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…

The contents of these two Positions▪ being of so near nature, I shall explain them here together; though they seem to me, so plain and clear that they need not much explication, and less confirmation: yet because some Antinomians do down-right oppose them, and some that are no Antinomians have startled at the expressions, as if they had contained ⟨p. 71⟩some self-exalting horrid doctrine; I shall say something hereto, Though for my part, I do so much wonder that any able Divines should deny them: that me thinks they should be Articles of our Creed, and a part of Children's Catechisms, and understood and believed by every man that is a Christian: I mean the matter of them, if not the Phrase; though I think it to be agreeable to the matter also.

THe contents of these two Positions▪ being of so neer nature, I shall explain them here together; though they seem to me, so plain and clear that they need not much explication, and less confirmation: yet because some Antinomians do down-right oppose thē, and some that are no Antinomians have star•led at the expressions, as if they had conteined ⟨p. 71⟩some self-exalting horrid doctrine; I shall say somthing hereto, Though for my part, I do so much wonder that any able Divines should deny them: that me thinks they should be Articles of our Creed, and a part of Childrens Catechisms, and understood and believed by every man that is a Christian: I mean the matter of them, if not the Phrase; though I think it to be agreeable to the matter also.

That there may be no contention about words, you must take my phrase of [Legal and Evangelical Righteousness] in the sense before explained, viz. as they take their name from that Covenant which is their rule, and I know not how any righteousness should be called [Legal or Evangelical in a sense more strict and proper, nor whence the denomination can be better taken then from the formal reason of the thing: Yet I know that the observance of the Law of Ceremonies, and the seeking of life by the works of the Law, are both commonly called Legal Righteousness, but in a very improper sense in a comparison of this. I know also that Christs Legal Righteousness, imputed to us is commonly called [Evangelical Righteousness,] but that is from a more alien extrinsical respect; to wit, because the Gospel declareth and offereth this Righteousness, and because it is a way to Justification, which only the Gospel revealeth.