388 The Imputation of the 't obedience of Chrisi tion of Sons, and Eternal Life. But there is another frate in the nature of the things themfelves, and this might have been fo ahlually, had it fo feenned good unto God : For who fees not, that there is a Status or Conditio Perfon,e, wherein he is neither under the guilt of Condemnation, nor hath an immediate Right and Title unto Glory, in the way of Inherit - ance. God might have pardoned Men all their fins pafr, and placed them in a fate and condition of feeking Righteouf- nefs for the future, by the Works of the Law, that fo they might have lived : For this would anfwer the original frate of Adam. But God hath not done fo; true; but whereas he might have done fo, it is evident that the difpofal of Men into this frate and condition of Right unto Life and Salva- tion, doth not depend on, nor proceed from the pardon of fin, but hath another caule, which is the Imputation of the Rtghteoufnef of Chrifi unto us, as he fulfilled the Law for And in truth, this is the opinion of the molt of our Ad- verfaries in this caufe : For they do contend, that over and above the remiffion of fin, which fome of them fay is abfo- lute, without any refpe& unto the nierit or fatisfa&ion of Chrift, others refer it unto them ; they all contend that there is moreover, a Rrghteoufnefs of Works required unto our Juftification 5 only they fay, this is our own incomplete, im- perfe& Righteoufnefs, imputed unto us, as if it were perfeíl, that is, for what it is not ; and not the Righteoufnefs ofChrift imputed unto us for what it is. From what hath been difcourled, it is evident that un- to our Juftification before God, is required, Not only that we befeed from the damnbtory f ntence of the Law, which we are by the pardon of fin, but moreover, that the Righteouf ve,r of the Law be fulfilled in us, or, that we have a Righte- oufnefs aufwering the Obedience that the Law requires, whereon our acceptance with God, through the riches of his Grace, 6
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