The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

And thus although a sufficient Answer hath frequently enough, if any thing can be so, been returned unto this Objection in Bellarmine, yet hath one of late amongst our selves made the Translation of it into English, to be the substance of the first Chapter of a Book about Justification; though he needed not to have given such an early intimation unto whom he is beholding for the greatest part of his ensuing Discourse, unless it be what is taken up in despiteful reviling of other men. For take from him what is not his own on the one hand, and impertinent cavils at the words and expression of other men, with forged imputations on some of them, on the other, and his whole Book will disappear. But yet although he affirms that none of the Protestant Writers who speak of the Imputation of the Righteousness of Christ unto us, (which were all of them without exception until of late) have precisely kept to the form of wholesome Words, but have rather swerved and varied from the Language of the Scripture, yet he will excuse them from open Error, if they intend no more thereby, but that we are made partakers of the benefits of the Righteousness of Christ. But if they intend that the Righteousness of Christ it self is imputed unto us, (that is▪ so as to be our Righteousness before God whereon we are pardoned and accepted with him, or do receive the forgiveness of sins, and a right to the Heavenly Inheritance) then are they guilty of that Error which makes ⟨p. 71⟩us to be esteemed to do our selves what Christ did; and so on the other side, Christ to have done what we do and did, chap. 2, 3. But these things are not so. For if we are esteemed to have done any thing in our own persons, it cannot be imputed unto us as done for us by another; as it will appear when we shall treat of these things afterwards. But the great and Holy Persons intended, are as little concerned in the Accusations or Apologies of some Writers, as those Writers seem to be acquainted with that Learning, Wisdom, and Judgment, wherein they did excel, and the Characters whereof are so eminently conspicuous in all their Writings.

And thus although a sufficient Answer hath frequently enough, if any thing can be so, been returned unto this Objection in Bellarmine, yet hath one of late amongst our selves made the Translation of it into English, to be the substance of the first Chapter of a Book about Justification; though he needed not to have given such an early intimation unto whom he is beholding for the greatest part of his ensuing Discourse, unless it be what is taken up in despightful reviling of other men. For take from him what is not his own on the one hand, and impertinent cavils at the words and expression of other men, with forged imputations on some of them, on the other, and his whole Book will disappear. But yet although he affirms that none of the Protestant Writers who speak of the Imputation of the Righteousness of Christ unto us, (which were all of them without exception until of late) have precisely kept to the form of wholesome Words, but have rather swerved and varied from the Language of the Scripture, yet he will excuse them from open Errour, if they intend no more thereby, but that we are made partakers of the benefits of the Righteousness of Christ. But if they intend that the Righteousness of Christ it self is imputed unto us, (that is so as to be our Righteousness before God whereon we are pardoned and accepted with him, or do receive the forgiveness of sins, and a right to the Heavenly Inheritance) then are they guilty of that Errour which makes