C H A P. 24. Rom. IV. Proveth not the imputation of faith. 317 jo. That which was imputed to Abraham , & will be imputed to all be- leevers, fora Righteoufnefs verf. rt. muff be a Righteoufnefs, which fuch have imputed unto them , who do beleeve ; for it is added , that he might be the father of all them that beleeve , though they be not circumcifed , that righteouf- nefr might be imputed unto them alto; Abraham had Righteoufnefs imputed to him , or reckoned upon his (core, through faith , while he was uncircum- died, that he might be the Father of Beleevers, among the Gentiles, tíi whom alto, when they beleeve a Righteoufnefs will be imputed , as it was to Father Abraham. II. It is againe called verf. 13. the &ighteoufuefs of faith , & through it , he fads, the promife was to Abraham , & to his feed : but the promife is not through faith , as an a& of virtue & obedience in us ; for then it should be through the Law ; but as the promife was made upon the account of the Righteoufnefs of the promifed feed , ( our faith can not be faid to procure , or purchafe the promife ) fo its application is by Faith , laying hold on & gripping to that Righteoufnefs. Il. If faith properly taken were imputed , it should be made void , & the promife of none effet , & they that are of the Law should be heires, for faith taken properly, for the ad ofBeleeving, belongeth to the Law : & when it is made our Righteoufnefs, it isoppofteto the free promife ; for what is promifed or given upon the account of Righteoufnefs , or any thing within us , is not a free & gracious promife : And when a free & gracious promife is taken away ,all the right ufe of Faith is taken away ; & fo Faith is made void ; for the very offence of juttifying faith lyeth in looking to, lay- ing hold on & leaning to a free & gracious promife. 13. The Apoflle verf i5. proveth , that they , who are of the Law, cana not be heirs; & confequently that Faith , or the ad of Beleeving cannotbe imputed for Righteoufnefs , as it is our ad, done in obedience to the Law ; by this reafon, becaufe the Law worked) wrath &c. And this alto maketh againft the Imputation of faith , properly taken , becaufe that is an aet of obedience to the Law , & cannot become our Righteoufnefs, beingImper- te& , & confequently not conforme to the Law -, which requireth Perfect ion in all duties , or otherwayes th eatneth wrath. And if any shall deny this of faith vii. that it belongeth to the Law , they mutt fay that there is no Law for it; & confequently that not to beleeve is no fin, for the Apoftle ad- deth , where no Law it , there it no tranrgreff on. 14. The ground of the free promife is that which muff be Imputed , and laid hold on by Faith : But that cannot be Faith properly taken , as our ad; for then the pro :nife should not be of grace , as it is exprefly Paid to be verf. 16, nor should it be Pure, ific depended upon our faith , & not upon that, which faith laith hold on. Thefe things , hefide what was mentioned before from this fame Chapter verf. 6, 7, 8, 23, 24 may fatisfie us , in this matter , and fufficiently evince, that it is not the Apoflles meaning, that Faith , properly taken , as our gad, or our ail: of Béleeving, is imputed unto Righteoufnefs; but that the Ohje&of Faith or the Righteoufnefs of Chrilt laid hold on, and applied Qq z by
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