The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

To close these Discourses concerning Faith and its Use in our Justification, some things must yet be added concerning its especial Object. For although what hath been spoken already thereon, in the description of its nature and object in general, be sufficient in general to state its especial Object also; yet there having been an Enquiry concerning it, and debate about it in a peculiar notion, and under some especial terms, that also must be considered. And this is whether Justifying Faith in our Justification or its Use therein, do respect Christ as a King and Prophet, as well as a Priest with the satisfaction that as such he made for us, and that in the same manner, and unto the same Ends and Purposes. And I shall be brief in this Enquiry, because it is but a late controversy, and it may be hath more of Curiosity in its Disquisition, than of Edification in its Determination. However being not, that I know of, under these terms stated in any public Confessions of the Reformed Churches, it is free for any to express their Apprehensions concerning it. And to this purpose I say;

To close these Discourses concerning Faith and its Ʋse in our Justification, some things must yet be added concerning its especial Object. For although what hath been spoken already thereon, in the description of its nature and object in general, be sufficient in general to state its especial Object also; yet there having been an Enquiry concerning it, and debate about it in a peculiar notion, and under some especial terms, that also must be considered. And this is whether Justifying Faith in our Justification or its Ʋse therein, do respect Christ as a King and Prophet, as well as a Priest with the satisfaction that as such he made for us, and that in the same manner, and unto the same Ends and Purposes. And I shall be brief in this Enquiry, because it is but a late controversie, and it may be hath more of Curiosity in its Disquisition, than of Edification in its Determination. However being not, that I know of, under these terms stated in any publick Confessions of the Reformed Churches, it is free for any to express their Apprehensions concerning it. And to this purpose I say;

1. Faith whereby we are justified in the receiving of Christ, principally respects his Person for all those Ends for which he is the Ordinance of God. It doth not in the first place as it is Faith in general, respect his Person absolutely, seeing its formal Object as such, is the Truth of God in the Proposition, and not the thing it self proposed. Wherefore it so respects and receives Christ as proposed in the Promise; the Promise it self being the formal Object of its Assent.