Reformed Covenanter
Cancelled Commissioner
... It is true, there hath been some clashing among the worthy Members of this [Westminster] Assembly: but it hath been like the collision of steel and flint, whereby have been struck out many sparks of divine and saving truth. Nothing seemeth to me now to hinder the putting the question to the vote and determining it ex voto, according to our desire, but the vindication of it from aspersions cast upon it by four sorts of miscreants, the Antinomians, the Papists, the Arminians, and Socinians.
First, the Antinomians object, if Christ’s active righteousness be imputed unto us, then are not we bound to keep the law, because Christ hath kept it for us. This objection may be assoiled [acquitted] with a double answer: first, that this active obedience of Christ is imputed to none but true penitents. For though repentance be no cause of our justification, yet it is conditio requisita in subjecto, a condition required in the subjects and to believe the remission of our sins, by imputation of Christ’s satisfaction and righteousness without a sincere and serious purpose to forsake all our transgressions, and walk in newness of life, is an act, not of Faith, but of presumption.
Secondly, I grant, that Christ’s righteousness being imputed to us, we are not bound to fulfill the law hoc nomine to justify us before God, or procure us a title to the Kingdom of Heaven: but for other ends, namely, to glorify God, obey his will, to testify our thankfulness to our Redeemer, to shew our faith by our works, to make our election sure to our selves, to adorn our profession with a holy conversation, to avoid scandal, and avert God’s judgements. ...
For more, see Daniel Featley: Answering objections to the imputation of Christ’s righteousness.
First, the Antinomians object, if Christ’s active righteousness be imputed unto us, then are not we bound to keep the law, because Christ hath kept it for us. This objection may be assoiled [acquitted] with a double answer: first, that this active obedience of Christ is imputed to none but true penitents. For though repentance be no cause of our justification, yet it is conditio requisita in subjecto, a condition required in the subjects and to believe the remission of our sins, by imputation of Christ’s satisfaction and righteousness without a sincere and serious purpose to forsake all our transgressions, and walk in newness of life, is an act, not of Faith, but of presumption.
Secondly, I grant, that Christ’s righteousness being imputed to us, we are not bound to fulfill the law hoc nomine to justify us before God, or procure us a title to the Kingdom of Heaven: but for other ends, namely, to glorify God, obey his will, to testify our thankfulness to our Redeemer, to shew our faith by our works, to make our election sure to our selves, to adorn our profession with a holy conversation, to avoid scandal, and avert God’s judgements. ...
For more, see Daniel Featley: Answering objections to the imputation of Christ’s righteousness.
