Rich. Baxters apology against the modest exceptions of Mr. T. Blake and the digression…

5. If faith shall be said to be the instrument of Justification eo nomine, because it is the receiving of that Righteousness whereby we are justified, then it will follow that faith must also be called the instrument of our enjoying Christ, eo nomine, because it receiveth him, and the instrument of our Adoption, eo nomine, because it receiveth Adoption; and so the same act of faith which entitles us to Justification, doth not entitle us to any other blessing; nor that act that entitles us to Christ, doth entitle us to Justification (unless there be several justifying acts:) but every particular mercy hath a particular act of faith as the instrument of receiving it: which is no Scripture doctrine.

6. It must be remembered that the thing that faith receives naturally and properly, is not Christ himself, or his righteousness; but the species of what is represented as its object. And that faiths reception of Christ himself and his righteousness, or of right to Christ, is but Receptio metaphorica; vel actio ad receptionem propriam necessaria: and that the true reception, which is pati, non agere, doth follow faith, and therefore Christ himself is received only Receptione fidei ethicâ, activâ, metaphoricâ: Species Christi predicati recipiatur reception naturali, intelligendo: J•• ad Christum recipitur receptione naturali passivâ, propriâ: That which is conditionally given (on condition of acceptance or the like) and offered to be accepted; this is received, Receptione fidei ethicâ: whereupon followeth the actual efficacious giving of that thing, (the condition being performed, which suspended it:) and this the believer receiveth, Reception passivâ, propriâ; but it is not his Faith that receiveth it.

6. It must be remembred that the thing that faith receives naturally and properly, is not Christ himself, or his righteousness; but the species of what is represented as its object. And that faiths reception of Christ himself and his righteousness, or of right to Christ, is but Receptio metaphorica; vel actio ad receptionem propriam necessaria: and that the true reception, which is pati, non agere, doth follow faith, and therefore Christ himself is received only Receptione fidei ethicâ, activâ, metaphoricâ: Species Christi predicati recipiatur receptione naturali, intelligendo: J ad Christum recipitur receptione naturali passivâ, propriâ: That which is conditionally given (on condition of acceptance or the like) and offered to be accepted; this is received, Receptione fidei ethicâ: whereupon followeth the actual efficacious giving of that thing, (the condition being performed, which suspended it:) and this the beleever receiveth, Receptione passivâ, propriâ; but it is not his Faith that receiveth it.