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

Ans. The meaning is, By the Merit of Christs Active and Passive (yea Habitual) Righteousness (also) exalted in dignity by his Divine Perfection, all fallen Mankind is Conditionally pardoned, and hath the gift of Life, enacted in the Law or Covenant of Grace, and all true Believers have by that Covenant actually given them a Right of Union with Christ, and with him Pardon and Adoption, or Right to Grace and Glory, and have the Spirit of Holiness ⟨p. 97⟩as the first fruits. All this is included in that Righteousness.

Ans. The meaning is, By the Merit of Christs Active and Passive (yea Habitual) Righteousness (also) exalted in dignity by his Divine Perfection, all faln Mankind is Conditionally pardoned, and hath the gift of Life, enacted in the Law or Covenant of Grace, and all true Believers have by that Covenant actually given them a Right of Ʋnion with Christ, and with him Pardon and Adoption, or Right to Grace and Glory, and have the Spirit of Holiness ⟨p. 97⟩as the first fruits. All this is included in that Righteousness.

§ 12. Lastly, you ask, What Righteousness Faith is imputed to? Whether that which is by Christs obedience, and by Faith, be the same? and perfect or unperfect?

Ans. Here also you may take the blame that I say things long ago so oft said. By Righteous is meant Justifiable in general: And the plain meaning is, Christ having merited, and freely given Pardon and Life to all sinners that will fiducially accept his purchased Gift, it is not now keeping the Law of Innocency or Works, but only the said fiducial Acceptance of Christ and his free Grace that is required on their part to their Right or Justification. If by Imputed we meant, Reputing it the MATTER of our total Righteousness, then it were an unsound sense. But (briefly and plainly) Faith in Christ is reckoned to us as the Matter of our imperfect personal subordinate Righteousness, and as the Instituted Medium of our Reception of our Union with Christ, and our Right to Pardon and Life for the Merit of his Righteousness. And I think this is plain and full. For Righteousness to be imputed, is meant no more, but that Gd accounteth the person Righteous: But the imputing Faith to this, is but to reckon it to be what it is, 1. As the Mater of one; 2. As the Medium or Condition of the other.