Here you answer 1. by confessing, that Faith is called a Receiving of Christ: 2. by interpreting that speech [He is Received by the receiving his Word, which is received by Assent.] This is worth a fuller enquiry, because the discovery of the proper Object of Faith, will show the proper Act. The Intellectual Act [Assent) hath for its Objectum formale the Veracity of God, or the Authority of Gods Revealing or Testifying: This is not it that we enquire after. The material Object (for we must use the Schools terms in this distinction, though perhaps fitter might be found,) is 1. Proximius; that is, the moral Verity of the Testimony or Word. 2. Ulterius, the Metaphysical Verity of the Things signified (as Christs Person, God-head, Incarnation, Resurrection, &c.) The former is but the means to the latter, and for its sake, and not for its self. In regard of this act of Assent, you may say as you do, that Christ is Received by receiving his Word: because the Belief of the Truth of the Enuntiation is the means of our apprehending the truth of the Thing propounded. But then 1. These are yet ⟨p. 361⟩two distinct Acts as the Objects are distinct. 2. And this Intellectual Act is called a Receiving of the Truth Believed but imperfectly because it leads to that Act of the Will which (in morality) is more fitly and fully called a Receiving: and therefore if Assent produce not that Acceptation or consent of the Will, it cannot fitly it self be called a Receiving of Christ. (For of the Intellects Reception of the Intelligible Species, I suppose we neither of us speak.) The material Object of Justifying faith as it is in the Will, is 1. Principal, and Adequate, which is Christ himself. 2. Subservient or Instrumental, which is the Covenant, Promise, or testamentary Gift, in & by which Christ is offered and Given. These are two distinct Acts, as the Accepting of a Testament, and of the Legacy: of a Pardon written, and the real Pardon thereby signified: or of the Oath of Allegiance, and of the Prince to whom we swear. But because of the Relation between the one and the other, Faith may be called a receiving of Christ, or a receiving of the Gospel. Yet so, as still the proper principal Object is Christ, and the Gospel but mediate, as to him. These are my thoughts. Now (if I am able to understand you) your words import, that in your Judgement, Christ is received two ways: 1.
Here you answer 1. by confessing, that Faith is called a Receiving of Christ: 2. by interpreting that speech [He is Received by the receiving his Word, which is received by Assent.] This is worth a fuller enquiry, because the discovery of the proper Object of Faith, will shew the proper Act. The Intellectual Act [Assent) hath for its Objectum formale the Veracity of God, or the Authority of Gods Revealing or Testifying: This is not it that we enquire after. The material Object (for we must use the Schools termes in this distinction, though perhaps fitter might be found,) is 1. Proximius; that is, the moral Verity of the Testimony or Word. 2. Ʋlterius, the Metaphysical Verity of the Things signified (as Christs Person, God-head, Incarnation, Resurrection, &c.) The former is but the means to the latter, and for its sake, and not for its self. In regard of this act of Assent, you may say as you do, that Christ is Received by receiving his Word: because the Belief of the Truth of the Enuntiation is the means of our apprehending the truth of the Thing propounded. But then 1. These are yet ⟨p. 361⟩two distinct Acts as the Objects are distinct. 2. And this Intellectual Act is called a Receiving of the Truth Believed but imperfectly because it leads to that Act of the Will which (in morality) is more fitly and fully called a Receiving: and therefore if Assent produce not that Acceptation or consent of the Will, it cannot fitly it self be called a Receiving of Christ. (For of the Intellects Reception of the Intelligible Species, I suppose we neither of us speak.) The material Object of Justifying faith as it is in the Will, is 1. Principal, and Adaequate, which is Christ himself. 2. Subservient or Instrumental, which is the Covenant, Promise, or testamentary Gift, in & by which Christ is offered and Given. These are two distinct Acts, as the Accepting of a Testament, and of the Legacy: of a Pardon written, and the real Pardon thereby signified: or of the Oath of Allegiance, and of the Prince to whom we swear. But because of the Relation between the one and the other, Faith may be called a receiving of Christ, or a receiving of the Gospel. Yet so, as still the proper principal Object is Christ, and the Gospel but •ediate, as to him. These are my thoughts. Now (if I am able to understand you) your words import, that in your Judgement, Christ is received two wayes: 1.
