The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

That the Righteousness of Christ is imputed unto us, as unto its effects, hath this sound sense in it; namely, that the effects of it are made ours, by reason of that Imputation. It is so imputed, so reckoned unto us of God, as that he really communicates all the effects of it unto us. But to say the Righteousness of Christ is not imputed unto us, only its effects are so, is really to overthrow all Imputation. For ⟨p. 244⟩(as we shall see) the effects of the Righteousness of Christ cannot be said properly to be imputed unto us; and if his Righteousness it self be not so, Imputation hath no place herein, nor can it be understood why the Apostle should so frequently assert it as he doth, Rom. 4. And therefore the Socinians who expressly oppose the Imputation of the Righteousness of Christ, and plead for a Participation of its effects or benefits only, do wisely deny any such kind of Righteousness of Christ, namely, of satisfaction and merit, (or that the Righteousness of Christ as wrought by him, was either satisfactory or meritorious) as alone may be imputed unto us. For it will readily be granted, that what alone they allow the Righteousness of Christ to consist in, cannot be imputed unto us, whatever benefit we may have by it. But I do not understand how those who grant the Righteousness of Christ to consist principally in his satisfaction for us or in our stead, can conceive of an Imputation of the effects thereof unto us, without an Imputation of the thing it self. Seeing it is for that as made ours, that we partake of the Benefits of it. But from the Description of Imputation and the Instances of it, it appeareth that there can be no Imputation of any thing, unless the thing it self be imputed, nor any Participation of the Effects of any thing, but what is grounded on the Imputation of the thing it self. Wherefore in our particular case, no Imputation of the Righteousness of Christ is allowed, unless we grant it self to be imputed; nor can we have any Participation of the effects of it, but on the supposition and foundation of that Imputation.

That the Righteousness of Christ is imputed unto us, as unto its effects, hath this sound sense in it; namely, that the effects of it are made ours, by reason of that Imputation. It is so imputed, so reckoned unto us of God, as that he really communicates all the effects of it unto us. But to say the Righteousness of Christ is not imputed unto us, only its effects are so, is really to overthrow all Imputation. For