32.6 Rom. IV. Proved) not the imputation of faith, C x A P. 2.4, the matter to the ordinary capacity of Chriffians , as I judge the way , that force oflatetake , in explicating this matter, contributeth much more to the darknirig of the fame : at leaf' to me : But the Apoìle is handling this matter in a pra .tical manner; fo as both fuch he wrote unto , & the Church of Chrrift to the end of the world , might fo underftand this neceiiary & fundamental truth , as to put the fame in praótice : And therefore Both fay , that Faith is imputed :into Rjghteoufnefs , to shew, that it is not the Righteoufnefs of Chritt, conceived in our heads, that will fave & juftifie us; but his Righ- teoufnefs laid hold on , brought home & applied by Faith : that fo all might fee & be convinced of the neceffity of faith , whereby the foul goeth out to Chrift , layeth to his Righteoufnefs , and might not tàtisfie themfelves with a Notion of Chriti & his Righteoufnefs, never applied by Faith; but be induced to lay hold on him by Faith , to the end they might have an intereft in Chri1's Righteoufnefs, the lame being ,ipon their faith ,,bèftowed upon them , and reckoned upon their (core. The expreßîon is molt emphatickto hold forth', the necccflitÿ now of faith according to the Lord's Soveraigne appointmenr,as if thereby Chritt's Righteoufnefs & their faith were become One thing , as being wholly infeparable in this affaire, fo that it cometh to one, whether by faith , weunderftand the Grace asading upon & conno- ting the Object , or'the Objet , as acted upon by the Grace of Faith as in that expreflion, the P ghteoufrefs of faith Korn, 4: 1;. Faith may either be in- terpreted to be Chritt, as laid hold on by faith , & fo the meaning will be through the Righteoufnefs of Chrift laid hold on by . Faith , & faith may be the farne wav explained in the following verf. 14. d9 I6. Jr if they which are of the Law, be heirs , faith is made void i. e. if the grand het )rage comely the Law & by obedience to it. Gofpel, holding forth Chrifi to be laid hold an 1sy faith ,' is made void , as to this end : and againe verr. i6; there fore it it of faith,that it might be by grace i. e. it is of & by Chria, laid hold upon by Faith , that it might be by grace. Or faith in all there may be interpre- ted to be faith as atting upon the objet , Chriff & his Righteoufnefs; & the confequence & force cf the words will be found to be the fame, whether of thefe wayes we explaine the matte': s, when (peaking of the lfrael.is ftung in the wildernefs, it were all one to lay, they were healed by the brazen ferpent , to wit, hacked to ; or they were healed by their look, to wit, upon the brazen ferpent , for Hill it will be underftood , that all the ver- tue came from the brazen ferpent (or him rather, that was typified there- by) yet fo as it was tobe looked upon; 8: that their looking was but an In- ftrumental mean theretthto, and when a mean thereunto muff include the object looked unto, We hear it fometimes faid of perfons mitaculoufly cu- red , that their Faith made them whole , whileas the vértue came from the obje &acted upon by faith, as Peter fully explaineth the matter Paying Ail. 3: 36. And hi; name, through faith in his name, half) made this man flrcng. Thus we fee, how this matter may be faifly & muft be underftood , when the vertue and efficacy of the Principal caufe is attributed to ,the Inftrumcntal caufe : And yet, left any should tdumble -at the exprelion , & pervert it , as many do , to day , the Apoftle abundantly Caveats againft this by telling us
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