If these pregnant Phrases (of Faith in Christ and Hope in Christ) do not make him the Object of Faith,1 I know not what can; when the Socinians disputed among themselves, whether Christ were the Object of Worship, ⟨p. 5⟩and so of Faith; it was a very hard case on the one side, that he (according to their Principles) but a mere creature should be the object of faith; on the other, that so many pregnant places of Scripture should be eluded; but had they found out a way to interpret such Phrases (as believing and trusting in him) in a sense abstractive from his Person, they might all have concluded that he was not the object of faith. The Author, as to a faith of recumbency on him and his merits, seems to conclude the same; for though he speak of trusting in Christ and his blood, he interprets himself thus, expecting to be saved according to the terms of the Gospel Covenant, that is, by believing and obeying the Gospel of Christ, pag. 24. The whole is placed in believing and obeying the Gospel: Obedience, as I take it, is no part of Faith. Works show forth Faith, James 2. and so are distinct from it; Faith produces Obedience, Hebrews 11. and surely it doth not produce it self; We are married to Christ, that is, by Faith, that we might bring forth fruit unto God, Rom. 7.1. And me thinks, Faith, which is the espousal, should not be the Progeny: Abraham's faith only is admitted ⟨p. 6⟩in Justification, Romans 4. And his works (though done after conversion) are excluded, as being no part of it. When Socinus said, that, Christo credere idem significat, atque illi obedire: The Learned Calovius tells him; That it is but a mere Fiction, to prevent the Article of Justification, and transform Faith into Works: And withal adds, that, Credere in nullo idiomate idem est, quod obedire, Obedience being no part of Faith; that which remains is only, believing the Gospel, which is a Dogmatical Faith, such as believes the Gospel to be true, and inter alia, Jesus Christ to be the Messiah and Saviour. But, alas! This is so far beneath a faith of recumbency, such as in the Apostle is styled, [Greek or Hebrew], faith in his blood, Rom. 3.25. that the very Devils are capable of it, who yet never shall have the least drop of that atoning blood sprinkled on them In our Author the whole terms of the Gospel are believing and obeying it: Obeying it, is not so much as a part of faith:
If these pregnant Phrases (of Faith in Christ and Hope in Christ) do not make him the Object of Faith,1 I know not what can; when the Socinians disputed among themselves, whether Christ were the Object of Worship, ⟨p. 5⟩and so of Faith; it was a very hard case on the one side, that he (according to their Principles) but a meer creature should be the object of faith; on the other, that so many pregnant places of Scripture should be eluded; but had they found out a way to interpret such Phrases (as believing and trusting in him) in a sence abstractive from his Person, they might all have concluded that he was not the object of faith. The Authour, as to a faith of recumbency on him and his merits, seems to conclude the same; for though he speak of trusting in Christ and his blood, he interprets himself thus, expecting to be saved according to the terms of the Gospel Covenant, that is, by believing and obeying the Gospel of Christ, pag. 24. The whole is placed in believing and obeying the Gospel: Obedience, as I take it, is no part of Faith. Works shew forth Faith, James 2. and so are distinct from it; Faith produces Obedience, Hebrews 11. and surely it doth not produce it self; We are married to Christ, that is, by Faith, that we might bring forth fruit unto God, Rom. 7.1. And me thinks, Faith, which is the espousal, should not be the Progeny: Abraham's faith only is admitted ⟨p. 6⟩in Justification, Romans 4. And his works (though done after conversion) are excluded, as being no part of it. When Socinus said, that, Christo credere idem significat, atque illi obedire: The Learned Calovius tells him; That it is but a meer Fiction, to prevent the Article of Justification, and transform Faith into Works: And withall adds, that, Credere in nullo idiomate idem est, quod obedire, Obedience being no part of Faith; that which remains is only, believing the Gospel, which is a Dogmatical Faith, such as believes the Gospel to be true, and inter alia, Jesus Christ to be the Messiah and Saviour. But, alas! This is so far beneath a faith of recumbency, such as in the Apostle is stiled, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, faith in his blood,
- 1Answer.
