Socinianism in the Fundamental Point of Justification Discovered, Chapter 2 · Exposition 2
The corrupt and hereticall exposition of the Apostles words, made by Socinus, and maintained by his followers the Arminians, and other fanaticall Sectaries.
THey of the Socinian faction, doe generally hold and obstinately affirme, that Abrahams beleeving and his faith, taken in a proper literall sense without any trope, is here said by the Apostle to be counted to Abraham for righteousnes, in stead of all righteousnes which either Abraham himselfe, was by the Law bound to performe in his owne person, or any surety could performe for him. And in like manner to every one that beleeveth, his faith is in a proper sense said to bee counted for righteousnes, even his faith by it selfe, and not the righteousnes of Christ with it. This is their exposition. And upon these wordes of the Apostle thus falsly, and corruptly interpreted, they build all their hereticall opinions, and doctrines concerning justification of the faithfull before GOD, namely these following. First that faith, as it is in every beleever, even as it is inherent in him, and is his owne faith and beleeving; is the onelyonly thing which GOD of his grace and mercy, and out of his absolute soveraigne power and dominion, is pleased to ordaine, appoint, and account for all the righteousnes, which a man shall have for his justification; though in truth, and according to Law and the rule of justice, it is not righteousnes, being weak oftentimes and full of imperfections.
Secondly that the Spirit of GOD in these wordes of the Apostle, did not intend or meane any communion of the righteousnes, and perfect obedience performed by Christ to the Law, as our surety, and in our stead, nor imputation of that righteousnes to every true beleever for justification, nor GODS accepting of the faithfull for righteous by that righteousnes communicated to them, and of them applyed possessed and enjoyed by faith.
By faith, and believing, they do not understand that applying faith, which is a gift and worke of GODS Spirit, in the elect, regenerate, and sanctified, by which they do believe and are perswaded, that they are in Christ, and Christ is their head, and they as lively members of his mysticall body▪ have communion of all his benefits, even of his full satisfaction and perfect righteousnes, for justification, and full remission of all their sinnes. But by faith, and believing, they understand onelyonly a confidence in GOD, that hee will performe his promises made in Christ, and an assent unto his word that it is true. The tenour of which word, and promises, they conceive to be this; That Christ in his pure unspotted humane nature, hath by his righteousnesse, suffering and obedience, unto death, meritted, such high favour with GOD; that GOD in honour to him is pleased to accept and account the faith of them that believe in him, and rest on him for their Saviour, for perfect righteousnesse, and requires no other righteousnesse to constitute, and make them in any sort formally righteous in their justification.
When they acknowledge that the perfect righteousnesse, and satisfaction of Christ, is the meritorious cause of our justification: they do not meane that they are communicated to us, and so apprehended, and possessed of us by faith, that we are thereby indeed, and in GODS account righteous before GOD, and justified; or that they deserve and are worthy, that GOD should so account us for them. But their mind, and meaning is, that Christ by his righteousnesse hath merited, that GOD for his sake, and in favour to him should account faith to us for righteousnesse, without either our owne workes, of the Law, or Christs righteousnesse imputed to us and made ours by communion. And when they say that faith is imputed for righteousnes as an instrument, they doe not meane as the instrument or spirituall hand, applying Christ his righteousnes to bee after a sort, the formall righteousnesse of the believer, but that faith, as it is the instrument by which the believer doth believe that Christ hath purchased this favour, that his believing should be the only thing, accounted to him for righteousnes; so onelyonly and no other way, GOD reckons to him for righteousnes.
The orthodox exposition I will in the first place prove, and confirme, frō the words of the Apostle himself, & by other strong reasons▪ & afterward confute & overthrow the Socinian, hereticall exposition.