1Again, Death is put to flight by the death of Christ, and the righteousness of Christ is imputed to us. Fourthly,2 Paul saith, Christ is made unto us of ⟨p. 75⟩God, justice, that is, justice imputed: for in the next words he saith, he is made our sanctification, 3that is, our justice not imputed, but inherent. Fifthly, as Christ was made sin, so are we made the justice of God, but Christ was made our sin not by any conveyance of any corruption into his most holy heart, but by imputation. We therefore are made the justice of God by like imputation. And least any man should yet surmise that this justice is not imputed; but infused into us, Paul saith, We are made the justice of God IN HIM, that is, in Christ. Hence it followeth manifestly, that there is no virtue or work within us which justifieth before God, and that our justice whereby we are just in the fight of God, and accepted to life eternal, is out of us, & placed in Christ. Thus much have the Fathers observed upon this text of Paul. Augustine saith, that Christ was made sin,4 that we might be made justice, not our justice, but Gods justice, neither in us, but in him: as he declared sin not to be his, but ours, not placed in him but in us. ⟨p. 76⟩Hierome saith, Christ being offered for us took the name of sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him, not ours, nor in us. In the same manner speak Theophilact, Anselm, Sedulius presbyter, and others. Lastly, man considered as a creature before his fall, owed unto God the fulfilling of the law, which as a certain tribute was daily to be paid unto him. After the fall, he doubled his debt, because he then became debtor to God of a satisfaction due for the breach of the law. Now the not payment of this double debt is our unrighteousness. But where may we find a sufficient payment for this debt? We our selves by our sins daily increase the said debt. And our own works, though proceeding of faith, are no convenient payment: because we cannot by one debt pay an other. And if we shall search through heaven and earth, there is nothing to be found, that may stand for payment with God, but the obedience of the Redeemer, which he hath presented and laid down before the throne of the Almighty, as an endless ⟨p. 77⟩treasure to make payment in our behalf.
1Againe, Death is put to flight by the death of Christ, and the righteousnes of Christ is imputed to vs. Fourthly,2 Paul saith, Christ is made vnto vs of ⟨p. 75⟩God, iustice, that is, iustice imputed: for in the next words he saith, he is made our sanctification, 3that is, our iustice not imputed, but inherent. Fiftly, as Christ was made sinne, so are we made the iustice of God, but Christ was made our sin not by any conueiance of any corruption into his most holy heart, but by imputation. We therefore are made the iustice of God by like imputation. And least any man should yet surmise that this iustice is not imputed; but infused into vs, Paul saith, We are made the iustice of God IN HIM, that is, in Christ. Hence it followeth manifestly, that there is no vertue or worke within vs which iustifieth before God, and that our iustice whereby we are iust in the fight of God, and accepted to life eternall, is out of vs, & placed in Christ. Thus much haue the Fathers obserued vpon this text of Paul. Augustine saith, that Christ was made sinne,4 that we might be made iustice, not our iustice, but Gods iustice, neither in vs, but in him: as he declared sinne not to be his, but ours, not placed in him but in vs. ⟨p. 76⟩Hierome saith, Christ being offered for vs tooke the name of sin that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him, not ours, nor in vs. In the same manner speake Theophilact, Anselme, Sedulius presbyter, and others. Lastly, mā considered as a creature before his fall, owed vnto God the fulfilling of the lawe, which as a certaine tribute was daily to be paid vnto him. After the fall, he doubled his debt, because he then became debter to God of a satisfaction due for the breach of the lawe. Now the not paiment of this double debt is our vnrighteousnes. But where may we find a sufficient paiment for this debt? We our selues by our sinnes daily increase the said debt. And our owne workes, though proceeding of faith, are no conuenient paiment: because we cannot by one debt paie an other. And if we shall search through heauen and earth, there is nothing to be found, that may stand for paiment with God, but the obedience of the Redeemer, which he hath presented and laid downe before the throne of the Almightie, as an endlesse ⟨p. 77⟩
- 1Ad milites temp. c. 11.
- 21. Cor. 1. 30.
- 32. Cor. 5. 21.
- 4Fnchir. c. 41 & de verbis Apost. Serm. 6.
