The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

The Apostle declares, as we shall prove afterwards, that as Adams actual sin is imputed unto us unto condemnation, so is the Obedience of Christ imputed unto us, to the Justification of life. But Adams sin is not so imputed unto any person, as that he should then and thereby be the cause of sin and condemnation unto all other persons in the World; but only that he himself should become Guilty before God thereon. And so is it on the other side. And as we are made Guilty by Adams actual sin which is not inherent in us, but only imputed unto us; so are we made Righteous by the Righteousness of Christ which is not inherent in us, but only imputed unto us. And imputed unto us it is, because himself was Righteous with it, not for himself but for us.

It is yet said, That if we insist on personal Imputation unto every Believer of what Christ did, or if any Believer be personally Righteous in the very individual Acts of Christs Righteousness, many Absurdities will follow. But it was observed before; that when any design to oppose an Opinion from the absurdities which they suppose would follow upon it, they are much inclined so to state it, as that at least they may seem so to do. And this ofttimes the most worthy and candid Persons are not free from in the heat of Disputation. So I fear it is here fallen out. For as unto personal Imputation I do not well understand it. All Imputation is unto a person, and is the Act of a person, be it of what, and what sort it will, but from neither of them can be denominated a Personal Imputation. And if an Imputation be allowed that is not unto the persons of men, namely, in this case unto all Believers, the nature of it hath not yet been declared as I know of.

It is yet said, That if we insist on personal Imputation unto every Believer of what Christ did, or if any Believer be personally Righteous in the very individual Acts of Christs Righteousness, many Absurdities will follow. But it was observed before; that when any design to oppose an Opinion from the absurdities which they suppose would follow upon it, they are much enclined so to state it, as that at least they may seem so to do. And this oftimes the most worthy and candid Persons are not free from in the heat of Disputation. So I fear it is here fallen out. For as unto personal Imputation I do not well understand it. All Imputation is unto a person, and is the Act of a person, be it of what, and what sort it will, but from neither of them can be denominated a Personal Imputation. And if an Imputation be allowed that is not unto the persons of men, namely, in this case unto all Believers, the nature of it hath not yet been declared as I know of.