C x A P. I. im utat. of Chrifls give and Paffiv. obedience. T that refpeét, is aperfeét & compleet Righteoufnefs; i.e. the perfon , fo abfolved is as free of punishment , or of obligation thereunto , as if he had never finned ; but having finned , he cannot by this diffolution of the obligation to punishment be ip fo facto made as pettedly & compleetly Righ- teous , as he would have been , if he had never tranfgreffed , but had per- featly keeped the Laws for if he had perfectly keeped the Law , he had ob- tained full right to the reward , which now he hath not, and which no par- don , or difcharge , as fuch , can reffore him unto. Let us hear his reafon. Nothing (faith he) can any way diminish,. or prejudice the perfection of Righ- teoufnefs, but only tin, as no thing can hinder the perfetition of light , but darknefs in ône degree , or other. So that as theaire , wóen u is free from all degrees of dark- ;eft. , muß of neceffity be fully light; fo he that is perfetfly freedfrom all fin, muff of necef ty be fully (IT perfectly Righteous. Anf. This would make us beleeve , that he is here fpeaking of fin itfelf, and not of its guilt and demerite and fo the oppofite hereunto , mutt be holinefs ; which expelleth fin ( in a man- ner ) as light Both darknefs , or as one quality doth its contrary. But then heis fighting, all this while , again(t his own shadow , for we are fpeaking of the guilt of fin , which alto muff be properly underftood , ( and nothing elfe can) when he (poke of abfolution d7 freedom from fin, in the Conclu- hon. If he fpeak here of fin in refpeEt of guilt & demerite ,_ his fimile doth -not quadrate; and oppoftte to this guilt he should fet Righteoufnefs or obe- dience with its merite : and if any will do this shall eafily fee the mi- ftake, for though a man hath not tranfgrefïed , yet he hath not eo ipfo right to the premium , for in order tò this , moe dayes work may be required,than one or halle of one dayes work; far lefs can the Pardon of or fatistadion for this tranfgreffion , gives man right to the reward. He addeth. It is impojfible to conceive a man defeffive in any part of l ighteott f- uefi , d'' yet withal' to conceive him free from all fin : fin ir Itighteoufnsfs being to fubjedocapaci, contraria immediata , as Logicians (peak. Anf: Defefiiwe in Righteoufnefs may be either under (food in refpeót of the meet duty or com- mand , or in refpeót of full right to the reward. In the firff fenfe , fuch an one cannot be free of all fin ; but taking it in the fecond fenfel, he may : as for example , when one is to work eight dayes in dre11ìng agarden , & then to receive the reward promifed , & it he fail in his work any of the dayes, to be punished ; this man , fo long as he worketh a, 3, q.. or 5. dayes cannot be charged with fin , nor Paid tobe defective, as to his duty; and yeth he hath not full right to the reward untill he hath wrought Eight dayes, but is defe- ctive in fame part of his Righteoufnefs, as to this reward.. And according. to this may we underftand that logical axiome. Further he faith , The Scriptures them (elves f ill male an immediat oppofition), between fin ir Righteoufnefs. - To finde out a third efface between tin fir Righteoull tiers , we mull finde out a third Adam , from whom it should be derived. Anf. The flare of fin & of Righteoufnefs , whereof the Scripture fpeaketh, ad- mitteth indeed of no medium , or third betwixt them, and the reafon is be caute , we are all now borne in a [tate of fin, & are obnoxipus to wrath & semaine fo,.untill.we be tranflated into a ftate of Righteoufnefs, which is not by 111111111MININEffinimomomuld
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