The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

The differences that are among Interpreters about the Exposition of these words, relate unto the use of some Particles, Prepositions, and the dependence of one passage upon another; on none of which the confirmation of the truth pleaded for doth depend. But the plain design of the Apostle, and his express Propositions are such, as if Men could but acquiesce in them, might put an end unto this controversy.

The differences that are among Interpreters about the Exposition of these words, relate unto the use of some Particles, Prepositions, and the dependance of one passage upon another; on none of which the confirmation of the truth pleaded for doth depend. But the plain design of the Apostle, and his express Propositions are such, as if Men could but acquiesce in them, might put an end unto this controversie.

Socinus acknowledgeth that this place of Scripture doth give, as he speaks the greatest occasion unto our opinion in this matter: For he cannot deny, but, at least, a great appearance of what we believe, is represented in the words of the Apostle. He doth therefore use his utmost endeavour to wrest and deprave them: And yet, although most of his Artifices are since traduced into the Annotations of others upon the place, he himself produceth nothing material, but what is taken out of Origen, and the Comment of Pelagius on this Epistle, which is extant in the Works of Jerome, and was urged before him by Erasmus. The substance of what he pleads for is, That the actual transgression of Adam is not imputed unto his posterity, nor a depraved nature from thence communicated unto them. Only whereas he had incurred the penalty of death, all that derive their nature from him in that condition, are rendered subject unto death also. And as for that corruption of nature which is in us, or a proneness unto sin, it is not derived from Adam, but is an habit contracted by many continued acts of our own. So also on the other hand, that the Obedience or Righteousness of Christ, is not imputed unto us. Only when we make our ⟨p. 467⟩selves to become his Children by our obedience unto him; he having obtained eternal life for himself by his obedience unto God, we are made partakers of the benefits thereof. This is the substance of his long Disputation on this subject, De Servator. lib. 4. cap. 6. But this is not to expound the words of the Apostle, but expressly to contradict them, as we shall see in the ensuing consideration of them.