C x A P. 2 5. Faith is not our to ffifccation. 331 mit expreffions , without warrand of the word , in this tender matter;efpe- cialiy fuch'exprefßions , as have a manifeft tendency to corrupt , rather then explicate the truth , in this particular; as, I judge , will be foundtrue of this expreffìon; f ®r howbeit it be faid by the Afferters thereof, that Faith, is but a lefs principal & SubordinateRighteoufnefs; Yet in effec`k, according to theirexplication of the whole dotrine ( as may be feen by this Treatife 'aft mentioned & anfwered )0it is made the Principal & only Righteoufnefs that is imputed to us : for Chrift's Righteoufnefs, fay they, is only impu- ted,asto is effeäs , or in its caufality. See Baxteragainft D. Tully p.7o. ( juit as Suarc {' laid de divin. gr.lib. 7. de land. horn. c. 7. §. 39. cited by Mr. Ruther- foord Exercie. Ape1. Exerc. t, c 2. Tag. ( mihi ) 64.. the mérites of Chrifl are not given to us , that we might be formally fulli f ed, but that they may be a price whe- rervith we may buy a Righteóufnefr, whereby we may be formally yuflified; as he who giver') a price to another, whereby he may buy clothes, is faid to clothe harm , not formally, but efreálivly, morally , as is mans fell : ) And even as to thefe ef- fats it dependeth wholly upon Faith , and this Faith is only faid to he pro- perly imputed for our Righteoufnefs. And betide, they tell us , that the Righteoufnefs of Chrift is alike common to all , to the Reprobarras well , as to the EleEt, and fo it can be imputed properly to none : And as to its ef- fedive Imputation ( as Suare.{. calleth it ) or Imputation , as to its effeds or in its caufality (as others fpeak ) after that it is offered & held forth to all, & bath the fame common effeEls , unto all , untill the condition be performed, that dependeth wholly upon trans performance of the Condition; And as to its antecedent effe£ts, it is equally & abfolutly imputed toall; that is, it is imputed to none , but the effects thereof are equally made common to all, in- making Salvation poti-ible, & the condition to be faith, and the like: And as to th\- fpecisl effects , (as'fhey may be called) which depend on faith, when one bekeverh , & fo fulfillerh the Condition , he bath thereby a Gol- pel- Righteoufnefs or this Faith of his is reckoned upon hisLore , for a Gofpel Rsghceotifnef;, & rhe,eupon he ret:eiveth Pardon, Juft,fication &c. Now let any judge her or not thefe effc Ets are not more the effects (at leaft mote imtlediatly) oftheir own Gofpel- Righteoufnefs, than of Chrift's: for'Chrili by all hì; Righteoufnefs did purchafe thefe effeEis to all a4ike,& that conditionally ; and,now they therr-:felves by their own perfonal Gofpel Righ- teoufnefs of Faiih, do make an aEfual purchafe of thefe effeEfs, according to the Covenant , ex pallo. And to fay , That Chrift did by his merires pur- chafe the New Covenant, doth but confirme, what I have now fail , totvit, That all that , which Chrift procured , was , That all fuch , as should ac- quirea Gofpel- Righteoufnefs of theirowtte, shonld be juttified &c. And thus Chrift died to purchafe a vertue & merite to our faith, & that to this end, it should become a Gr,fpel- Righteoufnefs, whereby they might have whereof to boaft & to glory before men, at leaft. Hence we fee that Chrift's Righteoufnefs might rather be called the Subfervient & eurs the Principal. And further , ( which may juttly make Chrittians,ab -horre this opinion) Thus this poor convinced fanner , purfued by juftice for a broken Law , is called to leane his whole weight of Acceptance with God, & found all his hope of S f Par-
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