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

however he saw so much, as put him into those joys and triumphs of Faith, which pointed beyond this World to that Salvation, which is the end and centre of Faith: To me it suffices to say, that Abraham rested upon Christ for Salvation, and then Christ's Righteousness, though unknown to Abraham, was imputed to him: The Author saith, That, from in thy seed shall all nations be blessed, to imputed righteousness, is a train of thoughts beyond Mr. Hobs, and yet (Abraham discerning the Messiah in that Promise) it may be absolved in two short words, that the Messiah shall merit Spiritual Blessings for us, and that that merit shall be applied to us; there being no other way of applying ⟨p. 334⟩of what is another's, but by Faith on our part, and Imputation on Gods: The Author ask's the question, Is there no possible way for God to bless the world, but by imputed Righteousness? I answer, had not Christ dyed for us, which involves an imputation, nothing of blessing could have been expected, the wrath of God would no more have spared us, than it did lapsed Angels: The Jews about Christ's coming thought only of a temporal Messiah; the very Apostles for a time thought not of Christ's death; but this was because they then lived in the dregs and darkness of the Jewish Church. I suppose in former ages the Jews had another manner of Prospect of Christ, and above others Abraham, whose Faith stands in Scripture, with a more than ordinary crown on it, probably had so.

however he saw so much, as put him into those joys and triumphs of Faith, which pointed beyond this World to that Salvation, which is the end and center of Faith: To me it suffices to say, that Abraham rested upon Christ for Salvation, and then Christ's Righteousness, though unknown to Abraham, was imputed to him: The Author saith, That, from in thy seed shall all nations be blessed, to imputed righteousness, is a train of thoughts beyond Mr. Hobs, and yet (Abraham discerning the Messiah in that Promise) it may be absolved in two short words, that the Messiah shall merit Spiritual Blessings for us, and that that merit shall be applyed to us; there being no other way of applying ⟨p. 334⟩of what is anothers, but by Faith on our part, and Imputation on Gods: The Author ask's the question, Is there no possible way for God to bless the world, but by imputed Righteousness? I answer, had not Christ dyed for us, which involves an imputation, nothing of blessing could have been expected, the wrath of God would no more have spared us, than it did lapsed Angels: The Jews about Christ's coming thought only of a temporal Messiah; the very Apostles for a time thought not of Christ's death; but this was because they then lived in the dregs and darkness of the Jewish Church. I suppose in former ages the Jews had another manner of Prospect of Christ, and above others Abraham, whose Faith stands in Scripture, with a more than ordinary crown on it, probably had so.