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

his sufferings are expressed, his active obedience is also included, both therefore are intended, and withal an imputation, without which ⟨p. 377⟩they cannot be profitable to us: But saith the Author, The Law could not do it; that is, the Law could not deliver from the power of sin. I answer, The Law could not do it of it self, and without the Spirit of Christ; but if that divine Spirit take the Law into its hand, and write it in the heart, I suppose there will be a New Creature: But the Author saith, That the righteousness of the Law may be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit, vers. 4. How can imputation come in here? What pretty sense will this make of the Apostles argument? I answer, The sense is very clear, the Righteousness of the Law is fulfilled in us, by Christ's Righteousness imputed to us; and withal, we to whom that is imputed, walk after the Spirit; the one is our Justification, the other our Sanctification: Both the Apostle proves to be in Believers, and both consist very well together, as appears from the first verse: There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit. The, No condemnation, appertains to Justification, and the walking after the Spirit to Sanctification, and both stand very well together: As to what ⟨p. 378⟩the Author saith afterwards, That there was no reason to abrogate Moses's Law, it might have availed to Salvation; as well as the Gospel, with the supplemental righteousness of Christ, there might have been an imputed righteousness as well under the Law, as under the Gospel. I answer, That I conceive, that the Moral Law delivered by Moses, obliges us Christians, as I have before proved; and I suppose our Church is of that mind too; for I cannot imagine, that she should in her Catechism instruct Children in an abrogated Law: How there should be an imputed Righteousness without a Gospel, I know not; it pleased God to found the Gospel upon a [Greek or Hebrew], a satisfaction, and that cannot be, or be profitable to us without an imputation: The impotency of the Law was, as I noted before, that it could not justify us for want of perfect obedience: But God translated the impletion of the Law upon Christ; and his Righteousness being made ours by imputation, the Law is said to be fulfilled in us.

his sufferings are expressed, his active obedience is also included, both therefore are intended, and withall an imputation, without which