The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

3. That which is imputed is the Righteousness of Christ; and briefly I understand hereby, his whole Obedience unto God in all that he did and suffered for the Church. This I say is imputed unto Believers, so as to become their only Righteousness before God unto the Justification of Life.

If beyond these things any Expressions have been made use of in the Explanation of this Truth, which have given occasion unto any Differences or Contests, although they may be true and defensible against Objections, yet shall not I concern my self in them. The substance of the Truth as laid down, is that whose Defence I have undertaken, and where that is granted or consented unto, I will not contend with any about their way and methods of its Declaration, nor defend the Terms and Expressions that have by any been made use of therein. For instance. Some have said, that what Christ did and suffered, is so imputed unto us, as that we are judged and esteemed in the sight of God to have done or suffered our selves in him. This I shall not concern my self in. For although it may have a sound sense given unto it, and is used by some of the Ancients, yet because offence is taken at it, and the substance of the Truth we plead for is better otherwise expressed, it ought not to be contended about. For we do not say that God judgeth or esteemeth that we did and suffered in our own persons what Christ did and suffered, but only that he did it and suffered it in our stead. Hereon God makes a Grant and Donation of it unto Believers upon their Believing, unto their Justification before him. And ⟨p. 296⟩the like may be said of many other Expressions of the like nature.

If beyond these things any Expressions have been made use of in the Explanation of this Truth, which have given occasion unto any Differences or Contests, although they may be true and defensible against Objections, yet shall not I concern my self in them. The substance of the Truth as laid down, is that whose Defence I have undertaken, and where that is granted or consented unto, I will not contend with any about their way and methods of its Declaration, nor defend the Terms and Expressions that have by any been made use of therein. For instance. Some have said, that what Christ did and suffered, is so imputed unto us, as that we are judged and esteemed in the sight of God to have done or suffered our selves in him. This I shall not concern my self in. For although it may have a sound sense given unto it, and is used by some of the Antients, yet because offence is taken at it, and the substance of the Truth we plead for is better otherwise expressed, it ought not to be contended about. For we do not say that God judgeth or esteemeth that we did and suffered in our own persons what Christ did and suffered, but only that he did it and suffered it in our stead. Hereon God makes a Grant and Donation of it unto Believers upon their Believing, unto their Justification before him. And