Media: the middle things, in reference to the first and last things: or, The means, duties, ordinances, both secret, private and publike, for continuance and increase of a godly life, once begun, till we come to Heaven. Wherein are discovered many blessed medium's or duties, in their right method, manner and proceedings; that so a Christian (the spirit of Christ assisting) may walk on in the holy path, which leads from his new birth to everlasting life. / Drawn, for the most part, out of the most eminently pious, and learned writings of our native practical divines: with additionals of his own, by Isaac Ambrose, minister of the Gospel at Preston in Amoundernes.

SECT. 2. Of the first Priviledge, viz. Justification.

THe first Priviledge which immediately follows our Ʋnion with Christ, is Justification; which consists in these parti∣culars, Imputation of Christs Righteousness, and Remission of sin.

To prevent erroneous misconceits, which spring from the confounding of things that differ, understand, That a man may be said to be justified either intentionally, or virtually, or actually;

either in God, or in Christ, or in himself.

1. Intentionally in God (i.) in Gods Purpose and Decree: This is from all eternity, but this Decree and Intention doth not put any thing into a state of actual being, but in the fulness of time.

2. Virtually in Christ: And this is from the day of Christs Passion, and in the vertue of his Satisfaction; yet this intendeth no more, but that Satisfaction is made, and Remission purchased by the Blood of Christ.

3. Actually in himself: When a man hath the possession of Justification, immediately after his Ʋnion with the Lord Jesus Christ. Now this Justification considered as it is a state of fa∣vor, a Covenant state with God, which a man at his first be∣lieving is put into, is not reiterated, no more then a wife, after that first entrance into the relation, is frequently made a wife; yet the particular acts of Pardon, and Imputation of Christs Righteousness, are continually by God communicated unto the Believer. In this respect this actual Justification (or particular acts of pardon) hath its degrees of progression: The beginning thereof is laid in our first Union and Incorporation into Christ; the consummation of it is not till the Judge at the latter day hath solemnly pronounced the Sentence of final Absolution, and so set us in full possession of entire Remission: Between both these, there is a progressive work of Justification, by the constant actings of the Spirit, applying the blood of Christ by the hand of Faith, to the quiet and comfort of the soul: The first we may term initial Justification, the second progressive, the last perfective; the second is the fruit of the first, and the preludial assurance of the last: The first is wrought and sealed in the first Sacrament, the second is wrought and sealed in the second Sacrament; and both these branches of Sacramental Justification, are to us the preassurance of that complemental and perfective Justification, the sentence whereof putteth an end to all fears, changing our Faith and Hope into fruition and full possession.

It hath been commonly said by some of our best Divines, That Justification is transacted in our first Union and Incorpo∣ration into Christ; at which time it is conceived, That the pardon of all sin is sealed to the Believer at once. But I fear the mis∣understanding

of this point (not untrue in it self, if not mistaken and misapprehended) hath laid the ground upon which some build that unhappy Structure which turneth the grace of God into wantonness: who knoweth not that Justification in the proper acceptation of thew ord, according to the Scripture phrase, is the act of a Judge pronouncing a judicial sentence, wherein he absolveth the person of the sinner from all sin and punishment due to him for sin, and that for the alone Righteousness of the surety Christ freely imputed, and by Faith received of him. And according to this, I suppose we shall not erre from the truth, if we say, 1. That the main work of Justification, is even as yet to us future, viz. at the great and last day of Judgement, when we shall receive a final Quietus est, and discharge, and when God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes: And yet 2. That in our first Union with Christ there is a work of Justification, viz. actual Imputation of Christs Righteousness, and actual Remission of what sin for the present the soul stands guilty of, at that time when it is first united to Christ. I dare not say that Justification, quatenus it compre∣hends Imputation, and Remission of sin, is one individual act; or that all sins, past, present, and to come, are remitted to the Be∣liever at once; but this I say, That in our first Union, all our sins past and present, are actually pardoned; and this favor recei∣ved, is a pledge of assurance, That in future also, by applying our selves to Christ, we may and shall receive the forgiveness of our daily sins, and that at the last day we shall at once be absolved from all Accusations and Charges laid in against us; and that Justification (besides those particular acts of pardon, and Imputation of Christs Righteousness) doth connote a state that the subject at his first believing is put into, viz. A state of grace, and favor, and reconciliation with God for the imputed Righ∣teousness of Christ, without Apostacy from it, either total or final.

