A89732:1035
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.
A sinner is not justified by the works of the Law, namely, by works that we have done, Tit. 3.5. For to such a work four things are requisite, viz. that it be wrought, 1. By virtue of the grace of the first Covenant. 2. By our own persons. 3, With exact ⟨p. 231⟩obedience to the Law. 4. Under the promise of justification unto continuance therein. But yet a sinner is justified by the works that Christ hath wrought, though not by the works that we have wrought.
A sinner is not justified by the works of the Law, namely, by works that we have done, Tit. 3.5. For to such a work four things are requisite, viz. that it be wrought, 1. By vertue of the grace of the first Covenant. 2. By our own persons. 3, With exact ⟨p. 231⟩obedience to the Law. 4. Under the promise of justification unto continuance therein. But yet a sinner is justified by the works that Christ hath wrought, though not by the works that we have wrought.
If that Proposition be absolutely true, that they that are once sinners are ever sinners, then either the Saints in glory were never sinners, or they are and ever shall be sinners, and consequently neither are nor ever shall be perfectly blessed, See Ephes. 5.27.
Neither the justified persons continuance to be a sinner, which is the condition of all in this life, nor the dependence of justification upon Gods free pleasure, nor the passiveness of the soul in receiving justification, do at all infer atonement, much less the atonement of the Dialogue to be our righteousness. The good pleasure of God is the cause why the righteousness of Christ imputed, and not atonement is our righteousness.