as the man during life is only in a state of justification? It is figuratively said, that a man is in a state of salvation, but it cannot be pretended that the sentence actually takes place in this life; the same may be said of a man being in a state of justification. If the meaning of the word justification, or justify, is only being brought into a state of justification according to the latter understanding of the word, then there is no remission of sins in this life; but if actual justification takes place at the time of having faith, or any other matter being done, all sins are at that time remitted; as justification must be, and cannot be any thing short of a remission of sins generally, which is the true and certain meaning of the word, when it is connected with, or relates to the judgment or salvation of man.

CHAPTER X.

PART II.

QUOTATIONS FROM AUTHORS WHO HAVE WRITTEN ON THE SUBJECT OF JUSTIFICATION.-(CONTINUED.)

We will now make a few quotations from the writings of the late Mr. Thomas Scott, who has been very generally acknowledged to have deservedly obtained great praise for the diligence and zeal he had so long shewn in the vineyard of Christ in support and furtherance of the principles he professed; and as one of the latest, and if we instance his Bible, most laborious writers of the class or sect, of which he has denominated himself one, called " Evangelical," but which name may be truly said to be a most perfect misnomer, as their doctrines or principles respecting faith, and the efficacy of man's religious works, are as distant from those of the Evangelists as the north and south poles are from each other. As we may conclude he has

truly stated the principles or doctrines of his sect, and that in a most candid and explicit manner, we may consider his statements embrace their doctrines or principles generally, consequently quotations from other authors of the same persuasion are rendered unnecessary.

1. "The subsequent citations from Scripture and from the articles to prove that justification is, in respect to Christians, a benefit already received, and not one in future to be expected; that takes place in this life, and not at the day of judgment, are well worthy the serious consideration of those, who hold justification to be a future benefit in another world, and such as suppose a two-fold justification, one at the time of believing, and the other at the day of judg ment. The works, indeed, of true believers will, at that solemn season, be adduced to prove, that their faith was living, and so justifying; but this will be only declaratory. All on the contrary, who professed faith in Christ, and did not shew their faith by good works, will be adjudged unbelievers, or as having had a mere dead and unprofitable faith."-Scott's Remarks on Bishop Tomline's Refutation of Calvinism. Vol. i. p. 254.

2. "It is the settled judgment of nearly all, if not quite all the evangelical clergy, that such a faith, as is without good works is wholly insuf

ficient for salvation: and that no faith justifies, which does not evidence itself living and genuine by good works; as certainly as a tree is known by its fruits.' Our views of justification by faith alone, do not lead us to suppose that an unproductive, inefficient, dead faith will justify any man; or that any one will eventually be saved, who does not perform good works, according to the time and opportunities allotted him, after having believed in Christ; but merely that these good works do not combine with faith in his justification."-Ibid. Vol. i. p. 274.

3. "Would 'dead faith, bare belief without producing inward purity or practical obedience, the faith of devils,' bring a person into a state of justification? His Lordship has repeatedly marked the difference between true living faith, and this worthless assent to the truth, and has ascribed justification to the former exclusively. Yet here, by some inadvertency, it is supposed that a man is brought into a state of justification by a dead faith, which, however, is insufficient to keep him in that state. Dead faith can only be accompanied by formal and dead works; and will this dead faith and these dead works combined, either justify a man, or 'preserve him in a justified state?' Would James have conceded, that the faith which he had spoken of as vain, was sufficient to bring a man into a justi

fied state? and that the vain men, of whom he speaks, were once justified believers? Or, is it supposed, that living faith, having justified the possessor, expires or degenerates into dead faith? As continuance and preservation in a justified state, are not mentioned by the Apostle, we may conclude that he did not intend to convey that sentiment. 'Because of unbelief, they were broken off, and thou standest by faith".'

For by faith ye stand". 'We are kept by the power through faith unto salvation. St. Paul evidently meant, that faith alone formed a sinner's relation to Christ, and so through his righteousness and atonement, justified him before God but this justifying faith is living and operative, works by love, and produces the fruits of holy obedience and St. James evidently meant, that no faith, which was not productive of good works, justified a man before God, being dead and worthless. There is, therefore, a sound sense, in which a man may be said to be justified by works, and not by faith only. His works must shew that his faith is living, and justify him, as a professed servant of God, from every charge or suspicion of hypocrisy and they will be adduced as evidence of his having been a true believer at the day of

a Rom. xi. 20.

b 2 Cor i. 24.

с 1 Pet. i. 5.