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

Contr. 18. What act of Faith is it that justifieth as to the Object? whether only the belief of the truth of the Promise, or of the whole Gospel also, or the affiance on Christs Righteousness, or on his Truth, or on his Intercession, or taking him wholly for our Saviour, Prophet, Priest and King? And whether Faith in God the Father, and the Holy Ghost, do justify? or all these? And if but one, which is it? and whether all the rest are the works which Paul excludeth from Justification?

Contr. 18. What act of Faith is it that justifieth as to the Object? whether only the belief of the truth of the Promise, or of the whole Gospel also, or the affiance on Christs Righteousness, or on his Truth, or on his Intercession, or taking him wholly for our Saviour, Prophet, Priest and King? And whether Faith in God the Father, and the Holy Ghost, do justifie? or all these? And if but one, which is it? and whe•her all the rest are the works which Paul excludeth from Justification?

Ans. To say that only one Physical act of Faith is it that we are justified by, and all the rest are those works, is a perverse corrupting of Christianity, and not to be heard without detestation. For it will utterly confound all persons, to find out which that one act is, which they indeed can never do. And it will contradict the substance of all the Gospel: There is no such thing as Faith in ⟨p. 41⟩Christ, which containeth not, or includeth not Faith in God as God, both as he is our Creator, and as reconciled by Christ, and as the Giver of Christ to us, John 3.16. and as the end of all the work of Redemption. Nor is there any such thing as Faith in Christ which is true and saving, that includeth not, or connoteth not the Knowledge of Christ, and Love, and Desire, and Thankfulness, and Consent: Nor did ever God tell us of a Faith in Christs Imputed Righteousness only that must justify us, which is not also a Faith in his Person, Doctrine, Law, Promise and Example; and his Intercession in the Heavens. And to say that only the Act of Recumbency on Christs Righteousness as imputed to our Justification, is that act of Faith by which we are justified, and that Believing in God, his Majesty, Truth, Wisdom, Goodness, and the believing in Christ as he is the Prophet, Teacher, King of the Church, and the Resurrection, Life, and Judge of all; and believing in the Holy Ghost, as the Sanctifier, Comforter, and Witness and Advocate of Christ, and believing and trusting the Promise of God for Life Eternal, or for any grace except Christs Righteousness imputed, that all this Faith in God, in Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, and all our Love to Christ, and desire after him and prayer for his grace, and thankfulness for it, &c. are all none of the Faith which Justification is promised to, but are the Works by which no man is justified, and that he is fallen from grace, that seeketh to be justified by such works, that is, by true Faith in God as God, and in Christ as Christ: This is a new Gospel subverting Christs Gospel, and making Christianity another thing; and this without any countenance from the Scripture, and contrary to its very scope.