An answer to the discourse of Mr. William Sherlock, touching the knowledge of Christ,…

Holiness casts forth a convictive Ray and Glory into the dark world,¹ yet it is not essential to Believers to justify, but to sanctify them; It hath a Divine tendency to convert others, yet the first act of conversion precedes in habitual Grace, and actual Holiness or Obedience follows after; Christs righteousness, without which there would be nothing but wrath and judgments, is the great fundamental reason of keeping them off; but Holiness ministers under it to the same end.

Holiness casts forth a convictive Ray and Glory into the dark world,¹ yet it is not essential to Believers to justifie, but to sanctifie them; It hath a Divine tendency to convert others, yet the first act of conversion precedes in habitual Grace, and actual Holiness or Obedience follows after; Christs righteousness, without which there would be nothing but wrath and judgments, is the great fundamental reason of keeping them off; but Holiness ministers under it to the same end.

1. 1Answ

But it is necessary in respect of the state and condition of justified persons, ¹for they are accepted and received into friendship with an holy God; therefore they must cleanse and purify themselves: what need of this? when they are clothed with the Robes of Christs Righteousness, which is the only foundation of our Communion with God. And pag. 267. They fulfil the Righteousness of the Law, not by doing any thing themselves, but by having all done for them, by having this perfect righteousness of Christ imputed to them. And pag. 423. The Doctor places Christs righteousness in the room of ours, to be not only ⟨p. 152⟩the foundation, but condition of the Covenant; And then makes it an expression of our chaste affections to Christ, quite to thrust out our own righteousness, and to allow it no place in our Religion: And pag. 427. The foundation of their love to Christ, Is a fond imagination that he will save them by his righteousness without any righteousness of their own.