Of justification four disputations clearing and amicably defending the truth against the unnecessary oppositions…

Mr. W. Argument 7. That which the Gospel doth first present us with, is the Object of faith as justifying: But Christ is in the Gospel first presented as a Saviour: therefore he is therein the object of faith as justifying.

Answ. 1. Distinguishing as before of the [as justifying] I still grant the whole; the exclusive and so the question is still wanting in the conclusion. 2. But if he mean only, then both Major and Minor are false. The Major is false; for that which the Gospel doth first present us with, is but part of the object of justifying Faith. For it presenteth us with the Articles to which we must Assent, and to the Good which we must Accept by degrees, and not all in a sentence or word. The Minor is false, because in order of nature, the Description of Christs Person goeth first, and of his Office afterward. 3. The word Saviour, comprehendeth both his Prophetical and Kingly Office, by which he saveth us from sin and Hell; as also his Resurrection, Ascension, Intercession, &c. And in this large sense I easily grant the Conclusion. 4. If by a Saviour, he mean only (as his cause importeth) a sacrifice for sin, then (as this is a strangely limited sense of the word Saviour, so) certainly the Incarnation, Baptism, Temptation, Miracles, Obedience of Christ are all expressed before this; And if it were otherwise, yet the consequence of the Major is utterly groundless and vain. Priority or Posteriority of any point delivered in the Gospel, is a poor Argument to prove it the Object (much less it alone) of justifying faith.

Answ. 1. Distinguishing as before of the [as justifying] I still grant the whole; the exclusive and so the question is still wanting in the conclusion. 2. But if he mean only, then both Maior and Minor are false. The Maior is false; for that which the Gospel doth first present us with, is but part of the object of justifying Faith. For it presenteth us with the Articles to which we must Assent, and to the Good which we must Accept by degrees, and not all in a sentence or word. The Minor is false, because in order of nature, the Description of Christs Person goeth first, and of his Office afterward. 3. The word Saviour, comprehendeth both his Prophetical and Kingly Office, by which he saveth us from sin and Hell; as also his Resurrection, Ascention, Intercession, &c. And in this large sense I easily grant the Conclusion. 4. If by a Saviour, he mean only (as his cause importeth) a sacrifice for sin, then (as this is a strangely limited sense of the word Saviour, so) certainly the Incarnation, Baptism, Temptation, Miracles, Obedience of Christ are all exprest before this; And if it were otherwise, yet the consequence of the Maior is utterly groundless and vain. Priority or Posteriority of any point delivered in the Gospel, is a poor Argument to prove it the Object (much less it alone) of justifying faith.