O glorious Priviledge! especially in these respects:

1. By this a sinner is righteous; a wonder that may astonish Angels, for a man accursed and sinful in himself, to be at that very instant blessed and righteous in another: Our own Duties, Works, and Reformation may make us at the best but less sinful, but this Righteousness makes a sinner sinless.

2. By this a sinner is righteous before the Judgement Seat of

God: It is God that justifies, who shall condemn? not Christ, he is our Advocate; not Sin, for Christ was made sin for us; not the Law, for Christ hath fulfilled the Law for us; not Satan, for God is his Judge, and if he have acquitted us, what can the Jaylor do?

3. By this we have perfect Righteousness: we are as per∣fectly righteous, as Christ the Righteous. Little children, let no man deceive you, he that doth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. Indeed our own righteousness, though it be the fruit of the Spirit of grace, is a blotted, stained righteous∣ness, very imperfect, and very little; but by this, the Faith of David, Peter, Paul, was not more precious then ours is, because we have the same righteousness as they had: what sincere soul but esteems of perfect holiness, more then of heaven it self? O consider, we have it (in this sence I now speak of) in the Lord Jesus.

4. By this we have continual righteousness: Do we com∣plain because we feel new sin, or old sins confessed, lamented, subdued, returning upon us again, and the springs in the bottom filling our souls again, that we are weary of our selves? O but remember, this is not a Cistern, but a Fountain opened for us to wash in; as sin abounds, so grace in this gift of righteousness abounds much more: The Lord hath changes of garments for us, by means whereof there shall never enter into the Lords heart one hard thought towards us, of casting us off, or of taking re∣venge upon any new occasion, or fall unto sin, so as for final de∣struction.

5. By this we have eternal righteousness, that never can be lost: If the Lord should make us as perfectly righteous as once Adam was, or as the Angels in heaven are, we might be in dan∣ger of losing this; but now the Lord hath put our righteousness into a safer hand, which never shall be lost: Christ hath obtained an eternal Redemption for us, he hath made an end of sin, and brought in an everlasting righteousness.

6. By this we please God more, then if we had a perfect

righteousness in our selves: Do not say, This is a poor righteous∣ness, which is out of my self in another: Suppose it were in our selves, such a righteousness at best would be nothing but mans righteousness, but this is called The Righteousness of God; Now what is Angelical righteousness, to the righteousness of God? 'tis but a Glow-worm before the Sun; the smell of Esau's gar∣ments (the Robes of this righteousness of the Son of God) are of sweeter odour then ours can be, or ever shall be.

7. By this we glorifie God exceedingly: Abraham believed, and gave glory unto God; so when we believe, we glorifie God, we advance his Mercy and Free-grace, and triumph in it.

8. By this we have Peace in our Consciences: For Christs blood is sprinkled on them, and that cools the burning torments of them: None of our duties can pacifie Conscience, but as they carry us hither to this righteousness; onely if this Rainbow appear over our heads, it is a certain sign of fair weather, and that there shall be no more deluge of Wrath to over∣whelm us.

9. By this all miseries are removed: When our sins are par∣doned, there is something like sickness, shame, and death, but they are not; The inhabitants of Zion shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity; 'tis no sickness in a maner, nor sorrow, nor affliction, if the venom, sting, and curse be taken away by pardon of sin, this is the bles∣sedness of all Believers. Blessed is he whose iniquity is forgiven, and whose sin is covered: Blessed is the man to whom the Lord im∣puteth not iniquity. Here's a blessing pronounced, what should we do but believe it, and rejoyce in it?

Notes

• Quoad rea∣tum.
• Rom. 8.32.
• 1 Ioh 3.7.
• Non formali & intrinseca justitia, sed re∣lativá, non quoad quanti∣tatem, sed veri∣tatem, fit enim finita applicatio infinita justi¦tiae. Si aliter ae{que} justi essemus ut Christus, possimus alios salvare ut Christus; at non. Justitia Christi sit nostra non quoad universalem valorem, sed particularem necessitatem, & imputatur nobis non ut causis salvationis, sed ut sub∣jectis salvandis, justitia Christi est verè meritoria, nostra autem ex mera gratia. Justitia Chri∣sti est subjectivè inhaesiva, nobis tantum communicativa quoad virtutem & efficaciam.
• Zech. 13.1.
• Z••ch. 3.4.
• Heb. 9.12. Dan. 9 24.
• 2 Cor. 5.21.
• Rom. 4.20.
• Rom. 5.1.
• Isa. 33.24.
• Psa. 32.1, 2.