A89732:561
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. If the Dialogue intends the favour of God to be the beginning of eternal life only causally, then this comparison is instituted between the formal beginning of eternal death, and the causal beginning of eternal life; so it is vain as to the purpose intended; if it intends the favour of God in Christ, taken properly, to be the beginning of eternal life formally, then it is false, for the favour of God in Christ which is the fountain of life, is increated; and without beginning, and is nothing else but Election, the first cause of our good. Eternal life whose beginning and continuance is of the same nature, is created and hath a beginning though it be without an end, and is the effect of this first cause: the Dialogue therefore confounding the favour of God with the beginning of eternal life formally, doth as much as say the cause is the effect, and that which is increated is created. If the comparison were in it self good, yet it is impertinent, concluding only concerning the pain of loss taken accidentally, not as taken essentially: which last must always be remembered to be the sense of the Question.
Answ. If the Dialogue intends the favour of God to be the beginning of eternall life only causally, then this comparison is instituted between the formall beginning of eternall death, and the causall beginning of eternall life; so it is vain as to the purpose intended; if it intends the favour of God in Christ, taken properly, to be the beginning of eternall life formally, then it is false, for the favour of God in Christ which is the fountain of life, is increated; and without beginning, and is nothing else but Election, the first cause of our good. Eternall life whose beginning and continuance is of the same nature, is created and hath a beginning though it be without an end, and is the effect of this first cause: the Dialogue therefore confounding the favour of God with the beginning of eternall life formally, doth as much as say the cause is the effect, and that which is increated is created. If the comparison were in it self good, yet it is impertinent, concluding only concerning the pain of losse taken accidentally, not as taken essentially: which last must alwaies be remembred to be the sense of the Question.
Dialogu. God doth not forsake the Reprobates so long as they live in this life, with such a total forsaking, as he doth after this life: yea, the very Devils, themselves as long as they live in this world (being Spirits) in the air, are not so forsaken of God as they shall be at the day of judgement; for as yet they are not in hell, but in this air, and therefore they have not their full torments as yet.