The sum of all our Controversy is, what Righteousness believers have? You before noted that Righteousness as it is a conformity to the ••eceptive part of the Law, is one thing, and as it relateth to the retributive part, and is our Jus impunitatis & vitae it is another. The Doctrine which I bend all these words against is, that we must have, or have, as our own any such ⟨p. 107⟩righteousness as is a conformity to the preceptive part of the Law of innocency, whether done by us or Christ. Prove that we have any such Righteousness, and I yield all the cause to them that plead for the Imputation which I deny. If we have such a Righteousness we have no sin▪ nor ever had, in the sense of the Law: And have no need of Christs Sacrifice, or are capable of pardon or punishment. I dare plead no Righteousness as mine but [subordinately as a condition and medium, my faith •r performance of the conditions of the Covenant and its gifts, and principally my right to impunity and life for the sake of the Merits, Sacrifice and Intercession of Christ, freely given by him in the New Covenant.] It was Christs perfect Righteousness which meriteth mine, but I have no perfect Righteousness of my own, either in me, or done by me, by my self or by my Instrument or Vicar, nor given to me, saving as metonymically, that is said to be given to me which was given for me, and the Effects or fruits of it given to me: Besides my imperfect Faith and sincere devotion to Christ, I know of no Righteousness that I have, but that which saveth me from the Laws Condemnation, and giveth me right to life, which is not perfect obedience to the precept made mine, but pardon of disobedience, and a freely-given Adoption, merited by another whose merits were never mine so much as by proper gift or imputation▪ though figuratively they may be so called mine. I tire my self and you with tedious repetitions because I find that without the• I am not understood▪
The sum of all our Controversie is, what Righteousness believers have? You before noted that Righteousness as it is a conformity to the ••eceptive part of the Law, is one thing, and as it relateth to the retributive part, and is our Jus impunitatis & vitae it is another. The Doctrine which I bend all these words against is, that we must have, or have, as our own any such ⟨p. 107⟩righteousness as is a conformity to the precep•ive part of the Law of innocency, whether done by us or Christ. Prove that we have any such Righteousness, and I yield all the cause to them that plead for the Imputation which I deny. If we have such a Righteousness we have no sin▪ nor ever had, in the sense of the Law: And have no need of Christs Sacrifice, or are capable of pardon or punishment. I dare plead no Righteousness as mine but [subordinately as a condition and medium, my faith •r performance of the conditions of the Covenant and its gifts, and principally my right to impunity and life for the sake of the Merits, Sacrifice and Intercession of Christ, freely given by him in the New Covenant.] It was Christs perfect Righteousness which meriteth mine, but I have no perfect Righteousness of my own, either in me, or done by me, by my self or by my Instrument or Vicar, nor given to me, saving as metonymically, that is said to be given to me which was given for me, and the Effects or fruits of it given to me: Besides my imperfect Faith and sincere devotion to Christ, I know of no Righteousness that I have, but that which saveth me from the Laws Condemnation, and giveth me right to life, which is not perfect obedience to the precept made mine, but pardon of disobedience, and a freely-given Adoption, merited by another whose merits were never mine so much as by proper gift or imputation▪ though figuratively they may be so called mine. I tire my self and you with tedious repetitions because I find that without the• I am not understood▪
