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ey spy faults in the best of our gospel performances； yea； our faith is faulty； and also imperfect： how then should remission be extended to us for the sake of that？ But now the righteousness of Christ is perfect； perpetual and stable as the great mountains； wherefore he is called the rock of our salvation； because a man may as soon tumble the mountains before him； as sin can make invalid the righteousness of Christ； when； and unto whom； God shall impute it for justice； Psalm xxxvi。 In the margin it is said to be like the mountain of God； to wit； called Mount Zion； or that Moriah on which the temple was built； and upon which it stood； all other bottoms are fickle； all other righteousnesses are so feeble； short； narrow； yea； so full of imperfections； for what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh； Christ did for us in the similitude of sinful… flesh。 But what could not the law do？ Why； it could not give us righteousness； nor strengthen us to perform it。 It could not give us any certain； solid； well…grounded hope of remission of sin and salvation。
Wherefore this righteousness being imputed； justice findeth no fault therewith； but consenteth to the extending to the sinner those blessings that tend to perfect his happiness in the heavens。
8。 Righteousness by imputation must be first； that in all things Christ may have the pre…eminence。 Christ is head of the church； and therefore let him have the highest honour in the soul； but how can he have that； if any precede as to justification before his perfect righteousness be imputed？ If it be said； grace may be in the soul； though the soul doth not act it until the moment that justifying righteousness shall be imputed：
I ask； What should it do there before； or to what purpose is it there； if it be not acted？ And again； how came it thither； how got the soul possession of it while it was unjustified？ or； How could God in justice give it to a person； that by the law stood condemned； before they were acquitted from that condemnation？ And I say； nothing can set the soul free from that curse but the perfect obedience of Christ； nor that either； if it be not imputed for that end to the sinner by the grace of God。
Imputed； that is； reckoned or accounted to him。 And why should it not be accounted to him for righteousness？ What did Christ bring it into the world for？ for the righteous or for sinners？ No doubt for sinners。 And how must it be reckoned to them？ Not in circumcision； but in uncircumcision； not as righteous； but as sinners。 And how are they to consider of themselves； even then when they first are apprehensive of their need of this righteousness？ Are they to think that they are righteous； or sinners？
And again； How are they to believe concerning themselves； then when they put forth the first act of faith towards this righteousness for justification？ Are they to think that they are righteous； or sinners？ Sinners； doubtless； they are to reckon themselves； and as such to reckon themselves justified by this righteousness。 And this is according to the sentence of God； as appeareth by such sayings。
〃For when we were yet without strength； in due time Christ died for the ungodly。〃
〃But God commendeth his love toward us； in that； while we were yet sinners； Christ died for us。〃
〃For if； while we were enemies； we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son；〃 &c。； Rom。 v。
Out of these words I gather these three things。
1。 That Christ by God's appointment died for us。
2。 That by his death he reconciled us to God。
3。 That even then； when the very act of reconciliation was in performing； and also when performed； we were ungodly； sinners； enemies。
Now； the act by which we are said to be reconciled to God； while ungodly； while sinners； and while enemies； was Christ's offering himself a sacrifice for us； which is； in the words above mentioned； called his death。 Christ died for the ungodly； Christ died for us while sinners； Christ reconciled us to God by his death。 And as Christ is said to die for us； so the Father is said to impute righteousness to us； to wit； as we are without works； as we are ungodly。 〃Now to him that worketh not； but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly； his faith is counted for righteousness。〃 He worketh not； but is ungodly； when this gracious act of God； in imputing the righteousness of Christ to him； is extended； when he shall believe； his faith is counted to him for righteousness。 And why should we not have the benefit of the righteousness； since it was completed for us while we were yet ungodly？ Yea； we have the benefit of it： 〃For when we were enemies； we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son。〃
When I say the benefit； I mean that benefit that we are capable of； and that is justification before God； for that a man may be capable of while he is in himself ungodly； because this comes to him by the righteousness of another。 True； were it to be his own righteousness by which he was to be justified； he could not： but the righteousness is Christ's； and that imputed by God； not as a reward for work； or of debt； but freely by his grace； and therefore may be； and is so； while the person concerned is without works； ungodly； and a sinner。
And he that denieth that we are capable of this benefit while we are sinners and ungodly； may with the like reason deny that we are created beings： for that which is done for a man without him； may be done for him at any time which they that do it shall appoint。 While a man is a beggar； may not I make him worth ten thousand a…year； if I can and will： and yet he may not know thereof in that moment that I make him so？ yet the revenue of that estate shall really be his from the moment that I make him so； and he shall know it too at the rent… day。
This is the case： we are sinners and ungodly； there is a righteousness wrought out by Jesus Christ which God hath designed we shall be made righteous by： and by it； if he will impute it to us； we shall be righteous in his sight； even then when we are yet ungodly in ourselves： for he justifies the ungodly。
Now； though it is irregular and blameworthy in man to justify the wicked； because he cannot provide and clothe him with a justifying righteousness； yet it is glorious； and for ever worthy of praise； for God to do it： because it is in his power； not only to forgive； but to make a man righteous； even then when he is a sinner； and to justify him while he is ungodly。
But it may be yet objected； that though God has received satisfaction for sin； and so sufficient terms of reconciliation by the obedience and death of his Son； yet he imputeth it not unto us； but upon condition of our becoming good。
Ans。 This must not be admitted： For；
1。 The scripture saith not so； but that we are reconciled to God by the death of his Son； and justified too； and that while or when we are sinners and ungodly。
2。 If this objection carrieth truth in it； then it follows that the Holy Ghost； faith； and so all grace； may be given to us； and we may have it dwelling in us； yea； acting in us； before we stand righteous in the judgment of the law before God （for nothing can make us stand just before God in the