The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

From what hath been discoursed, it is evident that unto our Justification before God, is required, Not only that we be freed from the damnatory sentence of the Law, which we are by the pardon of sin, but moreover, that the Righteousness of the Law be fulfilled in us, or, that we have a Righteousness answering the Obedience that the Law requires, whereon our acceptance with God, through the riches of his ⟨p. 389⟩Grace, and our Title unto the heavenly Inheritance do depend. This we have not in and of our selves, nor can attain unto, as hath been proved. Wherefore the perfect Obedience and Righteousness of Christ is imputed unto us, or in the sight of God we can never be Justified.

Nor are the cavilling Objections of the Socinians, and those that follow them, of any force against the Truth herein. They tell us that the Righteousness of Christ can be imputed but unto one, if unto any. For who can suppose that the same Righteousness of One should become the Righteousness of many, even of all that believe. Besides he performed not all the Duties that are required of us in all our Relations, he being never placed in them. These things I say, are both foolish and impious, destructive unto the whole Gospel. For all things here depend on the Ordination of God. It is his Ordinance that as through the offence of One many are dead; so his Grace, and the Gift of Grace, through one man Christ Jesus hath abounded unto many; and as by the Offence of one Judgment came upon all men unto Condemnation, so by the Righteousness of One, the free Gift came upon all unto the Righteousness of life, and by the Obedience of One many are made Righteous; as the Apostle argues Rom. 5. For God sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, that the Righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us. Rom. 8.3, 4. For he was the End of the Law (the whole End of it) for Righteousness unto them that do believe, Chap. 10.4. This is the Appointment of the Wisdom, Righteousness and Grace of God, that the whole Righteousness and Obedience of Christ should be accepted as our complete Righteousness before him, imputed unto us by his Grace, and applied unto us or made ours through believing, and consequently unto all that believe. And if the actual Sin of Adam be imputed unto us all, who derive our Nature from him unto Condemnation, though he sinned not in our Circumstances and Relations, is it strange that the actual Obedience of