Vindiciae legis, or, A vindication of the moral law and the covenants, from the…Vindiciae legis, or, A vindication of the morall law and the covenants, from the…

And this phrase doth plainly exclude Stapletons, ⟨p. 272⟩and other Papists observations on this place, as if the righteousness by faith, or of Christ, were the same in kind with the righteousness of works, differing only gradually, as an infant, and a grown man; for, if so, the Apostle would have said working, and not believing. It is a great skill in Divinity to amplify this righteousness of faith without works, so as neither the Papist, or the Antinomian may encourage themselves thereby: but of that in some other place. As you take notice of the subject [Believer] so the universality, every one, which doth take in both Jew and Gentile: Therefore the Jew could not, or ought not to think that those external Rites and observations could bring them to a true righteousness.

And this phrase doth plainly exclude Stapletons, ⟨p. 272⟩and other Papists observations on this place, as if the righteousness by faith, or of Christ, were the same in kinde with the righteousness of works, differing only gradually, as an infant, and a grown man; for, if so, the Apostle would have said working, and not beleeving. It is a great skill in Divinity to amplifie this righteousness of faith without works, so as neither the Papist, or the Antinomian may incourage themselves thereby: but of that in some other place. As you take notice of the subject [Beleever] so the universality, every one, which doth take in both Jew and Gentile: Therefore the Jew could not, or ought not to think that those externall Rites and observations could bring them to a true righteousness.

Lastly, consider in the Text, for what end Christ is thus the ¹perfection of the Law; and that is for righteousness. The proper seat of handling this is in the doctrine of Justification, only let me briefly answer a Question made by some, Whether the righteousness of faith, or that we have by Christ, be the same in nature with the righteousness of works and of the Law? Stapleton saith, They must needs be one, because the Law will direct to no other righteousness then that of its own. It it true, the Law strictly taken, will not properly and per se direct to any righteousness, but that which the Law requireth; yet by accident, and indirectly it may: yea, as it was given by Moses, it did directly and properly intend Christ, though not primarily, as some think; but finding us unable to attain to its own righteousness, did then lead us unto Christ: Yet these two righteousnesses are divers, rather then contrary, (unless in respect of justification, and so indeed its impossible to be justified by both those ways) otherwise they are both together in the same subject, yea a righteousness of faith doth necessarily draw along with it in the same subject a righteousness of works, though it be imperfect and so insufficient to justify.