The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

And this cannot possibly be but when our Righteousness is inherent in us. For that ⟨p. 499⟩however it may be procured, or purchased, or wrought in us, is yet our own, so far as any thing can be our own, whilst we are Creatures. This kind of Righteousness therefore is here excluded. And the Lord Christ being so made Righteousness unto us of God, as that all boasting and glorying on our part, or in our selves, may be excluded, yea, being made so, for this very end, that so it should be, it can be no otherwise, but by the Imputation of his Righteousness unto us. For thereby is the Grace of God, the honour of his Person and Mediation exalted, and all occasion of glorying in our selves utterly prescinded. We desire no more from this testimony, but that whereas we are in our selves destitute of all Righteousness in the sight of God, Christ is by a gracious act of Divine Imputation made of God Righteousness unto us, in such a way, as that all our glorying ought to be in the Grace of God, and the Righteousness of Christ himself. Bellarmine attempts three Answers unto this Testimony, the two first whereof are coincident; and in the third, being on the rack of Light and Truth, he confesseth and grants all that we plead for. (1.) He says, That Christ is said to be our Righteousness, because he is the efficient cause of it, as God is said to be our strength; and so there is in the words a Metonymy of the effect for the cause. And I say it is true, That the Lord Christ, by his Spirit, is the efficient cause of our Personal, Inherent Righteousness. By his Grace it is effected and wrought in us; he renews our natures into the Image of God, and without him we can do nothing: So that our habitual and actual Righteousness is from him. But this Personal Righteousness is our Sanctification and nothing else. And although the same internal habit of Inherent Grace, with operations suitable thereunto, be sometimes called our Sanctification, and sometimes our Righteousness, with respect unto those operations; yet is it never distinguished into our Sanctification, and our Righteousness. But his being made Righteousness unto us in ⟨p. 500⟩this place, is absolutely distinct from his being made Sanctification unto us, which is that Inherent Righteousness which is wrought in us by the Spirit and Grace of Christ.

And this cannot possibly be but when our Righteousness is inherent in us. For that