C g A P. d. What myfleries in jufltfication. 49 the account of the Imputed Righteoufnefs of Chrift; & againft the Impu- tation of Chrift's Righteoufnefs to this end , that the fanner may be abfoi- ved & pronounced righteous, & accepted as filch. But the Scripture Teeth no Inconfiftenry or Repugnancy here, but an harmonious & fweet accord betwixt the Lord's caufing people their iniquities paflè from them , & His clothing them with change of raiment zach. 3: 4. And the Apoftle joineth both, asinfeparable ; yea he declareth the nece(fìty of both`, Paying Rom. 3: 21, 22. That now the righteoufnefs of God without the Law is manifefled even the righteoufnefs of' God , which is by faith of tefus Chriß, unto all & upon all them that beleeve. where upon it followeth vets 24. that they are freely juflified by His grace. But then , what need is there of Remiflion ? might one fay : doth not this quite rake away all Remiffion ? No; for he added: vers z4, 7.5. through the redemption , that is in lefus Chrìf1, whom God hath fet- forth to be a propitiation , through faith in His bloud, to declare His righteouf- nefs for the rein :Ilion ofJinnes that are pall. Yea , the forgivenefs of tunes elta- blifheth & confirmeth the Imputation of righteoufnefs, where by we are ju- ftified; for thus fpeaketh the Apoftle Ram. 4: 6, 7, S. Even as David alfo de- fcribeth the blefednefs of the man , unto whom God imputeth righteou fnefr without workr, raying, bleffed are they , whore iniquities areforgiven , &whole fìnnesare covered; blcJJed is the man, unto whom the Lord will not impute fin. Where we fee, that non - imputation of finsisfofar from fhutting out Imputation of Righteoufnefs , that it confirmeth it , & proveth it, & is in feparable from it, & mutt neceffarily prefuppofe it : for we , being finners, can have no Abfolution until! the Satiffadion of Chrift be applied to us , & made ours by Imputation : & where this is imputed by God , the foul mtifl be abfol- ved from all that can be laid to its charge. Therefore in juftification , as we are declared righteous, by reafon of the Righteoufnefs of Chrift imputed to us & received by faith; fo have we thereby a full remionof all our finnes. Paul tels us 2 Cor. 5: 19, That God war in Chrifi, reconciling the world unto himfelf, not imputing theirtrefpajJ'er unto them. And what giveth he for the ground of this ? See vers a i. for) faith he) He bath made Him to be 'infer us, who knelt, no fin, that we might be made the righteoufnefs of God in Him. 12. It is alto obfervable in this myfterious bufìnefs , That though our je- flification be an aEt of God's free grace, wherein, only upon the account of the Righteoufnefs of Chrift Imputed to us by God; & not upon the ac- count of any thing in us, or done by us , He pardoneth our fins & accep. teth our perlons as righteous : Yet this is not with an exclufion, bur ra- ther with an Inclufion of faith , which is a Receiving, alaying hold upon, & a Leaning unto the righteoufnefs of Chrift, imputed to us. Socinians & others are utter [hangers unto this myftery; & make ufe of their wit here , to plead againft the imputation of Chrift's Righteoufnefs , the onely ground of our ;unification; becaufe faith is required of us, in order to our juftification; and is (as they fay) it felt imputed to us, as our Righte- oufnefs ; upon the account of which we are ;uftified. They fuppofe, that if Chrift's Righteoufnefs be imputed to a perfon & he thereupon acqucdef c pardoned of all his finnes, that perfon.muft.be righteous, pardoned & Ju- G ftified,
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