Ans. Such quibbling and jingling of a mere sound of words is usual in ludicrous Disputations of Lads: But it's pity it should pass as the last remedy against plain truth in so great a matter. First it must be remembered that no Faith justifieth efficiently, and therefore neither quae nor quâ justificans is to signify any such thing, but a mere Moral qualification of the recipient subject; so that to be justified by Faith, is but to be justified by it as that which God hath promised Justification on as the qualifying Condition: But if it be not the same thing that is here called Fides quae and quâ, but in the first part they speak of the Habit, and in the second of the Act, had it not been plainer to say, [The same Habit of Faith hath several Acts, as believing in God, in Christs Intercession, Kingdom, &c. but none of these Acts do justify us, but one only; viz. trusting to the Imputation of his Righteousness?] And so both the quae and quâ is denied to all Acts save that one. This is their plain meaning, which is denied to be truth, and is a human dangerous invention. Yet it's granted them, that it is not every ⟨p. 43⟩Act of Faith that is made the Condition of Justification or Salvation: It is necessary that the formal Object, Gods Veracity, be believed to make it true Faith; and that the Gospel or Covenant of Grace be believed with Consent, as aforesaid, to make it to be the true Christian Faith, in essence▪ and it's of necessity that every thing be believed which we know that God revealeth. But it is the Christian Faith that hath the Promise of Justification, and that not any one single Act of it, but▪ all that is essential to it, and that which belongeth but to its Integrity ad bene esse, when it existeth, is also so far conducible to our Justification, (as Abraham's believing that Isaac should live and have seed, when he went to sacrifice him) yet Justification may be without some Acts, as Salvation may without many due Acts of Obedience, when yet sincerity of Obedience is necessary, and those Acts, if done, have their place with the rest as means of Salvation; so here▪ But Saving Faith is denominated from the essential part: The nature of Faith is in order of nature antecedent to its Office: The nature of it in genere is to believe all that God saith: The nature of it in specie is to believe in Christ, and consent to his Covenant:
Ans. Such quibbling and jingling of a meer sound of words is usual in ludicrous Disputations of Lads: But it's pity it should pass as the last remedy against plain truth in so great a matter. First it must be remembred that no Faith justifieth efficiently, and therefore neither quae nor quâ justificans is to signifie any such thing, but a meer Moral qualification of the recipient subject; so that to be justified by Faith, is but to be justified by it as that which God hath promised Justification on as the qualifying Condition: But if it be not the same thing that is here called Fides quae and quâ, but in the first part they speak of the Habit, and in the second of the Act, had it not been plainer to say, [The same Habit of Faith hath several Acts, as believing in God, in Christs Intercession, Kingdom, &c. but none of these Acts do justifie us, but one only; viz. trusting to the Imputation of his Righteousness?] And so both the quae and quâ is •denied to all Acts save that one. This is their plain meaning, which is denied to be truth, and is a human dangerous invention. Yet it's granted them, that it is not every ⟨p. 43⟩Act of Faith that is made the Condition of Justification or Salvation: It is necessary that the formal Object, Gods Veracit•, be believed to make it true Faith; and that the Gospel or Covenant of Grace be believed with Consent, as aforesaid, to make it to be the true Christian Faith, in essence▪ and it's of necessity that every thing be believed which we know that God revealeth. But it is the Christian Faith that hath the Promise of Justification, and that not any one single Act of it, but▪ all that is essential to it, and that which belongeth but to its Integrity ad bene esse, when it existeth, is also so far conducible to our Justification, (as Abrahams believing that Isaac should live and have seed, when he went to sacrifice him) yet Justification may be without some Acts, as Salvation may without many due Acts of Obedience, when yet sincerity of Obedience is necessary, and those Acts, if done, have their place with the rest as means of Salvation; so here▪ But Saving Faith is denominated from the essential part: The nature of Faith is in order of nature antecedent to its Office: The nature of it in genere is to believe all that God saith: The nature of it in specie is to believe in Christ, and consent to his Covenant:
