f it I3 Mr. Baxter's opinion about Itnput..examined, C H A P. IL the Imputation of Adam's fin , which is a good 'Medium, the Apoltle going before us herein RZom. S. And though he faith fomethings (n.4i.p.6S, ) wherewith I am not Satisfied , yet I paffe , becaufe nor much to our preí ent porpore, & come to ( n. 42. p. 66. ) where he faith , As Adam was an head by Nature, cl5 thérefore conveyed guilt by Natural Generation: fo Chrrfl is a tread (not by nature but ) by Sacred contr, tit , dT therefore conve Beth right to pardon. Adoption and Salvation , not by Generation , but by Contract or Donation.. So that what was to be Naturally in Adam , feminally and virtually, though not per tonally in exifience ; even that it is , in order to'our benefice by Hirn to be in Chilli by contrati or the New Covenant , virtually tho;;gh not in perfonal exi- gence , when the Covenant mac made. Anf. As Adam was an Head by Nature, fo was he by Covenant ; and as Christ is an head by Covenant , fo is He an Head by fupernatural Influences , and conveyeth His bleffings by Regenera- tion , as well as by Covenant , And therefore what was tobe Naturally in Adam , feminally and virtually , though not perfonally in exittence , that ís, to be in Chrift by fupernatural Regeneration virtually. And as his Effects of Adam', fall are conveyed by Natural generation , fo that we are made parta- kers thereof actually, by actual partaking of our Natural being ; fo the Ef- fects <,f Chrift's Righteoufnefs are conveyed by Spiritual Regeneration , & we are actually made partakers thereof, when we r artake of this Spiritual being. He proceedeth (n. 43. ) They therefore that look upon juflì fication , or i tg. h- tcou fneft , as coming to rrs immediatly by imputation ofChrifi's Itjghteoufitefs to us, Without the Inflrumental Intervention , and conveyance or Collation by this deed of Gift , or Covenant , do confound them (elves , by confounding and overlooking the carder of f u fli f cation. That which Chrtfi did by His merttes,was to procure the New Covenant. i!nf. Though the lnftrurtrenral Intervention ofa Covenant be ac- knowledged ; Yet Righreoufnefs mutt come to us immediatly by Imputa- tion of Christ's Righteoufnefs ; For His Righteoufnefs imputed is our Righ- teoufnefs , and is only that Righteoufnefs , whereby we become formally Righteous in order to juftification. The difference lyeth here betwixt us: Mr. Baxterthinketh , char Chrift's Righteoufnefs is imputed , in that it pur- chafed the New Covenant ( and confequently is equally imputed to all; for the Covenant , with him, is equally made with all ) and in and through the new Covenant, which cony eyeth pardon and life to filch, as perfürme the conditions thereof, i, e.beleeve, & fo are inherently Righteous, thefebe- rsefites are bellowed;.& fo Chrift's Righteoufnefs is not the itximediat ground of our juftificarion and Right to Glory ; but our own Perfonal Righteoufnefs, Faith called our Gofpel- rightenufnefs : Chrift's Righteoufnefs is only the immediat ground of the Covenant, being the Meritorious caufe thereof; & the immediat ground, whereupon our faith is fo far advanced. But our judgment is, that though Chrift convey the bleffngs purchafed covenant - wayes , yet the Covenant it felfis not purchafed by His IvIefites : & the way of conveyance is this, that He firft by His Spirit wo:keth the foui up ro faith in Christ, & then communicateth Chrift & His Righteoufnefs unto the be- lee.ver; & upon that immediat ground of Chrift's Imputed Surety -righ- teoufaefs,.
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