The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

2. They say, the same thing is taught and expressed in the Scripture in Phrases equipollent. For it affirms that by the ⟨p. 73⟩Obedience of One (that is Christ) many are made Righteous, Rom. 5.18. And that we are made Righteous by the Imputation of Righteousness unto us. Blessed is the man unto whom God imputeth Righteousness without works, chap. 4.6. And if we are made Righteous by the Imputation of Righteousness unto us, that Obedience or Righteousness whereby we are made Righteous, is imputed unto us. And they will be content with this Expression of this Doctrine, That the Obedience of Christ whereby we are made Righteous, is the Righteousness that God imputeth unto us. Wherefore this Objection is of no force to disadvantage the Truth pleaded for.

2. They say, the same thing is taught and expressed in the Scripture in Phrases aequipollent. For it affirms that by the ⟨p. 73⟩Obedience of One (that is Christ) many are made Righteous, Rom. 5.18. And that we are made Righteous by the Imputation of Righteousness unto us. Blessed is the man unto whom God imputeth Righteousness without works, chap. 4.6. And if we are made Righteous by the Imputation of Righteousness unto us, that Obedience or Righteousness whereby we are made Righteous, is imputed unto us. And they will be content with this Expression of this Doctrine, That the Obedience of Christ whereby we are made Righteous, is the Righteousness that God imputeth unto us. Wherefore this Objection is of no force to disadvantage the Truth pleaded for.

2. Socinus objects in particular against this Doctrine of Justification by the Imputation of the Righteousness of Christ, and of his satisfaction, that there is nothing said of it in the Evangelists, nor in the Report of the Sermons of Christ unto the people, no nor yet in those of his private Discourses with his Disciples. And he urgeth it vehemently and at large, against the whole of the Expiation of sin by his Death; De Servator. par. 4. cap. 9. And as it is easy, malis inventis pejora addere, this notion of his is not only made use of and pressed at large by one among our selves, but improved also by a dangerous comparison between the Writings of the Evangelists and the other Writings of the New Testament. For to enforce this Argument, that the Histories of the Gospel wherein the Sermons of Christ are recorded, do make no mention of the Imputation of the Righteousness of Christ, as in his judgement they do not, nor of his Satisfaction, or Merit or Expiation of sin, or of Redemption by his Death, as they do not in the judgment of Socinus, it is added by him, that for his part he is apt to admire our Saviours Sermons, who was the Author of our Religion, before the Writings of the Apostles, though inspired men. Whereunto many dangerous insinuations and reflections on the Writings of St. Paul, contrary