The Doctrine of Justification, Treatise · Chapter 30
CHAPTER XXX.
NOW it followeth, that we ſpeake of the ſeconde gift, whereby we are iuſtified: and that is Chri…t Ieſus himſelfe. For God firſt giveth vsus faith vntounto righteouſnes, and then by faith he giveth vsus Chriſt as our righteouſnes: therefore is Chriſt alſo called the gift of God, and that in two reſpectes.
Firſt, in reſpect of Gods ſending him into the worlde, to ſuffer the death of the croſſe, and by his death to redeeme vsus: in which reſpect, it is ſaide, That God ſo loved the world, that hee hath given his onelyonly begotten ſonne, &c. Iohn chap. 3. ver. 16.
Secondly, in reſpect of Gods particular giving of Chriſt now crucified vntounto the beleeving heart: according to which the Apoſtle ſpeaketh, Coll. chap. 2. ver. 6. As therefore yee have receyved Ghriſt Ieſus the Lorde, walke in him: and Rom. chap. 5. Our righteouſnes is called the gift of God. For which cauſe alſo Chriſt is ſaid to dwel in our heartes by faith: and of this gift it is that in this place we ſpeake: for howſoever by the Fathers givinge Chriſt vntounto the death, the full redemption of all Gods elect was wrought: Yet in our particular perſons we enioye it not, vntill wee bee called of God: therefore Iuſtificatiō is placed after our calling, Rom. chap. 8. and this giving of Chriſt, is the cauſe why God firſte giveth vsus faith: becauſe before we receyve faith, it is impoſſible to vsus to enioye Chriſt, becauſe we have neyther hande, heart, nor will to receyve him: and in this gift, as wee have ſhowen before, ſtandeth the matter of our righteouſnes, and the forme of our iuſtification conſiſteth in parte in the giving of it: and this is needfull to be marked of vsus, for their cauſe that make our iuſtification to conſiſt in Gods gracious acceptation of our faith, and not in his gracious giving of faith vntounto vsus, and Chriſt by faith. Touching this ſecond gift, which is Chriſt in his death and bloud, I will ſpeake no more, the things preceeding ſerving ſufficientlie to cleare it, and therefore we come to the next pointe, wherein we have ſaid conſiſteth the forme of our iuſtification.