24 Imputation, and the Nature of it. ( as we (hall fee ) the effeéts of the Righteoufnefs of Chrift cannot be faid properly to be imputed unto us ; and if his Righteoufnefs it feIf be not fo; Imputation bath no place .herein, nor can it be underftood why the Apoftle fhould fo frequently aflert it as he cloth, Rom. 4. And therefore the Socinians who exprefly oppofe the Imputation of the Righ- teoufnefs of Chrift; and plead for a Participation of its effet`ts or benefits only, do wifely deny any fùch kind of Righteoufnefs of Chrift, namely, of fatisfa fion and merit, ( or that the Righteoufnefs of Chrift as wrought by him, was either fatisfa&tory or meritorious) as alone may be im- puted unto us. ' For it will readily be granted, that what alone they allow the Righteoufnefs of Chrift to confift in, cannot be imputed unto us; whatever benefit we may have by it. But I do not underftand how thofe who grant the Righteoufnefs' of Chrifl to confift principally in his fatisfa&ion for us or in our ftead, can conceive of an Imputation of the etas thereof unto us, without an Imputation of the thing. it (elf. Seeing it is for that as made ours, that we partake of the Benefits of it. But from the Defcription of Imputation . and. the Inftances of it, it appeareth that there can be no Imputation of any thing; unlefs the thing it feif be imputed, nor any Participation of the Effe &s of any thing, but what is grounded on the Imputation of the thing it fèlf. Where- fore in our particular cafe, no Imputation of the Righteouf nef of Chrift is allowed, unlefs we grant it felf to be impu- ted; . nor can we have any Participation of the effe&s of -it, but on the fuppofition and foundation of that Imputation. The impertinent Cavils that fome of late have colleted from the Papifls and Socinians, that if it be fory then are we as Rigbteo#s Chrifl himfelf; that we have redeemed the World, and fätisfed for the fins of others, that the pardon of (in is im o ble, and Perfonal Righteoufneff needle!, fhall afterwards lam, ft,s4keti unto, fo far as they deferve..
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