C H A P. 24. Rorn. IV. Proveth not the imputation of faitb. . 323 be no way fatisfying, if nothirìg were meaned to be imputed here , but our Beleevina ; for then the fcnfe would be this , we shall be reputed beleevers, if we be belecvers. Eightly he faith , That which shall be imputed unto us for R,ighteoufuefs, it faid to be our beleeving on him, that raifèdup the Lord jetusveri. 2q. Anf: This is fick of the fame difeafe with the foregoing : nothing like that is here faid , but rather we may fee , that flame ditlin& thing is promifed to be imputed tó us, if we belecve on him , that taifed up Chrilt from the dead, which clearly faith , that the Imputation of fórnething to us for Righteoufncfs is promifed, when we beleevc : & shall any man then think , that Beleeving it felf is the thing , which is to be imputed Laflly he tels us, ( which is but what we heard before, & is shortly this ) That a _tropical e metonymical ,interpretation , turneth Paul's perfpicuity into greater o6fèurity , than any light of the Scripture knowetb well how to relieve. Anf. Whatever darks cfs he conceive herein , Yet others fee in thefe tropical ex- preffions a greater beauty of illufIratioca , & a greater emphasis of ftrcngth & 1i uification, than all his Rhetorick is able to darken. The Apoltle, not only here , but almoll every where , while fpeaking of this fubje& , followeth this fame manner of exprefliion , Efpecially Gal. 3. Nor do we lay , that the word Faith is here taken limply for Chntl's Righteoufncfs; but for Chritt's Righteoufncfs laid hold on & applied by Faith ; fo that what is in one place called the Righteoufncfs of Christ, is in another place called the Righteouf- nets of Faith , & the Rightéoufncfs, which is by Faith & through faith : as Christ is called our hope , not limply , but as our hope a&e.th upon him , as the real & true obje& thereof. He cannot deny , but Faith is fometimcs taken for its obje& , even for Chrilt;yet he faith. i.That though the faculty be fometimer put for the ohjetl,yet the all f eldome , or never. The all or exercijè of the grace of hope is never put for the things hoped for, but hope it felf is fò,netimes found in that fignification as Col. I:5'. Tit. a' 13. Now that which is here faid to be imputed unto Abraham, was not the habit or grace of Faith , but the ate. Artf. Neither habit, nor grace, nor a& of Faith is here laid to be imputed , but the obje&, which the a& may alto denote , as well as the habite. And if he limite & re(trick this to any particular a&, he mutt fay , that Abraham was not juftified before-kills time & that after this a& was haft , it could not be faid , that his Faith was imputed to him for Righteoumuefs, But z,. he faith. That though it were granted , that as well the aca it felf , ar the faculty or habit may be fometimes put for the objeFt, yet when the ad d3 ebjetl have been named together, d7 the all expre f j'ed by an objeF proper to it , if further force- thing irnmediatly afcribed to this all , under that con ideration ( all which it plainly teen in this clan fe, Abraham belcevcd God, & it was imputed to him for Righteoufnefs ) inthis cafe toconceivedc affìrme, that what is afcribed, it neither afcribed unto the ad it jèl f , there mentioned , nor unto the objeF mentioned, but unto a third thing , not once mentioned in the text , it to turn our back upon the text. Anf. Do we not fee Tit. z: 13. where it is faid , looping for thatblef ed hope &glorious appearing of the great Gcd , do our Saviour to f ìis Chrifi, that Chrift Rr is
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=