24o Imputation, and the Nature of it. mediation of Chrifl is fingular, and that which there is no- thing to parallel in any other cafè among men. From what bath been difèourfed concerning the nature and grounds of Imputation, fundry things are made evident, which contribute much light unto the truth which we plead fir; at leali unto the right underftanding and Elating of the matter under debate. As 1. The Difference is plain between the Imputation of any works of our own unto us, and the Imputation of the Righte- oufrefs of Faith without works. For the Imputation of works unto us, be theywhat they will, be it Faith it felf as a work of Obedience in us, is the Imputation of that which was ours, before fuch Imputation. But the Imputation of the Righteoufnefs of Faith, or the Righteoufnefs of God which is by Faith, is the Imputation of that which is made ours by vertue of that Imputation. And thefe two Imputations dif- fer in their whole kind. The one is ajudging of that to be in us, which indeed is fo, and is ours, before that judgment be paffed concerning it, the other is a Communication of that unto us, whichbefore was not ours. And no man can make fenfe of the Apof}les di eourfe, that is, he cannot underftand any thing of it, if he acknowledge not that the Righteouf- nefs he treats of is made ours by Imputation, and was not ours, antecedently thereunto. 2. The Imputation of works, of what fort foever they be, of' Faith it felf as a work, and all the Obedience of Faith, is ex juflitia, and not ex gratia : of Right and not of Grace. However the bellowing of Faith on us, and the working of Obedience in us, may be of Grace; yet the Imputation of them unto us, as in us, and as ours, is an'aït of Juftice. For this Imputation as was (hewed, is nothing but a judgment that fuch and fuch things are in us, or are ours, which truly and really are fo, with a treating of us according unto them. This is an Act of juflice, as it appears in the Defcription given of
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