Brown - BS2685 B86 1695

dG P 193 Fait!) it felt is not imputed, 'CH A P. 2 2: But thíscould not be , if Faith as our aft of obedience were imputed to us, as our Righteoufnefs ; for faith, as our ad of obedience, is a work , and a work commanded by the Law of God , otherwayes it should be unlawful, or a work of fupererogation. The meaning then of the Apoftles Conclu- fron font. 3: 2.3. should be this, a man is jufl fled by one de Yd of the Law, dud without all works or deeds of the Law ; which were a contradiction. And it is certaine , that when the Apolile excludeth the works of the Law, he excludeth them from being looked upon , as our Imputed Righteoufnefs; for Adverfaries did plead for their intereft in Juflification , as a Righteouf- nefs to be imputed to the doers, where upon they might be Juítified : if then faith as our work, were imputed as our Righteoufnefs , Paul: difput . should be, whether all works should be imputed for Righreoufnefs, or one work of faith only : Nor can it be faid , that by the Law here, the Apoftle underftandeth only the Law of Mofer, as Inch, for he is fpeaking this , even of the Gentiles , who never were under the Law of Mofer , and inítanceth Chap.4, in Abraham , who was Juftified long before the Law of Mofer, as fuch , had a being. And he is (peaking of the Law , by which is the knowled- ge of fin. R.om. 3: 20. & which worl eth wrath Rom. 4:15. which cannot agree to the Law of í4 ofesonly. 2. ByafFerting, that Faith, properly taken is accounted our Righte- oufnefs, the whole fcope CC all the Arguments , which the Apoftle ufeth in this matter , should be enervated and contradicted ;: as a very light view of them might make manifeft, and the following Arguments will evince. 3. Faith , confidered as our act of obedience , and as a work of ours , is not that Righteoufnefs of God without the Law , which is witneffed by the Law , and the Prophets : Nor is it that Righteoufnefs of God which is by the Faith of Jefus Chrift unto all, and upon all them that heleeve ß. m. 3: 121, 22. Neither Law nor Prophets did bear wirnefs , that faith , as our aef & work, was accounted all the Righteoufnefs that was to be imputed to the beleever : Nor laid, that our act of faith was the Righteoufnefs of God, without the works of the Law. Nor is it imaginable , how faith can be that RiAliteoufnefs of God, which by Faith is imputed unto all, and put upon all that beleeve. Shall we think, that the Apofties words have but this fenfe , That faith is unto & upon them , that' have faith; or that faith is imputed by faith ? Sure the Apoftles words mull be fonnderflood , as to im- port , that the beleever bath by his faith fomething imputed to him , which is dillinfl from faith , as is obvious. 4. If faith, as our work, were imputed as Righteoufnefs, how could the Righteoufnefs of Godbe declared in the 'unification of finners , & God be juft , when he was the juftifier of him , which beleeveth in Jefus; as the Apoftle faith IZom. 3: 26 ? Is our $eleeving fuch a perfect & compleat Righteoufnefs, that God cannot but account us Righteous, becaufe of it, & fo Jufiife us, as Righteous , upon the account of is ? Is it not fick of the fa- me diftemper of weaknefs with other graces? 5. If Faitb, as our ad & work, were imputed to us, as obit Righteouf- nefs,'

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