The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

Wherefore (2) Positively; This Imputation is an Act of God ex mera Gratia, of his mere Love and Grace, whereby on the consideration of the Mediation of Christ, he makes an effectual Grant and Donation of a true, real, perfect Righteousness, even that of Christ himself unto all that do believe, and accounting it as theirs, on his own gracious Act, both absolves them from sin, and granteth them Right and Title unto Eternal Life. Hence,

Wherefore (2) Positively; This Imputation is an Act of God ex mera Gratia, of his meer Love and Grace, whereby on the consideration of the Mediation of Christ, he makes an effectual Grant and Donation of a true, real, perfect Righteousness, even that of Christ himself unto all that do believe, and accounting it as theirs, on his own gracious Act, both absolves them from sin, and granteth them Right and Title unto Eternal Life. Hence,

4. In this Imputation, the thing it self is first imputed unto us, and not any of the Effects of it, but they are made ours by virtue of that Imputation. To say that the Righteousness of Christ, that is, his Obedience and Sufferings are imputed unto us only as unto their effects, is to say that we have the benefit of them, and no more; but Imputation it self is denied. So say the Socinians, but they knew well enough, and ingenuously grant, that they overthrow all true real Imputation thereby. Nec enim ut per Christi justitiam justificemur, opus est ut illius Justitia, nostra fiat justitia; sed sufficit ut Christi justitia sit causa nostrae Justificationis; & hactenus possumus tibi concedere, Christi justitiam esse nostram justitiam, quatenus nostrum in bonum justitiamque redundat; verum tu proprie nostram, id est, nobis attributam ascriptamque intelligis, saith Schlictingius; Disp. pro Socin. ad Meisner. pag. 250. And it is not pleasing to see some among our selves with so great confidence take up the sense and words of these men in their Disputations against the Protestant Doctrine in this cause, that is, the Doctrine of the Church of England.