Socinianism in the Fundamental Point of Justification Discovered, Chapter 1 · Conclusion
The Conclusion.
THerefore upon mens beleeving, GOD shall bee as countable to them, to give them the same favour, rewards and privileges, that should have beene given unto them in regard of the perfect righteousnesse of workes, and of the Law, if they had fulfilled it.
First for his negatives heaped up in the proposition, wherein wee have a narration of what he holds not: if we lay them altogether, they will conclude, that faith is no way at all imputed for righteousnes, for neither in respect of the subject in which the habit of it resteth, nor in respect of the actes which man performes by it, nor in respect of any thing, which GOD by his spirit gives it in the production of it, that is, for no quantity quality, or vertue in it, nor in respect of the object Christ, nor in respect of the life, soule, or forme which gives it the specificall being, and subsistence, so hee plainely professeth, and besides these there is no other respect in which it may bee imputed, as al reasonable men do know. Therefore the conclusion is, that it is not imputed at all.
But yet in affirming nothing, but denying all respects, which reason can conceive in faith, and in roming from himselfe and us, he kicks at us, and by the way snarls and bytes at the truth. For it is most certaine, that faith is said to be imputed in respect of GODS production of it by his spirit, and in respect of the object Christ, and his righteousnes which it doth lay hold on and apply. For the spirit of regenerarion being shed on us through Christ, dwelling in us, and making us one body with Christ, & partakers of his whole satisfaction, doth worke iustifying faith in us, and this union and conjunction, which in order of nature, goeth before faith and concurres to the production of it, is the ground, and reason, of the imputation of it. If Christ were not made ours, and his satisfaction communicated to us, faith could not truely believe in Christ, nor truely apply his righteousnesse, therefore the two last of his negatives are false, and haereticall. Besides, it is not to be passed over in silence, that here againe he contradicts himselfe, and grants that Christ, with his righteousnesse, is the object of faith, and laying hold on him, is the life, and soule of faith; which hee utterly denyeth, and disputes to the contrary in the next Chapter, as I have touched before.
As for his assumption, the sum whereof is, that faith is imputed, and accepted of GOD, for righteousnesse, upon the same termes, that perfect righteousnes of works should have beene in the first Covenant; This is Socinian haeresie, in the highest degree; so grosse, and palpable, and so openly, and expressely affirmed by him, that no salt of interpretation can keepe it from stinking in the nostrills of any true Christian. Here also wee may note his ignorance, absurdity, and nonsense; for instead of shewing in what respect faith is imputed, hee affirmes, that hee holds it to be imputed instead of perfect righteousnesse of our owne workes, and that it is in the new Covenant a condition answerable and every way as sufficient and availeable to procure all favours, rewards, and priviledges, to us from GOD, as the righteousnesse of workes, was in the Covenant of workes: and both here, and in the conclusion, hee makes faith as meritorious, and as strong a bond to tye GOD, and make him countable for all favours, rewards, and priviledges, under paine of being counted a covenant breaker; as the perfect fulfilling of the Law, by every man in his owne person, was in the covenant of workes, and here doth more then give the right hand of fellowship, to Popish justification, for hee transcends them, and makes GOD more obliged to men for them, and more countable then any Papists ever did. As for the testimonies which hee brings, out of Ambrose, and Calvin, they are nothing to his purpose; they onelyonly affirme, that as the Law was mans onelyonly guide to salvation, and the rule of righteousnesse in the old covenant; So faith in the Gospel, is the onelyonly way to salvation in the new covenant, and the meanes by which we receive the grace of GOD▪ and the righteousnesse of Christ offered to us for justification, and salvation.