The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

1. It is objected, that the Imputation of the Righteousness of of Christ doth overthrow all Remission of sins on the part of God. This is pleaded for by Socinus, De Servator. lib. 4. cap. 2, 3, 4. and by others it is also made use of. A confident Charge this seems to them who steadfastly believe that without this Imputation, there could be no Remission of sin. But they ⟨p. 298⟩say, That he who hath a Righteousness imputed unto him that is absolutely perfect, so as to be made his own, needs no pardon, hath no sin that should be forgiven, nor can he ever need forgiveness. But because this Objection will occur unto us again in the vindication of one of our ensuing Arguments, I shall here speak briefly unto it.

1. It is objected, that the Imputation of the Righteousness of of Christ doth overthrow all Remission of sins on the part of God. This is pleaded for by Socinus, De Servator. lib. 4. cap. 2, 3, 4. and by others it is also made use of. A confident Charge this seems to them who stedfastly believe that without this Imputation, there could be no Remission of sin. But they ⟨p. 298⟩say, That he who hath a Righteousness imputed unto him that is absolutely perfect, so as to be made his own, needs no pardon, hath no sin that should be forgiven, nor can he ever need forgiveness. But because this Objection will occur unto us again in the vindication of one of our ensuing Arguments, I shall here speak briefly unto it.

1. Grotius shall answer this Objection; saith he, Cum duo nobis peperisse Christum dixerimus, impunitatem & praemium, illud satisfactioni, hoc merito Christi distincte tribuit vetus Ecclesia. Satisfactio consistit in peccatorum Translation, meritum in perfectissimae Obedientiae pro nobis praestitae Imputatione. Praefat. ad lib. de satisfact. Whereas we have said that Christ hath procured or brought forth two things for us, freedom from punishment, and a reward, the ancient Church attributes the one of them distinctly unto his satisfaction, the other unto his merit. Satisfaction consisteth in the Translation of sins (from us unto him) merit in the Imputation of his most perfect Obedience performed for us, unto us. In his Judgment the Remission of sins, and the Imputation of Righteousness, were as consistent as the satisfaction and merit of Christ, as indeed they are.