iustifieth, who is it that condemneth? And hereupon it is that it is called the righteousnesse of God. Rom. 1.17. & 3.21.22. Not that essentiall iustice of God, whereby he is iust in himselfe, ney∣ther yet that communicatiue iustich which he doth communicate to his elect by the holy spirit, but it is so called of the efficient cause namely, because God doth freely impute or accompt the same vnto vs: and partly also from the obiect, because it alone is able to beare the rigour of Gods iudgement, and to stand before his tri∣bunall seat, and therefore it is called euerlasting. Dan. 9.24. be∣cause it was decreed by him from euerlasting.