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Aphorism.
ABraham (say they) was justified long be∣fore * 1.1 Isaac was offered, therefore that could be but a manifesting of it. Answ. Justification is a continued act: God is still justifying, and the Gospel still justifying. Abraham's Justification was not end∣ed before.
Animadvers.
Though Justification be a continued act, yet neverthess Abraham was justified long before he offered Isaac, as the series of the History doth clearly shew. Abraham's Justifi∣cation (I grant) was not ended before, nor yet after: it shall never end. For Christ's Righteousness whereby we are justified, is an everlasting Righteousness. Dan. 9. 24. and therefore our Justification is an everlasting Justification. But if you mean, that Abraham's Justification was not perfect before he was but half justified, or but in part: If this be your meaing, it agrees neither with Scripture nor Reason that I can see. The Scrip∣ture saith, that he was justified, his Faith was imputed unto him for Righteousness: It no where intimateth that his Justifi∣cation was incomplete, and part of it then, and another part a long time after. He was so justified, that Righteousness was im∣puted unto him; he was reputed of God just and righteous: And what is more required? Indeed if he had not shewed his Faith by his Works, he had shewed that his Faith was not such whereby he could be justified; and so the Scripture had not been fulfulled, which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for Righteousness. Therefore all that St. James requires is, that we shew our Faith by our Works.
Reply.
1. I have fully told you what was wanting. His Justification in Application to Abraham as the sub∣ject in praesenti statu was perfect: But that Justifi∣cation would not have been perfect to him a year after, when he was to be justified from the guilt of many more sins.