1. That Faith whereby we are justified, is most frequently in the New Testament expressed by receiving. This notion of Faith hath been before spoken unto, in our general Enquiry into the use of it in our Justification. It shall not therefore be here much again insisted on. Two things we may observe concerning it. (1.) That it is so expressed with respect unto the whole Object of Faith, or unto all that doth any way concur unto our Justification. For (1.) We are said to receive Christ himself. Unto as many as have received him, he gave power to become the Sons of God, Joh. 1.12. As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, Col. 2.6. In Opposition hereunto Unbelief is expressed by not receiving of him, ⟨p. 421⟩Joh. 11.1. Chap. 3.11. Chap. 12.48. Chap. 14.17. And it is a receiving of Christ, as he is the Lord our Righteousness, as of God he is made Righteousness unto us. And as no Grace, no Duty can have any co-operation with Faith herein, this Reception of Christ not belonging unto their Nature, nor comprised in their Exercise; so it excludes any other Righteousness from our Justification but that of Christ alone. For we are justified by Faith; Faith alone receiveth Christ, and what it receives is the Cause of our Justification, whereon we become the Sons of God. So we receive the Atonement, made by the blood of Christ, Rom. 5.11. For God hath set him forth to be a Propitiation through Faith in his Blood. And this receiving of the Atonement, includeth the Souls Approbation of the way of Salvation by the blood of Christ, and and the Appropriation of the Atonement made thereby unto our own Souls. For thereby also we receive the forgiveness of Sins; That they may receive the forgiveness of Sin, through the Faith that is in me, Acts 26.18. In receiving Christ we receive the Atonement, and in the Atonement we receive the forgiveness of Sins. But moreover, the Grace of God, and Righteousness it self, as the Efficient and Material Cause of our Justification are received also; even the Abundance of Grace, and the Gift of Righteousness, Rom. 5.17. So that Faith with the respect unto all the Causes of Justification is expressed by receiving. For it also receiveth the Promise, the Instrumental Cause on the Part of God thereof, Acts 2.41. Heb. 9.15. (2.)
1. That Faith whereby we are justified, is most frequently in the New Testament expressed by receiving. This notion of Faith hath been before spoken unto, in our general Enquiry into the use of it in our Justification. It shall not therefore be here much again insisted on. Two things we may observe concerning it. (1.) That it is so expressed with respect unto the whole Object of Faith, or unto all that doth any way concur unto our Justification. For (1.) We are said to receive Christ himself. Ʋnto as many as have received him, he gave power to become the Sons of God, Joh. 1.12. As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, Col. 2.6. In Opposition hereunto Unbelief is exprest by not receiving of him, ⟨p. 421⟩Joh. 11.1. Chap. 3.11. Chap. 12.48. Chap. 14.17. And it is a receiving of Christ, as he is the Lord our Righteousness, as of God he is made Righteousness unto us. And as no Grace, no Duty can have any co-operation with Faith herein, this Reception of Christ not belonging unto their Nature, nor comprized in their Exercise; so it excludes any other Righteousness from our Justification but that of Christ alone. For we are justified by Faith; Faith alone receiveth Christ, and what it receives is the Cause of our Justification, whereon we become the Sons of God. So we receive the Atonement, made by the blood of Christ, Rom. 5.11. For God hath set him forth to be a Propitiation through Faith in his Blood. And this receiving of the Atonement, includeth the Souls Approbation of the way of Salvation by the blood of Christ, and and the Appropriation of the Atonement made thereby unto our own Souls. For thereby also we receive the forgiveness of Sins; That they may receive the forgiveness of Sin, through the Faith that is in me, Acts 26.18. In receiving Christ we receive the Atonement, and in the Atonement we receive the forgiveness of Sins. But moreover, the Grace of God, and Righteousness it self, as the Efficient and Material Cause of our Justification are received also; even the Abundance of Grace, and the Gift of Righteousness, Rom. 5.17. So that Faith with the respect unto all the Causes of Justification is expressed by receiving. For it also receiveth the Promise, the Instrumental Cause on the Part of God thereof,