72 General Conf derations previoufly necef ary unto us, as we lhall fee afterwards, doth minifter great oc cafion of much needlefs variance and contefts. Neither do I know any Reafon why men fhould feek countenance unto this Do&rine under filch an Expreffion as themfelves refle& upon as unf riptilral, if they be contented that their minds and fenfe fhould be clearly underftood and apprehended. For Truth needs no fubterftiges. The Socinians do now principally make ufe of this Obje- ¿lion. For finding the whole Church of God in the ufe of íàndry Expreflions, in the Declaration of the molt impor- tant Truths of the Gofpel that are not literally contained in the Scripture, they hoped from an Advantage from thence in their oppofition unto the things themfelves. Such are the Terms of the Trinity, the Incarnation, Satisfaclgon and Me- rit of Chrift, as this alfo of the Imputation of his R.ighte- oufnefs. How little they have prevailed in the other Inftan- ces hath been fufficiently manifefted by them with whom they have had to do. But as unto that part of this Objection which concerns the Imputation of the Righ. teou fnef of Chri fl unto Believers, thofe by whom it is afferted do fly ; z. That it is the Thing alone intended which they plead for. If that be not contained in the Scripture, if it be not plainly taught and confirmed therein, they will fpeedily re- linquifh it. But if they can prove that the DoElrine which they intend in this expreffion, and which is thereby plainly declared unto the underflandings of men, is a divine Truth füfficiently witneffed unto in the Scripture, then is this ex- preffion of it reduelively fcriptural, and the Truth it felf fo expreffed a Divine Verity. To deny this, is to take away all ufe of the Interpretation of the Scripture ; and to over- throw the Miniftry of the Church. This therefore is to be alone enquired into. 2. They fay, the fame thing is taught and expreffed in the Scripture in Ph. ra fes equipollent. For it affirms that by the Obe-
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