The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

Secondly, They designed to declare the use of Faith in Justification, expressed in the Scripture by apprehending and receiving of Christ, or his Righteousness, and Remission of sins thereby. The words whereby this use of Faith in our Justification is expressed are [Greek or Hebrew], and [Greek or Hebrew]. And the constant use of them in the Scripture is to take or receive what is offered, tendered, given or granted unto us; or to apprehend and lay hold of any thing thereby to make it our own, as [Greek or Hebrew] is also used in the same sense. Heb. ⟨p. 152⟩2.16. So are we said by Faith to receive Christ, Joh. 1.12. Col. 2.6. The Abundance of Grace and the Gift of Righteousness, Rom. 5.17. The word of Promise, Act. 2.41. The word of God, Act. 8.14. 1 Thes. 1.6. chap. 2.13. The Atonement made by the blood of Christ, Rom. 5.11. The forgiveness of sins, Act. 10.43. chap. 26.18. The Promise of the spirit, Gal. 3.14. The Promises, Heb. 9.15. There is therefore nothing that concurreth unto our Justification, but we receive it by Faith. And unbelief is expressed by not receiving, Joh. 1.11. chap. 3.11. chap. 12.48. chap. 14.17. Wherefore the Object of Faith in our Justification, that whereby we are justified, is tendered, granted and given unto us of God, the use of Faith being to lay hold upon it, to receive it, so as that it may be our own. What we receive of outward things that are so given unto us, we do it by our hand which therefore is the instrument of that reception, that whereby we apprehend or lay hold of any thing to appropriate it unto our selves; and that because this is the peculiar Office which by nature it is assigned unto among all the members of the body. Other Uses it hath, and other members on other Accounts may be as useful unto the body as it; but it alone is the instrument of receiving and apprehending that which being given, is to be made our own and to abide with us. Whereas therefore the Righteousness wherewith we are justified is the Gift of God, which is tendered unto us in the Promise of the Gospel, the Use and Office of Faith being to receive, apprehend, or lay hold of and appropriate this Righteousness, I know not how it can be better expressed than by an Instrument, nor by what notion of it more light of understanding may be conveyed unto our minds. Some may suppose other Notions are meet to express it by on other Accounts;