: :3 'Rom. IV. proveth not the imputation of faith. C H A P. 24. preffions are neither harsh in thennrelves , being rather emphatically expli. cative, and more forcible upon the underftanding , as to the uptákingof there myfteries ; nor are they ftrange & uncouth to,the Apoftle , even in this matter , as rm ht be abundantly evinced, almoft as to every exprefon, ufed in this matter, or at leaft , as to fuch exprellìons as are about the maine parrs thereof : Let any read Paul's writtings on this fubjeót, here, & hïs Epitè1e to the Gallatians & he shall finde this true , almoft in 'every Chapter. But it should fatis(ìe us, that the Ho1y.Ghoft hath thought fit , to exprelfe the matter thus ; & that to prevent miftakes , he bath given both here & elfe- where , abundance of clear , plaine , and down right expreffions , for a Supply , as hath been shown above , fo as none may míftake, but fuch as will wtlf ray ftep aide to follow their own wayes : And iris not faire for fuck , to objet t this, who, of all others, make the Scriptures to (peak molt figurativly & tropically , when they have a minde to evade the dint of our arguments from Scripture ; of which very manyinílances might be adduced. It cannot but Teem ftrange to any , who bath read the Scriptures with attention , to hear one with fuch confidence faying, that the naming of the ad for the ob- jeEt is fuch an harsh & uncouth exprefon & figure of fpeach , as is not to be found in all the Scriptures againe; when the fame man hereafter cannot but, confers that Hopis oft put for the thing hoped for, and is manifeft from !tom; 8: 24. Col. i : 5, 27. & elfe where & alfo faith put for Chrift Gal. 3: 23. twi- ce , 25. once. This putting the objet for the at is a known and common He6raijrne. His 2. confiderationis this : It it evident ( raid he) that that faith , or belee- ving, which verf. 3. it faid to be imputed to Abraham for righteou fnnefr, it oppofed to workr or working verf: 5. Now between faith properly taken & works, and fo between belceving & working , there it a confiant oppofrtion : but between the así- ve obedience of Chrifi d? works , there it no oppofition. Anf. It is molt true, that in the matter of Uglification , beleeving is oppofed to working , & that con - -ftantly; and therefore he is concerned to look to it who will have us coni- dering Faith here only in fuch a way, as it cannot be oppofed to, but every way agree with works, as one of them. (2) The oppofition betwixt our Righ- teoufnefs., cogfifting in works which we do, & the Surety- Righteoufneís of Chrift , confifting, not in his Obedience Adiive only, (as he miftakingly fuppofeth all alongs ) but in both aétive & paf live Obedience , whereby he gave full fatisfaótion to the Law, in all its demands, is fo Palpable , that ir cannot be well ditfembled, far lefs denied. His 3. Confideration is, that it is faid very. 5. His faith is imputed to him-, where it is evident , that that faith ( mbar f oevet we underfi?and by it) which it im- puted for 1Zt hteou fnefr is His, that is, force what that truely (IT properly may be called his , before fuch imputation be made unto him. Now it cannot be faid of the ftishteou fnefr of Chrift , that that it any mans, before the imputation of it be made unto him : But faith properly taken is the beleeverr , before it be imputed, at leafs in order of nature , if not of time. Anf. The words' verf. 5. are, His faith it counted for, or unto kighteoilitefr. -And fo whatever be underflood by faith it may in forme refped,at leaft, in order of nature. be his, before it be coon-. ted
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