N29414:463
A short catechism familiarly teaching the knowledge of God, and of our selves. First…A short catechism familiarly teaching the knowledg of God, and of our selves. First…
A short catechism familiarly teaching the knowledge of God, and of our selves. First composed, and improved, for the private instruction of the younger sort in Cambridge in New-England. / By Thomas Shepard late faithful Pastor of the Church of Christ there. ; And now published at the earnest desire of sundry well-affected persons. ; Together with the doctrine of conviction of sin, and righteousness, and judgment. Delivered in divers sermons upon John 16. 8, 9, 10, 11. and thence summarily drawn into quest: and answers by the same author. ; [Three lines from Peter]A short catechism familiarly teaching the knowledg of God, and of our selves. First composed, and improved, for the private instruction of the younger sort in Cambridg in New-England. / By Thomas Shepard late faithfull Pastour of the Church of Christ there. ; And now published at the earnest desire of sundry well-affected persons. ; Together with the doctrine of conviction of sin, and righteousness, and judgment. Delivered in divers sermons upon John 16. 8, 9, 10, 11. and thence summarily drawn into quest: and answers by the same authour. ; [Three lines from Peter]
printed by Samuel Green, 1654
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. Meritoriously we were, but not actually, the garment of Christs righteousness to justify us, was then made ready but it was not actually put on until we believe, and although the sins of the elect were then imputed to Christ, and laid upon him for satisfaction, yet not for actual justification; merited justification and Reconciliation is one thing, actual justification is another, Christ merited our justification, and his righteousness was the matter of our justification before we believe, but he purposed never to make it actually ours, unless we first believe. Rom. 3.24, 25.
Answ. Meritoriously we were, but not actually, the garment of Christs righteousness to justifie us, was then made ready but it was not actually put on untill we believe, and allthough the sinns of the elect were then impured to Christ, and layd upon him for satisfaction, yet not for actuall justification; merited justification and Reconciliation is one thing, actuall justification is another, Christ merited our justification, and his righteousnes was the matter of our justification before we believe, but he purposed never to make it actually ours, unless we first believe. Rom. 3.24, 25.
Quest. But are we not said to be justified by faith only declaratively, & in the court of our conscience only?
Answ. No; but really, for though Faith is not the matter of our justification, yet it is the instrument (or instrumental means of applying it) and therefore is before it, for if any should be really justified before Faith, then it might be said there is no condemnation to some of them that be out of Christ Jesus who walk not after the spirit, but after the flesh, but that is directly contrary to