The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

The design of the Apostle in these words is to manifest, that whatever is wanting unto us on any account that we may please God, live unto him, and come to the enjoyment of him, that we have in and by Jesus Christ: And this on the part of God from mere, free, and sovereign Grace, as Ver. 26, 27, 28, 29. do declare. And we have all these things ⟨p. 498⟩by virtue of our insition or implantation in him; [Greek or Hebrew], from of, or by him. He by his Grace is the principal efficient cause hereof. And the effect is, that we in Christ Jesus; that is ingrafted in him, or united unto him, as Members of his Mystical Body, which is the constant sense of that expression in the Scripture. And the benefits which we receive hereby are enumerated in the following words. But first the way whereby we are made partakers of them, or they are communicated unto us, is declared; who of God is made unto us. It is so ordained of God, that he himself shall be made or become all this unto us. [Greek or Hebrew], where [Greek or Hebrew], denotes the efficient cause, as [Greek or Hebrew] did before. But how is Christ thus made unto us of God, or what act of God is it that is intended thereby. Socinus says it is a General act of the providence of God, whence it is come to pass, or is so fallen out, that one way or other the Lord Christ should be said to be all this unto us. But it is an especial Ordinance and Institution of Gods sovereign Grace and Wisdom, designing Christ to be all this unto us, and for us, with actual Imputation thereon, and nothing else, that is intended. Whatever interest therefore we have in Christ, and what ever benefit we have by him, it all depends on the sovereign Grace and constitution of God, and not on any thing in our selves. Whereas then we have no Righteousness of our own, he is appointed of God to be our Righteousness, and is made so unto us; which can be no otherwise, but that his Righteousness is made ours. For he is made it unto us (as he is likewise the other things mentioned) so as that all boasting, that is in our selves, should be utterly excluded, and that he that glorieth, should glory in the Lord, Ver. 29, 31. Now there is such a Righteousness, or such a way of being righteous whereon we may have somewhat to Glory, Rom▪ 4.2. And which doth not exclude boasting, Chap. 3.27.

The design of the Apostle in these words is to manifest, that whatever is wanting unto us on any account that we may please God, live unto him, and come to the injoyment of him, that we have in and by Jesus Christ: And this on the part of God from meer, free, and sovereign Grace, as Ver. 26, 27, 28, 29. do declare. And we have all these things