Socinianism in the Fundamental Point of Justification Discovered, Chapter 1 · Answer 6
Answere.
TO this question laid downe in plaine, and precise termes, I answer. First that to move this question, except with purpose to discover and oppose Socinus, and his followers who affirme it, and stand for imputation of faith in a proper sense; for righteousnes is not to be tolerated among true Christians: but to dispute for that damned errour, which takes the Crowne from the all-sufficient righteousnes of Christ, and sets on the head of mans weake faith, is most hereticall impudency (as in my whole answere I shall prove aboundantly. Secondly his absurd expounding of Justification by Christs righteousnes imputed; and how in this question the righteousnes of Christ, and the iustifying of men by it, are to be understood; is a notable point either of calumny in slandering our doctrine, and reporting it corruptly, or of subtilty, that when his opinion is proved to be blasphemous, hee may have some starting holes, through which hee may shift away, and make an escape, pleading that hee mistooke our Doctrine of being righteous by Christs righteousnesse imputed, and ignorantly did oppose it.
First no man standing for the imputation of Christs righteousnes, doth affirme that every particular act of Christ which hee performed, was necessary to make up a perfect and sufficient righteousnes: but that his righteousnesse containes in it all his acts of obedience, none denyeth. For suppose our Saviour by reason of imprisonment, or some other restraint and impediment, had beene hindered from doing divers of those workes of mercy, charity and piety, which hee did performe being at liberty, this had not diminished his righteousnes, so long as he had a ready will to doe good upon all occasions, and did good workes when liberty and opportunity served. Secondly none of our Divines doe thinke or write, that Christs righteousnes imputed, and communicated to beleevers, doth make them rigidly, literally, and peremptorily righteous, constituted and made us perfectly compleatly and legally righteous, as Christ himselfe, for though they are iustifi…d by the Communion of Christs satisfaction, and have so much interest in it, as to make them truely righteous, yet they have it not as Christ hath it performed legally by himselfe in his owne person; neither have they power to give the Spirit, whereby they may communicate it to others to justifie them, & to make them righteous. The Wife is endowed with her Husbands honours and riches, and made honourable and rich, but she is not endowed with her Husbands Lordship and dominion over them, so far that she may give them away at her pleasure: but onelyonly posseseth them in him and with him, for her owne use. And so it is betweene Christ and the faithfull, he is righteous rigidly and legally, according to the letter of the Law; They are righteous Evangelically by the Communion of his righteousnes, that is, originally righteous, as the head in a naturall body is sensitive, and hath sense and motion in it as the root and fountaine: They are righteous by Communion from him, and possesse his righteousnes as all the rest of the members, in a living body possesse life by derivation from the heart, not in the same degree as the heart doth, to communicate it to others; but every one so far as to be a living member. Therefore all that hee here saith is but subtilty, calumny, and falsehood, neither Scriptures nor any sound and learned Authors will minister arguments, or demonstrations to him to prove any thing contrary to our Doctrine, concerning the imputation of Christs righteousnes for iustification. The more he strives to wrest and abuse testimonies of Scripture, and learned Authors, the more evident demonstrations will he give of his wickednesse, and wilfull contending against GODS sacred truth.