The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

By some the Imputation of the actual Apostasy and Transgression of Adam the head of our nature, whereby his sin became the sin of the world, is utterly denied. Hereby both the ground the Apostle proceedeth on, in evincing the necessity of our Justification, or our being made Righteous by the Obedience of another, and all the Arguments brought in the Confirmation of the Doctrine of it, in the fifth Chapter of his Epistle to the Romans are evaded and overthrown. Socinus de Servator. par. 4. cap. 6. confesseth that place to give great countenance unto the Doctrine of Justification by the Imputation of the Righteousness of Christ. And therefore he sets himself to oppose with sundry Artifices the Imputation of the sin of Adam unto his natural posterity. For he perceived well enough that upon the Admission thereof, the Imputation of the Righteousness of Christ unto his spiritual seed, would unavoidably follow according unto the Tenor of the Apostles Discourse.

By some the Imputation of the actual Apostasie and Transgression of Adam the head of our nature, whereby his sin became the sin of the world, is utterly denied. Hereby both the ground the Apostle proceedeth on, in evincing the necessity of our Justification, or our being made Righteous by the Obedience of another, and all the Arguments brought in the Confirmation of the Doctrine of it, in the fifth Chapter of his Epistle to the Romans are evaded and overthrown. Socinus de Servator. par. 4. cap. 6. confesseth that place to give great countenance unto the Doctrine of Justification by the Imputation of the Righteousness of Christ. And therefore he sets himself to oppose with sundry Artifices the Imputation of the sin of Adam unto his natural posterity. For he perceived well enough that upon the Admission thereof, the Imputation of the Righteousness of Christ unto his spiritual seed, would unavoidably follow according unto the Tenour of the Apostles Discourse.

Some deny the Depravation and Corruption of our Nature which ensued on our Apostasy from God, and the loss of his Image. Or if they do not absolutely deny it, yet they so extenuate it as to render it a matter of no great concern unto us. Some Disease and Distemper of the Soul they will acknowledge, arising from the disorder of our Affections, whereby we are apt to receive in such vicious habits and customs, as are in practice in the world. And as the Guilt hereof is not much, so the danger of it is not great. And as for any spiritual filth or stain of our nature that is in it, it is clear washed away from all by Baptism. That Deformity of Soul which came upon us in the loss of the Image of God, wherein the Beauty and Harmony of all our faculties in all their Actings in order unto their utmost End, did consist;