242 Imputation, and the Nature of it. whereas our inherent Rig hteoufief is imperfe &, ( they are to be pityed or dcfpifed,.ññot to be cntended withall, that are otherwife minded) if that be imputed unto us, we cannot be accepted on the account thereof as perfe &Iy Righteous, without an Error in Judgment. 4. Hence the true Nature of that Imputation which we plead for ( which fo many cannot or will not underfland ) is manifefl, and that both negatively and po(ftively. For (I) negatively ; (i) It is not a judging or efleeming of them to be Righteous who truly and really are not fo. Such a Judg- ment is not reducible unto any of the Grounds of Imputation before- mentioned. It bath the nature of that which is ex inju- ria,or a falle charge, only it differs materially from it. For that refpe &s evil, this that which is good. And therefore the cla- mour of the Papifls and others are meer effe &s of Ignorance or Malice, wherein they cry out ad ravish, that we affirm God to efleem them to be Righteous, who are wicked, finful and polluted. But this falls heavily on them who maintain that we are juflified before God by our own inherent Righ- teoufnefs ; For then a man is judged Righteous, who indeed is not fo. For he who is not,perfe&ly Righteous, cannot be Righteous in the fight of God unto- Juflilcation. (2) It is not a naked Pronunciation or Declaration of any one to be Righteous, without a jufl and fufficient foundation for the judgment of God declared therein. God declares no man to be Righteous but he who is fo 5 the whole Qtieftion being, . how he comes fo to be. (3) It is not the . Tranfmifon or Transfulion of the Righteoufnefs of another into them that are to be juflified, that they íhould become perfe &ly and in- herently Righteous thereby. For it is impoffabIle that the Righteoufnefs of one fhould be trans fu fed into another, to become his fubjeffively and inherently. But it is a great fluke on the other hand, to fay that therefore the Righte- ufne of one can no way be made the Righteouf= neß
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