Answ. 1. Saving Faith, and Justifying Faith in any Believer are one and the same, and the Adjuncts of Saving and Justifying are but external Denominations, from its distinct ⟨p. 168⟩Operations and Effects. But yet Saving Faith doth act in a peculiar manner, and is of peculiar use in Justification, such as it is not of under any other Consideration whatever. Wherefore (2) Although Saving Faith as it is described in General, do ever include Obedience, not as its Form or Essence, but as the necessary Effect is included in the cause, and the Fruit in the Fruit-bearing juice, and is often mentioned as to its Being and Exercise, where there is no express mention of Christ, his Blood, and his Righteousness, but is applied unto all the Acts, Duties, and Ends of the Gospel; yet this proves not at all, but that as unto its Duty, Place, and acting in our Justification, it hath a peculiar Object. If it could be proved, that where Justification is ascribed unto Faith, that there it hath any other Object assigned unto it, as that which it rested in for the pardon of Sin and Acceptance with God, this Objection were of some force. But this cannot be done. (3)This is not to say, that we are justified by a part of Faith, and not by it as considered essentially; for we are justified by the entire Grace of Faith, acting in such a peculiar way and manner; as others have observed. But the Truth is, we need not insist on the Discussion of this Enquiry. For the true meaning of it is, not whether any thing of Christ is to be excluded from being the Object of Justifying Faith, or of Faith in our Justification, but what in and of our selves under the name of receiving Christ, as our Lord and King is to be admitted unto an Efficiency or Conditionality in that work. As it is granted, that justifying Faith is the receiving of Christ, so whatever belongs unto the Person of Christ, or any Office of his, or any Acts in the discharge of any Office, that may be reduced unto any cause of our Justification, the meritorious, procuring, material, formal, or manifesting cause of it, is so far as it doth so, freely admitted to belong unto the Object of Justifying Faith. Neither will I contend with any upon this disadvantageous ⟨p. 169⟩stating of the Question, What of Christ is to be esteemed the Object of Justifying Faith, and what is not so. For the thing intended is only this;
Answ. 1. Saving Faith, and Justifying Faith in any Believer are one and the same, and the Adjuncts of Saving and Justifying are but external Denominations, from its distinct ⟨p. 168⟩Operations and Effects. But yet Saving Faith doth act in a peculiar manner, and is of peculiar use in Justification, such as it is not of under any other Consideration whatever. Wherefore (2) Although Saving Faith as it is described in General, do ever include Obedience, not as its Form or Essence, but as the necessary Effect is included in the cause, and the Fruit in the Fruit-bearing juyce, and is often mentioned as to its Being and Exercise, where there is no express mention of Christ, his Blood, and his Righteousness, but is applied unto all the Acts, Duties, and Ends of the Gospel; yet this proves not at all, but that as unto its Duty, Place, and acting in our Justification, it hath a peculiar Object. If it could be proved, that where Justification is ascribed unto Faith, that there it hath any other Object assigned unto it, as that which it rested in for the pardon of Sin and Acceptance with God, this Objection were of some force. But this cannot be done. (3)This is not to say, that we are justified by a part of Faith, and not by it as considered essentially; for we are justified by the entire Grace of Faith, acting in such a peculiar way and manner; as others have observed. But the Truth is, we need not insist on the Discussion of this Enquiry. For the true meaning of it is, not whether any thing of Christ is to be excluded from being the Object of Justifying Faith, or of Faith in our Justification, but what in and of our selves under the name of receiving Christ, as our Lord and King is to be admitted unto an Efficiency or Conditionality in that work. As it is granted, that justifying Faith is the receiving of Christ, so whatever belongs unto the Person of Christ, or any Office of his, or any Acts in the discharge of any Office, that may be reduced unto any cause of our Justification, the meritorious, procuring, material, formal, or manifesting cause of it, is so far as it doth so, freely admitted to belong unto the Object of Justifying Faith. Neither will I contend with any upon this disadvantageous ⟨p. 169⟩stating of the Question, What of Christ is to be esteemed the Object of Justifying Faith, and what is not so. For the thing intended is only this;
