An end of doctrinal controversies which have lately troubled the churches

§. 15. 9. But the Case is very plain: There is considerable in Faith, 1. Its Nature, and that is only its material Aptitude to its Office: 2. The Office it self, and that is to be the Condition appointed by God the Donor, of our Interest in his Gifts (and so of Justification). Now it justifieth not efficiently at all (unless you take Justification for making us Holy). But it is the Condition of Justification, and so we are said to be justified by it as by a Condition; but it is not a Condition, qua fides, or as it receiveth Christ's Righteousness, but as it is made by God a Condition in his Covenant. But Faith, as Faith in Christ, is the Matter of this Condition: Or its Aptitude to its Office is in Faith qua talis: And no other had been so fit: But then it is not only our belief or acceptance of Christ's Righteousness that is this Aptitude: Nothing but entire Faith in its essentials is this matter and aptitude, and the formal reason of its place or office about our Justification, is its being the Condition appointed thereto in the Instrument of Donation.

§. 16. 10. Were the Question about physical Receiving, it were true, that a man is justified quatenus, as he receiveth Justification, and adopted as he receiveth Adoption, and sanctified as he receiveth Sanctification, and glorified as he receiveth Glorification, ⟨p. 272⟩and not something else; as he is rich as he receiveth Riches, and honourable as he receiveth Honour, &c. But moral acceptance of one thing is oft made the Condition of our having another thing; and here our acceptance of whole Christ is our undivided Condition-title to him and his Gifts. We are no more justified for or by consenting to be justified, than for or by consenting to be sanctified, and to learn of Christ, and obey him.

§. 17. Yea more; men use to put that into the Condition of something which the Person fain would have, which he is more backward to, and would not else do or have. A Physician useth not to say, Thou shalt be cured if thou consent to be cured; but if thou consent to take my Medicines and follow my Prescript. A Father will not say to the Child, I will give thee this Apple if thou wilt have it; but if thou wilt thank me for it, and do thy Duty: So if we might make a difference in the reason of the thing, we should say, That God saith not only, Thou shalt have Christ's righteousness, or justification by it, if thou wilt have it; no more than [Thou shalt be saved from Hell if thou wilt] (and who would not be forgiven?) But [thou shalt have Christ and Life, Pardon, Grace and Glory, if thou wilt thankfully take them together as they are, or wilt be taught and ruled by Christ, and renounce the World, the Flesh, and the Devil, and take God and Glory for thy all.]