The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

Concerning this Imputation it must be observed, that whatever is our own antecedently thereunto, which is an Act of God thereon, can never be imputed unto us for any thing more or less than what it is really in it self. For this Imputation consists of two parts, or two things concur thereunto. (1) A Judgment of the thing to be ours, to be in us, or to ⟨p. 235⟩belong unto us. (2) A Will of dealing with us, or an actual dealing with us according unto it. Wherefore in the Imputation of any thing unto us, which is ours, God esteemeth it not to be other than it is. He doth not esteem that to be a perfect Righteousness which is imperfect; so to do might argue either a mistake of the thing judged on, or perverseness in the Judgment it self upon it. Wherefore if, as some say, our own Faith and Obedience are imputed unto us for Righteousness, seeing they are imperfect they must be imputed unto us for an imperfect Righteousness, and not for that which is perfect. For that Judgment of God which is according unto Truth, is in this Imputation. And the Imputation of an imperfect Righteousness unto us, esteeming it only as such, will stand us in little stead in this matter. And the Acceptilation which some plead, (traducing a fiction in humane Laws, to interpret the mystery of the Gospel) doth not only overthrow all Imputation, but the satisfaction and merit of Christ also. And it must be observed, that this Imputation is a mere Act of Justice, without any mixture of Grace, as the Apostle declares, Rom. 11.6. For it consists of these two parts. (1) An acknowledging and judging that to be in us which is truly so. (2) A Will of dealing with us according unto it; both which are Acts of Justice.

Concerning this Imputation it must be observed, that whatever is our own antecedently thereunto, which is an Act of God thereon, can never be imputed unto us for any thing more or less than what it is really in it self. For this Imputation consists of two parts, or two things concur thereunto. (1) A Judgment of the thing to be ours, to be in us, or to ⟨p. 235⟩belong unto us. (2) A Will of dealing with us, or an actual dealing with us according unto it. Wherefore in the Imputation of any thing unto us, which is ours, God esteemeth it not to be other than it is. He doth not esteem that to be a perfect Righteousness which is imperfect; so to do might argue either a mistake of the thing judged on, or perverseness in the Judgment it self upon it. Wherefore if, as some say, our own Faith and Obedience are imputed unto us for Righteousness, seeing they are imperfect they must be imputed unto us for an imperfect Righteousness, and not for that which is perfect. For that Judgment of God which is according unto Truth, is in this Imputation. And the Imputation of an imperfect Righteousness unto us, esteeming it only as such, will stand us in little stead in this matter. And the Acceptilation which some plead, (traducing a fiction in humane Laws, to interpret the mystery of the Gospel) doth not only overthrow all Imputation, but the satisfaction and merit of Christ also. And it must be observed, that this Imputation is a meer Act of Justice, without any mixture of Grace, as the Apostle declares,