The whole body of Christian religion, by Hieron. Zanchius. Translated out of Latine by D. Ralph Winterton.

DOCT. V. The confirmation of what was last said; and what it is to be justified.

FOr first, in holy Scripture, as well in the Old Testament as in the New, but especially according to

S^t. Paul, where he speaks professed∣ly concerning this matter, to justifie signifies to remit sins, and so to ab∣solve from all guilt and punishment, to receive into grace and favour, to pronounce one righteous, and to ac∣count him for righteous; not such a one that is simply and absolutely un∣righteous, but one that is no longer unrighteous, by reason of remission of sins obtained. And further, al∣though whomsoever God in Christ hath from eternitie elected to be his Sons, he doth acknowledge the same to be his in Christ, and of his mere grace makes them acceptable unto himself in the beloved: Yet, because we are never truely in Christ, untill such time as we are by the holy Ghost ingrafted and incorporated in∣to him, and that cannot be wrought in us as many as are of years, untill we be first endued with faith, and acknowledge Christ to be our righte∣ousnesse, and so embrace him: there∣fore then at length and not before are we justified (as the holy Scripture witnesseth) and that by faith with∣out our works, when we believe all

this with true faith, that is, when we are throughly perswaded that our sins, as once expiated and purged away by Christ, are no more imputed unto us, but are pardoned of Gods mercy for the onely merits of Christ; and likewise, that Christ's righteous∣nesse is imputed unto us for our own, wherewith being arrayed we appear righteous in the sight of God: An effect and manifest testimonie where∣of is (as I said before) our in∣choate and inherent righteousnesse; which consists in the hatred of sin, and the love of righteousnesse, and the studie of good works.