The justification here spoken of by St. Paul, is an act of God exercised and accomplished upon man; and this the Apostle teaches expressly in these words, "who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect, it is God that justifies." And again, "It is one God, who justifies the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision by faith;" that is, both Jew and Gentile. "It is God who justifies the ungodly." "He is just, and the justifier of him, that believeth in Jesus." Now, it is evident from the whole tenor of Scripture, that God justifies the sinner by absolving him from the guilt of his past sins, by a free act of grace, in pardoning his iniquities, or not imputing to him his sins; so that his justification must import his absolution from the guilt of sin, and, as a necessary and immediate consequence, his reconciliation to God, and acceptance into his favour.

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