The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

Si obedientia vitae Christi nobis ad justitiam imputaretur, non fuit opus Christum pro nobis mori; mori enim necesse fuit pro nobis injustis, 1 Pet. 3.18. Quod si ergo justi effecti sumus per vitam illius, causa nulla relicta fuit cur pro nobis moreretur; quia justitia Dei non patitur ut puniat justos. At punivit nos in Christo, seu quod idem valet punivit Christum pro nobis, & loco nostri, posteaquam ille sancte vixisset, ut certum est è Scriptura. Ergo non sumus justi effecti per sanctam vitam Christi. Item, Christus mortuus est ut justitiam illam Dei nobis acquireret. 2 Cor. 5.21. Non igitur illam acquisiverat ante mortem.

But this whole Argument, I say, proceeds upon an evident mistake. For it supposeth such an order of things, as that the Obedience of Christ or his Righteousness in fulfilling the Law, is first imputed unto us, and then the Righteousness of his death is afterwards to take place, or to be imputed unto us, which on that supposition he says would be of no use. But no such order or Divine constitution is pleaded or pretended in our Justification. It is true, the life of Christ, and his Obedience unto the Law did precede his Sufferings, and undergoing the curse thereof; neither could it otherwise be. For this order of these things between themselves was made necessary from the Law of Nature; But it doth not thence follow that it must be observed in the Imputation or Application of them unto us. For this is an effect of Sovereign Wisdom and Grace, not respecting the natural order of Christs Obedience and Suffering, but the moral order of the things ⟨p. 485⟩whereunto they are appointed. And although we need not assert, nor do I so do, different acts of the Imputation of the Obedience of Christ unto the Justification of life, or a right and title unto life eternal, and of the suffering of Christ unto the pardon of our Sins and freedom from condemnation; but by both we have both according unto the Ordinance of God, that Christ may be all in all; Yet as unto the effects themselves, in the Method of Gods bringing Sinners unto the Justification of life, the application of the Death of Christ unto them unto the pardon of Sin and freedom from Condemnation, is in order of Nature, and in the exercise of Faith, antecedent unto the application of his Obedience unto us, for a right and title unto life eternal.