A89732:1022
A discussion of that great point in divinity, the sufferings of Christ; and the…
A discussion of that great point in divinity, the sufferings of Christ; and the question about his righteousness active, passive : and the imputation thereof. Being an answer to a dialogue entitled The meritorious price of redemption, justification, &c. / By John Norton teacher of the church at Ipswich in New-England. Who was appointed to draw up this answer by the general court.A discussion of that great point in divinity, the sufferings of Christ; and the question about his righteousnesse active, passive : and the imputation thereof. Being an answer to a dialogue intituled The meritorious price of redemption, justification, &c. / By John Norton teacher of the church at Ipswich in New-England. Who was appointed to draw up this answer by the generall court.
London: printed by A.M. for Geo. Calvert, 1653
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Dialogu. And thus after this sort the Apostle doth bring in forgiveness of sin as an effect of justifying faith: for faith is the only instrument of the Spirit, by which sinners come to be united to the Mediator in and through whose Mediation they apprehend, and receive the Fathers Atonement, pardon, and forgiveness, for their full and perfect justification.
Dialogu. And thus after this sort the Apostle doth bring in forgivenesse of sin as an effect of justifying faith: for faith is the only instrument of the Spirit, by which sinners come to be united to the Mediator in and through whose Mediation they apprehend, and receive the Fathers Atonement, pardon, and forgivenesse, for their full and perfect justification.
Answ. If atonement, pardon, and forgiveness be the effect of justifying faith, then they cannot be our righteousness, for that is the object of our justifying faith: Righteousness is before justifying faith as the object is before the act. Atonement is after it as the effect is after the cause; to say the cause and the effect is the same, is to say a thing is before and after it self.
Answ. If atonement, pardon, and forgivenesse be the effect of justifying faith, then they cannot be our righteousnesse, for that is the object of our justifying faith: Righteousnesse is before justifying faith as the object is before the act. Atonement is after it as the effect is after the cause; to say the cause and the effect is the same, is to say a thing is before and after it self.
Dialogu. This was the only true reason why God imputed Abraham's faith to him for righteousness, namely, because ⟨p. 228⟩he believed in Gods atonement, through the mediation of the seed promised.