The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

The words of Davenant on this passage of the Apostle, being in my judgment not only sober, but weighty also, I shall transcribe them. Hic docet Apostolus quaenam illa justitia ⟨p. 534⟩sit qua nitendum coram Deo, nimirum quae per fidem apprehenditur, at haec imputata est: Causam etiam ostendit cur jure nostra fiat, nimirum quia nos Christi sumus & in Christo comperimur; quia igitur insiti sumus in corpus ejus & coalescimus cum illo in unam personam, ideo ejus justitia nostra reputatur. De Justif. Habit. cap. 38. For whereas some begin to interpret our being in Christ, and being found in him, so as to intend no more but our profession of the Faith of the Gospel, The Faith of the Catholic Church in all ages concerning the Mystical Union of Christ and Believers, is not to be blown away with a few empty words and unproved Assertions.

The words of Davenant on this passage of the Apostle, being in my judgment not only sober, but weighty also, I shall transcribe them. Hic docet Apostolus quaenam illa justitia ⟨p. 534⟩sit qua nitendum coram Deo, nimirum quae per fidem apprehenditur, at haec imputata est: Causam etiam ostendit cur jure nostra fiat, nimirum quia nos Christi sumus & in Christo comperimur; quia igitur insiti sumus in corpus ejus & coalescimus cum illo in unam personam, ideo ejus justitia nostra reputatur. De Justif. Habit. cap. 38. For whereas some begin to interpret our being in Christ, and being found in him, so as to intend no more but our profession of the Faith of the Gospel, The Faith of the Catholick Church in all ages concerning the Mystical Union of Christ and Believers, is not to be blown away with a few empty words and unproved Assertions.

The Answer therefore is full and clear unto the general Exception, namely, that the Apostle rejects our Legal, but not our Evangelical Righteousness. For (1.) the Apostle rejects, disclaims, disowns nothing at all, not the one, nor the other absolutely, but in comparison of Christ, and with respect unto the especial end of Justification before God, or a Righteousness in his sight (2.) In that sense he rejects all our own Righteousness, but our Evangelical Righteousness, in the sense pleaded for, is our own, inherent in us, performed by us. (3.) Our Legal Righteousness, and our Evangelical, so far as an Inherent Righteousness is intended, are the same, and the different ends and use of the same Righteousness, is alone intended in that distinction, so far as it hath sense in it. That which in respect of Motives unto it, the ends of it, with the especial causes of its acceptance with God. is Evangelical, in respect of its original Prescription, Rule, and Measure, is Legal. When any can instance in any Act or Duty, in any habit or effect of it, which are not required by that Law which enjoins us to love the Lord our God, with all our heart, soul, and mind, and our neighbour as our selves; they shall be attended unto. (4.) The Apostle in this case rejects all the Works of Righteousness which we have done,