3 It Some Arg> Vindicated from C H A P. 13. that it aura be , at leatt , a Rite hteoufnefs improperly fo called , and that muff be an improper (peach , faith is imputed for righteoufnefs , and if that be an improper fpeech, why is there fo much noife made about the im- propriety of T he fpeech , when we take Faith for the objeht of faith, in That lenience , fair') imputed unto righteoufnefs ? All that great clamoure muff now recurre upon the exceprer and his followers. (3) If this , which hehath given , be the meaning of there words,faith imputed untorigh. teort fnefs , let any judge, whether our fenfe of them, or this be molt genuine, & freeftof traps & figures, & which ofthe two is apparently fartheft fetched. (4) Faith then , it teemeth , is tendered unto God , & faith being but Righteouf. nefs imp: operly fo called , we render unto God , in our luftification a Righ- teoufnefs only that is improper , & thereupon are declared Righteous, whether properly or improperly , I know not. 5) If upon the tender of -Faith,, God look upon us as Righteous, then we mnft berighteous; for we mull be what he feeth , & acknowledgeth us to be : And then I ask , whe- ther doth he look upon us , as properly Righteous , or as improperly Righ- teous ? (6) If God look upon us , as having fulfilled the condition of the Co- venant , & as Righteous upon that account , then he muff look upon us , as properly righteous & faith múft be a proper righteoufnefs; or he muff fay , that Chrift bath purchafed , that an improper Righteoufnefs shall be the Condition of the Covenant, for we heard , he faid , that Chrift had pur- chafed , that Faith should be the condition. But the performance of the Condition of God's Covenant mutt be held for a proper Righteoufnefs, as perfet obedience was under the firft Covenant. And we heard lately, that Faith was truely -& properly called a Righteoufnefs, & that it might be fo called with truth , &in fufficient propriety of fpeech , in his anfwere tó the firft argument. (7) If we be righteous by faith , & be looked upon, as filch by God , having performed the condition of the Covenant, it is not imagi- nable , how we shall not be, if not meritoriou/ly , yet at leaf' formally Righ- teous ; feing as Adam by Perfet Obedience , would have performed the Con- dition of that Covenant , under which he was , and thereby had been both Meritorioufly 8z formally Righteouf; fo mutt it he now , in refpe& offaith, which is made to haye the fame place , force & efficacy , in the new Cove- nant , and that through the procurment of Chi ift that Perfect Obedience had in the old Covenant. (3) He faith , we are made meritoriously righteou, by Chrifl's fuffer Mgr . But what is the.meaning of this? Is this the meaning thereof, that Chrift's tufferings hath merited a Righteoufnefs to us ? Then hereby nothing is fpoken to the poìnt;for we are not now fpeaking of Chrift's Righteoufnefs , but ofours. And againe I would enquire , what Righte- oufnefs hath it merited unto us E Whether a meritorious Righseoufnefs, or a formal Righteoufnefs (as he diftinguished) or both ? Or is the meaning this , That through Chrift's merites & fufferings, we have a Righteoufnefs, which is meritorious ? If fo, I enquire, 'what is that Righteoufnefs? Whe- ther is it Chrift's Righteoufnefs imputed to us, & made ours; or is it our Faith that becometh meritorious ? If this /all be faid , that is granted, which was denied ; & Faith muff be accounted our meritorious Righteoufnefs. if the former be faid, imputation of Chrift's Righteoufnefs will be granted, & snore
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