A89732:1165
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.
Answ. The Reader may at the first sight hereof haply think, that as it was sometimes with Bellarmine, who having spent whole Books in a laborious disputation for mans merit against grace,1 at length saith, It is most safe to place our confidence in the alone mercy of God. So it is here fallen out with the Author, who after his labour hitherto against the doctrine of Imputation, now at length may seem to acknowledge it: But though his words be equivocal, yet his meaning is the same that it was before, and so much the more dangerous, because the same evil sense is insinuated in a better language.
Answ. The Reader may at the first sight hereof haply think, that as it was sometimes with Bellarmine, who having spent whole Books in a laborious disputation for mans merit against grace,1 at length saith, It is most safe to place our confidence in the alone mercy of God. So it is here fallen out with the Authour, who after his labour hitherto against the doctrine of Imputation, now at length may seem to acknowledge it: But though his words be equivocall, yet his meaning is the same that it was before, and so much the more dangerous, because the same evil sense is insinuated in a better language.
- 1Bellarm. Tom. 4. l. 5. c. 7. Tutissimum, &c.
To suppose a sinner to have performed those acts of Mediatorly obedience, which Christ performed, is to suppose an impossibility: Christ was and is God-man, and without sin, neither of which can be found in him who is a sinner.