The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

And if it be so, it may be some will think it best not to go about by this weak halt, and imperfect Righteousness, but as unto their Justification betake themselves immediately unto the most perfect Righteousness of Christ, which I am sure the Scripture encourages them unto. And they will be ready to think, that the Righteousness which cannot justify it self, but must be obliged unto Grace and Pardon through the merits of Christ, will never be able to justify them. But what will ensue on this Explanation of the Acceptance of our imperfect Righteousness unto Justification upon the merit of Christ? This only so far as I can discern, that Christ hath merited and procured, either that God should judge that to be perfect which is imperfect, and declare us perfectly Righteous when we are not so, or that he should judge the Righteousness still to be imperfect (as it is) but declare us to be perfectly Righteous with and by this imperfect Righteousness. These are the plain paths that men walk in, who cannot deny but that there is a Righteousness required unto our Justification, or that we ⟨p. 332⟩may be declared Righteous before God, in the sight of God, according unto the Judgment of God, yet denying the Imputation of the Righteousness of Christ unto us, will allow of no other Righteousness unto this end, but that which is so weak and imperfect as that no man can justify it in his own Conscience, nor without a frenzy of pride, can think or imagine himself perfectly Righteous thereby.

And if it be so, it may be some will think it best not to go about by this weak halt, and imperfect Righteousness, but as unto their Justification betake themselves immediately unto the most perfect Righteousness of Christ, which I am sure the Scripture encourages them unto. And they will be ready to think, that the Righteousness which cannot justifie it self, but must be obliged unto Grace and Pardon through the merits of Christ, will never be able to justifie them. But what will ensue on this Explanation of the Acceptance of our imperfect Righteousness unto Justification upon the merit of Christ? This only so far as I can discern, that Christ hath merited and procured, either that God should judge that to be perfect which is imperfect, and declare us perfectly Righteous when we are not so, or that he should judge the Righteousness still to be imperfect (as it is) but declare us to be perfectly Righteous with and by this imperfect Righteousness. These are the plain paths that men walk in, who cannot deny but that there is a Righteousness required unto our Justification, or that we