310 Some Arg. Vindicated from. C H A P. Z3. all boafting being fo contrived in all points, as that he who glorieth may only glory in the Lord. Argum. 5. If Faith be imputed unto us for Righteoufnefs , then are we ju. ftified by that , which is Imperfed , & which it felt needeth a Pardon; Icing no mans Faith is perfcdt in this life. But there is no Juftification to be loo- ked for before God by that which is Imperfed,but by that, which is Perfecfi. Therefore &c. He excepteth. Thefe words then, we are f uflifed by that which is imperfect, may either have this fenfe , that we are ju fhfied without the concurrence of any thing, that is (imply perfect , to our juflification, or that Jómervhat that it comp arativ_ lyimperfefi, may Tome wages concurre ¿r contribute torvrdc our juJlification. In the firfi fence the propofition is falfe , in the later fenfe the affumptiongoeth to wreck Anf. This diCtinction is to no purpofe ; for it doth not loofe the difficulty in regard that the argument fpeaketh of a Righteoufnefs , as the formal caule, or as the formal objet-live cattle of Juaification or as that upon the account of which the perfon is Pronunced & Declared to be Righteous , and juftified and fo is levelled againft Faith , concluding that it cannot be our Righteouf. nefs , or the formal Objective caufe of our justification ( asit is Paid and fup. pofecj to be by fuch, as fay,that it is imputed to us for Righteoufnefs , for it is made by them to be all the Righteoufnefs that is imputed to us ) & that be. caufe of its Weaknefs & Imperfection. He addeth , in application of this diftinction. The truth is, that the Im- putation of faith for Righteoufnefs prefuppofeth fomewhat, that abfolutely per- fed as abfolutly neceyary unto juflification. Had not the Lord Chrifl , who is f evfed him fel f , made a perfect atonement for fin , there had been no place for the Imputation of faith for righteoufnefs , for it is through this , that either the beleeve in him or in God through him ; d.M it is through the Jame atonement a lfo , that God juflifieth us upon our belceving , that is, imputes our faith unto ur for r-ighteoufnefr. Anil This prefuppofal doth not helpe the matter; for notwithftanding the- reof, Faith it felf is made the only Imputed Righteoufnefs ; and faith is not confdered as an Inlirument , receiving Chrift's Righteoufnefs ; and the A- tonement there through , but as a work , making the reward of the Atone- ment to be of debt , ex paFlo, and not of free grace , and fo to have a worth & a merite in it. Our Adverfaries will not grant, that.this prefuppofed Righteoufnefs of .Chrift, whereby the perfed Atonement was made, is im- puted unto us; for this isexprefly denied : and betide , they fay, that it was equally made for all , and fo is equally imputed to all ; fo far , as that there- by, all are put into fuch a flare, as, notw.i cflanding of the former breach made, they may now , upon the new termes of Faith , receive the promifed reward. And thus, it is manifeft that with them, this imperfect thing, faith is that, for & upon the account of which , they are juftified. As for example ( that we may hereby illuftrate & cleare the matter) if we should fuppofe , that Chrifi had by his Atonement delivered all from wrath , due for the former transgref3ion of the Covenant, and had put them into the for - mer flare , wherein Adam was , before he fell , & procured that God should take a new eflay of them, and make promife of life unto them , upon the old
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