A89737:1313
The orthodox evangelist. Or A treatise wherein many great evangelical truths (not a few…
The orthodox evangelist. Or A treatise wherein many great evangelical truths (not a few whereof are much opposed and eclipsed in this perilous hour of the passion of the Gospel) are briefly discussed, cleared, and confirmed: as a further help, for the begetting, and establishing of the faith which is in Jesus. As also the state of the blessed, where; of the condition of their souls from the instant of their dissolution: and of their persons after their resurrection. By John Norton, teacher of the church at Ipswich in New England.The orthodox evangelist. Or A treatise wherein many great evangelical truths (not a few whereof are much opposed and eclipsed in this perillous hour of the passion of the Gospel) are briefly discussed, cleared, and confirmed: as a further help, for the begeting, and establishing of the faith which is in Jesus. As also the state of the blessed, where; of the condition of their souls from the instant of their dissolution: and of their persons after their resurrection. By John Norton, teacher of the church at Ipswich in New England.
London: printed by John Macock for Henry Cripps, 1654
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.
Obj. Justification is often in the Scripture ascribed unto the death of Christ, Mat. 20.28. and 26.28. Act. 20.28. Rom. 3.24, 25. and elsewhere; therefore not the active and passive, but the passive obedience of Christ only, seems to be the matter of our Justification.
Ans. 'Tis true, that Justification is often ascribed in the Scripture unto the death of Christ, but to his death as the Meritorious cause, not as the material cause of our Justification; neither yet is it ascribed to his death as the Meritorious cause wholly, but partly, a part being put for the whole, viz. the passive, for both active and passive obedience; a trope often used in the Scripture; and as in the places alleged, the part. (or at least that which is as a part) is put for the whole, in respect of the cause; so also is there a part put for the whole, in ⟨p. 305⟩respect of the effect of that cause, viz. Justification, which is but a part of the good of Redemption, is put for the whole good thereof. Take for example, Mat. 26.28. For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins; by remission of sins, which is but a part of the good of Redemption, we are to understand the whole good of Redemption, with the application of it.
Que. If the obedience of Christ be an ingredient into the Meritorious cause, and be also the whole Material cause, how then doth the obedience of Christ, as it is an ingredient into the Meritorious cause, differ from the obedience of Christ, as it is the Material cause of our Justification?