448 The nature of yuf iification, as declared through the Blood, or Mediation of Chrifft , wherein it is Faith alone that gives us an intereft, than thefe ufed here by the Apoftle. And for my part, I (hall only fay, that I know not how to exprefs my fell in this matter, in words and terms more exprefs or fignificant of the conception of my mind. And if we could all but fubfcribe the anfwer here given by the Apoftle 5 how, by what means, on what grounds, or by what cages, are we juftified before God; namely, that we are j aftified freely by his Grace, through the Redemption that is in Chrifl jefos, whom God hath fit forth to be a propitiation through Faith in his Blood, &c. There might be an end of this Controverfie. But the principal paflages of this Teftimony muft be diftinEtly confidered, (' r.) The principal efficient caufe is firft expreffed with a peculiar emphafis ; or the caufa caregnyx,ukva dìryiú,uxvoi d pc v 'r ¿writ been, being juilified freely by his Grace. God is the principal efficient caufe of our Jufti- fication, and his Grace is the only moving caufe thereof. I ¡hall not flay upon the exception of thofe of the Roman Church, namely, that by 7171 Len durit which their Tranfla- tion renders per gratiam Dei, the internal inherent Grace of God, which they make the formal caufe of Juftification, is intended. For they havenothing to prove it, but that which overthrows it ; namely, that it is added unto d eth freely, which were needlefs, if it lignifie the Free-grace or Favor of God. For both thefe expreffions gratis per gratiam, freely by Grace, are put together to give the greater emphafis unto this afiertion, wherein the whole of our Juftification is vendica- ted unto the Free-grace of God.So far as they are diftinguifh- able, the one denotes the principle from whence our Juftifica- tion proceeds,namely Grace ; and the other,the manner of its operation, it works freely. Befides, the Grace of God in this fubjea,doth everywhere conftantly lignifie hisgoodnefs, love, and favor as hath been undeniably proved by many.See Rom. 5. 15. Eph..a. 4,8,9. 2 7ím.í. 9. 7ít.3.4, 5. Being
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