Aphorisms of justification, with their explication annexed wherein also is opened the nature of…Aphorismes of justification, with their explication annexed wherein also is opened the nature of…

(8.) Whether we are justified only by Christs Passive Righteousness, or also by his Active, is a very great dispute among Divines. By his Passive Righteousness is meant not only his death, but the whole course of his humiliation, from the Assumption of the humane nature to his Resurrection. Yea, even his Obediential Actions so far as there was any suffering in them, and as they are considered under the notion of Suffering, and not of Duty or Obedience. By his Active Righteousness is meant the Righteousness of his Actions, as they were a perfect obedience to the Law. The chief point of difference and difficulty lieth higher, How the Righteousness of Christ is made ours? Most of our ordinary Divines say, that Christ did as properly obey in our room and stead, as he did suffer ⟨p. 31⟩in our stead; and that in Gods esteem and in point of Law we were in Christ obeying and suffering, and so in him we did both perfectly fulfil the Commands of the Law by Obedience, and the threatenings of it by bearing the penalty; and thus (say they) is Christs Righteousness imputed to us, viz. his Passive Righteousness for the pardon of our sins and delivering us from the penalty; his Active Righteousness for the making of us righteous, and giving us title to the kingdom: And some say, the habitual Righteousness of his humane nature instead of our own habitual Righteousness; yea some add the righteousness of the divine nature also.

(8.) Whether we are justified onely by Christs Passive Righteousnesse, or also by his Active, is a very great dispute among Divines. By his Passive Righteousnesse is meant not onely his death, but the whole course of his humiliation, from the Assumption of the humane nature to his Resurrection. Yea, even his Obedientiall Actions so far as there was any suffering in them, and as they are considered under the notion of Suffering, and not of Duty or Obedience. By his Active Righteousnesse is meant the Righteousnesse of his Actions, as they were a perfect obedience to the Law. The chiefe point of difference and difficulty lyeth higher, How the Righteousnesse of Christ is made ours? Most of our ordinary Divines say, that Christ did as properly obey in our roome and stead, as he did suffer ⟨p. 31⟩in our stead; and that in Gods esteem and in point of Law wee were in Christ obeying and suffering, and so in him wee did both perfectly fulfill the Commands of the Law by Obedience, and the threatnings of it by bearing the penalty; and thus (say they) is Christs Righteousnesse imputed to us, viz. his Passive Righteousnesse for the pardon of our sins and delivering us from the penalty; his Active Righteousnesse for the making of us righteous, and giving us title to the kingdom: And some say, the habituall Righteousnes of his humane nature instead of our own habituall Righteousnesse; yea some adde the righteousnes of the divine nature also.