The Scripture Gospel defended, and Christ, grace, and free justification vindicated against the libertines…

Contr. 4. By what hath been said, the fourth Controversy is already resolved; viz. Whether our performance of the Condition of Justification doth efficiently justify us? Some say, because we say that Christ doth not justify us till we perform the condition by believing, that therefore we make our own Faith or performance to justify proximately, and Christ but remotely, and so to do more than Christ to our Justification.

Contr. 4. By what hath been said, the fourth Controversie is already resolved; viz. Whether our performance of the Condition of Justification doth efficiently justifie us? Some say, because we say that Christ doth not justifie us till we perform the condition by believing, that therefore we make our own Faith or performance to justifie proximately, and Christ but remotely, and so to do more than Christ to our Justification.

Ans. 1. As to the phrase, Scripture saith, that we are justified by Faith, that word not signifying an e•••ciency, but a receptive qualifying condition; but it never saith, that Faith doth justify us, much less that we by it justify our selves: Our performance or Faith is no efficient cause; but as to two parts of our Justification it hath a twofold Office: 1. As to our Justification by the Merits of Christs Righteousness against this charge [that damnation is due ⟨p. 21⟩to us for sin] our Faith is the Condition of our Pardon and Justification; that is, the moral qualification which God hath made necessary to make us capable receivers of it: As laying down Arms, and taking his Pardon thankfully, may make a Rebel capable of Pardon (but doth not pardon him) if the pardoning Act say [This shall be the Condition:] And by his Pardon he is justifiable against the charge of being liable to death.

Ans. 1. As to the phrase, Scripture saith, that we are justified by Faith, that word not signifying an e•••ciency, but a receptive qualifying condition; but it never saith, that Faith doth jusifie us, much less tht we by it justifie our selves: Our performance or Faith is no efficient cause; but as to two parts of our Justification it hath a twofold Office: 1. As to our Justification by the Merits of Christs Righteousness against this charge [that damnation is due