Of the imputation of Christ's righteousness to believers in what sense [sic] sound Protestants…Of the imputation of Christ's righteousness to believers in what sence [sic] sound Protestants…

§ 3. From the days of the Apostles till Pelagius and Augustine, this Controversy was little meddled with: For the truth is, the Pastors and Doctors took not Christianity in those days for a matter of Scholastic subtlety, but of plain Faith and Piety. And contented themselves to say that Christ dyed for our sins, and that we are Justified by Faith; and that Christ was made unto us Righteousness, as he was made to us Wisdom, Sanctification and Redemption.

§ 3. From the days of the Apostles till Pelagius and Augustine, this Controversie was little meddled with: For the truth is, the Pastors and Doctors took not Christianity in those days for a matter of Shcolastick subtilty, but of plain Faith and Piety. And contented themselves to say that Christ dyed for our sins, and that we are Justified by Faith; and that Christ was made unto us Righteousness, as he was made to us Wisdom, Sanctification and Redemption.

§ 4. But withal those three first Ages were so intent upon Holiness of Life, as that they addicted their Doctrine, their Zeal, and their constant endeavours to it: And particularly to great austerities to their Bodies, in great Fastings, and great contempt of the World, and exercises of Mortification, to kill their fleshly Lusts, and deny their Wills, and Worldly Interests; to which end at last they got into Wildernesses, and Monasteries, where, in Fasting and Prayer, and a single life, they might live as it were out of the World, while they were in it; (Though indeed persecution first drove them thither to save themselves.) Into these Deserts and Monasteries those went that had most Zeal, but not usually most Knowledge: And they turned much of their Doctrine and discourses about these Austerities, and about the practices of a Godly Life, and about all the Miracles which were (some really) done, and (some feigned) by credulous soft people said to be done among them. So that in all these ages most of their writings are taken up, 1. In defending Christianity against the Heathens, which was the ⟨p. 9⟩work of the Learned Doctors. 2. And in confuting swarms of Heresies that sprung up. 3. And in matters of Church-order, and Ecclesiastical and Monastical discipline. 4. And in the precepts of a Godly Life: But the point of Imputation was not only not meddled with distinctly, but almost all the Writers of those times, seem to give very much to Mans free-will, and to works of Holiness, and sufferings, making too rare and obscure mention of the distinct Interests of Christs Merits in our Justification, at least, with any touch upon this Controversy: Yet generally holding Pardon, and Grace and Salvation only by Christs Sacrifice and Merits; though they spake most of Mans Holiness, when they called men to seek to make sure of Salvation.