A89732:873
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 whole course of the active and passive obedience of Christ, together with his habitual conformity to the Law, is the matter of our justification, the purity of Christs nature, and his active and passive righteousness, are not two, but one and the same kind of Legal obedience expressed by both its parts, viz. habitual and actual. The asserters of the last expressly are to be understood, as asserting the former implicitly: the act presupposing the habit then spake not heretofore exclusively; the reason why later Writers speak more expressly is, because opposers have acted more subtly.
Answ. The whole course of the active and passive obedience of Christ, together with his habitual conformity to the Law, is the matter of our justification, the purity of Christs nature, and his active and passive righteousnesse, are not two, but one and the same kinde of Legal obedience expressed by both its parts, viz. habitual and actual. The asserters of the last expresly are to be understood, as asserting the former implicitly: the act presupposing the habit then spake not heretofore exclusively; the reason why later Writers speak more expresly is, because opposers have acted more subtilly.
The inference of sinners being their own Mediators from the imputation of passive obedience, ariseth from your misunderstanding our doctrine, which imputeth the obedience of Christ in respect of its efficacy, not in respect of its formality. M. Forbes acknowledgeth no such great jarring with our imputation, which he testifieth to be without impiety, and any matter of strife in it self, were this jarring not only great, but greater then it is: the Gospel remains the Gospel, notwithstanding through mans corruption it becometh an occasion of contention.
Dialogu The actions of Christs obedience neither active nor passive can be made ours by Gods imputation, no more ⟨p. 194⟩