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

Ans. The effects are divers, but both from the same meritorious cause. But it is more unapt to say that it is the material cause of our Sanctification than that it is the material cause of our righteousness; Though it merit both; Because our habitual and actual holiness hath a nearer material cause in itself which our pardon and mere adoption have not.

Ans. The effects are divers, but both from the same meritorious cause. But it is more unapt to say that it is the material cause of our Sanctification than that it is the material cause of our righteousness; Though it merit both; Because our habitual and actual holiness hath a nearer material cause in itself which our pardon and meer adoption have not.

Cont. 13. When it is said that faith is imputed to us for righteousness is it faith indeed that is meant or Christs Righteousness believed on?

Ans. A strange and bold question. What occasion hath the Holy Ghost given us to raise such a suspicion, that when it is so often said by him that Faith is imputed or accounted for righteousness, men should make a doubt whether it be Faith indeed that he meaneth? If it be not, the context is so far from relieving our understandings, that it contributeth to our unavoidable deceit or ignorance. Read over the Texts and put but [Christs Righteousness] every where instead of the word [Faith;] and see what a scandalous Paraphrase you will make. The Scripture is not so audaciously to be Corrected: It's wiser to believe Gods Word than to contradict it on pretence of expounding it.