190 Mr. Baxter's opinion 4 bout rmput, examined. C x A r. Is. Imprifonment for his delivery , cannot befaíd tofu1E In this (lead, but one- ly for his caufe & good , as the Soeinians fay, Chrift fuffered for us. (z. ) Ch riff not only fuëfered in our ffead , as if he had been a (inner & guilty, but as ruiner legally & juridically guilty , having fins imputed to Him , though He was moll free of all fin inherently , and knew it not: & the reafon is manifeff ; for otherwaves Divine juftice fhould not have fhined forth in His fufferings , it being no Demonftration of luflice to punifh one , who neither inherently , nor Imputatively & legally , is or tan be. accounted & reputed a (inner. (3, ) We . cannot , with right be reputed Righteous, except we be either inherently righteous, or righteous by Imputation ; & fo legally, juridically , & in Law -fenfe righteous, by vertue of the Imputation of the Surety - righteoufnefs of Chriff , our Sponfor. (q.. ) Righteoufnefs muff pro- perly refpeet the Commands & Prohibitions of the Law , & but feconda- rily the Retribution , if not molt Improperly ; as unrighteoufnefs is in re- ference to the Law , as commanding or forbidding , & very improperly at- tributed to any in reference to the punifhment threatned. And therefore, if we be accounted Righteoufnefs , it muff be in relation to the precept , at leaf(, in the firuI place : Nor can we be accounted Righteous , in reference to the Retribution that is , have a Right to Impunity & life , in thefight of God , who judgeth & reputeth according to equity & right, unlefs we be firü accounted Righteous , rn reference to the precept ; for this is the only juft & legal foundation of the other. (5.) Upon this it Both not follow' that we are Innocent or fìnlefs inherently , far lets , that we never tranf- grefffed; but on the contrary , it clearly faith , that we were finners; but now are legally , or juridically innocent & finlefs by the Imputation of the fidejuforie Righteoufnefs of Chrift; & therefore are not obnoxious to the penalty or to punifhment ; but have right to Impunity & life. (6.) When he fpeakerh of what Chrift merited , he expreffeth himfelf dubioufly, not being pofrtively clear, whethfer Chrift merited or pardon &c. or the New Covenant : & the disjun &ive particle Or, faith He did not merite both, in his judgment : but before , we heard him plainly affirming, that Chrift me- rited the New Covenant, & confequently He did not purchafe pardon, A- doption & the Spirit to any immediatly , but only mediatly , in purchafìng the Covenant, which promifeth thefe to fuch , as performe the Conditions thereof. (7.) By this way, Beleevers are repute fuch, as have right wall thefe purchafed gifts, not immediatly by vertue of Chriff's Merites & righ- teoufnefs, 'imputed to them & bellowed upon them , but by vertue of their being inherently Righteous with that Gofpel - righteoufnefs, faith, which is the poteftative Condition of the Covenant , & is now imputed to them, & accounted their Righteoufnefs, according to his judgment. Speaking afterward pag. 55. of Chrift, as an Head & Root, he tels us, that He was no Natural Root or Head ; which is undeniable; Yet He was a Super - Natural & Political Head, But he faith , He was not atually filch an Head to the Redeemed, when He obeyed and fuf Bred; but as an Head by Aptitu- de , office , power & Virtue. it nf: It is true , as to fuch , as were not then cleevers , He was not a Supernatural Head ativally, that is , by communi- cating
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